How I-Pegasus Works
How does I-Pegasus Help?
Horses are the best life coaches. They are wise and honest and strong. Horses respond to clear and effective communication and have the ability to teach us without even knowing we are studying them. They bestow on us the gift of confidence and self-esteem, deepening our self-awareness and allowing us to find direction in life. They allow us to discover natural talents and strengths we didn’t know we had.
With the horse at the core of the learning environment, young people develop various life skills ranging from everyday communication to teamwork to understanding responsibility.
“Without conversation, judgement or confrontation, the environment has been created to allow a life-changing experience.”
I-Pegasus CIC is committed to working in partnership with schools, local authorities and youth organisations to meet the needs of young people who would be more suited to alternative provision. We are committed to developing key life skills, boosting academic attainment and supporting their transition into further education, training and employment. In short, I-Pegasus is dedicated to sustainably changing their lives.
The programme is continually developing a bank of possible exit routes, all of which will support and celebrate the developments that have occurred throughout the programme and allow the young person to continue developing and progressing positively.
How does I-Pegasus work in practise? See below for three of our daily tasks and their role in developing life skills.
Putting on a Head Collar
Putting a headcollar on a horse might seem a simple task, but in the programme, it teaches the young person much about developing their ability to approach a situation with care, empathy and confidence. They will learn how to read body language and think about the horse’s comfort.
Our goal is to ensure these skills are transferable because we use them every day when treating other people with kindness and respect.
Understanding Horse Expressions and Behaviour
Approaching horses and recognising expressions and likely reactions mimics our everyday skills in social situations, thus helping pupils develop an understanding of how to assess others around them and respond based on another’s personality and mood.
Reading subtle cues in how a horse moves and their facial expressions help the young person develop an awareness to respond appropriately to others, read verbal and non-verbal communication, and have confidence in new environments.
Making up a Feed for a Horse
A wealth of skills that we use every day are supported in this activity:
- Integrating literacy skills while reading a feed chart for a designated horse
- Numeracy skills in using weights and understanding fractions
- Understanding the importance of health and nutrition
Reading and following clear instructions using numbers and tables in a practical environment allows pupils to gain confidence with numeracy, transfer skills to using tables and develop responsibility in caring for themselves and others.