There's a new addition to the stables of Naturally Nurtured.
Ley-Anne Mountain recently acquired Star, a 16-year-old paint pony. Star is joining Mountain's menagerie of animal-assisted learning animals that features a dog, cats, horses and rabbits, including the locally famous bunny Einstein.
Star will be used for equine-assisted learning. Mountain said kids who participate in her day camps learn through interaction with the animals.
“They say that a horse will mirror (your feelings) back to you,” Mountain said. With Star, participants will do exercises with the horse like getting her to step into a hula hoop or keeping their boundaries by keeping her out of a hoop.
There are seven units taught as part of Mountain's program that help the children learn relaxation, co-operation, self-esteem and self-care. Each unit is accompanied by a related craft.
The different exercises are one thing, but even brushing the horse can help translate into lessons for the camp participants.
“Even the grooming aspects are transferred into personal hygiene,” Mountain said.
Working with the animals helps teach the children mindfulness, Mountain said. It also helps reconnect the kids to nature.
“We do it all outside,” she said of her small day camps.
The relaxation and mindfulness techniques can help people learn to take a step back before having an emotional episode like a temper tantrum, Mountain said.
As for the new pony, her “gracious age” helps make her good for working with kids, Mountain said.
“She is very pre-trained,” Mountain said of Star. Star's calm personality helps make her an ideal pony for equine-assisted learning.
Mountain has day camps running throughout the summer. She and Einstein have been making trips into schools, including École John Wilson Elementary School this past winter. She said four different schools have already contacted her about programming for the next school year.
