Our Participants
Our participants may have a range of serious problems, such as drug & alcohol misuse, anxiety & eating disorders, neglect, abuse, aggression, bullying and other emotional and behavioural issues. They are referred because they are ‘stuck’ or disengaged from talk-based support. We teach, rehearse and repeat key resilience skills in an intensive and challenging, but fun, 5 day course with feedback in-the-moment from specially trained horses and 1-to-1 facilitator support.
The Courses
Our Flagship course is the Re-Start:
The ReStart is usually delivered over 5 consecutive days, working for approx 2 hours per day with 1-to-1 facilitator support. We teach, rehearse and repeat key resilience skills in an intensive and challenging, but fun way with feedback in-the-moment from specially trained horses. There is no discussion of the past. All sessions take place in action with the horses, there is no classroom content or talk-based therapy/counselling.Development of skills is embedded in work towards a horsemanship goal of Parelli Level 1. Tasks are guided by the facilitator and the horses are selected and trained to provide especially clear and easily observed physical feedback to participants, many of whom will not have interacted with horses prior to taking part in the programme. The methodological focus is on social/emotional shifts being made ‘in the moment’, in response to difficulties encountered. Participants are unmounted handlers, learning to work in partnership with the horses on the ground. The course employs an approach using a series of specific tasks as tools to develop positive habits. Specifically, the skills addressed by the course are:
Engagement (Confidence as a Learner) - enthusiastically taking on new challenges, pushing limits whilst also taking care of own confidence
Responsibility - taking responsibility for our own thoughts, emotions and actions
Calmness - having the habit of calmness and knowing how to create it in difficult situations
Assertiveness - able to be calmly assertive, without getting aggressive or upset
Realistic Analysis & Planning - Stopping to think before acting, making a realistic assessment of situations and planning accordingly
Focus & Perseverance - working towards goals despite setbacks
Relating to Others / Empathy - seeing the needs of others, offering care and support, feeling closely connected
Communication & Language - two way, respectful, assertive communcations, having language to talk about thinking and emotions
On the last day, each participant has a robust reflective session with their facilitator - looking at their progress in each of the areas of the Skills Star (below). Upon successful completion of the course, participants are presented with a certificate.
A ten minute video submission for each participant is submitted to Parelli USA for external assessment. Successful assessment results in participants receiving a Parelli Level 1 certificate and a brief report on their display of horsemanship. Participants receive their own copy of the filmed submission, and most are proud to share this with their family. We organise award ceremonies wherever possible to celebrate success.
The Restart is the course replicated from our successful work in prisons.
Cost £950 per participant
Lighter Touch Sessions
We also offer Top-Up and Taster Sessions, which are 1:1 sessions typically lasting 1 hour and can provide either a lead into the Re-Start course or a Top Up for participants who have completed the Re-Start and need a little extra help.
Cost £95 per hour
Non-verbals Toolbox for Professionals
We offer frontline professionals a half-day training in our specialism - reading and responding to non-verbal behaviour. A game-changer with difficult or disengaged clients.
Email to check dates and book a course
The ReStart is usually delivered over 5 consecutive days, working for approx 2 hours per day with 1-to-1 facilitator support. We teach, rehearse and repeat key resilience skills in an intensive and challenging, but fun way with feedback in-the-moment from specially trained horses. There is no discussion of the past. All sessions take place in action with the horses, there is no classroom content or talk-based therapy/counselling.Development of skills is embedded in work towards a horsemanship goal of Parelli Level 1. Tasks are guided by the facilitator and the horses are selected and trained to provide especially clear and easily observed physical feedback to participants, many of whom will not have interacted with horses prior to taking part in the programme. The methodological focus is on social/emotional shifts being made ‘in the moment’, in response to difficulties encountered. Participants are unmounted handlers, learning to work in partnership with the horses on the ground. The course employs an approach using a series of specific tasks as tools to develop positive habits. Specifically, the skills addressed by the course are:
Engagement (Confidence as a Learner) - enthusiastically taking on new challenges, pushing limits whilst also taking care of own confidence
Responsibility - taking responsibility for our own thoughts, emotions and actions
Calmness - having the habit of calmness and knowing how to create it in difficult situations
Assertiveness - able to be calmly assertive, without getting aggressive or upset
Realistic Analysis & Planning - Stopping to think before acting, making a realistic assessment of situations and planning accordingly
Focus & Perseverance - working towards goals despite setbacks
Relating to Others / Empathy - seeing the needs of others, offering care and support, feeling closely connected
Communication & Language - two way, respectful, assertive communcations, having language to talk about thinking and emotions
On the last day, each participant has a robust reflective session with their facilitator - looking at their progress in each of the areas of the Skills Star (below). Upon successful completion of the course, participants are presented with a certificate.
A ten minute video submission for each participant is submitted to Parelli USA for external assessment. Successful assessment results in participants receiving a Parelli Level 1 certificate and a brief report on their display of horsemanship. Participants receive their own copy of the filmed submission, and most are proud to share this with their family. We organise award ceremonies wherever possible to celebrate success.
The Restart is the course replicated from our successful work in prisons.
Cost £950 per participant
Lighter Touch Sessions
We also offer Top-Up and Taster Sessions, which are 1:1 sessions typically lasting 1 hour and can provide either a lead into the Re-Start course or a Top Up for participants who have completed the Re-Start and need a little extra help.
Cost £95 per hour
Non-verbals Toolbox for Professionals
We offer frontline professionals a half-day training in our specialism - reading and responding to non-verbal behaviour. A game-changer with difficult or disengaged clients.
Email to check dates and book a course
Instructors
The courses in Gloucestershire are delivered by Lead Approved Facilitator Jackie Evans, supported by a UK team of Approved Facilitators.
Jackie is a student and former Licensed Parelli Professional, with more than 20 years experience with horses and has been instrumental in the development and delivery of Centred Horseplay and TheHorseCourse for Gloucestershire. We also have more facilitators currently in training, if you think you might be suited and would like to find out more, please contact Jackie. M: 07771814851 E: thehorsecourse@centredhorseplay.org.uk |