March 16, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1429

YARRABIN (New South Wales): Deep in the Australian bush, leadership trainers Jerry, Fly, Hope, KC and Sultan put a group of managers through their paces.

While lacking formal qualifications, the trainers use good old fashioned horse sense to teach their students management, leadership and communication skills.

Ranging from a chestnut Arab mare to hardy stock horses, the ‘trainers’ are the star attractions at what is believed to be Australia’s first equine leadership course.

Horses have been used for years in various types of therapy, including psychotherapy and helping handicapped children. The use of horses for management training is a relatively new field but it already has a track record of success.

“Horses are very sensitive to body language therefore they will reflect back to us the body language they see coming towards them,” said Beth Duff, a doctorial student who observed the course for her research on learning with horses.

“If someone is authentic and clear about what they want to do, then the horses will follow them and be very responsive to them,” she said.

“If they are only saying the words and not actually meaning it or saying it in a way that’s not clear, then quite often the horses will simply wander off, or ignore them or simply stand still and do nothing.”

Students spend up to seven hours a day with their horses, taking part in both individual and group activities, but they never actually ride the horses.

Instead, they work in groups of three carrying out seemingly mundane tasks such as persuading the horses to move from one end of a paddock to another without touching the animals.

“The horses don’t care who you are, they are giving you their raw feeling. Humans have baggage, horses don’t,” he said.

“I think this course has more potential to change what you do because the horses provide the mirror you don’t get elsewhere.”

Graeme Phillips, who runs the course with his wife Annie at their property “Yarrabin” about 200 kms west of Sydney, believes horses are great teachers as they react honestly to people’s body language and behaviour.

Rolling hills, a gum tree forest, sheep and kangaroos grazing in surrounding meadows and poor mobile phone coverage provide a perfect setting for the classes.

“It’s an environment where people can relax and get in touch with themselves, get back in touch with their team, without mobile phones and computers. I think it’s about removing those distractions coming back to what I think is the soul of people,” said Phillips.

“A hundred years ago you couldn’t walk down the street without having an interaction with a horse or being in touch with nature. That’s all been separated from us with technology and urban canyons in the city,” he added.—Reuters