Our mission is to empower people with life changing- hands on learning experiences. Our purpose is to teach people through working with horses, how to move forward to discover their own empowerment. This program has been created by Michelle Salerno and Monica Gerritsen, who both share a passion for horses and empowering people. Combined, these powerful women have been teaching lessons of respect, empowerment and gentleness for over 35 years.
Michelle Salerno has been providing leadership, teambuilding empowerment and behavior modification programs for individuals, groups and organizations for the past 9 years. As a result of taking Monica Gerritsen’s unique and challenging horseback riding lessons, it inspired her to co-create the Mpower with Horses programs. Michelle discovered her passion with horses and brilliant hands on learning environment for her clients. Michelle’s goal is to use these amazing animals to further integrate MpowerMentor’s values and teachings and to have mutual respect of all beings. Michelle believes there’s no better place to practice what you’ve learned than in a real life scenario with horses that provide instant feedback on how well you’ve mastered your teachings. Michelle is happily married to a loving husband and has two adventurous boys.
Monica Gerritsen has been riding and working with horses for the past 35 years. After graduating from school, she continued her studies in horsemanship, riding, training and management at Meredith Manor and Westmoreland Davis Equestrian Institute. After graduating she started to teach English riding and horsemanship in South America, Europe and the USA. Her equine education and relationship with these magnificent creatures taught her how to respect, trust and get cooperation from the horses by treating them with the same values. Monica is now particularly drawn to Equine Assisted Learning because it is an exciting program which gives her the opportunity to help others. She is committed to teach people through their interactions with horses in how to learn about themselves, respond with more kindness, be more aware of what is around them, be more sensitive to the needs of others and develop courage. Monica is happily married to a wonderful supportive husband, and has two wonderful kids.
Because horses are prey animals they want to know only one thing while working with people: "Are you going to lead me or eat me?” Being that a horse is sensitive to body language, verbal and non-verbal cues, participants learn valuable social awareness and communication skills. This allows also participants to discover how actions and interactions affect their relationships and their goals.
The horse serves as a mirror that reflects instant feedback on how well participants use their power while asked to overcome series of challenges with a horse. Participants interact with the horse on the ground, where the horse is unleashed and free to do as it pleases. The challenge is for the participants to create enough trust for the horse to follow them through an obstacle course hands free. Participants are given an instant snapshot on how well they are able to simultaneously overcome challenges while maintaining their relationship with the horse. If the horse feels rushed, unconsidered, demanded or forced, it will not follow. It is only when a participant demonstrates patience, consideration, clarity and firmness that the horse will follow. Horses rely upon their instincts instead of judgments, preconceived thoughts and behaviors when interacting with humans. This is what makes learning with horses so unique and effective.
Horses teach us how to:
• Connect and work together in groups.
• Balance compassion with power.
• Be authentic and test the commitments to your goals.
• Improve verbal and non verbal communication skills.
• How to work as a team to create safety and trust.
• Create relationships based on trust and respect.
• How to set and respect boundaries.
• Read and trust body language.
Each program is determined from the results of a thorough assessment conducted by an Mpower with Horses Instructor. These results are used to customize a program which will develop the specific skills needed for personal and/or professional success. This insures all critical components are considered to generate lasting success and results. Each participant is given a workbook to examine and integrate all real life scenarios with their experiences. The participants are given a list of tasks that must be successfully completed with a horse. Journaling is strongly encouraged to capture any insights that will lead to further integration of these valuable lessons. We are located throughout Florida, Georgia and North Carolina and are able to support groups up to 90 participants. The average duration of a horse program is 3.5 hours.
