The primary focus of the Greenacres Equine Education Program is to develop a participant’s awareness and self-esteem through learning how to handle and care for horses. A variety of unmounted classes and scout badge programs are offered. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy is available for both children and adults. In addition, Firefighter/EMT Training is provided to emergency personnel. Special events, and fundraisers are also conducted to benefit other charitable horse-related education programs in the community.
Stable Mates Program
The Stable Mates programs are un-mounted Equine Education programs to teach participants how to handle and care for horses. The Stable Mates Program includes un-mounted classes for children and adults and scout badge programs. Activities originate in the stable and include lectures, demonstrations, and hands on activities with the horse. All classes are un-mounted and last approximately 2 hours. The classes can be lengthened or shortened depending on the group’s needs. Staff will work with group leaders to customize each class by adjusting the activities to accommodate students’ ages, experience levels, and curriculum needs. Group size is limited to 5-15 students. The cost of the classes depends upon the type of class and the resource materials provided to each student.
Lessons:
Download Equine Center 2008 Calendar (pdf file size 20kb)
Download Equine Summer Camps Schedule (pdf file size 52kb)
Unmounted Classes:
The number and types of classes offered are geared to the needs of participants. Below are examples of classes that have been given in the past. As the need arises, new courses are added to meet students needs.
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A Horse of a Different Color – Learn about common and unusual colors, breeds and markings.
- Purchasing a First Horse – For adults who wish to learn about leasing and/or owning a first horse.
- What is It? - Learn about unusual tack, how it works and how to fit it to a horse.
- Grooming 101 - Learn fun facts about horses and stable safety. Receive a demonstration on grooming techniques and practice grooming a horse.
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Bandaging 101 –Learn different ways of protecting a horse’s very delicate legs for riding, injury prevention, and transport.
- Jumping 101 –Learn how to create and build jump courses including how to walk a line, what different types of jumps are used, and how jumps are used.
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Pin the Stirrup on the Safety Bar – Join riders studying for the Level 1 written test and learn saddle and bridle parts. Participants can take the Level 1 test in the last 30 minutes of this class.
- The Cannonbone’s Connected to the Fetlock – Join riders studying for the Level 2 written test and learn body parts and hoof parts. Participants can take the Level 2 test in the last 30 minutes of this class.
Download Unmounted Class Schedule (pdf file size 42kb)
Scout Badge Classes:
The general Scout Badge program is a 1 1/2 hour class that includes stable safety, leading a horse, grooming a horse, and tacking/un-tacking a horse. The following optional extension activities can also be added:
- The Fetlock’s Connected to the Cannonbone: Students learn to identify various parts of the equine anatomy .
- Measure Up!: Students learn how to find out how much a horse weighs, how they are measured and how to judge height on a horse.
- Eating Like A Horse: Students learn about what a horse eats & how much they drink; Students will feed all of the horses in the barn.
- Put on Your Dancing Shoes: Students learn about horse shoes and their purpose; Student will decorate their very own shoe to take home with them.
Example Lesson Plans:
Download Equine Stablemates Lesson Plan (pdf file size 32kb)
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy:
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) is an emerging field that uses horses as a tool for emotional growth and learning. Participants learn about themselves by engaging in activities with horses and then discussing feelings, behaviors and patterns that emerge. The therapist sets up activities in the riding arena that challenge the participant’s assertiveness, problem solving abilities, creativity, and communication skills. Self-defeating ways of handling problems are illustrated as interaction with the horse unfolds. Opportunities are then created to do things differently with the horse and this translates directly into changes in everyday life.
Firefighter/EMT Training:
Greenacres developed a training session to teach fire department and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) personnel how to deal with a fire and other emergencies in the stable. Many emergency workers have little to no experience working with horses and other livestock. In an emergency situation, a workers’ experience and comfort level with animals can mean the difference between saving the animals or not. The goal of this program is to acclimate emergency workers to horses by teaching them about a horse’s natural instincts, behavior, and proper handling techniques. Staff solicits emergency workers suggestions on how to make the stables safer and easier to protect.
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