Children have a chance at 'Winning with Horses' BY ROB VOGT, Local Press Writer June 10, 2002   Children at Stavely school will have the opportunity this summer to improve self-esteem, build self-confidence, improve co-operation and learn problem-solving skills. The best part is they will have fun doing it with horses. The program accomplishes all these goals by involving participants in creative exercises while interacting with horses. It is called Winning with Horses and goes fro six sessions on Tuesday and Thursday nights from Aug. 13 to 29. However, there is only room for eight participants. Program facilitators Cathie Johnson and Laurie Messner mad a presentation on the program to the grades 6 to 9 students at Stavely school on June 4. Johnson is a trained counsellor and mediator, while Messner is a horse specialist and instructor. Both are Level I certified by the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), based in Utah. “It's a pretty new approach,” says Johnson. Messner says she saw a natural mix of horses and building communications skills in people. She searched the Internet and found information on EAGALA. Johnson says one of the uses in the U.S. was in residential treatment centers. Facilitators discovered clients were talking to the horses and horse specialists more than the counselors. That hands-on approach has been transferred to working with youth in general. EAGALA gave them a model to work from and develop. Johnson and Messner began their organization, Winning Strides, in July 2001, and recently offered three groups in Nanton. One has finished and two of its members shared their experiences. “I learned about horses and how to respect other people,” says one participant. The other participant say he learned about working with horses and that there was no right or wrong. Johnson emphasizes the value of the hand-on experience. “It's not threatening,” she says. When people interact with horses the animals are honest. She says they won't tell people what they want to hear, but they won't take any “guff” either. “It's not about dominance, it's about being clearing the communication,” says Johnson. Messner says the hands-on experience makes it different from teaching. Any issues that arise are dealt with promptly in the here and now, so people don't have a chance to dwell on things. They can deal with them and move on. Other feedback on the course has been positive as well. Johnson says one participant told her, “I'm never going to forget that horse.” Parents also have been asking if a follow-up course will be offered. “That's making us feel like they're seeing a difference,” says Johnson. Currently they do not have one planned, but say they will look into it. There is a fee, but funding is available for children in need through Stavely Family and Community Support Services. For more information people can contact Laurie Messner at 646-2345. More information can be found about Equine Assisted Growth & Learning on the internet. www.winningstrides.com Click here to return to Events Page!