The First University-Accredited Equine-Assisted Development Program in Canada

Leadership through Equine Assisted Personal Discovery is rewarding on many levels. Awareness is the key. Participants in the L.E.A.D. Program will become more fluent in the language of the horse as they are taught how to communicate with horses, recognizing that horses are prey animals. Through many Practical/Fundamental Ground Work Exercises with Horses participants will learn to establish the proper skills necessary to work with horses and people. Leadership ability determines a person’s level of effectiveness. L.E.A.D.  teaches registrants to begin to master self-awareness, horse relationship awareness, and  teaches the importance of having a keen sense of the environment. Registrants will be taught how to move appropriately, and more importantly learn to visualize the body language of the horse, so that they can establish proper boundaries with contact and proper timing. Balance is achieved when students are able to focus on improving their ability to create alignment in relation to the shape of the horse. The goal is to create impulsion through the horse from back to front, making sure this is all done in keeping with the diagonal timing of the horse’s movements. Success in the L.E.A.D. Program is measured by the ability to consistently multitask proactively in an empathetic manner.

As participants of the L.E.A.D. Program become proficient in the fundamental groundwork exercises with the horses, we will then explore the direct, indirect, metaphorical and literal applications. Participants will also gain an understanding of how the self- discovery and self- realization of developing an empathetic position of leadership with horses can apply to all relationships with people. Equine assisted learning is a valuable tool that will benefit many areas of interest:

• At Risk Counselling
• Family Counselling
• Corporate /Leadership & Team Building
• Women’s/Men’s Workshops
• Therapeutic Riding
• Psychotherapy

The L.E.A.D. Lecturer, Ruth Heney ~ a Double Gold Certified Chris Irwin Coach and Equine-Assisted Personal Development Facilitator ~ will teach how to create appropriate relationships built on respect, earned by trust with horses. Ruth’s expertise with horses is complemented by professional guest speakers throughout the workshop.

If you are interested in learning more about the L.E.A.D. Program, please view our brochure L.E.A.D. Brochure (PDF Document)

Leadership through Understanding

• “To teach a horse to be calm, responsive, trusting and brave, you must first acquire those qualities yourself. You can’t just appear to be confident and in control. You must let go of your masks and conflicts and fears and simply BE confident and in control.  Everything we can teach a horse, we can teach ourselves. And you may discover that when a horse sees you relaxed, balanced and centered, so does everyone else. In and out of the horse arena.” ~ Chris Irwin ~ “Horses Don’t Lie”
•  “The biggest enemy to the partnership of training is impatience and the human nature to dominate creatures.”  ~ Walter Zettl
• “The trust between human and horse is based on the same behavioural rules that regulate social life within the herd: Those who have obtained a higher rank in the herd assume at the same time the responsibility for the weaker members.” ~ Kurt Albrect
• "Once a human being has arrived on this earth, communication is the largest single factor determining what kinds of relationships he makes with others and what happens to him in the world about him." ~Virginia Satir
•  “The key to equestrian wisdom is to know how a horse works at a walk” ~ J.C. Racinet~
• “It is a never ending emotional challenge to strengthen and enable our character in the service of the horse” ~ Charles de Kunffy~

Information on Program Sessions
Each L.E.A.D. session will have a maximum of fifteen participants, which will be divided into groups when working with the horses.  This will ensure that each student receives attention and guidance from experienced certified coaches.
Sessions are 5 days long. The following are examples of several of the activities chosen to develop themes.

Day 1:
· Meet the Horse: Horse Physiology is their Psychology “The Buck Stops Here”
The participants will be introduced to the psychology of the horse including the herd mentality, prey behaviours and basic cognitive skills. Although “we can talk up a storm”, it is body language that reveals how we interpret intent behind words. To develop a conscious, even acute, mastery of reading body language in any being – horse (prey), human (predator) - we must learn to distinguish the differences.  This can improve one’s “knowingness” about our “read” on someone. The first goal in L.E.A.D. is for the participants to be able to demonstrate an understanding of equine body language that accurately diagnoses a horse’s behaviour in order to apply it appropriately to our own.  Participants must learn to see past the anthropomorphic illusions in relationships between people and horses in order to “know” the reality of the true nature of horses

Day 2:        
· Leadership through Understanding “The Horse In Hand”
Participants will engage in horse activities such as a number of “ In Hand Work” exercises to realize the importance of consistency while utilizing the 3 Energies ~ Push, Block Draw. The exercises will help participants discover numerous essential life and leadership skills. Participants will then instruct other group members on how to correctly execute the learned skill.  This activity encourages effective communication and patience, and demonstrates learned knowledge. The participants will discover the symbiotic relationship between a horse’s body and its mind.

Day 3:
· Overcoming Obstacles “Free Rein”
Games and tasks that involve the horse’s co-operation will be utilized. For example the groups will need to think creatively and work together in order to execute the required exercises. Through teamwork, the participants will develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. “The greatest lesson horses can teach us is how to balance the two sides of our competitive nature. If we think like predators and feel like prey, we would live less destructive, more productive lives, and yet retain and nurture the spark and crackle that makes the human adventure worth experiencing.” ~ Chris Irwin~

Day 4:
· Self-esteem and Positive Body Image/Empathy “Level Headed”
Each participant, while working with a horse and participant(s) will deliver a short presentation to their fellow L.E.A.D. participants as a general overview and introduction to their individual approach to L.E.A.D. Other participants and program leaders are encouraged to offer constructive feedback, as peer support, with a purpose towards assisting individuals in strengthening their confidence and self assurance to the best of their ability.

 Day 5:
· Leadership through Understanding “Well Rounded”
Day 5 is for each individual to focus on the area of his/her choice, where he/she feels the need for improvement and/or assistance. Participants may choose to focus on furthering their practical skills with the horses or to work with fellow participants who share their same interests and direction in L.E.A.D.  This will further develop their personalized outcome.

Participants will be presented with a written summary of their progress, which the counsellor and horse experts have observed during the program.

Tuition Fees: $1600 +HST (5 days) - Price Subject to Change.
* Continental Breakfast & Lunch included.