Why Horses?

Manitou Connections, LLC recognizes and understands the power of horses to influence people in significant ways.  Horses are incredibility intuitive, a characteristic unknown to many people.  Interacting with horses naturally affects the people involved in a positive manner.  The benefits of responsibility, assertiveness, communication, and healthy relationships are recognized as important characteristics for individuals to succeed.  Interacting with horses mirrors the importance of these characteristics. The partnering with horses to assist in professional and personal growth is a model that is increasingly being used nationally and internationally.

Horses are very much like humans in that they are social animals.

• They have defined roles within their herds.
• They would rather be with their peers.
•  Like humans, they have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods.
• An approach that seems to work with one horse, does not necessarily work with another…the same is true of humans.
• At times, horses seem stubborn and defiant….they also like to have fun.

Horses provide vast opportunities for metaphorical learning.

• Using metaphors, in discussion or activities, is an effective learning technique when working with even the most challenging individuals or groups.

Horses require people to be engaged in physical and mental work to be successful.

• These are valuable characteristics in all aspects of life.

Horses have the ability to mirror exactly what human body language is telling them. 

• When participants complain, "The horse is stubborn. The horse doesn’t like me.”, the horse is simply responding to the participants’ body language.
• The lesson to be learned is that if participants change themselves, the horses respond differently…this is an excellent lesson for both the participants professional and personal life.

Horses are honest, which makes them especially powerful messengers.

Horses require the participants working with them to be honest and respectful if tasks are to be completed. 

• Honesty and respect are characteristics that greatly improve human interactions and dynamics.

Horses are large and powerful and can be naturally challenging to some individuals.

• This creates a natural opportunity for some to overcome fear and develop confidence.
• Accomplishing a task involving the horse, in spite of those fears, creates confidence and provides for wonderful metaphors when dealing with other challenging situations in life.

Working with the horse requires participants to stay focused on the horse, the goals of the activity, and with fellow participants.  These skills are an important key to success.