Experiential Education Around Horses

Pony riding is a wonderful activity for children to explore the world of horses. Here is some information about it:

1. What is pony riding?

   • In pony riding, children have the opportunity to sit on a pony and gently move across the pasture.
   • It is a great way for children to build trust and enjoy the closeness to these friendly animals.

2. How does pony riding work?

   • Children are accompanied by experienced caregivers who ensure that the activity is age-appropriate and safe.
   • The ponies are well-trained and patient, providing children with a pleasant experience.

3. Why is pony riding important?

   • It promotes children's motor skills.
   • Children playfully learn to interact respectfully with animals.
   • It creates a connection to nature and the animal world.

Pony Pass

The Pony Pass is an offer for all children who want to learn more about ponies and horses. Preschool children can also participate very well. In addition to the practical part, which includes leading, riding, and playing with and around the pony, there is always a theoretical part that can be well answered even by younger children.

When the little ones participate in the Pony Pass, they not only learn the proper handling of ponies but also the basics of care and riding. It is a great way to build trust and enjoy the closeness to these friendly animals. 

Equestrian Education

Equestrian education is a playful encounter with the horse suitable for children, training, promoting, and strengthening all senses. It offers a wide range of experiential opportunities around, with, and on the horse. The fundamental idea of equestrian education is to learn the proper handling of horses in a pedagogical and at the same time playful way. This approach addresses the individual holistically when dealing with the horse and being carried: physically, emotionally, cognitively, and socially. Therefore, a significant aspect of equestrian education is building a relationship, leading and caring for a horse, mounting, being carried, and enjoying the experience. It's not just about riding itself, but mainly about the respectful, fear-free interaction with the horse. This can positively influence well-being, social behavior, and personality development. The sessions take place in individual settings, in pairs, or in groups.

The target groups for equestrian education are diverse and include children and adolescents with various special needs and disabilities, such as:

• Learning and intellectual disabilities
• Developmental delays
• Autism
• Low self-esteem/self-confidence
• Communication and concentration difficulties
• Anxieties
• AD(H)D
• Problems with social behavior
• Postural damage
• Movement disorders
• Perceptual disorders

The horse plays a central role in equestrian education. It provides movement stimuli on a neurophysiological basis and allows for developmental opportunities in the emotional, physical, cognitive, and social fields. Moreover, the horse satisfies fundamental needs such as positive attention, warmth, skin contact, and being carried. Its non-judgmental behavior can trigger certain psychological processes and promote learning processes that can transfer to other areas.

Life is Balance
Sophie Letsch
Im Hanfgarten 3, 54558 Mückeln
+49 17695448058
life-is-balance@freenet.de