By Olivia Barnard
December 10, 2024 (Lakeside) -- I first met Robin Pawl and her horses Shelby, Indy, Ka Lio, and Phoenix on a Saturday afternoon. The faded Lakeside hills framed the riding center as hawks called out and the pepper trees swayed. I loved horses growing up, but I had never been on a ranch. I didn’t know what to expect from volunteering with horses or students with disabilities. But The Magic Horse website’s description of therapeutic riding practices was interesting, the place charming and intriguing, and I was going to give it a shot.
Upon meeting Robin and the horses, I couldn’t have predicted how much personal growth would come out of our experiences together. In sharing my experiences, I hope to inspire others to take the opportunity and discover the magic of the horse, just as I did.
My first day went as expected—I was on poop duty. Students were scheduled to arrive later that day, so until they did, I wouldn’t get to see what Robin described regarding the horses’ positive impact on her students. Robin explained on introduction day that The Magic Horse is a nonprofit she founded in 2004. Using her therapeutic riding instructor certification, background with horses, and expertise in Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) practices, she runs the center with volunteers. By joining the team, I could contribute to The Magic Horse’s mission statement goal to, “make a life-enhancing difference for people with disabilities and their families through the magic and power of the horse.” However, my first task was manual labor.
The experience was surprisingly meditative. I was out in the open, fresh air and felt the horses’ presence nearby. I welcomed the peace and connected with the environment and my body. Hand over hand, weight shifting between each leg as I lifted the rakefuls, I made steady, satisfying progress.
This initial task was the first interaction where I started to see the various and unique ways people can learn while working with horses. Even mucking out stalls off
ered some unexpected yet important lessons. I saw how getting to the “fun” part of anything requires the completion of other necessary parts. All people at the Magic Horse know this. Volunteers must do chores. The students are taught that in order to ride, they have to prepare their horses. Everyone is expected to be detail-oriented and thorough, even when manual tasks aren’t exciting. These duties build responsibility, train the body, and inspire a feeling of fulfillment. Robin told me she grew up with horses and noticed how much it improved her strength, so now she helps people (especially kids) develop their physical skills through activities with the horses. She said, “Working with horses can increase physicality, balance, coordination, strength, and fine and gross motor skills. If you're tying knots or doing anything with your fingers, those are fine motor skills, while gross motor skills are the big motions, like carrying the brush bucket.” So simply from shoveling poop, I learned there’s a lot more to working with horses than just riding.
It’s these subtler yet equally engaging activities that form the basis for unmounted personal-growth opportunities like horsemanship training, EAL programs, and leadership-development courses. The difference between the three curriculums, which Robin offers students of all backgrounds, is that horsemanship courses focus on strengthening equine knowledge and familiarity. In the program offered by the The Magic Horse, students have hands-on experiences implementing equine training techniques and caring for horses. On the other hand, EAL group programs encourage participants to self-reflect and, with the unique assistance of horses, pursue growth in target skill areas. Leadership development is at the core of all things horses, and can be valuable when specifically focusing on team member contributions, cohesion, and individual composure.The insight I’ve gained has been from months of volunteering, but these styles of teaching accelerate the learning process. The experiences I share in this article are examples of the growth opportunities I’ve found. The Magic Horse offers a range of lessons for fostering self-awareness, growing confidence, practicing group cohesion, and implementing better leadership.
My first task at the Center helped me recognize the value horses can bring to one’s life. In the calm environment of the Magic Horse grounds, I self-reflect and slow down from my busy college-student life. I appreciate the simple things in life, but also find mental clarity to move deliberately toward my goals. Interestingly, the attitudes each person adopts are reflected in the horses, allowing one to increase their self-awareness.
Early on, I heard Robin tell a volunteer who was tense that horses are herd animals and liken their feelings to those they’re working with. Robin explained the 7-4-8 breathing technique and told the volunteer that if she calmed herself, her horse would become less agitated too. As I watched the volunteer and horse relax, I reflected on my own body and where I was holding stress. A big part of being around horses, where body language is key, is recognizing that body and mind are connected forces. Bodily and situational awareness go together as a way to connect to one’s emotional well-being, as well as an accompanying horse’s. Robin would later tell me, “Our bodies can affect our thoughts, and our thoughts affect our bodies. So if we put ourselves into a different posture, it can help change our thinking and feeling. Horses are the same way. If we can encourage them to have a more correct and relaxed body posture, then they can relax in their mind.” In the following weeks, I noticed my own emotions reflected by the horses. Sheila, a volunteer of 17 years and lifetime horse owner, explained how she feels a special emotional connection to horses. “Horses seem to know your heart in a way that other animals don't,” she said.
Though I’d gained a lot from my solo poop-scooping adventures, it was exciting to begin working with other volunteers. Nanami, Aleah, and I work together almost every week and have formed a friendship through our teamwork. We discuss our student lives in our respective high school and grad/undergrad programs, but we also share what we’ve learned from the horses.
