EFL and Horse Care

What is EFL?

NOTE: EFL sessions are open for booking! Please fill in an expression of interest form, or contact us if you would like to make an appointment.

Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) is a way to bring horses and people together in a safe, supervised environment in order to promote positive and fulfilling interactions. Clients learn to interpret horse body language, work safely around horses, and develop mindful habits. Sessions are designed to increase confidence and self-esteem by allowing everyone - client, facilitator, horse, spectator - to experience the interaction in their own way and at their own level in a manner that each finds beneficial.

EFL is not considered therapy in the traditional sense, as facilitators are not trained therapists. However, interactions with horses are indeed therapeutic for many, and EFL sessions are carefully overseen with this outcome in mind. Facilitators qualified in EFL are required to regularly undertake and update their training, and AEFL implements structures, guidelines, and codes of practise, and sets out basic skills and safety levels to set standards for all involved in the practise of EFL .

To learn more about EFL, visit the Australian Equine Facilitated Learning Pty Ltd website - www.efl.net.au/ 

Who could benefit?

EFL can provide benefits to a wide range of people. It is an all-inclusive therapeutic interaction for adults, youth and children. There is a range of inclusive teaching strategies that can assist participants with a variety of challenges, disorders, or disabilities, including but not limited to:

• Autism and other neurodivergence

• Intellectual impairment

• Hearing impairment

• Vision impairment

• Physical impairment

• Developmental delay

• Mental health disorder, particularly anxiety

• Acquired brain injury

• Emotional regulation

Some of the benefits seen by clients may include improved family relationships, improved social behaviour, more appropriate interactions at school/home, greater acknowledgement of actions and consequences, reduction in anxious feelings, and an increase in positive emotions.

EFL may be covered by the NDIS, depending on the client's plan.

Horse Care Classes

In addition to the therapeutic interactions of EFL, Jed's Run offers Horse Care classes. These are designed with new horse owners (or owners-to-be) in mind, and cover a range of basic information that all people with horses or ponies in their care should know about. Classes include both theory, with printed hand-outs that can be taken home, and practical components working with our herd of horses. 

Horse care sessions can be one-off and cover any particular theory or practical components that you want. 

Alternatively, you can book in for our Total Horse Care Course, which consists of 4 sessions and covers the topics which we feel are fundamental knowledge for horse owners, including:

• Safely leading and working with horses

• Identifying horse body language

• Safe and healthy environments for horses

• Simple nutrition

• Required health care practices, how to identify any problems, and basic first aid

• Grooming

• Transport

We can also include information on a wide variety of other topics, such as the parts of a horse, horse breeds and colours, different types of tack and riding styles, horse digestion, exercises to help your horses stay supple and fit, herbs for horses, and more!

Availability and pricing

Sessions are currently available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There are also more appointments run over school holidays - please get in touch to check availability. Sessions generally run for around one hour.

One-off EFL and Horse Care sessions - $100

The Total Horse Care Course - $360 (4 sessions)

You can also pre-purchase a package of any 5 sessions for $425. 

EFL sessions may be covered by NDIS, depending on the client's plan.

What does a session look like?

Sessions generally include meeting the horses, grooming, and leading horses around. However they are very much customised for each client, depending on their abilities and what they hope to achieve from sessions. Both those who have never been near a horse before, and those who have significant horse experience, can have sessions designed for them that they will find engaging and beneficial.

All interactions are from the ground - there is no riding during sessions at Jed's Run.

Why should we use Jed's Run?

All EFL and Horse Care sessions are run by Samantha Gierveld.

Sam is an experienced horse person, having owned horses for over 30 years. Riding from a young age, she has always had a passion for horses, which led to her to complete numerous qualifications around them, including a Certificate II in Horse Studies, Certificate IV in Racing (Standardbred), and ultimately a Bachelor of Animal Science. After finishing University she continued to work with horses in the thoroughbred racing and breeding industries, however she realised that she did not enjoy working with horses in this way. Her experiences led her to investigate better ways of caring for and working with horses. She completed courses in equine nutrition and equine myotherapy, and has attended numerous clinics about horse training. Eventually she found kinder ways to work with horses. Sam has recently completed her qualification in Level 1 EFL.

Sam is also a high school teacher, teaching Science and especially Biology at a local high school through most of the week. With around 15 years of teaching experience, she really enjoys working with teenagers, and is well-versed in inclusive and engaging education. Sam is thrilled to be able to share her passions for horses and learning with others.

The horses that work in EFL and Horse Care sessions are carefully selected for their temperament and compatibility with the client. All horses are treated with respect and receive the highest level of care.

How can I book a session?

If you are interested in booking an EFL or Horse Care session at Jed's Run, please complete the Expression of Interest form. We will be in touch shortly to provide further information and arrange an appointment time.

Alternatively, you can call/text or email - please see the Contact Us tab.