Equine Guided Education incorporates horses experientially to promote    emotional growth and learning. Participants learn about themselves and others by  engaging in activities with the horses and then processing feelings, behaviors and    patterns which are revealed. The advantage to this model is that horses are dynamic  and powerful beings. Horses have no hidden agendas, are always authentic, live in  the present moment and are always truthful. Horses are prey animals which means  they rely on the emotional messaging of the herd to stay safe and alive. Horses are  therefore hundreds of times more sensitive to our own emotional energy and the messages we send through our non-verbal language. According to a pilot study conducted by Alliant International University (California, USA), Professor Ellen Gehrke, and the Institute of HeartMath (www.heartmath.org) a horse’s heart rhythms reflect their emotional state and can respond to the emotional state of a nearby human. Moving through activities with the equine guides allows us as humans to respond to this heart connection in a profound and meaningful way.

The Program

The focus of Equine Guided Education is not on riding or horsemanship. In fact, the bulk of the activities are done through ground exercises involving the horses which require the group/client to apply certain skills. Non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking and problem-solving, leadership team work, and relationships are some of the tools utilized.

Horses are provided. You don’t have to own a horse to participate.

About Heather Russell

Heather has always had a love affair with horses and has been involved with them in one aspect or another since she was a small child. It wasn’t until she had worked as a teacher, youth worker, and counselor that she began to understand the power and magic of the horse-human relationship. With over 20 years experience working with high risk youth and their families, she wanted to unite these two passions. She now considers herself a bridge-builder, bringing people and horses together in healing relationships.

Heather was fortunate to find Healing Hooves and Sue McIntosh. She completed Sue’s Advanced Workshop in the Equine Assisted Counseling model in 2006. Since that time, Heather has been strongly influenced by the work of Linda Kohanov, Leif Hallberg, Arianna Strozzi and Linda-Ann Bowling.

The programs Heather has offered have usually focused on at-risk youth and adults in recovery from addiction. While doing her own personal work with the horses, she had the revelation that we all need a “herd” and this brought about the creation of the program designed specifically for women.

Sponsored by HorseSense HorseManShip

Picture yourself cantering along on your lively, mature horse through a shallow flood plain next to a herd of giraffe, you watch in amazement their slow motion canter and wonder to yourself, how else would you experience something of this magnitude in this remote wilderness! The close encounters with wildlife that you experience from the saddle are breath-taking indeed.

African Horseback Safaris is an award winning horseback safari operator based at Macatoo Camp on the western side of the Okavango Delta . The camp offers 6 large, classic African safari style tents, each with twin beds and their own en-suite shower and loo. The soft light of oil lanterns light the tents at night. Centrally there is a large mess tent with sofas, books and games, a terrace from where you enjoy the spectacular sunsets and tucked away, is a private, inviting, rockpool. Meals are cooked on the open fire and are delightfully tasty. It is here that horse-mad people from all over the world meet to share this glorious wildlife experience.

A Horseback safari in a Big 5 (lion, rhino, elephant, leopard and buffalo) wilderness area demands good riding skills.  You will need to feel confident about keeping up with the group, capable of riding at all paces; rising to the trot and controlling your horse at the canter. You may be required to gallop out of trouble, so beginners will not be allowed to ride. However you are still welcome at the camp if you are not a proficient horse rider. Other game activities are offered to the partners of those horse-mad people.

Going on safari on horseback means that you will be riding between 4 and 6 hours a day into the wilderness viewing various game species from the back of your horse. A maximum of 7 guests will join a safari. The horses are well trained, sure-footed and fit and you will be matched up with a horse of good size and temperament for you.

Qualified experienced field guides will lead you on horseback through the delta interpreting the intricate language of the African bush, reading tracks and signs left by wildlife and following them for that classic close up sighting. The rangers have a natural love of the bush and a very intimate understanding of its inhabitants. You can rest assured that you will be well looked after.

Macatoo Camp is a remote bush camp within the Okavango Delta and getting there can only be done by light aircraft flight from Maun or Kasane. Combining this safari camp with a few nights in Chobe National Park in northern Botswana allows for a wonderfully varied itinerary.

Africa Tamed, a well established tour operator based in Cape Town, South Africa, offers a range of fun Escorted Tours, Self Drive Packages and Fly-in Safaris throughout southern Africa. With a focus on friendly personal attention and with an extensive travel knowledge based on over 16 years of travel experience, they can assure you of a wonderful, memorable African holiday.

Equestrian model was popularized when Ralph Lauren hit the style globe by storm. He created both nautical and equestrian types livable for mainstream persons. It became feasible and cost-effective to possess the sporting way of life search. And although several folks took up stirrup pants and hacking jackets, decorating with equestrian design may be close to for hundreds of many years. Search no additional than the English countryside. No matter whether you’ve acquired equestrian pieces on the barn, or that you are just commencing out, giving your house or area an equestrian estate really feel isn’t challenging. As with any layout, the crucial would be to begin having a strategy that consists of well-thought-out home furniture placement plus a beneficial colour scheme. Conventional furnishings functions very best when designing an equestrian fashion area. Dark, significant wood home furniture with great high quality upholstery or leather offers thoughts towards the English countryside, where by most equestrian trends originated. Steeped in custom and tradition, equestrian aspects have transformed small by means of the centuries. Garner suggestions from ebooks and magazines, or look for the net for suggestions.

As soon as furnishings placement may be established, anchor the place having a great rug. Vintage rugs protected fine wood floors from muddy hunting boots, several hounds, and nation parties. These rugs had been handmade and vegetable dyed. Today’s production rugs lack some in the character on the older rugs, but can nevertheless lend the type and are usually a smart option to provide a place in concert.

