CHIRON SUPPORT
Equine and Animal Facilitated Learning Center
Services
At Chiron Support we will endeavor to work with the client and their support coordinator to tailor a visit or program of visits, to best suit the client's goals. Our focus is to building self-determination skills and the development of independence. We aim to bring together animals and clients in a safe, supervised space designed to elicit positive and empowering interaction whilst having fun.
Equine Facilitated Learning
Children often do not experience Equine Facilitated Learning as learning in the traditional sense. It is because EFL is experiential and suddenly learning becomes fun! Experiential learning focuses on the learning process for the individual. One example of experiential learning is going to a farm and learning through observation and interaction with the farm environment, as opposed to reading about animals from a book. Most clients will soon realise that excessive noise and/or motion confuses the horse and will result in non-compliance with requests. Often when the modified behaviour has resulted in successful interaction, the behaviour will continue after the client has left the yard or arena. Click here to learn more about EFL.
Movement - "Heavy Work"
Some children pursue movement to the point where it interferes with daily routines, they become
excited during movement tasks, take movement or climbing risks that can be unsafe, bump into things
and fail to notice objects in the way. "Heavy Work' is an activity that provides resistance. Such as pushing, pulling or lifting something. Children who participate in these activities that involve "heavy work', often become more calm, organised in their behaviour and able to follow through with daily activities. There are plenty of opportunities to engage in "Heavy Work" at Chiron Support that are fun. Click here to learn more about Heavy Work.
Learning Life Skills - Caring and Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Animals, especially dogs and horses have been found to empathize with both other animals and humans. Emotional mirroring can work both ways and being around animals can help clients become more empathetic to others. One of the most surprising things that horses and dogs do for us is that they literally make us better people, by increasing our empathy.
Learn and have Fun with the Dogs
It has been proven that both animals and humans learn faster if they are having fun. Facilitation helps to connect new knowledge with experiences. At Chiron Support doing things like helping to set up the agility dog course and number the obstacles, helps the client learn to count. When they get the sequence in the wrong order they are much happier to go back and correct their mistake, so they then get their turn to practice the sequence with the dog.
Activity Room - Learning through Play
Play is an essential strategy for learning. Play is one of the most important ways in which children gain essential knowledge and skills. For this reason, play opportunities and environments that promote play, exploration and hands-on learning are at the core of effective programs. At Chiron Support there are many opportunities and areas for play. Especially in the Activity Room and its surrounding area.
Learn about Safety around Animals
Younger children and some disabled clients are most at risk of being bitten by animals, as they have limited understanding of animal behaviour and are more likely to aggravate or intimidate animals. Injuries caused by animals are the second most frequent cause of emergency room visits each year. At Chiron Support we help to teach clients how to read the signs the animals are telling us and how to safely behave around the animals.
WE ARE HAPPY TO DISCUSS YOUR NEEDS
The are many opportunities here at Chiron Support and we are always open to new ideas.