Equine & Farm Animal Facilitated Programs

Condensed 3-Week Program

Program Overview

This 3-week program offers school-age children (ages 7-12) the opportunity to interact with horses and farm animals in a structured and supportive environment. The program focuses on building essential life skills, such as communication, emotional regulation, and teamwork, through hands-on learning experiences with animals. This shorter program offers a focused experience that still allows for significant personal growth, animal bonding, and skill development in a supportive, nature-centered environment.

Program Goals

• Emotional Growth: Improve self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience.

• Social Skills: Enhance teamwork, communication, and problem-solving abilities.

• Physical Development: Promote physical coordination, balance, and motor skills through activities with animals.

• Connection with Nature: Foster an appreciation for animals and the environment.

Program Structure

The program runs for three consecutive weeks, with each session lasting 2 hours. Sessions are a blend of education, interaction with animals, and group discussions. Each group will consist of a maximum of 6 children.

Week 1: Introduction to Animals and Building Connections

• Meet and greet with the animals (horses, goats, chickens, etc.).

• Overview of animal behavior and safety guidelines.

• Icebreaker activities: Bonding with the animals through grooming and feeding.

• Discussion: What can animals teach us about emotions and relationships?

Week 2: Communication and Emotional Regulation

• Understanding non-verbal communication with horses and other animals.

• Hands-on activity: Leading a horse through simple obstacles.

• Group task: Managing emotions during animal care activities.

• Discussion: How do we communicate without words? What emotions did you feel?

Week 3: Trust, Teamwork, and Reflection

• Team activities: Working together to complete a small farm task (e.g., feeding, building).

• Guided exercise: Trust-building with horses (riding or leading, based on comfort).

• Reflection activity: What have you learned about yourself through your time with the animals?

• Celebration: Fun farm-based activities to celebrate personal growth.

Program Details

• Location: Relentless Equestrian Stables

• Duration: 3 weeks (2 hours per session)

• Class Size: Maximum of 6 children per group

• Age Group: 7-12 years

• Days and Time:

Pricing

• Cost per child: $200 for the full 3-week program (covers all activities, materials, and use of animals).

• Payment Plan: $100 deposit at registration and the remaining $100 by Week 2.

Registration and Contact Information

• How to Register:

• Contact Us: For more information or to schedule a tour, call 508-523-4919 or email JJarnes@Relentless-Stables.org

6-Week Program

Program Overview

Our 6-week program is designed for school-age children (ages 7-12) and focuses on building life skills through interaction with horses and farm animals. The program provides children with opportunities to develop confidence, communication skills, emotional regulation, and empathy through structured activities. Each session incorporates hands-on learning, animal care, and group discussions.

Program Goals

• Emotional Growth: Improve self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience.

• Social Skills: Enhance teamwork, communication, and problem-solving abilities.

• Physical Development: Promote physical coordination, balance, and motor skills through activities with animals.

• Connection with Nature: Foster an appreciation for animals and the environment.

Program Structure

The program runs for six consecutive weeks, with each weekly session lasting 2 hours. Sessions include structured learning, guided animal interactions, and a debriefing discussion. A maximum of 6 children are enrolled per group to ensure personalized attention and safety.

Week 1: Introduction to Animals and Program Goals

• Meet the animals (horses, goats, chickens, etc.).

• Introduction to animal behavior and safety.

• Icebreaker activities with animals.

• Discussion: How can animals teach us about emotions?

Week 2: Communication with Horses

• Learn basic horse communication (body language, tone).

• Grooming and caring for the animals.

• Group activity: Leading a horse through obstacles.

• Discussion: What did the horse teach you about non-verbal communication?

Week 3: Trust and Empathy Building

• Bonding exercises with animals (feeding, petting).

• Group activities with goats and smaller farm animals.

• Role-play: Building trust through positive interactions.

• Discussion: How do we build trust with others?

Week 4: Emotional Regulation

• Calm and focus: Practicing mindfulness with animals.

• Learning how animals respond to human emotions.

• Guided activity: Managing frustration during an animal obstacle course.

• Discussion: How can we manage emotions in stressful situations?

Week 5: Problem Solving and Teamwork

• Team activities involving farm tasks and animal care.

• Working together to build a small farm project (e.g., building an animal shelter).

• Discussion: What challenges did we face, and how did we solve them as a team?

Week 6: Celebrating Growth

• Final horse related ground based activity.

• Reflecting on personal growth and lessons learned from animals.

• Group celebration with farm-based activities.

• Closing discussion: What did you learn about yourself and others?