Equestrians adore artwork, and fine art that consists of the horse is usually a preferred. Some equestrian artists have stood out by means of the many years, with George Stubbs becoming immensely well-liked throughout England’s sporting days. His operates are classic, stunning, and have colour schemes which are simple with which to function. Reproductions of his paintings are obtainable on the net.

No equestrian area will be total without having horse tack, the gear leather items employed in riding and instruction horses. Regardless of whether you select stainless steel stirrups or bits, old horseshoes, or leather strap items, these pieces strategically placed are essential aspects to provide your room to lifestyle. A preferred of ours is really a silver mint julep cup utilised to hold pens or flowers. Stirrups make excellent bookends. Harness brasses may be framed or mounted cleverly more than light plates. Snaffle bits can serve as window panel tie backs. Equestrian guides are one more design and style element which is easily readily available and brings authenticity for your place. These textbooks are obtainable as novels, instruction publications, or picture ebooks.

To add softness and comfort for your room, yet even now preserve design, contemplate adding needlepoint or horse themed equestrian pillows. Throw pillows arrive in numerous types and colors. Search for standard fabrics and authentic embellishments like fox hunt buttons, harness brasses, or other pieces of horse gear.

Bringing equestrian fashion for a residence or room adds character. Horses have had a close relationship with man for most of human background. Only because the invention on the automobile have we been so distanced from him. Provide equestrian design for your house by utilizing these pattern tips, and provide horses into your decor.

 Baskets

I love baskets! Especially wicker baskets.  But any basket will do.  I was looking through a desk drawer the other day and found a basket I had forgotten about.  I said to my husband `look a pretty basket!`He wasn’t excited as I was, and now i have to find someplace to put it and something to put in it. Not a hard task, and I will accomplish that task.

Where do you use baskets? I have one in the bathroom filled with hair accessories. My daughter 

was helping out and filled it with hair pins, elastics and other hair pretties. I put plants in baskets, pens/pencils in baskets, fruit in hanging baskets, toys in baskets and even napkins in baskets.

When we were looking for picnic baskets they were hard to find. So we started hunting for picnic baskets and decided to sell them online. It is so much fun to go on picnics taking our insulated basket which has plates, cups and cutlery in it. So convieneint to grab it, fill it with food and off we go.

Baskets come in all shapes sizes and material. The most common, in my mind, are made with wicker. But some are made with wood, some cloth, some aluminum or whatever material is handy.  You can find books on how to make your own baskets, cruise garage sales to find unique styles or buy one at the craft store. What fun to find a basic basket, then fancy it up with ribbons and bows. Gather up your children and spend an afternoon creating a special basket for special occassion. Make one for dad, filled with his favorite after shave, snacks, coffee/tea and a new book to read. 

Baskets – You Gotta Lov’em!!

 

Stress is a very common occurrence when we are faced with a troublesome situation. There is stress in all facets of everyday life, some of which can be more detrimental to your health than others. With the hectic pace of life filled with demands, deadlines, meetings and travel, it is almost impossible to completely eliminate it from your life.

However, if you learn to recognize the symptoms of stress and how to deal with them, you will realize that you can live a healthier and happier life. Stress is not always bad for you because it will help you perform better and give you the motivation that you need.

In recognizing the symptoms of stress, you should realize that this is the body\’s normal reaction to what it perceives as dangerous situations. When you do have this response, you know that your body is working the way it should to keep you alert. In some cases, the body\’s response to stress can save your life in an emergency situation.

Since the body cannot tell the difference between a real and a perceived threat, it prepares the body for fight or flight in all situations where stress is involved. This causes a rise in your blood pressure and decreases the strength of your immune system. The symptoms of stress that you experience can be mental or physical depending on the situation.

Mental symptoms of stress include:

· memory problems

· inability to concentrate

· making poor decisions

· focusing on the negative rather than the positive

· having a constant feeling of worry

· being irritable or short-tempered

· moodiness

· inability to relax

· feeling lonely or depressed

Some of the physical symptoms of stress are:

· muscle aches and pains

· bowel problems

· stomach upset

· chest pain

· rapid heartbeat

· frequent colds

· loss of appetite

· sleeping too much or not getting enough sleep

· neglecting responsibilities

· resorting to alcohol or drug abuse

· nervous habits

It is quite common to experience some of these symptoms of stress on occasion, but when you have a large amount of stress in your life, this can lead to many different kinds of illness. You need to keep a check on how often you feel stressed and consider whether you may be suffering from an overload of stress.

There are signs and symptoms of stress overload of which you should also be aware. If you are quick to anger in common situations where anger is not warranted this could be a sign that you are really stressed out and that you should remove yourself from the situation. The opposite reaction could also be a symptom if you withdraw from a harmless situation for fear of it developing into something that you are unable to handle.

There are both internal and external causes of stress and once you recognize what these triggers are, you will be in a better position to cope with the symptoms of stress when they arise. Major life changes are one of the leading causes and they do take some time for you to adjust.

Work related stress is the leading cause of employee illness and sick days. Financial difficulties and problems in a relationship are also common causes of stress. When you feel that you are overwhelmed and can no longer deal with ordinary issues, you should consider asking for professional help. — In recognizing the symptoms of stress, you should realize that this is the body\’s normal reaction to what it perceives as dangerous situations. When you do have this response, you know that your body is working the way it should to keep you alert. Source: http://www.articletrader.com