Equine Assisted Learning day for students at St. Charles College

Students at St. Charles College spent a day last week developing communication and leadership skills with the help of horses.Grade 11 Specialist High Skills Major students studying Health and Wellness participated in Equine Assisted Learning at PMC Performance Horses in Val Caron.

EAL is a dynamic and innovative way to encourage students to develop both communication and leadership skills. It forces them to step outside of their comfort zones and collaboratively problem solve.

Teacher Mrs. Julie Dion says “Our students thoroughly enjoyed working with the horses and the immediate feedback that horses provide through their responses to students’ body language. Even some of the more hesitant students quickly became at ease with the kind and safe horses used in the program along with the reassuring guidance of the facilitators.”

Through the exercises students learned how to refine their communication skills (both physically and verbally) as well as effectively work as a team member to achieve a given goal.

Teacher Mary-Lynn Poirier says “It was wonderful to see how engaged students were with this program. There were many smiles, laughs and “aha” moments throughout the day!”

This is the second year in a row St. Charles College has worked with the team at PMC Performance Horses.