Building self confidence through horses

Times Reporter

 

Late last year, Strathmore resident Kari Fulmek officially opened her new business, Spiritual Equine Connection. Unlike other equine-assisted learning programs, Spiritual Equine Connection, located three minutes west of Strathmore, is a building block program. It helps give kids a better sense of social security and self-confidence while teaching them other valuable life skills. 

“Originally… the kids were very apprehensive around the animals because they’re quite large,” said Wheatland Elementary School principal Kevin Lane.

“Some of them were very standoffish initially, so the comfort level with the animals has really increased and their knowledge about getting them to do things and reading their body language has really improved.”

Four students from Wheatland School took part in the program, which had been sponsored by Encana. Lane said Leah Muenchrath was already a part of the program, and the other three students, Chayton Birch, Taylor Lindsay and Sebastian Primbs were picked because the school felt they would benefit the most from it.  

“It’s helped him dealing with people, you know with the horses and that and taking it over to with the siblings and other kids,” said Tammy, Chayton’s mom.

She said when Chayton comes home after taking part in the program that day, he’ll talk about the horses and what they did. She said he loves being there. 

When Leah Muenchrath first began the program she was there on her own. Joy, Leah’s mom, said now the idea of cooperation is huge. The four students had their last lesson on Feb. 18 and have officially graduated from the program. Before they were given their plaques, each of the students were told to pick two words off the board that best described what they thought the program had taught them. The parents, and even Fulmek, were surprised and happy with some of the words chosen. 

“What’s really neat is I love that she chose the word negotiation because just the other day she told me let’s negotiate,” said Joy.

The students will be heading back out to the arena in the spring, but until then are officially done with the program. Fulmek said she is going to miss working with the kids.