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| POWER | ||||||||||||||||||||
| PONIES | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Learning the Language of Love and Respect | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Power Ponies is an innovative, equine facilitated parenting program for children ages 6-11, and their parents. Participation requires one parent to accompany the child throughout the entire course. The program encourages deep listening on the parts of both parents and children, and provides a fun, family-oriented activity in which to practice lifelong skills of healthy communication. |
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| Young children are mentored by older, experienced Horse Warriors students, and adult volunteers. Parents are taught parenting skills while their children are being taught horse safety, riding skills, and communication techniques. After the children have learned from their mentors, they meet with their parents and teach them how to safely work with horses, and also how to ride. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Journaling is a key component of the Power Ponies program, providing a record of feelings, thoughts and artwork from the curriculum. Both parents and students work in the journal; each day has time set aside for reflection and creativity. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Parenting classes are facilitated by a licensed family counselor, who works closely with the riding instructors and mentors to develop the best types of interactions within families. The Horse Warriors mentors partner up with a Power Ponies student for the duration of the program, using the horse they ride for their own lessons. The Horse Warriors students are thus familiar with the horse, and can help the parents and child work safely and effectively through the horse to develop their own confidence and expertise. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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This program is highly effective because it provides a fun activity for all ages, and gets parents and their children communicating well through pleasure, not stress. It helps establish a foundation for later transitions in life, which are historically more difficult. The horses offer a tangible and non-judgmental way for participants to see progress and succeed with challenges. The end of the year horse painting ceremony incorporates personal symbolism developed in conjunction with individuals' discoveries throughout the course. |
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| Groundwork is an essential part of communication training and confidence building. It helps the child learn to be part of a team, and to experience leadership even at a young age. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Games with horses are structured to include teamwork between parent and child, and between the child and the mentors. Parents are encouraged to keep up with parenting classes throughout the non-riding months of the year. Power Ponies students can graduate and move up to the Horse Warriors program. |  |
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