Author - Tracey Evans

During his 8 months of stall rest to heal his broken leg, Oliver seemed to master self-isolation.  While he couldn’t assume his role as EAL teacher at the time, he still has some pretty important lessons on the stages he went through and some pro tips to share which can help us all during this time of isolation. 

I’ll let him tell you…

STAGE 1 DENIAL

At first I didn’t want to be in my stall. I felt fine and couldn’t understand why I couldn’t be out with my friends. I was frustrated and for the first day or so It showed. I raged against the machine, I didn’t follow instructions and did things I knew I shouldn’t and it probably did me more harm than good and may even have prolonged my stay. So even if you don’t believe all this is necessary do your very best to do what you’re being told. I wish I had.  Stay put and stay safe.

STAGE 2 ACCEPTANCE

Once I accepted that I wasn’t going to be out and about to resume my daily life for a while, I had a hard time passing the time. I was bored. Even though my family and friends that live with me were trying to do everything they could to make it easier for me, the days seemed really long and I was really bummed. And then I found myself thinking a lot about how bored I was...and that in itself is really boring. I started doing silly things to shake things up like cribbing on my stall door more and swinging my hay net around. But that wasn’t helping. It’s then that I realized I hadn’t fully embraced my circumstances.  Once I realized sulking wasn’t going to change my situation, I started to relax into it a bit. It was a very soothing calm and allowed me to figure out what I needed to do next to make the most of my situation and hopefully shorten the amount of time I would be in there.  Work on your mindset so you can reduce your stress and try to make the most of it.

STAGE 3 MASTERY

As I relaxed into this new situation, I soon realized that the people around me and beyond we’re pretty committed to getting me through this. If I needed something they were there for me and that really helped.  I learned to communicate what I really needed - like snacks, more water, more snacks, a scratch behind the ear, more snacks. It seemed if I tapped my broken leg people figured it out WAY faster. We had a new language and understanding and that was exciting! Leverage your resources, get creative in how you stay connected with the people you love.

Through these stages, two things really got me through and they will help you too.

Sense of Humour

I figured out if I made funny faces or found new ways of getting my peoples’ attention, they would laugh. No one had laughed much since this all started so it was a welcomed sight. And the more we played, the more we laughed and times got lighter and fun. Sure, this isn’t ideal. I would much rather have been outside playing with my friends...well except when it was cold, rainy or snowy anyway. But having fun and finding ways to laugh made the time pass so much faster and really brought me and my people together. Keep smiling and find humour in the everyday.

Which leads to my last phase and piece of advice.

Practice Gratitude

As we all got closer, sharing love and laughter I realized just how much everyone around me was committed to my recovery, I got very grateful. To think of how many people came together to make my recovery possible is very overwhelming. And the people who shared their love so freely and helped me find joy in the situation made my heart swell. So, I made sure I showed them how grateful I was. I returned their love 10- fold and we are all stronger for it today. Love the ones you’re with and reach out to those at a distance. Share love, share laughter and get through it together.

So hang in there. As difficult as it all may seem today, there are brighter days ahead and many positive lessons to be learned along the way.

For years people would say to me "you need sheep"! I would joke that the only sheep I would want are Valais Blacknose Sheep. They are dubbed the cutest sheep in the world and with good reason, but they were only available in Switzerland for the longest time. In the past 6 years, they have been making their way to the UK and New Zealand, so when we found out that they were also starting a breed up program in Canada, we couldn't wait to jump on board!

It was a whirlwind experience as we learned on October 30, 2018 that Valais Blacknose semen was available to be imported into Canada. With a breed up program, you begin with a foundation ewe that has many similar characteristics to the breed you want to create and then each year you breed to a purebred ram in order to get closer and closer to the chosen breed. For us that meant getting Scottish Blackface Ewes...and fast! Breeding season ends in December! So off we went and sourced our Foundation ewes who came home on November 24th. Eve, Maggie, Amelia, Lucy and Shauna would be the perfect girls to begin this big adventure with! And what an adventure it is...we knew nothing about sheep when we set off, so the learning curve as been steep and so much fun! Naturally driving home with our girls, it occurred to us...our coyotes may be just as interested in these ladies as we are. The solution...We need a llama! Before we even arrived home, one of my graduates offered us a beautiful llama named Loretta! We were officially ALL IN!

