Students at the Red River Roping and Riding Arena pose for a picture with horses Tom and Smokie, on graduation day. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

By Dawson Thompson

Horsing Around

Students learn about animal handling at Red River Roping and Riding Club

Nov 17, 2020 | 1:44 PM

Students are graduating from the Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Program at the Red River Roping and Riding Club (RRRR) today after six weeks of animal handling classes.

Equine Assisted Learning is an approach to human and leadership development through the eyes of the horse. It empowers individuals through group interactive exercises with a focus on “everyone matters.”

Executive director for RRRR, and lead facilitator for the EAL program, Amanda Snell, said the horses are the primary teacher.

“As a facilitator, myself and anyone else who is helping are just there to assist when needed,” Snell said. “It is all about building life skills with horses, the horses are the main teacher in this program.”

A student leads the horse Smokie through an obstacle course they built at the Red River Roping and Riding Club on graduation day, Tuesday morning. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff.)

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The program uses the horse’s natural herd instincts to provide participants with an opportunity to engage in team exercises and in turn find themselves learning valuable skills while working through the dynamics of the horse.

“Horses demand leadership, they expect it, and they never lie. There is no judgement,” Snell explained. “When youth come into the arena, they are coming in to learn something without being worried about being judged, the horse is with them the whole way through. The horse gives them honest feedback immediately, it is always in the moment.”

When asked about who the program is designed for, Snell told paNOW anyone can learn from a horse.

“This program is for anyone ages eight to 108, it can benefit anybody,” Snell said. “We can do team building programs, corporate leadership, and youth programs. Essentially it is for everybody.”

The group today from Muskeg Lake are completing their six-week program. Through the six weeks students learned skills like problem solving, clear communication, and teamwork.

President of the RRRR, Candice Sinitoski said the effects of the program took her by surprise.

“What I thought would never work was amazing, absolutely amazing,” Sinitoski said. “You stand back and let the horse teach the child.

“For one hour we did an exercise where you could not talk, you could only use your body language. There were eight children that never made a sound for an hour, and they got all of their activities done. It was amazing.”

A student at the Red River Roping and Riding Club completes the course and poses with Smokie the horse. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

A parent dropping students off, Dana Greyeyes said the program has been great for his family.

“Amanda and her co-workers are fantastic with them,” he said. “They are very hands on.

“You should have seen the kids’ faces on the first day when the teachers told them they were on ‘brown patrol’ picking up horse droppings. It was funny. They did not complain about it, they did everything they were asked, and they did it with a smile.”

According to a Red River Roping and Riding Club brochure, the EAL program is not so much about the horse teaching you, it is more about helping you recognize opportunities for learning within yourself.

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Dawson.thompson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: dawsonthompson8