Our team of people involved in ensuring Tranquility Equine runs smoothly, consists of Facilitators, Horse-handlers, freelance staff, volunteers, farriers and professional services.
The Equine Facilitators Role
An equine learning facilitator is someone who makes it possible for an interaction to occur between the learners and the horses with minimal interference.
The facilitator does not take sides, instruct or provide solutions to problems. They assume a neutral position which is an enabling role not an instructional one.
The facilitator is there to do just that: Facilitate learning. We have a range of activities that can be offered dependant on the clients needs, and whether hands on interaction is desired or not. All sessions are planned with the client to encourage choices and responsibility. We will tailor the sessions for each individual and set up scenarios from which we believe the learner will benefit from the most.
We will give the learner as much support and input as they need to work alongside the horses without taking away from what the horses themselves give the learner through non-biased, authentic feedback.
The facilitator is there to enable the learner and will help the learner reflect on various scenarios from the session and turn it into constructive feedback that they can apply to aspects of day to day life.
The Horse Handlers Role
An equine assisted learning facilitator also acts as an experienced horse handler, and may or may not work alongside another experienced horse handler. They understand the welfare of the horses and are able to detect whether a particular horse is happy in the role he/she is being asked to do at that time. This ensures that the horse’s are happy and people are safe.It is the job of the handler to understand the nature and mood of the horse and make the correct decisions for all concerned.
A horses handler helps makes it possible for an interaction to occur between the learners and the horses with minimal interference.
A horse handler does not take sides, instruct or provide solutions to problems. They assume a neutral position which is an enabling role not an instructional one.
Cheryl Hutchinson-Gilbert
Founder and FacilitatorCheryl is a natural people-person, a qualified nurse with working in Critical/Intensive Care, Trauma and Paediatrics. She also worked as a nurse in the Congo, helping train local nurses in stretched medical environments, and over the years working with people mental health problems and learning difficulties.
Always having an interest in Holistic medicine, Cheryl qualified many years ago in Holistic Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Shiatsu and Kinesiology. She used the holistic methods to compliment her nursing skills, and was one of the first to introduce it into the critical care setting in the 90s. However there has always been an overlap into the equine world, being involved with horses since childhood. Taking on and running the family livery yard, she wanted to diversify into the field of equine facilitated therapy/learning and integrate her love of equine and holistic people skills.
Cheryl qualified with Horse Haven UK Diploma and is also became an certified Equimotional Wellbeing Coach.
Elliot Hutchinson-Gilbert
FacilitatorElliot also holds a Horse Haven Uk Diploma.
Having grown up around horses and animals, he is very intuitive has a natural affinity and understanding with them.
Elliot has a passion about helping people who struggle with anxiety and mental health issues, helping them learn and cope through equine and animal therapy.
