FAQs
ARE WE RIDING?
No riding is involved. We only work with ponies on the ground in their natural state. All of our work is out of the saddle. Your pony is the teacher, and will work alongside off you as part of your team, rather than as a tool. This way the Pony can be its true self and not be "on the job". This allows for the best and true reaction of the Pony and the most beneficial way of learning for you.
EQUIPMENT?
We provide all of the equipment for the program, you are just in charge of wearing clothes that you don't mind getting a little dirty and closed-toed shoes.
PERMISSION FORMS?
We will send you the permission forms for the participants.
CHAPERONE?
For Large Youth groups, we do ask that 1-2 teachers or staff members accompany the group and for the entire program.
WHAT GROUP SIZES DO YOU WORK WITH?
As small as 2 and to a maximum of 8. Have more people than that? Give us a shout and we can find a solution.
DO I NEED EXPERIENCE WITH PONIES?
Nope. As our program does not require you to ride a pony, no prior experience is necessary. We will inform everyone of the rules and safety precautions to take around the animals and the arena. We always put safety first, but we can accommodate everyone's different comfort levels around the pony.
WHAT IF I'M SCARED OR DON'T LIKE PONIES?
If you aren't being pushed out of your boundaries, you aren't learning. This is an opportunity to overcome your fears or get over preconceived notions. We don't always get to pick our team members at work or school, etc., do we?
DO I NEED CERTAIN CLOTHING?
Although chaps and a pair of cowboy boots aren't required, we do have certain safety requirements when it comes to your clothing; simple things like closed toe shoes and dressing in clothes that you are ok with getting a little dusty or dirty.
WHY PONIES?
Cats, Dogs, Horses, Ponies... what's the difference?
There is nothing like a 1,100 HORSE Teacher…or in our case (with ponies) a 600 lb Teacher. By their intuitive nature and innate sensitivity, ponies can provide facilitators with a window into the participant's personality. As a prey animal, they are sensitive to the stimulus/emotions of each participant. They react to the stimulus through body language and participants must adjust their feelings and behaviors to work successfully with the ponies.
WHY NEWFOUNDLAND PONIES?
The critically endangered Newfoundland Pony was developed over 400 years on the remote, rugged island of Newfoundland, Canada.This pony breed worked side by side with the people who settled that difficult terrain and cold climate. Newfoundlanders say that if it wasn’t for the pony, people wouldnt have survived. That’s because the pony helped them gather wood, plow their gardens, haul fishing nets and transported people. This breed is a partner breed, they excel at helping people. Today there are less than 500 of them on the planet. Striving to help them beat extinction, once again ponies and people are working side by side to navigate life experiences, to survive. Our program educates and brings awareness to the plight of this amazing pony breed while helping the community at the same time. We are the very first all-newfoundland pony equine assisted program in the world.
WHAT CAN A HORSE/PONY TEACH YOU THAT A HUMAN CAN'T?
- Ponies consistently model assertiveness and teach us how.
- Ponies can't lie or over think a participants motive.
- Ponies feedback is honest and instant
- Nature provides them with instincts and senses that are very astute.
- Help to instill empathy and kindness in the participants.
- Ponies have natural "herd behaviours" that require trust, respect, and teamwork from all members of the team.
- Ponies automatically respond to confusion and frustration as these feelings can put the herd at risk.
- They lead through assuredness - not brute force.
- Ponies have distinct personalities and through this, they all have different methods of teaching.
WHAT MAKES US REMEMBER? One of the many bonuses of working with ponies is the component of interactivity because we all learn differently, but we can all take away lessons that we learn through our experiences.
The power of the Pony is the relationship that we make with them.
Side By Side, we engage the body, mind, and spirit of both species.
Side By Side, we engage the body, mind, and spirit of both species.