The CETA Animal Experience: Interactive Learning
Gain Knowledge and Confidence with Animals While Having Fun!
Lessons are done in small groups so we can provide lots of individual attention and customize the lessons for each participant's needs and abilities. Perfect for animal-assisted therapy, dealing with animal phobias or just plain learning.
The skills and information is broken down into components for the sake of organization and to help counselors, parents, caregivers and adult participants understand what CETA offers. They can be used with most of the animals available through Phoenix Ranch and other CETA-affiliated handlers. Actual lessons will be tailored for the comprehension level and age group of the participants. Work with horses will be from the ground.When appropriate, caregivers will be encouraged to be a co-participant so that lessons can be reinforced outside instruction time.
Sessions can be held at your location or at Phoenix Ranch. We ask for a donation of $30/hour for first participant (& caregiver) and $10/hour for each additional participant. Travel time is extra. For groups wanting an ongoing program, please call the CETA office to ask about a reduced rate for your members.
GOALS
Lesson One: Basic interactions
1. Approaching the animal: posture, tone of voice---Knowing when not to push an animal for safety reasons
2. "Catching them up": Placing halter/collar/harness and lead rope/leash
3. Bonding--- finding which way to best build a bond with the animal (developing sensitivity, observational skills and empathy) food, play, verbal, physical touch (scratching/massage, grooming)
Lesson Two: Basic care (teaching responsibility for a dependent and sensitivity to its needs)
1. Physical Environment: shelter; confinement (fencing, restraints, caging); room to exercise; need for social interaction
2. Feeding: what to feed, how to feed (measuring out food, laying out food, feeding a group) watering systems
3. Dealing with feed byproducts: Mucking stalls, cleaning cages. Composting. Fly and odor control
4. Watching for signs of health problems and what to do about them
Lesson Three: Getting animals to "listen"
This section covers different ways we can learn to influence animal behavior (aka "training"). It can be one session or many depending on the interest level and commitment of the participants.
Components of training:
A. Getting the animal's attention
B. Getting the animal's respect and trust
C. Communicating effectively what you want the animal to do
D. Correction and positive feedback
Activity options:
Leading the animal around pen, outside pen, going for walks
How to give commands to already trained animals
Teaching new tricks (including clickertraining)
Roundpenning horses to learn body language and herd dynamics in establishing "herd hierarchy"
Train a rescued dog to become a therapy dog (visitations or for placement) using the Delta Society guidelines or AKC "Good citizen" program
Though we carefully screen our animals and try to anticipate and avoid situations that might cause injuries, the unexpected can happen. For liability reasons, we must require that participants (or their guardians) must have health insurance coverage and sign medical waivers. It is crucial that participants follow program rules and instructions from the group leader for their own safety and the safety of the animals and other participants. Accommodations can be made for developmentally disabilities and other special needs.
For more information, call us at (707)678-0580 or email us at
or see the websites of our program providers:
