Yay!!! Another great day for The Open door Project at Hearts and Horses.
Our second day was an exploration of EMPATHY and a review of the lessons we learned about RESPECT. The kids formed teams with their volunteer and their horse. Several activities were done in order to foster empathy. Activities were conducted in Equus, the silent language of the horse. We spoke only in debriefings. Not once did we have to redirect kids or ask them to be silent. The kids were all remarkably gentle, kind and candid. Again, several left saying they had never felt so good about themselves in their lives!
I was mesmerized by the contemplative silence as each team groomed their horse. It is now clear to me that silence can be a door way to communication, not the ceasing of it. I believe so often when we ask kids, especially disruptive kids, to be quiet, we are actually exerting power over them. But when they are asked to be quiet to increase communication, they do so earnestly and even joyfully. In the words of the well known horse trainer Ray Hunt, "it works when you make the right thing easy (in this case,silence) and the wrong thing hard".
My only disappointment was not being able to debrief with the wonderful staff and volunteers at Hearts and Horses immediately after the session. Everyone, and all of those lovely horses showed up 150% for the kids. I absolutely know the kids will take moments from the day with them throughout their lives. I am incredibly grateful for our volunteers!!! I loved how they participated so authentically within their teams and were true partners with the kids. I think their opportunities to act with adults in this fashion are extremely limited. What a gift for the kids!!
Next week we start riding!!!
Our second day was an exploration of EMPATHY and a review of the lessons we learned about RESPECT. The kids formed teams with their volunteer and their horse. Several activities were done in order to foster empathy. Activities were conducted in Equus, the silent language of the horse. We spoke only in debriefings. Not once did we have to redirect kids or ask them to be silent. The kids were all remarkably gentle, kind and candid. Again, several left saying they had never felt so good about themselves in their lives!
I was mesmerized by the contemplative silence as each team groomed their horse. It is now clear to me that silence can be a door way to communication, not the ceasing of it. I believe so often when we ask kids, especially disruptive kids, to be quiet, we are actually exerting power over them. But when they are asked to be quiet to increase communication, they do so earnestly and even joyfully. In the words of the well known horse trainer Ray Hunt, "it works when you make the right thing easy (in this case,silence) and the wrong thing hard".
My only disappointment was not being able to debrief with the wonderful staff and volunteers at Hearts and Horses immediately after the session. Everyone, and all of those lovely horses showed up 150% for the kids. I absolutely know the kids will take moments from the day with them throughout their lives. I am incredibly grateful for our volunteers!!! I loved how they participated so authentically within their teams and were true partners with the kids. I think their opportunities to act with adults in this fashion are extremely limited. What a gift for the kids!!
Next week we start riding!!!