BULLYING IN SCHOOLS
"Bullying in schools is a worldwide problem that can have negative consequences for the general school climate and for the right of students to learn in a safe environment without fear. Bullying can also have negative lifelong consequences--both for students who bully and for their victims. Although much of the formal research on bullying has taken place in the Scandinavian countries, Great Britain and Japan, the problems associated with bullying have been noted and discussed wherever formal schooling environments exist."
*RON BANKS - EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE INFORMATION CENTER (U.S. Department of Education)--updated on Jul 15, 2013
*RON BANKS - EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE INFORMATION CENTER (U.S. Department of Education)--updated on Jul 15, 2013
BULLYING ISSUES CAN BE SOLVED THROUGH EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING
The news is filled with stories about victims of bullying. What we don't see is the flipside, life from the bully's pespective. A child with bullying issues may be just as much a victim in his own life as the child he directs his aggression towards. Many bullies are children who have been overlooked, misdiagnosed, suffering from neurological disabilities, or abused children themselves. Our equine programs are ideal for a child who exhibits aggressive behavior and anti-social communication skills.
THE CALMING EFFECTS OF PONIES
Equine programs have been used in prison systems to help inmates learn gentility, trust, and compassion. Violent inmates have been given the task of caring for retired racehorses that would otherwise be put down. Over time, these inmates became more docile, more responsible for their duties and actions, and displayed a willingness to engage in behavioural therapies. These big-strung Thoroughbred horses were well taken care of, retrained for ridieng purposes, and displayed a change in temperament as well. Creating a bond between animal and caregiver has proven to work "miracles". For the aggressive or anti-social child, equine therapy can make all the difference in the world.
Ponies are prey animals. They are able to sense aggression even if it is not exhibited outwardly. Their prey animal nature makes them one of the most responsive animals to human interaction, watching, observing,and reacting to their human caregiver. Working with ponies teaches children that they will accomplish more through beirng assertive in a positive way rather than forcing their way through life and being aggressive.
Equine programs have been used in prison systems to help inmates learn gentility, trust, and compassion. Violent inmates have been given the task of caring for retired racehorses that would otherwise be put down. Over time, these inmates became more docile, more responsible for their duties and actions, and displayed a willingness to engage in behavioural therapies. These big-strung Thoroughbred horses were well taken care of, retrained for ridieng purposes, and displayed a change in temperament as well. Creating a bond between animal and caregiver has proven to work "miracles". For the aggressive or anti-social child, equine therapy can make all the difference in the world.
Ponies are prey animals. They are able to sense aggression even if it is not exhibited outwardly. Their prey animal nature makes them one of the most responsive animals to human interaction, watching, observing,and reacting to their human caregiver. Working with ponies teaches children that they will accomplish more through beirng assertive in a positive way rather than forcing their way through life and being aggressive.
FROM ANGER TO PEACE
Equine Assisted Learning programs are wonderful for helping troubled children and teens reestablish themselves as confident and assertive young people without the need for aggression. Many of the bullying issues in children and teenagers are brought about from living for an extended period of time in difficult circumstances. There may even be cases of abuse and neglect that have forced a child to react to the world with aggression and mistrust. Often the only refuge for a person who has been abused is to become the abuser themselves.
An equine program is one of the most remarkable forms of therapy that you can give to a child who is in danger of becoming a statistic. Research has shown that people who are in contact with animals, even for a short period of time, experience a better quality of health, as well as a more stable and measured outlook on life. Being around a friendly and responsive animal significantly decreases the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Many children and young people with bullying issues have raised levels of of cortisol and live in a continual cycle of stress. The same is true for a victim of bullying, just being around horses can raise the levels of confidence and assertion within a timid child.
In Canada children with bullying issues who attended the Equine Assisted Learning program at Equine Connection (http://www.equineconnection.ca) have shown a significant improvement in a short period of time. That is the same program that we offer at Side By Side People and Ponies LLC. This type of therapy works almost miraculous results and has been used effectively by state funded juvenile departments in Canada as a way to reach out to children who are on the edge and those are the ones that we need to save.
An equine program is one of the most remarkable forms of therapy that you can give to a child who is in danger of becoming a statistic. Research has shown that people who are in contact with animals, even for a short period of time, experience a better quality of health, as well as a more stable and measured outlook on life. Being around a friendly and responsive animal significantly decreases the levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Many children and young people with bullying issues have raised levels of of cortisol and live in a continual cycle of stress. The same is true for a victim of bullying, just being around horses can raise the levels of confidence and assertion within a timid child.
In Canada children with bullying issues who attended the Equine Assisted Learning program at Equine Connection (http://www.equineconnection.ca) have shown a significant improvement in a short period of time. That is the same program that we offer at Side By Side People and Ponies LLC. This type of therapy works almost miraculous results and has been used effectively by state funded juvenile departments in Canada as a way to reach out to children who are on the edge and those are the ones that we need to save.
