EAGALA a way to healing

Times Contributor 

 

Anyone who has spent some time raising horses will tell you horses have a sixth sense about people. It is this sixth sense that comes into play when equine-assisted psychotherapy meets equine-assisted learning in the EAGALA training workshops and therapeutic work done in 42 countries worldwide.

Jody Buckle, a local EAGALA certified equine trainer, hosted a workshop for those wanting to gain certification at her Love, Laugh, Learn Equine Assisted Learning Centre located just south of Strathmore on June 26-28. EAGALA sent certified Equine Mental Health Trainer Ulla Fredericksen and Annie Tidmarsh, a certified Equine Specialist from their headquarters in Utah to facilitate the sessions.

Buckle said there was a good group of mental health professionals and educational and horse specialists signed up for the training. Some of those with horse experience had previous certifications in programs such as the Parelli natural horsemanship training.

“We had covered a lot of material, and we look up and the horses had moved away from the people. They were mirroring what we were feeling. We as facilitators took the cue from the horses that we were done,” said Fredericksen, about the dynamics between horse and participants at the end of their Friday session. “They (the horses) survive in their environments by reading the energy of the environment, so it is not unusual for them to read the energy of the group and respond accordingly.”

It is these dynamics that allow therapists and clients to look at issues and challenges in their own lives. 

Tidmarsh said she knew fairly early in her experience raising horses that there was a significant connection.

“I suppose I thought about the psychotherapeutic use of working with horses in the early 80’s when we were working in special education. I took my ponies to my daughter’s school and the children just wanted to touch the ponies and sniff the ponies,” said Tidmarsh.

The process is not just a glorified riding academy or petting zoo. Participants may touch and interact with the horses in an arena setting, but there is no riding involved. The sessions are experiential and client based, so the direction of the sessions comes not from the trainer but the client. However, having trained facilitators on hand helps the client clarify their experiences and reach solutions that lead to personal growth and learning.

“Each session is very different. Our goal is to teach principles of the model. The additional goal is to help each individual to manage their own stuff as it comes up. It frees up the process to be all about the client and promote self-awareness and self–management,” said Frederiksen. “This work is appropriate for many populations, for veterans, children with autism, victims of domestic abuse, grief, family dynamics, behavioural problems and so much more.” 

In a 2013 EAGALA survey, over 13,143 people had participated in the sessions worldwide and over half of the survey’s treatment population were children age 10-18, 38.1 per cent were couples and all participants dealt with a variety of issues. 

Both trainers in this process are required to have significant qualifications prior to their EAGALA certification and they must abide by a code of ethics set out by their professions and EAGALA when working with clients. The Mental Health trainers must have a college-level educational training and degree in a mental health field, such as social work, psychology, marriage and family therapy, or others that include mental health as its scope of practice. They are required to stay within their scope of practice and follow all laws and regulations regarding mental health practice.

The Equine qualifications are just as extensive. They require 6,000 hours hands-on work with horses, which they equate to three years full-time work. An additional 100 hours of continuing education in the horse ground work experience, horse psychology knowledge and reading horse body language/nonverbal communication cues.

The certification is done over two sessions and includes a professional development portfolio. Advanced courses are also available.

Being certified gives adds a rewarding dimension for those with equine facilities. Those with horse management skills and certification, but no horses or facility – can still work together with certified Mental Health therapists in their area, at facilities such as Love, Laugh Learn.

This model is not all hard work, it also incorporates fun with the learning and it is used by corporations looking to improve team dynamics, and various social groups book weekends for group development.

Contact Jody Buckle by e-mail  (jomax8@platinum.ca) or call 403-934-3046 for more information or visit their website (www.eagala.org).