L'apprentissage Équino-assisté
(Equine assisted learning)
(Equine
Many people are now benefitting from the opening of Equine assisted learning centres and have the opportunity to engage in learning through participating in therapeutic activities with horses. There is no riding involved and the horses are carefully chosen to be safe to be around and handle.
Many people find that they learn more easily and retain that new knowledge longer, when it is obtained during an activity.
What is it?
Who can benefit?
Children who have:
-Difficulties with traditional schooling
-special educational needs
-poor literacy and numeracy skills
-learning difficulties
Anybody who would like to:
-increase self confidence
-raise self esteem
-improve communication skills both in English and French
-learn to work as a team
-improve their horse skills
What happens in a session?
Each session is tailored to meet the needs of the individual and can be arranged when it suits you. Sessions can be run on a one to one or small group basis and you might like to come along on your own or with a family member or friend. The length of the session and the number can also be adapted to your needs.
There are lots of activities involving the horses, from approaching one in a field to grooming and leading. You might also take part in painting, collage or model making, science experiments or preparing food for the horses!
About Rachel Dods
Why choose cheval -apprendre, an EAQ centre?
EAQ is an umbrella organisation which sets high standards for facilitators and ensures that equine assisted learning is available to everyone.
Approved centres have:
-qualified facilitators who are CRB checked
-Insurance
-a qualified first aider
-an outdoor, herd approach to horse care
-an understanding of the physical, mental and emotional needs of the horses.
-EAQ monitors centres and offers advice, ongoing training and guidance for staff.
I have a first class degree in Genetics from Cardiff University and completed my PGCE at Exeter University. I taught science in a number of secondary schools in the UK and held a position in pastoral care. I very much enjoyed this role and benefitted from modular training to be a counsellor. I grew up riding horses and have attended many courses in natural horsemanship. I have just completed my diploma to become an EAQ facilitator training in the UK and France. This is the first EAQ centre to be set up in France, but there are many in the UK, Australia and South Africa.
For more information about EAQ go to www.equineassistedqualifications.com
Contact details:
I work in the Dordogne area, near to Montignac 24290. We have a number of gites avaiable to stay in and so it maybe possible to experience EAL while on holiday here.
Tel: 0553519445 or 0649386225
Email: dodsrachel@gmail.com
The benefits
Just being around horses is something many people enjoy. They are a perfect living support to learning and can act as emotional mirrors, showing exactly how certain behaviour can affect others. Experiential learning is proven to be an affective way of retaining knowledge and most of all it's fun! The sessions take place outside and are different everytime.