All of us have seen an increase in our level of confidence around the horses. At The Magic Horse, all participants learn the ins-and-outs of horse ownership and gain problem-solving and adaptability skills in getting the horses to cooperate. In one frustrating encounter, our objective was to muck Phoenix’s pen out. However, Phoenix is the most dominant horse at the center and tested our will by continually getting in the way. It took our combined volunteer forces to repeatedly shoo him back into his barn, where he eventually stayed for good. In this practice, we had to be persistent and unyielding. Gaining confidence around an incredibly dominant horse is difficult, especially with no equestrian background. However, by taking initiative consistently, self-efficacy can flourish. Its about setting intentions (cleaning the pen) and taking the necessary steps (shooing Phoenix) to reach the goal. Horses sense hesitation. They won’t follow through if you don’t. You improve when you persevere.
It’s through persistence that students like Annabella thrive. Annabella, who is diagnosed to be on the autistic spectrum, has been riding for eight years. In her time at the Magic Horse, she’s gained a deep understanding of horses and more importantly, a better sense of herself and her goals. Her mother Heidi described how amazing it is to see her daughter persevere, saying “Annabella has had a tendency to give up very easily when something's physically hard. Robin challenged her to keep trying. When I first came here she could not do buckles; now, she can almost fully tack up the horse by herself.” I realized the power of the horse when I saw Annabella in her element. In a family of five children, it is through horses that Annabella has found her niche and taken control of her life instead of others telling her what to do. “Horses have been Annabella’s way of self-mastery. She has learned that she can do so much more than she thought she could and more than I thought she could,” Heidi said.
Another student who’s made incredible progress is two-year-old Alden. Alden is bubbly and curious. He’s always smiling, babbling, and exploring. However, he wasn’t always able to express his feelings verbally or walk around on his own. After three months on the horses, Alde
n gained the ability to walk 38 independent steps and strengthened his verbal skills. Robin explained that this process can be very rapid. “Sitting on a horse stimulates children’s bodies to develop so they can start walking. It also stimulates their ability to speak, so kids who are nonverbal can often speak their first words when they're on the horse. Once that starts, it usually keeps going, and pretty soon they’ll be talking up a storm. And then parents wonder, ‘Oh, why did I ever want him totalk?’ They’ll start to walk, and pretty soon they're running. It's like, ‘Oh my gosh, now, we have to chase after them!’” she said.
This type of progress fundamentally alters how children interact with the world, but in freedom, new challenges arise for parents and teachers. Alden’s curiosity is sometimes a source of distraction from goals set by his parents and teachers. Jake, another student, is happy to participate in conversations with volunteers, but these tangents can interrupt lesson plans. In these situations, I’ve gained the ability to recognize and understand other perspectives. Robin gets riding lessons back on track not by brashly making demands but by acknowledging distractions and then redirecting the students’ focus. This approach is also important in working with horses. Horses are prey animals and constantly keep track of their environment, and thus may act in confusing ways that aren’t compatible with the handler’s desires. But I’ve learned in my experience with both people and horses that it’s through taking other viewpoints into account that harmony can be realized. No understanding comes out of simply forcing ones way onto others. Robin wants her horses to keep their personalities. Their dispositions are what make them unique and provide opportunities for people to learn new social skills. She said, “When horses are forced against their will to be something they aren’t, they’ll shut down and become robotic. I want my horses responsive,” said Robin.
Working with horses provides unique experiential learning opportunities in team building and communication. A crucial part to working with horses is to align intentions, words, and actions consistently. This alignment is applicable when strengthening the communication in any r
elationship. Clear communication also promotes fairness. When people contradict themselves in voice and action, it is not fair that the others are punished for misunderstanding. Trust and collaborative relationships can develop between horses and people in horsemanship exercises like round penning.
Round penning requires great equine-human communication, a fair hand, and close physical proximity. When I first entered the pen, I was intimidated by the idea commanding a creature weighing six times more than I did. However, the experience turned out to be incredibly fascinating and rewarding. In a single session with Robin and Shelby, I was able to considerably increase my knowledge of horse language while discovering my own communication and leadership styles.
These interactions are even more amazing when put into context. Shelby is not a bad horse, but he is certainly disobedient and obnoxious in many situations. In the round pen, however, Shelby is well-behaved and a great instructor and partner. He provides feedback when the rules are broken by the student, but, like the other horses, he is forgiving of mistakes and unclear communication. It’s Shelby’s general bad manners though that set him apart from the other horses who act according to their position within the herd hierarchy.
When I arrived at The Magic Horse, what became evident immediately was that horses are unlike other domestic animals. While Maestro the dog was easy to warm to, and Indy the horse was generally interested in being scratched by anyone, Ka Lio and Phoenix made it clear their respect had to be earned. Power and social standing are critical themes in working with horses. Effective leadership and boundary-setting are crucial to gaining horse cooperation.
