Services
"Human Wisdom Gained Through Horseplay"

Facilities

 

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) sessions take place at Jenovation Farm, located 40 minutes southeast of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - 30 minutes from either Camrose, Sherwood Park or Leduc. This peaceful, 40 acre farm is home to several equines, both horses and mules. The resident dogs and cats enjoy the attention they receive from our visitors.

We are excited to announce that we now have our very own indoor arena that will shelter us from the elements and make sessions possible in all but extremely cold weather. We have also refurbished a Bunkhouse that will serve as a cozy waiting room. We will use it as a warm place to process what went on in sessions during the colder months.

Retreats

Sessions may also take place at The Outpost at Warden Rock, a serene Rocky Mountain get-away that offers rustic cabins, shower, hot tub, hiking, fishing and trail riding.'The Outpost' is located southwest of Sundre, Alberta and is reached exclusively by horse drawn wagon or stagecoach.

Sessions at 'The Outpost' are included in a special package, which includes a 2-hour trip in and out, 2 nights stay, all meals throughout the stay, and a full day EAP session. All sessions must be booked well in advance to insure availability.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy/Learning (EAP/L)

Confucius says - I hear and I forget, I see and I remember, I do and I understand.

The rapidly growing field of Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy/Learning, otherwise known as EAP/L can be beneficial when dealing with individuals, couples, or entire families. It is also an exciting and effective tool for corporate development. Problem solving activities and metaphors create an opportunity for personal growth and development. Regarded as an experiential therapy or learning model, EAP/L allows participants to "learn by doing" and thereby provides them the opportunity to put into practice some new ways of thinking, rather than being lectured to.

The focus of EAP/L is not riding or horsemanship, in fact 90% of EAP/L takes place on the ground. The focus involves activities with equines, which will require the client or group to apply certain skills. Non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking and problem solving, leadership, work, taking responsibility, teamwork and relationships, confidence, and attitude are several examples of the tools utilized and developed by EAP/L.

EAP/L is a powerful tool and effective therapeutic approach that has an incredible impact on individuals, youth, families and groups. EAP/L addresses a variety of mental heath and human development needs including :

• behavioral issues,
• attention deficit disorder,
• substance abuse,
• eating disorders,
• abuse issues,
• depression,
• anxiety,
• relationship problems and
• communication needs.

EAP/L, as promoted by the Equine- Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) utilizes a licensed Psychologist, in this case Terry who works together with an Equine Specialist; Angie. Programs are created to suit the needs of the participants, which are as unique as those taking part. Terry's proficiency in the mental health profession and Angie's expertise as a horse person enable them to keep the activities both safe and effective. The sessions are not only educational; they also provide a great deal of fun!

Therapy

Is simply being in an office, talking to a therapist, just not cutting it for you?

Equine Wise Services provides experiential learning opportunities for you, individually or together with members of your family. Work with our dynamic team - a psychologist, an equine specialist, horses and even mules. Learn about relationship dynamics, behaviors and emotions that impact your everyday life.

Now you can take your unworkable strategies and interpersonal frustrations into our horse arena. You will see why what you're doing isn't working and what you can do instead. Our therapy program is brief in nature (usually 10 to 12 sessions) and provides a sense of immediate awareness and understanding for you

Team Building

 

Is your team… Horsing Around!

What if your employees could work together like a Team of Horses … Strong to the task of moving your company forward!

Communication

Equine Wise will assist you in improving your communication through horseplay! Workshops are designed with your specific group(s) in mind; for your management team and also for your employees. Your team will be faced with challenges where communication is essential. Through these challenges your work groups' existing communication problems will emerge. Once these are identified, steps can be taken to understand and correct communication problems. With this greater awareness, communication solutions are attainable and more positive relationships can then be created which will be helpful within the everyday work environment.

Creativity

Do your co-workers appear to be stubborn? ...or perhaps they are just lacking creativity? ... maybe they're just doing a Half-assed job!

Staying "inside the box" does not easily solve the tasks your work group will face. The greatest asset to the success of your team is the creative ideas it generates. Sometimes those ideas come from the most unlikely source. Perhaps a co-worker who had previously seemed disinterested or misguided now emerges to save the day! Invigorated by the team, horses' energy and the new challenge at hand the misguided team-member becomes the innovative thinker! Let Equine Wise assist you in inspiring your team in stretching those creativity muscles to new heights!

By the way, two of our equines are literally half-assed - Mules are the hybrid cross between a donkey & a horse. To learn more about mules, check out the Mammoth Mules website!

Leadership

The formal leadership structure can be at odds with the informal networks and influences on power in your workplace. In the Equine Assisted Learning tasks all participate on an equal level so that everyone has a chance to demonstrate natural leadership and supportive capabilities. You'll discover leaders among your group you never even thought you had!

Those involved in a team building module through Equine Wise realize that everyone has a contribution to make in the team. Focus, innovation, creativity and cooperative team dynamics contribute to the success in accomplishing the objectives of the team. Frustration, foibles and fun are also a part of our process -both successes and failures lead to greater awareness of your employees' strengths and weaknesses. Discover the dynamics at play in your team today!

Get serious, have your employees really horsing around with Equine Wise Services!

Effective leadership is essential in achieving corporate goals. It enhances productivity by building employee motivation. Through experiential learning 'horsing around' at our workshops natural leaders will emerge from within your organization. Your work group will immediately be immersed in a process of achieving common goals, just like your real corporate world.

Effective Team = Productive Workplace

By gaining knowledge of the inner workings of your team you'll gain clarity through our team building activities and realize that with our help maximum results for your organization can be achieved. Let us help you create the most productive workplace and healthiest work environment possible. Equine Wise's team building workshops are custom designed to fit your individual organization's needs, objectives and budget. We'll show you how you can use your employees' horsing around to your advantage!

Equine Wise Services wants to partner with you in building stronger teams and healthier work environments for all. Feel free to read some of our clients testimonials!

Workshops

Wisdom for Women - Creativity & Power - Parenting - Couples in Relationship
(Check our Events section for scheduled workshops.)

Is your world filled with stop signs when you really want to get going? Have you lost touch with the magic and personal growth that you used to have inside?

Our workshops are designed to: raise self-awareness, promote emotional wellness, self-care, innovation and creative thinking. Learn about relationship dynamics, behaviors and emotions that impact your everyday life.

During our workshops you will be faced with challenging activities using horses and mules. While working through these challenges, you will find yourself communicating effectively, problem-solving cooperatively, thinking innovatively and just plain having fun.

Let the wisdom of our equines, along with their professional helpers, lead you into new awareness and strategies, opening yourself to a more fun and spirited future.

Our learning experiences are immediate and intense. Your learning will be filled with those magical "AH-HA" moments and bursts of knowing laughter.

CHAMPIONS -

A program developed by Randy and Patti Mandrell of Texas, that uses horses in counseling teens. It is not riding nor horsemanship, and not a million questions about embarrassing stuff. It is a formatted therapy program used with success in the United States. It is designed to build confidence, skills and promote appropriate social behaviour.

CHAMPIONS is:

• Active. Teens are given things to do with a horse. Accomplishing these challenges requires creativity, working together with others, communication and personal control.
• Safe. Two professionals are in the arena. One really knows horses and the other is a psychologist.
• Fun… but in a serious sort of way. Powerful experiences promote an improved self-awareness and lets teens learn about themselves without being lectured.

CHAMPIONS will run with groups of six teens. We are providing two levels, each 8 weeks in length, in a single 90-minute session per week. The cost for each 8-week Level per teen is $350.

Workshops can also be designed to meet the needs of any group.

Check our Events section for scheduled workshops.