Horses: Trust, Respect, and Team Work

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta/ Neil Zeller @neil_zee

An equine-assisted learning program is a ground-based horse course that builds confidence and teamwork through trust, respect, and problem solving.

“I wanted my last breath on earth to be doing something that literally changes people’s lives while working with horses in a completely different way.” Kari Fulmek, Founder and Master Instructor at Equine Connection, shares her inspiration for the equine-assisted learning programs she has offered since 2009. Glowing testimonials reflect the life-changing impact of her horse courses. According to Colin Merrick, “this learning will be remembered and retained unlike classroom sessions.”

How does it work?

With the horse as teacher, and human facilitator as interpreter, the participants work together to complete challenges or tasks. Activities are collaborative rather than competitive, with everyone working towards a common goal. A facilitator is on hand every single step of the way to assist and provide explanation (connecting experiences to behavioural profiles in an example), but most of the learning is hands-on.

“Horses have a lot to teach us!” Fulmek explains. “Herds to horses are just like teams to people. Horses have natural ‘herd behaviours’ that require trust, respect and teamwork from all members of the team.”

Participants must observe the horses carefully and listen to them in order to successfully complete each exercise. “The horses’ jobs are speaking to the clients through their bodies to help bring about the changes the human needs to make. Their feedback is honest and instant.” Just when you have one horse figured out, you may switch horses with another team, so you get more experience gaining mutual trust and respect.

Individuals, corporate teams, students, and patients can all benefit from equine-assisted learning. It is an opportunity to learn about yourself and others. When asked how horses teach, Fulmek says, “I have seen the power of how these horses have changed and touched every person who has come through my doors with a positive, move forward direction just because the horse was the one to tell them versus a human.” By: Karen Ung

Equine-Assisted Learning Outfits

Equine Connection, Carseland: equineconnection.ca Lasting Strides Equine, Delacour: lastingstridesequine.com Higher Trails, Millarville: HigherTrails.ca

The Bar U Ranch National Historic Site of Canada (Bar U) is located 101 km north of Lundbreck and 15 km south of Longview, at the junction of Hwys 22 and 540.

Set in the rolling foothills, the Bar U is the only historic site to commemorate the history of ranching in Canada. Established in the 1880’s, it was one of the first large corporate ranches. Pat Burns once owned this ranch and Harry Longabaugh (better known as the Sundance Kid) worked here.

Parks Canada has operated the site since 1991. Discover the life of a cowboy from the late 1800s. Ride on a wagon pulled by Percheron horses. Wander through the rustic old buildings. Try your hand at cowboy skills. Pick up quality western gifts for your buckaroo! Enjoy an authentic ranch house meal. Open daily from May to September. 10am - 5pm.

Located 45 mins south of Calgary, the scenic drive from this city to Longview makes for a pleasant getaway. And there are tons of reasons to stop in this quaint little western community.

Longview was established at the turn of the century to service farms and ranches. The area is rich with oil and gas history and at its peak it’s believed that the population was about 2,500. The community was known as Little New York, a name that still sticks when it comes to the celebration of “Little New York Daze” an event typically held annually during the summer.

You will be pleasantly surprised by the number of restaurants here, as well as the quality of the food. The Little New York Bistro, the Longview Steak House and the Historic Longview Hotel are just three and they all get rave reviews.

But you’ve also arrived at the mecca of cowboy snacks – the legendary Longview Jerky Shop.