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Outing with equines teaches kids confidence

Group from Olds attends Focus, Body and Mind Equine camp near Torrington
MVT STANDALONE Focus, Body and Mind Equine
Paul Wright, a senior peace officer with the Town of Olds, and Olds RCMP Staff Sgt. Warren Wright joined kids from Boys and Girls Club of Olds and Area for an outing on Aug. 3 at Focus, Body and Mind Equine near Torrington. Photo courtesy of Sheila McDonnell

OLDS - Local law enforcement from Olds joined kids from Boys and Girls Club of Olds and Area for an outing last week at Focus, Body and Mind Equine near Torrington.

The group played a game of red light, green light with the officers for the first part of the day on Aug. 3.

The objectives that everyone was working on was focus, according to facilitator Sheila McDonnell.

Each group took their vehicles (horses) around to each obstacle to complete the task, but also had to of course obey the rules of the road (traffic lights). Many groups ran some red lights and were issued tickets but they quickly found ways to work together to ensure that they were not issued anymore.

The second part of the day was working on a little common sense and team work.

"We enjoyed watching the officers choose to work with the smallest of our teachers and trying to think "outside the box" when it came to one of the obstacles. I think it is also fair to say they learned from one of the smallest kids we had today that it doesn't matter how big or small the teacher is but how you handle yourself showing great leadership skills," McDonnell wrote in an email to the Albertan.

"I have seen some great changes in some of these children, and the confidence that builds each time they work with the horses.  At the end of each day they complete  "what my horse taught me" and it's always great to read those at the end of the day to see what they take away from the program."
 
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