Special guest blogger Amanda Snell

Here at Ranch Ehrlo Society we believe in the health and healing of youth and families. At the Buckland campus (Prince Albert) sessions are available for youth and their families to participate in the Ranch Ehrlo Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) Program.

Amanda instructing youth and the Her Excellency Sharon Johnston

The ultimate goal of the EAT program is to teach our youth and families life skills to enhance their treatment at Ranch Ehrlo, and to have fun doing so! Skills such as effective communication, listening, leadership, teamwork, appropriate assertiveness, respect, trust, relationships building, and more, are learned by the participants. There is also a special focus on building self-esteem and confidence with all of our participants.

Why horses? This is a question we answer on a daily basis. Horses will always react to their surroundings and to who is handling them. They will never lie to the participants and they will always demand the respect they deserve. Horses will never judge the participant working with them, and will always provide the youth/family with honest feedback.

Horses exist in the moment; therefore horses create teachable moments for our equine facilitators to build upon. The characteristics of these horses are not taught, they are instinctual. Horses are a flight animal and are very astute to their surroundings. Because they are herd animals, they are constantly looking for a leader, this gives participants and handlers the opportunity to test and acquire the skills they need to become great leaders.

While horses affect individuals in different ways, all of our participants are affected positively by the program. Each participant learns something; a small spark of self-evaluation or inner peace is gained from working with the horse.

The transformation that youth/families make throughout the program is amazing. Not only does their interaction with the horse change, but their approach to the objective and exercises transform. Once this change happens within the person, the horse responds differently to the participant.

Horses truly are great teachers.

The EAT program is a mandatory program for the youth living in our northern (Corman Park and Buckland) campuses. Saskatoon youth are able to participate in the program, while youth living at the Pilot Butte campus utilize an outside program for horsemanship. During the summer months, youth from Regina and Saskatoon group homes make the trip north to participate in special horsemanship campus.

For more information, visit www.ehrlo.com/programs-services/equine-assisted-learning-program/.