What Hinders Our Learning?

At Prospect Riding Center we are a Member Center of PATH International, Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International.

Recently I was reading their professional publication, Strides, when I came to an interesting article by Mica Graves. She stressed the need for a safe learning environment.

I reflected on our program. Our business plan and our promotion plan stress the safe environment at the ranch. PATH International, being our governing body sets the standards for our services, addressing all issues, including the program, facilities, equine, and equipment, giving us confidence and support within our own industry.

We strive to provide a positive experience with each participant at whatever skill level they are. Our goal is to make a difference and not just for a day.

If you would observe a session at Prospect Riding Center, you may not see perfect form in posture. You will see us encouraging our participants to relax, breathe, and be present in the moment. There's a lot of validating feelings going on, being sure to confirm acceptance of the rider in order for them to perform to the best of their ability while feeling safe, yet excited to be where they are and what they're doing. Having fun!

I have blogged before about the flight or fight response of the horse. Our participants can also be in that state if not feeling safe or reassured and put at ease. Just instructing them to adjust postural position will not convey to the brain that they are safe and secure.

If we are in that reactive state it is unlikely that we will learn much. An extreme example was sky diving for me. I felt safe because of the Instructor, excited, and scared, but reassured ready to be introduced to something new!

We have all experienced our heart racing and muscles tightening, realizing we're holding our breath. How easy was it for you to take in new information while being on high alert? For all the practice in the hanger before the jump, learning the basic moves, did not prepare me when the fear of the jump set in.  Being strapped to the instructor, who put my arms through the motions we practiced, while I was unable to recall a bit of the practice, I was only in that moment of that jump experience. Hhh'mm, can that be true for a participant here? On a lesser scale we hope, not just a change for a day, but for a lifetime.

We all may have our goals, and at times feel frustration for not meeting them quickly enough. We may even feel our own fight or flight responses that challenge us in our attempts to reach those goals.

Each of our sessions here at Prospect Riding Center have uniquely designed lesson plans with goals and objectives. We do remember these plans are not written in stone and time spent with horses is on a different standard of time. I call it, Present moment time.

What do you do to achieve that focused Present moment time? I think I'll stick with riding my mule, not taking up skydiving!