Meet our Featured Member for the month of November – Letitia Weikel-Peterson. Leticia runs Oregon Horsemanship & Teamwork in Willsonville, Oregon. Letitia has completed her Level 1 (C2/C3) Certification through E3A.
E3A: Tell us about one of your favorite EAL programs you offer and some outcomes participants have experienced:
Letitia: We have two programs that we run out of our barn. Oregon Horsemanship has taken in horses that needed homes and who want to help humans, with an emphasis on children. Years ago I saw the difference the horses made in people’s lives, especially children. We incorporate EAL techniques in all aspects of our program, from building confidence, communication, team work, self esteem, and so much more. E3A has given me more knowledge and techniques that we incorporate daily. In addition to our regular program, we host workshops focused on a specific theme, such as self confidence, self esteem, communication, etc. Using the E3A model, we have been able to have the youth look at things in a different way first through the horse activity, then by debriefing it so that they can think about, discuss, and come up with their own answers. One of my goals in life was to make a difference in someone else’s life, I get to make a difference in many lives thanks to learning about, training, and utilizing EAL techniques.
Teamwork with Horses is focused on adults and corporations. The one we had this fall was Women’s Strength Finding and Empowerment Workshop. All the women took the Strength Finding test and we focused the workshop on our natural strengths, becoming more aware of them, and how to enhance our lives by utilizing them. The women were excited and felt they needed something to look forward to in this uncertain environment. During the workshop there was definitely an increased awareness both of the talents they were aware of and some that were a surprise. We included the horses in activities that were chosen to bring out their inner strengths and we discussed what happened using the E3A model. We received a lot of feedback that is was enlightening, empowering, and lots of fun. The smiles were big and the participants went away with an increased happiness that they did something for themselves.
E3A: How has your certification from E3A assisted you in doing your EAL work?
Letitia: E3A has helped me to become more aware of all aspects and areas of our program. Since E3A is a coaching model, I can utilize different ideas, concepts, and activities to help humans, especially children. Sometimes it’s a simple thing like encouraging self awareness in order to solve a problem, other times it’s working through the model to help them find their own answer. It can be a nudge of making them figure something out, asking them what can they do differently, what should they try, and what is not working. In some areas we encourage and teach awareness of what the horses are trying to tell us. What I love about E3A is that they not only teach us skills, but they allow us flexibility to find what works for each individual or group. E3Ahas not only helped our programs but has helped me personally in so many ways.
If you want to learn more about Letitia’s work, visit her website.
