In West Loveland, Colorado, a program is helping middle school students from the Thompson School District build social-emotional skills and confidence through activities with horses. The Hearts & Horses nonprofit has offered its equine-assisted learning program since 2016. The eight-week course is designed for youth who face mental health and developmental challenges. Each year, counselors from the district’s six middle schools select ten students who may be experiencing isolation, trauma, or a lack of belonging to join the program.
Each student is paired with the same horse and a volunteer mentor for the duration of the course. This approach aims to provide consistency and build trust. Lessons include information about neuroscience, focusing on how the human and horse brain process emotions. One technique taught is the ‘six-second pause,’ which encourages students to name six things they like to help manage strong emotions. This is compared to a horse’s ‘half-halt,’ a brief pause used to navigate obstacles.
Students work on skills such as respect, empathy, accountability, and conflict resolution in a non-traditional setting. The program provides transportation, which helps more students participate. Weekly self-reports on a ‘Mood Meter’ indicate that most students feel more focused and thoughtful after each session. Teachers have noted that students often return to school calmer and better able to learn…