Of course it wasn't all smooth sailing. When we introduced our infamous guard llama we learned she was terrified of sheep! Thankfully after a few days together she learned they weren't evil little demons out to kill her haha! Now she is their loving protector and they are inseparable!

On December 14th, Dr. Lynn Tait arrived from Calgary with our Valais Blacknose Semen to inseminate our ewes. We inseminated only Eve, Maggie and Lucy as they were proven ewes who had lambed before and large enough to carry the larger Valais cross lamb. Shauna and Amelia will get their turn this year!

In February 2019, we were delighted to learn that Maggie and Eve were pregnant! We had 2 F1 cross lambs on the way. We prayed for a girl to continue our breed up program. Any boys would be neutered so as not to water down the breed with more Scottish Blackface genes. The girls were due in May and we couldn't wait!

On May 6th Eve surprised us with a little girl - Dreamwinds Gabriela! Of course knowing very little about sheep, it was nerve-wracking to say the least, but she was a healthy bouncing baby girl! Just 4 days later Maggie delivered the cutest little boy! Not so great for our breed up program, but he stole our hearts right away. Dreamwinds Gulliver would have a forever home here! Our sheep show grew by 2 hearts and 8 feet and we are delighted with how they are growing!

This fall we will breed all the girls again to continue on our journey to introduce the wonderful Valais Blacknose breed to Canada. We are one of only a very few breeders in the country thus far and focused on breeding the best quality of sheep we can. If you want to follow our adventures be sure to like our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/valaisofdreamwinds

There are many more adventures to come as one big dream leads to another here at Dreamwinds.

Do what you love! <3

Our Story of 'One Day'

It's a familiar saying, 'one day'. Those 2 words that all too often get replaced by "never". Growing up my dad and I shared a passion for horses, but just never had the means or opportunity to indulge. As we drove by fields of horses he would so often say "ONE DAY we'll have our horse farm."  

It was nothing but a pipe dream.

A dream that I never truly let go of, but also never consciously set my sights on. Until 2011 when my husband, Dirk said why don't we buy a farm and move our 2 horses home. I think I had our house listed before he even got all the words out! And suddenly "one day" became a real possibility and my lifelong dream of having horses at home was about to come true. That was as far as my vision went the day they came home - July 14, 2012. But once they were home, my dreams amplified.

What if I could make a living here?

What if I could work with my horses to build a fulfilling career? 

One dream fulfilled and another one born. 7 years later I still pinch myself. Dreamwinds is truly the story of "one day". 

What does your "one day" look like? I'm often asked how I did it. 

And when I think about it, I think I just did it. But there were a few things I did and continue to do that make it all possible. Based on many discussions over the years it also seems that 3 of these things are what often prevent people from reaching for their dreams. So if you have a "one day" that you would like to make a reality here are 

3 tips to get you started:

1. BELIEVE it is possible. "One day" is a dismissal. An admission that you don't really think it can happen. You need to stop thinking in terms of "one day" and start thinking in terms of "when". Change your thinking, change how you talk about it and it can change your path. "One day I'll have a farm" vs "When I have a farm". Hear the difference? What we think, we become. Whatever your dream, start thinking of it as a reality..today!
   
2. PLAN FOR SUCCESS. Define what it is you want and what you'll do to get there. If you're launching a business, write a business plan. If you want to take a year off to cruise the world, map it out. As Lewis Carroll said "if you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there". Take the time to make a plan. Not only will it give you direction, it will inspire action! and lastly...
   
3. READY OR NOT - begin. Maybe your dream takes an investment. Maybe it requires you to make big changes or take risks. For whatever reason, you're not quite ready. Here's the kicker. You will never be ready. I had just left the security of my corporate career and jumped into a new equine business that was unproven and in many cases unheard of with a need to replace my income. Was I ready? Heck no! Don't wait until you think you're ready, that just wastes time. That doesn't mean you have to jump in with both feet, but taking small steps builds momentum. Soon you won't be able to slow yourself down and each day you'll be closer and closer to making that dream a reality!

I hope you take steps today to make your "one day" a reality!

