Example Group 1
Syllabus for Group 1
The syllabus outlines the planned group activities. It is subject to change due to weather conditions and may be customized for the individual needs of the participating children.
Week 1: Introducing Yourself
Setting: Therapy Room/Paddock
Exercise: Greeting games, meet the horses
Goals:
- Give information
- Ask for information
- Establish eye contact
- Offer Greetings
- Learn about different features of children and horses
Skills:
- Say your name
- Ask for names of peers and horses
- Smile and say "hello"(peer)
- Approach horse from front and pet its nose
- Say the colors of the different horses and the hair colors of your new friends
Week 2/3: Working Together
Setting: Therapy Room/Stable
Exercise:
Week 2- Brush the horses as team 2-3 children per horse
Week 3- Paint on real horses as team 2-3 children per horse
Goals:
- Ask for items
- Give up items
- Start a conversation with your new friends
- Listen and answer appropriately
Skills:
- Choose the right time to ask
- Ask in a friendly way
- Answer appropriately when you asked
- Choose a topic to talk about
Week 4/5: Problem Solving
Setting: Therapy Room/Paddock
Exercise: Leading the pony/obstacle course
Goals:
- Working towards a goal
- Trying to complete a task by yourself
- Asking for help
- Offering help
- Say "thank you"
Skills:
- Try on your own
- Ask your peers
- Ask politely
- Help if you can
- Ask if your help is welcome
Week 6/7: Taking Turns
Setting: Therapy Room/Paddock
Exercise: Sitting on the horse and play
Goals:
- Respond on time when it is your turn
- Wait and watch when it is someone else's turn
- Cheer for your peer
- Praise and accept praise
Skills:
- Focus on the activity
- Be patient
- Be an active member of the group
- Say "good job", be proud of yourself
Week 8: Cooling Off
Setting: Therapy Room/Stable
Exercise: Breathing exercises in therapy room and on the horse
Goals:
- Learn easy techniques to cool your self down
- Give your feelings a name
- Learn that hugging a horse make you feel good
- Support your peers
Skills:
- Breathe while counting
- Breathe in the same rhythm with the horse
- Say "I feel..."
- We all count together, breath together