By Alex Soloducha

Local business teaches life skills through horses

Aug 11, 2015 | 6:28 AM

A government funded program in Calgary has put the spotlight on horses helping veterans with PTSD.

Just outside of Prince Albert is the business that trained them, and they are working to help people of every background through the use of horses.

Gayle Cartier, owner and lead facilitator of Cartier farms, said their program of equine assisted learning teaches life skills through horses.

“It’s definitely the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done,” said Cartier, who was a riding instructor for about 30 years. “When we started developing this program 15 years ago, I felt like I found something that my life had prepared me to do.”

“I never find a day where I don’t want to go out into the arena and do equine assisted learning.”

Missing pet

'She means the world to our family': Woman seeks help in finding missing pet parrot

2h ago

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS

Semi flips outside P.A.; one of dozens of incidents on Sask. roads due to winter weather

2h ago

NO GO FOR BUSES

School bus routes outside P.A. canceled due to spring snowstorm

7h ago

Each exercise participants complete in the program has a specific purpose or outcome and she said they can gage the person’s progress through the horses’ reactions.

The goal is to pass on lessons of leadership, communication, trust, respect and more.

Participants attend class once a week. Most of the programs run in a 12 week series, with some condensed to 6 weeks for school aged children.

At Cartier farms, they work with autistic children, children with learning disabilities, children with ADHD, those with behavior problems and many other conditions.

Inhalant abuse centres complete longer programs, some up to 4 or 6 months long.

“The program doesn’t change a lot whether you have somebody who’s in addictions counselling or whether they happen to be the leader of the debate team,” said Cartier, who insists the things they’re working on can be applied to almost everyone.

She said they teach participants the basics—giving signals, communicating with teammates and horses and applying their experiences with horses to everyday life.

“They can bring these lessons into clarity for people that are working with them,” said Cartier. “Really, the sky is the limit. There is nothing that this does not help people get better at.”

The business is two-fold, according to Cartier; as well as offering a 12-week program, previously mentioned, they also offer a certification program.

“This program was developed here. It is unique to any program in Canada,” said Cartier.

Those who become certified in equine assisted learning from them can take the knowledge back to their area and open their own business.

One of those businesses is Can Praxis, located near Calgary. The founders Steve Critchley, a 28-year veteran and mediator, and Jim Marland, a registered psychologist, run the program to help veterans of the Canadian Forces who are struggling with PTSD.

Earlier in the year, the program received a cheque for $150,000 from Wounded Warriors Canada – the largest-ever donation made by Wounded Warriors—a charity for veterans which focuses mainly on their mental health.

“We are so proud of them that they have taken equine assisted learning and put that component on to it because it shows others that there is opportunity to do things like that,” said Cartier. “When we have someone succeed and get funding from the federal government that shows they’re not only knowing our program but acknowledging that horses can have such an impact on people.”

Cartier said while PTSD is not their specialty, they are looking to be certified to help those suffering with it.

Often times, Cartier said people wonder how equine assisted learning works. First of all, horses are excellent at reading intentions, she said. If you approach a horse with good character, boundaries and leadership, the horse will want to follow.

“If you have triggers of anger or you have low self-esteem or you’re struggling with certain aspects in your life, they are going to identify that and they are going to ask you to step up and handle it,” said Cartier. “There are connections to all sorts of struggles that people are having, PTSD being one, but certainly not the only one.”

She said quickest and most noticeable change that she sees in participants is increased confidence.

“When you’re doing anything with a large animal like that and you’re getting a response, whether it’s good or bad, and you can work through it, you’re gaining confidence immediately,” said Cartier.

Another strength of the program is increased self-evaluation. Cartier said horses have no reason to lie about their responses, so if something isn’t working, you have to look within.

“He wants you to be clear, have good boundaries and be very consistent with your messaging,” Cartier explained.

Cartier farms has a number of community partnerships in and around Prince Albert.

They are located 10 km north of Prince Albert on White Star Road.

news@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow