Handling Ponies – a non-ridden experience.

Sessions are a combination of practical skills and equine therapy benefits. They are designed to inspire and enable people to bring activities with nature into their lives, with a view to improved physical and mental wellbeing for lasting change.

You will learn:

• Safety around the ponies – the importance of raising or lowering our energy, finding a safe level to engage with the ponies, keeping our energy focus in the moment.

• Rope skills – the specific knots used to tie the head collar onto the pony and to tie the pony up.

• Map reading skills- how to find footpaths, Rights of Way access, Countryside Code, your rights and responsibilities while walking.

• Brushing the ponies down – learning how and why we do this, hands on connection with the ponies.

• Equine Facilitated Learning activity – finding your safe energy level to manage the pony, walking in pairs with a pony around an obstacle course in the paddock, finding your voice with the pony, the appropriate level of handling to enable a working relationship.

• Refreshments are served – tea and coffee making, a light cheese and biscuits snack (dietary requirements catered for), compromising of various local cheeses, crackers, salad items and chutneys giving participants the opportunity to ‘de-brief’ and discuss at the end of the session.

Please note that additional health & safety information will follow before the event, so keep an eye out for this in your email inbox.

Please book early to avoid disappointment! Events will be cancelled if not enough places are taken. Please note these events are for ICS staff only and are only suitable for people aged over 18.

Give Nature a Go, is a nature-based wellbeing offer delivered by Health and Nature Dorset (HAND) under the Dorset ICS Enhanced Staff Wellbeing Programme.

Events are only open to staff (including bank staff) from across Dorset’s Integrated Care System working in NHS Trusts, social care, primary care, and the unitary councils (BCP and Dorset Councils).

If you are not sure if you, or friends and family, are eligible to attend, please email HAND@dorsetlnp.org.uk.

Give Nature a Go: Pony Handling with The Ancient Trails Company