It's a workday and I'm running around a paddock with my colleagues; arms linked we are enticing Phoenix, a beautiful white Welsh Arab pony cross to follow us. This is my style of team building!
Image Courtesy of Skerrett Equine
Donning a plaid shirt and gumboots I headed to Kulangoor on the Sunshine Coast for a day of empowerment like no other. Striving to empower people through horses,
Skerrett Equine, offers a unique and innovative approach to team building, leadership training and discovering your authentic self.
Image Courtesy of Skerrett Equine: Phoenix
Ben and his wife Linda Skerrett began Skerrett Equine after discovering from their horse training business that horse training is more about training people rather than horses. Ben is a qualified Eponaquest Equine Facilitated Experimental Learning Instructor and a Riding Focused Instructor. He has also completed a diploma in counselling.
Programs are based on either Equine Facilitated Learning where all activities are based on the ground with a horse in the yard or Rider-Focused Learning, on the back of the horse.
Our tailored program began with mandala creation. Representing unity and wholeness, this circle art form provides a meaningful reflection of the creator from the colours used through to lines and shapes. With nature as our inspiration, we explored the concept of communication.
Ensuring we were confident before entering the horse enclosure, Ben led us through a body scan meditation and a simulation. The body scan is a guided self-awareness process that allows the participant to move awareness through their body. As horses pick up on our mental and emotional state, before reflecting that energy back to us, we were required to tap into our intuition.
Image Courtesy of Skerrett Equine: Body Scan
As horses respond to subtle shifts in energy, emotions and body language we worked in pairs during the simulation, with one person acting as the horse and the other as the human, to understood how to approach Phoenix and set boundaries.
In groups of three and four, we climbed into the pen. The objective of this leadership activity was to have Phoenix follow us without a halter or lead rope, thereby increasing connection and trust. Paying attention to his ears and tail we rocked back and forth until Phoenix provided us with the signals to approach. Quiet and calm, Phoenix watched us with interest. Originally a rescue horse, Phoenix has been in Ben and Linda's care for the past 11 years.
Image Courtesy of Skerrett Equine: Leadership through Relationship Activity
Our final activity for the day was the connective round pen. Standing in a circle in groups of five, we worked together to entice Phoenix to walk and trot around us.
Image Courtesy of Skerrett Equine: Connective Round Pen Activity
Image Courtesy of Skerrett Equine: Connective Round Pen Activity
The day concludes with a reflective session. Skerrett Equine runs one and two-day team building workshops. Materials provided include a workbook, relevant theory and methodology and stationery. At the end of the session, each participant will receive a certificate of attendance.
Skerrett Equine also offers authenticity workshops. Cultivate your authenticity on the two-day, Journey to Authenticity Workshop. According to Ben, horses open the door to our authenticity, self-love and allows us to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. Knowledge of horses is not required.
Image Courtesy of Skerrett Equine: Phoenix
This is an empowering space for self-development and personal growth. For enhanced productivity and efficiency and more cohesive teamwork, look no further than Skerrett Equine.
