Learning from horses
Equine therapy course offers wisdom for the workplace
Inside a barn in Welsford, just outside River John, Glen Murphy explains how horses can say so much with body language.
“Horses have an amazing ability to communicate,” he says, as he strokes Honey, a grey mare. “They can recognize when things are going well, or when they’re not going well.”
When Honey is comfortable and not stressed, her ears stand up, her muscles are relaxed, her eyes are ‘soft’ – peaceful-looking – and her head is low.
In the summer of 2016, Murphy took some training in Alberta from an expert in equine therapy. His partner June Roberts is doing the same. Murphy, who is a also a long-time RCMP officer in Pictou County, is offering Equine Assisted Learning therapy courses – 12 weeks in duration –at Seabreeze Leadership Development.
He says corporations can benefit by using this course, which he says inspires teamwork, understanding, patience, leadership and communication. Sessions are held weekly at the barn in Welsford.
“Each week builds on the stuff they learned the previous week,” he says. “In the workplace, you might work with someone you don’t really like, but you still have to work with them.”
In the barn, a ring is set up with obstacles placed on the dirt floor. The participants are asked to guide Honey – or one of the other horses stabled here – through a variety of tasks that require participants to communicate with each other to successfully complete those tasks, while also having to gently navigate Honey around the ring.
It’s not just the corporate world Murphy wants to reach. He believes that individuals can get a lot out of this course, if they apply themselves. Along with team building, Seabreeze Leadership Development also offers youth leadership and skills development and antibullying programs.
“The group that I am targeting right now is at-risk youth,”
he says, adding that it can easily apply to at-risk adults, as well. Building self-esteem and confidence are also a couple of the key objectives with equine assisted learning, Murphy adds.
“It’s absolutely amazing what this course can do for people. They are the teachers.”
For information on the course, call 902-921-8382, or email seabreezeleadership@gmail.com.