In my first interaction with Phoenix, he nipped me on the butt. However, it wasn’t out of aggression or the desire to misbehave. The nip was the secondary part to his testing my reaction after he had already entered my personal space. Because I didn’t take charge immediately and move him, he knew he could have his way. With horses, it’s a matter of establishing rules. “You have to set boundaries. Horses are social animals. They understand boundaries. You have to uphold them,” said Robin. Standing tall and adopting a no-nonsense but fair attitude can make all the difference.
Therefore, because herd structures rely so heavily on good leadership and social hierarchy, they can be the ultimate teachers of how to earn and wield authority. What’s important to first understand is each group members’ position and resulting conduct which has to do with mindfulness of oneself and others. Robin explained when strengthening leadership skills through EAL practices and horsemanship drill
s, she pairs individuals to specific horses. She said, “A person who is too timid can't be with a super assertive horse without learning how to deal with a super assertive horse. A horse’s reaction will show when someone comes across too assertively and when one does not come across assertively enough to enforce boundaries.” When Aleah, Nanami, and I moved Phoenix, we needed to take on a more dominant approach than when working with Indy who is far more submissive. In working with horses, volunteers and students learn how to be leaders that earn respect while staying polite and fair. “If you are a good leader, you're fair and just, and you're consistent, then a horse will be willing to follow your lead. In general, adapting yourself to other personalities, abilities, and communication styles is important. You learn to shift your leadership style to be effective. So when you're working with a horse, you have to recognize where in the hierarchy of power this horse sees himself. You have to be a little more powerful than he is, so that you can manage him. If you're not, he's going to manage you,” said Robin.
Since volunteering at The Magic Horse I’ve gained invaluable knowledge about myself and the world around me. Observing the interactions between Robin, the horses, students, parents, and other volunteers has proven incredibly beneficial to how I view my relationship with myself, others, and the world. The experiences I’ve shared with people and horses while upkeeping the grounds, providing equine care, and taking on horsemanship practices have contributed to immense personal progress in varying skill areas. I’ve increased my self-awareness, strengthened my ability to take initiative and persist, become more compassionate and flexible, gained valuable communication skills, and realized how I can become a better leader. My experiences are unique in how they’ve affected me, but the lessons I’ve learned are not exclusive to my role as a volunteer. The magic of the horse can be shared with individuals of all ages and abilities, but only if Robin’s efforts are supported by volunteers, donors, and students. Great commitments of time and money keep The Magic Horse running. However, the space is only preserved and able to continue benefiting the community as long as it is sustained by caring individuals. Overhead costs continue to rise, and The Magic Horse needs support now as Robin introduces three new programs based on the core concepts she’s been teaching for years.
Moving forward, Robin invites students of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to visit the center and experience some of the magic firsthand. Reflecting on what I’ve seen, I believe there’s truly something of value here for everyone. If you are interested in learning more about the center, you can go to https://www.magichorse.org/ and schedule a visit. I’m excited to work with all prospective volunteers and students, whether you’re interested in therapeutic riding lessons or the three new programs: group unmounted EAL sessions, horsemanship lessons, or leadership programming (further information for the programs is listed below). But most of all, I’m glad that I’ve been able to contribute to keeping the magic of the horse alive and share it with others. Sheila, a volunteer of 17 years, said it best, “I know what horses have given me, and it's good to see other people getting that too.”
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Group Unmounted EAL Sessions: For groups of up to six interested in general horse care and social interaction opportunities, the center offers one-hour sessions of unmounted group equine assisted learning (EAL). This program provides an education in grooming, feeding, health and ailments, and first aid. With hands-on experience learners have the opportunity to connect with horses in a peaceful setting and develop personal goals and specific skills. While participating in fun activities with the horses, they’ll observe and practice aspects of equine communication to better understand their own body language and interactions with others. This program allows groups of individuals to learn through Robin’s storytelling and focus on their personal wellbeing with practices, such as simultaneously calming oneself and the horse.
Horsemanship Course: This course is oriented towards prospective horse owners and those interested in receiving a thorough equine education. It is not recommended for kids. This program is available for groups of four or less and expands upon the individual-oriented teachings of unmounted EAL to offer groundwork experiences focused on horse training. Groundwork is an essential part of building a deeper connection with horses and includes multiple exercises, including round penning, leading, lunge lining, work in hand, and long lining. These activities provide a strong basis for building confidence around horses and applying effective communication practices. Working with horses in such an engaging way creates a solid foundation in understanding how to foster true cooperation and teamwork.
Leadership Program: This leadership course is composed of four 4-hour sessions and is most applicable to groups of individuals interested in personal development and improving work performance. Groups of four to eight members can engage in a variety of activities that foster leadership and team growth—no previous equine experience needed. In this unmounted program, individuals can learn leadership styles to become more influential and contribute to improved team dynamics. Learners will become aware of themselves and others as they analyze their relationships.
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