"One of the wisest people I know is a wonderful lady named Elliot "Nes" Abhau. Over the years I have learned a lot from her. I started college in fall of 1976 in a specialized horse intensive program. Nes was one of the instructors. I was not in her class. But nearly every day for nine months I would step into a dark alley way of the arena she taught in to observe her students and learn from her. She never seemed to notice that I was there. I left the horse program and finished my college courses, went on to a job, then graduate school. Five years later I contacted Nes and asked her to do a clinic at my farm. It was then that I discovered she had known I was in her arena all along." Deb Dyer

If helping children develop emotional well-being and competencies in meeting life challenges is our goal then we must learn to be Coaches. A coach is different than a teacher or an instructor. Teaching and instructing imply the transfer of information from an adult to a child, followed by evaluation of the child’s achievement by the adult. This is a process that leads to memorization and regurgitation of facts or directed performances.

Learning is much more than this process. Learning comes from personal experience. Learning results in understanding. In understanding children are able to have control, to make good decisions, to evaluate themselves. Learning empowers children and develops emotional well-being and competencies in meeting life challenges.

Learning is Coach assisted. The Coach is responsible for structuring the environment in which personal experience is attained. The Coach encourages the child to experience, to question, to feel, and finally to understand. The Coach involves the child in setting their own goals and in defining the steps it takes to reach those goals. The Coach holds the child responsible for their actions. The Coach sets standards provides measurement tools for the child to use in evaluation. The Coach helps parents know when and how to be involved. Most importantly, the Coach allows the horse to do his job. (For more information on the horse’s unique contribution see the Horses section of this web site.)

A Coach is sort of like a magician who stands at one end of the hallway and opens doors of opportunity whenever the child is ready to try something new. The trick of course is knowing when the child is ready. This takes experience.

The ADVANTAGE RANCH Center for Equine Interactive Concepts (CEIC) Coaches training program offers lots of experience. The 120 hour course includes over 40 hours of contact time with student children in applied Equine Interactive Counseling™. These children are students in the community based center at the Ranch. (For more information on children attending ADVANTAGE RANCH, see the Children section of this web site.) Additional opportunities for hands on experience after certification exist in extending the stay at ADVANTAGE RANCH, internships with other community based centers in our network and continuing education programs or consultations.

ADVANTAGE RANCH makes a long term commitment to each Coach. Annual re-certification requirements include use of standardized measurement tools to evaluate the progress of each child. These outcomes are submitted to ADVANTAGE RANCH and processed by our research department. Information generated by the research department is available to all CEIC certified Coaches. This information helps validate programs and generate third party funding. (For more information see the Research section of this web site.)

Continuing education is also a factor in annual re-certification. A good Coach is always working on self improvement. ADVANTAGE Resource provides a number of continuing education tools in addition to our on-site consulting services. Resource offers an audio tape series that provides new information, motivation, and advice from successful Coaches on a monthly basis. These tapes keep Coaches up to date and feeling great about the important work they do. Video tapes provide information on a wide range of professional and business information. Resource also operates a book store for recommended reading, and is the source for EVERY CHILD’S DREAM by Debora Anne Dyer, ADVANTAGE RANCH Executive Director. EVERY CHILD’S DREAM is a practical guide that helps parents build good partnerships with horse programs designed to help their children. These tools, together with the program and business materials, help Coaches achieve their goals of helping children. (More information on Resources, EVERY CHILD’S DREAM, and consulting services are available on this web site.)

Coaches are very special people. They are prepared to take an important supportive role in the lives of children. They CARE about kids. Their workplace is an arena. Their teammates are horses, children, parents, and the community in which they live. They are the glue that holds this team together. They are serious dedicated paraprofessionals. Through ADVANTAGE RANCH they can define that professionalism and make significant contributions through their careers.

ADVANTAGE RANCH Center for Equine Interactive Concepts prepares Coaches not only in the theory and practice of Equine Interactive Counseling™, but also in how to make a living providing these services in their community. Coaches are trained to

• establish a local referral network and encourage participation of counseling professionals
• manage budgeting, billing, accounting and other office matters
• create a positive public impression, manage marketing
• communicate with families and encourage volunteerism
• select, train, and manage horse resources

If you think a career in Equine Interactive Counseling™ is for you, please fill out the on-line response card. We want to talk with you.