1. What is Eponaquest?
Named after the ancient horse goddess Epona, a goddess tasked with the healing of the soul, Eponaquest is a collective of educators, counselors, physical therapists, psychologists, and riding instructors who participate in the healing potential of human-horse relationships. Eponaquest was founded in 1977 by Linda Kohanov and has become a rapidly expanding trend in professional and personal development, with more and more people from all over the world participating in, and benefiting from, Eponaquest workshops and retreats.
Eponaquest workshops address issues of assertiveness, stress reduction, and emotional fitness skills, strengthening personal self-esteem and empowering individuals in the process, taking advantage of the unique interaction that occurs only within horse-human relationships. Instructors teach participants how to build consensus-based relationships with the horses, helping them learn lessons through this process that they will take with them into all walks of life.
2. What is Equine Facilitated Learning?
Equine Facilitated Learning is an educational model that helps clients learn through increased personal awareness of feelings, body sensations, boundaries, and intrusive-destructive thoughts. The model relies on putting humans and horses together in a round-pen to interact. It is commonly recognized that only ten percent of communication is verbal, yet we place so much more emphasis on words, and our social and educational systems ignore the rest of the spectrum of communication. If we are not aware of the role that the other 90% plays in our day to day interactions, we are missing out on a whole dimension of social skills.
Building a relationship with an intelligent animal like a horse involves engaging that 90%, becoming aware of how you communicate nonverbally, and learning how the horse responds to that communication. Our clients are given profound insights into how they communicate and lead others when they have to convince a 1000 lb. animal to respond to their prompts and follow them with no halter or lead. Equine Facilitated Learning is about teaching clients how to build collaborative relationships in a way that they can carry with them wherever they go.
3. What will I be doing at your workshop?
Each workshop follows a similar structure, but with a different focus. Participants spend the morning in the classroom, getting to know each other better, and being introduced to the key concepts and vision for the day. Afterward, we break into groups in the arena where our instructors guide participants through one-on-one practical exercises with the horses, taking the time to thoroughly unpack the lessons learned.
4. Will I be riding horses?
Our workshops focus on participants building relationships with the horses so that the animals will respond favorably to their cues. The horses will be unsaddled, unbridled, and will collaborate with participants in the ring. This can be a much more profound experience than riding.
5. What will I get out of the workshop?
Like all learning, the lessons that you take home with you depend in great part on what you put into it, and what you want to take away. Our participants typically tell us that they leave our sessions feeling empowered, more confident, surer of themselves and who they are, and more ready to lead others and engage with their staff and coworkers in new and healthier ways. Other’s leave inspired to delve further into the process of self-exploration, and there are always a few who fall deeply in love with horses.
For anyone who completes our 4 workshop course, they will receive a certificate indicating that they have completed Lodestone Leadership’s Five Roles of a Master Herder series.
6. Where are you located?
Lodestone Leadership is hosted by Pothole Creek Ranch, just outside the City of Lethbridge in Southern Alberta. Specifically, we are just off of Range Road 222, south of the Town of Magrath. Click HERE for Google Map Directions.
7. Is there food?
Participants at our workshops are provided with a lunch and snacks to get them through the day, while nearby Lethbridge provides the full range of dining options for your dinner.
8. Where can I stay while attending?
Our facility is nestled in a scenic river valley just outside the City of Lethbridge. As a booming city of 100,000, Lethbridge hosts the full range of accommodation options. Click HERE to explore local hotels.
9. Can I come and watch?
Lodestone Leadership’s workshops can be emotionally intense and are often deeply profound, personal, and exhilarating. The nature of the work that our participants do with the horses requires us to minimize distractions. We encourage you to come out and see the arena and explore the ranch, but our sessions themselves are closed to observers so that we can focus on creating a sacred space without distractions. Want a personal tour? Give us a shout and let’s book a time! CONTACT US
10. What else is there to do in the area?
Southern Alberta boasts a wide range of recreational and cultural activities. Lodestone Leadership is located just outside the vibrant city of Lethbridge, a booming agricultural center with the full range of amenities, shopping, big box stores, hotels, and restaurants that you could possibly want. Trip Advisor has a great Top 10 Things to do in Lethbridge that you can access HERE.
We are also just a short drive away from some amazing natural wonders! From Lethbridge, it’s a short day trip out and back to several amazing natural wonders that you don’t want to miss.
You can also check out the long list of attractions and activities available in Alberta by visiting the Travel Alberta Website.
