Horses’ healing powers

Times Reporter 

 

Love Laugh Learn, a new equine-assisted learning facility just south of Strathmore, offers communication healing powers; and bonding skills whether the bond be with someone else, or yourself.

“The exercises are goal oriented, and the truth of the matter is, they already have their own answers; so when they get through the exercise, they’ve accomplished something together,” said owner Jody Buckle, in the business for 17 years. “That’s what equine-assisted learning is, it’s relationship building.”

The horses can sense who is leading them in the exercises and how they present themselves; from that, participants gain a deeper understanding of themselves (and their partners).

“Two minutes into that, your real person comes out,” Buckle said, who has her Canadian Certification in Equine Assisted Learning Facilitation.

Workshops include: individual sessions (for children disengaged from nature, or only interested in video games and being indoors), family and marriage building, and corporate team building. All bring out sides of leadership, trust, and creativity, and take place in the two arenas or classroom.

“It should be fun. It should make you think, and it should make you grow,” Buckle said.

The horse is a perfect mirror and reactive communicator giving their partner, or partners, honest feedback. 

“I could do the exact same exercise over and over with different people with it would look different every time,” Buckle said. “It’s amazing because the person is what brings the energy to the experience, and the horse is neutral.”

For example, if the participant is excited, the horse will adapt, or if the participants are withdrawn, the horse will take over. This could be the case for many couples entering the workshop.

“A lot of times, a husband and wife, have lost the communication in their relationship – and there’s nothing like this to put it back together. The horse doesn’t care if they had an argument last night, and the horse doesn’t care if they’re getting along great,” Buckle said. “It’s what they present to that horse at that particular moment that the horse works with.”