What is Equine and Animal Facilitated Learning?
Equine facilitated Learning (EFL) is a form of learning/therapy that incorporates horses and animals in an outdoor non-judgemental/non-clinical environment.
EFL is where horses help people from all walks of life, whether they are just wanting a peaceful place to de-stress and feel at ease with the world; whilst also providing huge benefits for young children and people with a wide range of debilitating emotional and mental health problems to experience themselves differently.
This learning experience can be as ‘hands-on’ as desired, as it can involve interacting with the horses and animals from the ground, engaging in bonding, grooming, assisting with their general care, leading and possibly completing an obstacle course. However it can also involve other ‘hands-off’ activities within the same environment if a hands on interaction is not desired.
Its been proven that EFL can be a huge benefit for people by making a positive influence in their lives, whether helping with confidence and self-esteem building, communication, social skills, relationships, physical exercise, helping to feel calm and elevate stress and anxiety, whilst also helping with sensory, focus, balance, co-ordination and responsibility.
EFL is about connecting with the horses. What is so powerful is that the participant doesn’t need to talk. Horses enable people to discover what their own body and senses are telling them. Where people find it challenging to express themselves verbally, or when conventional talking therapies haven’t worked, the horses will read the body language and energy and respond directly to this. They will respond in a way that highlights positive and negative behaviours that you are probably unaware of, and from this we then have the power and ability to make the necessary changes to invite a more positive outcome. Horses will only willingly interact with those whose thoughts, behaviours and actions are aligned with what they are truly feeling.
EFL is a non-judgemental way of becoming self-aware and has transformative results for many problems.
EFL only involves working with the horses/animals on the ground, there is no riding and you do not need to be an experienced horse-person to benefit.
The Horse is the therapist…
Horses don’t judge or critise but provide instant and honest feedback by responding to the non-verbal signals we give them. YOU don’t need to have any prior experience of horses to enjoy the benefits of EFL.
Our Tranquility Equine Facilities
We are lucky to have a range of facilities to ensure you enjoy your session, no matter what the weather….but please remember we are always colder here than most places around.
Our Horses
None of the horses have been specially trained to do EFL, its all down to the bond between the person and the horse on the day, and what you put into the session deems what you will get out of it.
