Heart and Soul Transformation Guided by Equus

 

Join Heather, Dennis and their incredible equine guides for this amazing workshop. Through interactions with the horses you will have the opportunity to gain greater self-awareness, learn a new way of being and connecting in relationships and explore how our thoughts and feelings impact our daily lives. You will experience first hand the rewards of the human and horse connection.   

 

No horse experience is necessary.  The workshop is held in an indoor arena but you are encouraged to dress in layers in comfortable clothing suitable for a barn environment. Sturdy, closed toe shoes are also recommended.  A light breakfast and lunch will be provided on Saturday.

 

To register for the course or if you require more information, contact Heather at 403.347.6770 or  email: hrussell@rdpsd.ab.ca   

Why Horses?

Equine Guided Education incorporates horses experientially to promote  emotional growth and learning. Participants learn about themselves and others by  engaging in activities with the horses and then processing feelings, behaviors and    patterns which are revealed. The advantage to this model is that horses are dynamic  and powerful beings. Horses have no hidden agendas, are always authentic, live in  the present moment and are always truthful. Horses are prey animals which means  they rely on the emotional messaging of the herd to stay safe and alive. Horses are  therefore hundreds of times more sensitive to our own emotional energy and the messages we send through our non-verbal language. According to a pilot study conducted by Alliant International University (California, USA), Professor Ellen Gehrke, and the Institute of HeartMath (www.heartmath.org) a horse’s heart rhythms reflect their emotional state and can respond to the emotional state of a nearby human. Moving through activities with the equine guides allows us as humans to respond to this heart connection in a profound and meaningful way.

The Program

The focus of Equine Guided Education is not on riding or horsemanship. In fact, the bulk of the activities are done through ground exercises involving the horses which require the group/client to apply certain skills. Non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking and problem-solving, leadership team work, and relationships are some of the tools utilized.

Horses are provided. You don't have to own a horse to participate. Riding is not part of the program, horses are used to help experience growth and learning.  Saturday breakfast and lunch provided.  Bring your own lawn chair, please. 

About Heather Russell

Heather has always had a love affair with horses and has been involved with them in one aspect or another since she was a small child. It wasn’t until she had worked as a teacher, youth worker, and counselor that she began to understand the power and magic of the horse-human relationship. With over 20 years experience working with high risk youth and their families, she wanted to unite these two passions. She now considers herself a bridge-builder, bringing people and horses together in healing relationships.

Heather was fortunate to find Healing Hooves and Sue McIntosh. She completed Sue’s Advanced Workshop in the Equine Assisted Counseling model in 2006. Since that time, Heather has been strongly influenced by the work of Linda Kohanov, Leif Hallberg, Arianna Strozzi and Linda-Ann Bowling.

The programs Heather has offered have usually focused on at-risk youth and adults in recovery from addiction. While doing her own personal work with the horses, she had the revelation that we all need a “herd” and this brought about the creation of the program designed specifically for women.

              

About Dennis Quilliams

The Quilliams method of horse training results from years of experience. Dennis incorporates the philosophy of training from other Natural Horsemen. Dennis bases his philosophy of training on the mutual respect of horse to man and man to horse. Dennis began his love of horses as a young man (40+years ago). He lived in the middle of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. So he had to hunt to find that “elusive dream”. At the age of 12, he mucked stalls at a local riding stable in exchange for lessons. Beginning with riding English, he soon proved to be a natural horseman and advanced from riding to teaching. He trained his first horse within that first year. Dennis went on to work at various ranches in Alberta, British Columbia & Saskatchewan, continuing his learning and training of ranch horses. He has worked with & trained Quarter horses, Appaloosas, Pintos, Arabian, Warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, and Trekaneners, to name just a few. For several years he worked as Manager and Trainer, on a gaited horse ranch, including Mountain horses, Peruvian, TW, other gaited horses, in Snoqualmie, WA.   During the past several years Dennis has worked with riders with special needs, encouraging physical, mental and emotional health. Along with his "equine" education Dennis has education/experience in working with people special needs, youth, family and marriage counseling. Working with people and horses has been a lifetime goal and dream for Dennis.

        

 

Sponsored by HorseSense HorseManShip