Equestrian Young Leaders Europe
The EEF is delighted to announce the launch of the Equestrian Young Leaders Europe Project (EYLE) following a successful bid for funding from the EU Erasmus+.
The EYLE is based on existing programmes in the Netherlands and Sweden in which children develop personal and leadership skills through work with horses. The role of animals, and particularly horses, in aiding interpersonal skill development, such as communication, assertiveness, problem-solving, empathy, has been well researched. Recognising the power of the horse to create this social progression, the aim of the EYLE is to provide a structured programme that can be used across Europe, providing a clear pathway for children and young adults to develop themselves.
The programme consists of 4 levels of activities, to build a child’s personal development and skills progression. Young children start their program locally at riding schools, focusing on communication, self-reliance, and operational skills. As they age the program will challenge them to expand their activities to regional and ultimately national levels, all completed with a focus on volunteering to additionally build a sustainable talent pool for the voluntary sector. Thanks to the support of Erasmus+ the EYLE participants will also gain international experience and the opportunity to utilise their leadership skills in a range of organisations, ultimately creating a complete progression for our sports future leaders.
The programme will initially focus on rollout in Hungary, Norway and Bulgaria and be delivered in partnership with their National Federations alongside Sweden, the Netherlands, and the Open University in the Netherlands.