What we can learn from horses

WARWICK — Recently 27 students from The Leadership Academy at Warwick Valley School District had the unique opportunity to attend six sessions of leadership training at Raven Hill Farms.
Equi Power Solutions@ Raven Hill Farms is an equine experiential education program where students participate in non-riding activities with horses designed to develop essential life skills to make more informed choices and creating positive outcomes through respect, responsibility and integrity.
Owner Deirdre Hamling said that students learn to communicate more effectively, develop critical thinking skills, increase self-worth and demonstrate positive relationship skills. And through the progressive sessions the students are able to identify and strengthen their leadership traits, enhance their team building skills, develop awareness of their coping mechanisms and fine tune their critical and creative thinking.
Each session is developed and facilitated by Hamling along with clinical psychologist Bonnie Malajian and horse specialist Susan Stegmeyer.
"Horses are animals of prey that have been hunted by predators for centuries," said Hamling. "Therefore, they are acutely and highly attuned to every aspect of the world around them. They are instinctive and their very survival depends on their ability to interpret the energetic and emotional currents in their environments."
The final session focused on perseverance and was kicked off with a demonstration ride by Para-Olympian Donna Ponessa who personifies the term by overcoming obstacles and setbacks to compete in the London Games. Her disability is a rare autoimmune disorder that attacks the spinal cord and optic nerves. The disease is progressive and has left her paralyzed from the chest down with limited use of her hands and arms.
Ponessa also gave the students a motivational talk on her journey and her accomplishments. The students were spellbound during both her ride and speech.
"The people at Raven Hill," said student Kaeli Thompson, "were so nice and encouraging and it was great that we could learn about the qualities of leadership through something as unique as horses."
Raven Hill Farms is a full service equestrian center offering programs for schools, corporations and individuals in team building, authentic leadership and personal and professional development.
Additional information about the farm and the Equi-Power programs can be found at ravenhillfarms.com or by calling Hamling at 845-987-6965,