[vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content_no_spaces” bg_type=”image” parallax_style=”vcpb-vz-jquery” bg_image_new=”id^782|url^https://www.italyhorseexperience.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/why-horses_header2.jpg|caption^Why horses|alt^Why horses|title^why-horses_header2|description^Why horses” bg_image_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_override=”ex-full” enable_overlay=”enable_overlay_value” overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.5)” overlay_pattern=”transperant” seperator_enable=”seperator_enable_value” seperator_type=”tilt_left_seperator” seperator_position=”bottom_seperator” seperator_svg_height=”100″ seperator_shape_background=”#ffffff” css=”.vc_custom_1564005156176{background-color: #000000 !important;}”][vc_column css=”.vc_custom_1550339593556{padding-top: 14% !important;padding-bottom: 130px !important;}”][rev_slider alias=”why-horses”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id=”customretreats” css=”.vc_custom_1558562554141{padding-top: 65px !important;padding-bottom: 15px !important;}”][vc_column offset=”vc_col-lg-offset-1 vc_col-lg-10 vc_col-md-offset-1 vc_col-md-10″][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Why horses in team building activities?” spacer=”line_only” spacer_position=”middle” line_height=”3″ line_width=”200″ el_class=”accent-border-color color-title” main_heading_style=”font-weight:bold;” main_heading_font_size=”desktop:34px;” main_heading_line_height=”desktop:44px;” sub_heading_font_size=”desktop:20px;” sub_heading_line_height=”desktop:32px;” main_heading_margin=”margin-bottom:15px;” spacer_margin=”margin-bottom:35px;”]The horse is basically a prey animal and, as such, it is always in close contact with the environment that surrounds it. A horse is constantly keeping active attention on what is happening around him for a matter of obvious survival.
Responding to the deepest and most archaic instincts that distinguish him from other animals, a horse is able to distinguish between a calm and non-threatening approach to one that is anxious, nervous and a potential predatory interaction.
Therefore, the possible reactions will be consequential to the approach of the human interlocutor (especially respect to what he/she communicates on the non verbal and corporeal side). The horse will trust and welcome the individual if the latter approaches appropriately. however, the horse will avoid him/her or flee if the person shows a behaviour perceived dangerous or aggressive by the horse.
The horse is perfectly capable of understanding the levels of decision, authority and assertiveness that a person expresses in the interaction – and it will adapt as a consequence – regardless of the strategies and skills that will be used to achieve a “gaming” goal, but always respecting the fundamental approaching rules and communicative “style” anticipated by the trainers at the beginning of each single planned activity.
These important characteristics that belong and define the horse are the basis of the added value of our team building and life / executive coaching activities. These practices represent a wonderful opportunity to become aware of what we really communicate at the unconscious and non-verbal level.
Gifted with a deep sensitivity and an immediate receptivity, when it comes to interaction with the human being, the horse is able to respond with an immediate feedback to everything that our body transmits. Whether this is more or less voluntarily, it can allow a highlight to the awareness in all the different facets that characterize communications between humans.
Like a reflected image, interaction with the horse can help us recognize and become aware of our behaviours and feelings before we can even understand ourselves.
Horses are social animals: their survival in nature is linked to the herd and its social rules.
This pack instinct is maintained also by well trained horses and horses that live in captivity.Despite living in enclosed spaces, there is a natural hierarchy that is rarely challenged once established within a horse herd.
Each horse of the herd has an important role and must be subordinated to group rules. The origins of these hierarchy rules have been lost in the mists of time.
Working with horses, we become part of their herd and we must accept the team rules.Even if this means we must bring our personal leadership skills in order to be recognized as part of the group, this will lead to our acceptance within the herd.
On the communicative side horses are quite simple: the dynamics that are adopted by the animal – without any prejudice against the human and not judging him/her – simply express a reaction to what we are, what we are feeling, doing or thinking in that precise moment.
Horses in a team building initiative become particularly effective and facilitating in all those contexts where the goal is the strengthening of communication, listening, assertiveness, negotiation, emotional intelligence, diversity and leadership as well as the communicative-collaborative dynamics of specific teams.
Team building initiatives, combined with the horse presence, are able to integrate perfectly a unique way rational that have elements and emotional aspects.
The activities we propose take place in equestrian centres, agritourisme, ranches, farms and partner farms spread throughout the Italian territory; briefing and debriefing moments are an essential part of the proposals that bring back to the company daily life and to the themes that focus the core of the path goals .
Every team building activity with horses will take place on the ground. Horseback riding activities will not be set or planned. Therefore, no previous experiences or knowledge in this field are required.
Whether team building or training / coaching, the interaction with the horse stimulates and allows the development of a series of skills:
- Relationship aspects
-
- Effective communication
- Use of various communication codes
- To adapt to a different way of interacting with external environment
- Active listening and Interpretation
- To read metalinguistic and non-verbal aspects
- Leadership
- …
- Cognitive and behavioural aspects
-
- Negotiation
- Ability to adapt
- Identification of new strategies to approach critical situations and / or the unexpected
- Problem solving
- Constant control of feedbacks in order to find an possible behavioural adaptation
- Persuasive skills
- Decision-making skills (even in a short time and based on an evaluation of various factors that need to be analyzed)
- …
- Emotional intelligence
-
- Observation (especially of the less obvious aspects)
- Identification, understanding (self-control) and management of emotions
- Capacity of looking for a mediation point when resolving potential conflicts
- Valorisation of talents-potentialities-different behaviours or others
- Awareness of one’s personal emotions and frame of minds
- Development of intrinsic motivation to achieve one’s own goals
- Ability to influence, motivate and inspire others
- Empathize, that means the ability to get other people’s point of views, to understand their reasoning (for example during an argument), and to recognize and understand other people emotions, often in an intuitive way, picking up subtle, nonverbal messages
- …
[/ultimate_heading][vc_empty_space height=”100px”][/vc_column][/vc_row]