On a crisp January morning, Barbara Robbins makes the daily rounds at her Linville farm 鈥� scooping food to the cats, dogs and horses that nicker and shift in the cold.
鈥淭here are aspects about the horse that make it really powerful,鈥� she says. 鈥淗ow you approach them can either draw them into you, or they鈥檒l retreat from you. It鈥檚 the same with people.鈥�
At Rocky Hill Stables, Robbins relies upon this unique equine-emotional connection through the HALT 鈥� Horse Assisted Leadership Training 鈥� program.
Living, Breathing Leadership
Launched in 2004 as a result of a combination of Robbins鈥� background in at 黑料正能量, her consulting work for strategic planning organizations and she and her husband Alan鈥檚 passion for the stables, the program aims to serve groups seeking a change from the daily grind.
Groups of six to 16, such as church communities and camp staff, attend 鈥渃linics鈥� spanning from a half-day to two days full of sessions. They participate in exercises in the arena and then in quiet reflection, focusing, with the horse鈥檚 help, on individual personalities and strengths.
鈥淭he horses are equal participants in the process,鈥� says Robbins. 鈥淥ur goal in working together is to bump up, a few notches, their quality of teamwork.鈥�
As herd animals, horses not only have instincts about good leadership, but can also 鈥渕irror鈥� human emotion.
鈥淭he dynamics are similar to high ropes courses,鈥� says Robbins, 鈥淏ut, rather than dealing with challenges that are fixed 鈥� like a wall 鈥� this is a living, breathing animal that gives responses back.鈥� Horses offer feedback through body language and nonverbal cues 鈥渙n the spot about what鈥檚 going on within you,鈥� she continues, 鈥淲hether it鈥檚 fear or confidence.鈥�
Harnessing Skills
As groups from varying backgrounds and experience levels participate in HALT, Robbins says she often sees Equine Assisted Learning coax natural strengths and weaknesses to the surface.
Working through activities, such as blindfolded leading, catching and haltering, helps teammates discover the gentle nurturer or high-morale motivator among them. Who is a big-picture visionary? Who keeps their focus on the tasks at hand.
鈥淚t helps teams think differently about how they can maximize their gifts,鈥� she says.
The horses also teach when to lead, and when to give a push from alongside: intuitive skills essential to working as a team.
Robbins recalls an especially profound teaching moment for one of their participants, whose competitive nature left him chasing his horse around the arena long after his teammates had finished.
鈥淗e finally threw the harness down and just petted her,鈥� she remembers. Robbins said it was about making the connection, not winning the race. 鈥淎s soon as you put the halter down and let her know you鈥檙e her friend,鈥� she told him, the problem solves itself. 鈥淭hat so happens in the workplace; we鈥檙e always saying 鈥楪et this done, get that done,鈥� that we forget to say, 鈥楬i, how are you doing today?鈥� 鈥�
For more information, visit rockyhillstables.com or call 540-833-8604.
Courtesy Daily News Record, Jan. 12, 2013