EQUINE GUIDED LEARNING (at Spirit Gate Farms) (K-12)
Presenter: Michelle Atterby
Bio: Michelle is the Owner/Operator of Spirit Gate Farms

February 19, 2010 -  10:45-2:30

Course Outline: Equine Guided Learning is a powerful and effective approach to personal and professional development. EGL can have an incredible impact on a variety of mental health and human developmental needs including behavioral issues, attention deficit disorder, anger management, eating disorders, abuse
issues, depression, anxiety, relationship problems and communication needs.
EGL is highly effective in building leadership skills and teaching students about the dynamics of relationships. Horses provide the opportunity for innovative, inspiring and effective experiential learning opportunities. Come and discover the potential of horses to help you find your own leadership style, and how that applies to the
students you work with. Re-connect to your curiosity and imagination and explore leadership and learning through the way of the horse.

Hoofbeats, Heartbeats, Drumbeats
Presenters – Michelle Atterby and Orianne Lee Johnston

April 30th 5-9pm
May 1, 2nd  10-6 pm

Are you dealing with:

• Relationship challenges
• illness or injury
• financial challenge
• work stress

Do you experience:

• inadaquete sleep
• body aches/muscle tension
• rapid heartbeat
• fatigue

In the human body, the heart is the beginning point of communication that connects emotional mental, and spiritual bodies. Heart rhythms affect physical health, emotional well-being, mental acuity and spiritual wellness – all of which can be enhanced or depleted depending on how the heart "thinks". The heart intuition we need to recapture comes through thoughts, images, sensations and feelings and Horses experience their world in this state of enhanced sensory awareness. The Heart Math Institute is a wonderful resource for sourcing information on the affects of heart-brain communication. We have adapted some of their research and applied it to the experience of human-horse connection with wonderful results. Join us for an inspiring weekend of connecting to the guidance of your own heart.

Compass of the Compassionate Heart –
Solstice celebration – walking labyrinth
Presenters –Michelle Atterby and Stacy Sully

June 18th 5-9
June 19, 20th  10-6

With all of the economic uncertainty, political turmoil and stresses of modern life today, it is easy to get pulled away from the deep connection within that really centers us.   It is a wonderful time to come together and refocus on the inner guidance that brings true fulfillment, joy, meaning and purpose in our lives – especially how we can best be instruments of service and unity in the world today. Now more than ever is the opportunity to discover what wants to be revealed in your heart, what wants to be birthed through you and brought to the world as a gift of your own unique signature.

The Labyrinth walk offers– solace, strength, clarity, celebration, insight, to quiet the mind, to solve a problem, but the most fascinating reason is the ability to ignite the seekers’ latent potential and find an avenue for one’s own unique expression in the world. Walk the Labyrinth with a horse and experience the intimate connection, new discovery, inspiration and celebration of this event.

Body Sense/Horse Sense
Presenter – Michelle Atterby

Thursday evenings 5-8 pm
June 10, 17, 24th
July 1, 8, 15th

Join us for a six week program designed to support individuals dealing with body image and eating disorders. This program is based on the successful work of Horse Sense of the Carolinas, based in North Carolina. We will explore thought processes, behavioural patterns, conflicting emotions, and re-connection to the body through a variety of reflective, interactive and experiential practices with the horses. NO horse experience is necessary.

Integral Leadership for Youth
Presenter – Michelle Atterby and Vicki Hasler

Tuesday mornings 10-1 pm
July 6, 13, 20, 27
Aug 3, 10th

One of the most important programs missing in the school curriculum today is about personal leadership. The process of developing critical, creative and analytical thinking, building effective communication skills, producing quality work and building connection with community. Horses are amazing teachers when it comes to the art of personal leadership. They are honest, unbiased and clear about their needs and the feedback they offer. You’ll be amazed at what you may learn about yourself and the gifts you have to offer.

Our work is based on the outstanding programs of Strides to Success based in Indiana. This program is fun, creative, playful and effective!

In six weeks you’ll learn:

• How to problem solve
• how to work effectively in a group
• acquire and use information effectively
• discover your own unique gifts

Integral Leadership – horse wisdom, human power
Presenters – Michelle Atterby and Orianne Lee Johnston

July 23rd    5-9 pm
July 24, 25th  10-6 pm

What kind of leader are you in your own life, in your workplace?

Integral Leadership begins on the inside, it’s a journey of personal mastery that takes courage, willingness, humilty ….and, offers great rewards. Whether you are a CEO of an organization or a student struggling through school, the ongoing journey of leadership is about discovering and developing our purposeful inner capabilities to make a more positive contribution to the world around us. Horses are amazing teachers of leadership. They magnetize towards an authentic leader and offer immediate respect and they will become the leader out of fear for their own safety.
This weekend we will explore limitations of personal belief systems, consistent behaviour patterns that no longer are serving you and in congruencies of body language, to support YOU discovering your mastery.

Mindful Horsemanship
Presenters – Michelle Atterby and TBA

August 6th  5-9
August 7,8th    10-6 pm

Mindful horsemanship is about states of presence. Bringing to awareness and identifying the blocks that limit us from developing an authentic, soulful relationship with our horse. The art of truly listening to our horse creates an opportunity to see ourselves in new and profound ways, often leading to insights that are hidden from conscious view. This weekend we will explore beyond the boundaries of natural horsemanship into a domain that reveals the gifts of awareness, healing and connection for both you and your horse. We will partner with the Spirit Gate herd.

Celebrating the Goddess within
Presenters – Michelle Atterby and Taiya

Dates in August TBA

Join us for a weekend of exploring the personal, transpersonal and spiritual aspects of the goddess within.  There are many archetypes of goddess energies that we are able to identify with – Kuan Yin, Isis, Epona, to name a few, remember and re-discover what resonates within you.
Women worldwide are joyfully reclaiming their ancient natural spiritual authority and powers through service to and reverence for the sacred feminine, thus restoring kindness, peace and prosperity to humanity and balance with our relations.

• experience your creativity through sacred art of belly dance
• explore the chakras through movement and music
• dance with horses
• discover your own internal goddess

For the first time in Victoria, Hollyhock is offering…
Earth Wisdom, Horse Wisdom
at Spirit Gate Farms in Victoria, BC.

Friday, Sept 17th 5:30 – 9:30 pm
Saturday, Sept 18th 10:00 - 6:00 pm

Feeling the power in rhythms of the natural world can align us deeply with the life force itself.  Begin by synching your own breath and heartbeat with our horses and then with the resonant energy of the earth. Guided body meditations, drumming, and the presence of horses support us sinking into and opening up to a more expansive dimension, both inside ourselves and in the outer world.  Our time together also includes:

• periods of quiet reflection with the herd
• interactive experiences with the horses, both individual and group
• sharing responses and insights that illuminate creative possibilities for our lives.

Join us and see how horses can help humans live in a more wholesome compassionate and powerful way.  No horse experience is necessary; horse people very welcome too!
Presenters – Michelle Atterby and Orianne Lee Johnston
Visit: www.hollyhock.ca for registration details.