Our programs

Our Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) programs are a hands-on learning experience with all sessions taking place in an outdoors classroom, with a horse as the teacher. 

Participants work in small groups to develop relationships, accept responsibility and accountability, overcome barriers to find change, be encouraged to be creative and innovative, realise the benefits associated with effective communication and recognise the value of mutual trust, respect and personal integrity. 

Addressing these life skills in a fun, hands-on environment will allow participants to take safe risks, be confident to “think outside the box” to handle challenges, and learn to modify their emotions and behaviour when working with their team-mates to fulfil an activity.  

Through their interaction with their equine teacher, they will learn about themselves, their strengths, their personality and the energy that they give out to everyone around them.  But more importantly … they will gain the resilience, confidence and belief in themselves that they “CAN”, rather than they “cannot”.

The benefits of experiential based learning programs have long been recognised as an ideal modality for enabling a participant to learn life lessons and skills.  As we all learn differently, some of us learn better through hands-on experience than in a traditional classroom. 

Interactivity with horses is a positive experience, and it has been proven that the more senses that are engaged, the greater the likelihood that new learning will be retained.

In addition, working with horses also encourages getting outside, breathing in fresh air, and physical movement.  The horses in our EAL programs do all of the teaching, whilst our accredited and insured facilitators are there to offer guidance and parallel all lessons learnt from the horse/sessions back to real life circumstances for each and every participant.

This type of learning is suitable for everyone and participants do not need any previous horse knowledge or experience.

OUR ASSOC WITH UNISQ – WORDS TBC

(This is where we’ll talk about our collaboration with University of Southern Qld and their Psychology students and matrix measuring of outcomes)

A 90-minute session is held one morning per week, during school term for 6 – 8 weeks. 

These sessions are “team based” and as such, participants will be required to work with 2-3 humans and a horse in each session.  Team mates will change from week to week.  

Maximum of eight participants per session 

Participants will remain in the same session time each week 

If a session is missed, it cannot be made up (cancellations due to weather may be made up depending on availability, but cannot be guaranteed)

Admission to our EAL programs is by referral ONLY from relevant social support agencies and organisations, and is free of charge to those participants who need it the most.

Every participant will be required to complete a Participant Waiver Form and agree to the outlined terms required to participate. Your completed Participant Waiver must be received before the program commences. 

Receipt of your completed waiver does not confirm your enrolment in an upcoming program. A confirmation email will be sent to you to confirm your place once all waivers have been received.

Program objectives will be assessed through feedback by both the participant and their referring agency/social/case workers.  

Reason to Thrive reserves the right to withdraw services, if deemed necessary, after discussion with the relevant support organisation. 

Our program is specifically designed so that you do not need to have any prior knowledge, or experience working with a horse.  We will take you through safety, rules and precautions while you work with a horse in the arena. Your safety and the safety of our horses is always put first.

All of our programs take place on the ground, out of the saddle, where it is easier to interact with the reactions of the horse.  No riding takes place in any of our EAL programs.

All of our horses are specifically selected for their temperament and suitability for EAL, and have been used in the program successfully for several years. They all have different natures and personalities which is useful for different situations and participant needs. 

Our program is specifically designed so that you do not need to have any prior knowledge, or experience working with a horse.  

Each week we will take you through safety, rules and precautions while you work with a horse in the arena. Your safety, and the safety of our horses, is always put first. 

In addition to being given a full safety briefing each week, you will be shown how to recognise the many ways a horse communicates.  A qualified and experienced facilitator is always on hand to assist.

Our horses are fully vaccinated and our Contractors follow guidelines by Bio-Security Queensland for equine best practice and welfare.  

All sessions are conducted by EAL accredited and insured facilitators who all hold Blue Cards. We follow the requirements of Safe Work Australia in relation to horse activities, and conduct risk assessments throughout the day, and have a fully qualified first aider available at all times.

All of our programs take place on the ground, out of the saddle, where it is easier to interact with the reactions of the horse.  No riding takes place in any of our EAL programs.