Tracey

Equine Assisted Learning is a growing industry that is opening many career opportunities to help others through horses. There are many EAL Certifications available, each with their own approach and standards of practice. The fact is there are a lot of people doing great work in this field! So it is important to take the time to do your research and find the one that is right for you. One that enables you to achieve your career goals and serve the clients you want to serve. When I was researching which certification I wanted to pursue when opening Dreamwinds, there were a number of factors that came into consideration. Time and of course cost were obvious considerations. Having completed a master’s degree and various certifications during my corporate career, I wasn’t looking to enroll in program that would take months or years to complete. But as I looked back, there were 12 key areas that weighed heavily in my decision to choose Cartier Farms for my EAL Certification.  I hope the following checklist will help you evaluate the various options to find the right path for your own EAL career!

1. Program History How long has the company been in place, offering EAL certification and services?  How successful are they?
2. Validity Does the company have any third-party research to validate its effectiveness? Are they able to provide graduate success stories from people they have trained? If you merely want to obtain certification to expand your knowledge, that is fine, but if you want to build a business, you need to know that it is feasible.
3. Suitability to your customers Will your customers buy it? This is critical. It is important to understand whether the program will appeal to your market. Some certifications offer an intuitive or spiritual approach, some are strictly therapeutic and others, like Cartier, take on a logical/objective-based approach. What would your customers want?
4. Flexibility What you wish to do at first may not remain your passion forever. You may discover other areas of interest or market opportunities. When I was looking for a certification, all I wanted to do was corporate team building. But, as my business grew, I realized that more people needed my help and the opportunities were endless. Thankfully, I was equipped for that through my certification. Flexibility enables you to grow your business in more than one area and create multiple income streams from your EAL certification.
5. Package Inclusions Each program has its own package, which could include literature, classroom time, time spent with the horses, hands on facilitation and so on. Some programs offer a few hours of classroom time and a certificate, while others have apprenticeships, tools, and more. Be sure to get a clear understanding of what you’ll receive with your certification and assess what the value is to you.
6. Time commitment How much time do you have available to devote to learning about EAL? Choose a course that is sustainable and can fit into your lifestyle.
7. Re-certification Some courses will require re-certification, logging of hours or further investment to retain your EAL Certification. Be sure to understand what is required by each of the schools you consider.
8. Operating restrictions Operating restrictions may apply if you want to maintain your certification and keep it valid. In some cases, you may only work with people who have also been certified by the same program. Consider how these operating restrictions will affect you not only now, but also in the future.
9. Current Operations Do they actively practice, or merely offer training? Do your research and see whether the company offers many services other than just training and certification. Their social media profiles should provide you with great insights. You want to learn from a company that offers more than just certification. Be sure you are learning from someone who has built an EAL career and business running actual programs, not just teaching certification.
10. Apprenticeship Opportunities While most programs offer a hands-on component, some provide the opportunity to apprentice. Being able to do an apprenticeship helps ensure that you are confident in your training, which enhances your level of success.
11. Continuing Education Advanced EAL Certification will be important for many people, but it may not be a priority for others. If it's important to you, be sure to find out that it is available.
12. Ongoing support Finally, does the company offer ongoing support after you have been certified? Is there coaching available and at what cost? Do they have a strong community of alumni that supports one another? Having the support of those who have been where you are and share your passion is a huge help as you grow your career/business.

This is an exciting time to embarking on a career in EAL! It is a growing industry offering wonderful and diverse opportunities to turn your passion for horses into a fulfilling career. Take the time to understand what education options are available, who is doing the kind of work you want to do and succeeding at it and most importantly what will be the best fit for you and the clients you want to serve. As you navigate your way, I am pleased to be a resource and welcome you to connect with me for more information or to schedule a free consultation at www.dreamwinds.ca/eal-certification. Enjoy the journey! Download your free copy of the checklist here!

Someone asked me recently, what is life like as a Certified EAL Facilitator? What does a typical day look like? I honestly struggled to define a "typical day"!   As I tried to answer, I started to reflect on just how remarkably different my life is today than just 5 years ago.  And it's in that contrast that it all became more clear. In 2012 we had recently purchased our farm, built our facility and welcomed our horses home.  As if that wasn't enough, I left my role as VP of Merchant Marketing for American Express and ventured into the world of EAL.   It was a big year to say the least and created a lifestyle change that I could never have imagined! As a marketing executive at Amex, I would commute to the city, spend my days in meetings, leading my team and developing marketing strategies to drive people to use their Amex card.  I did this day in and day out in some capacity for 9 years.  That was a typical day. Fast forward to today, I'm running my own EAL business.  On any given day you might find me in the barn working my horses, in the arena working with clients, out at networking events or in my office planning a session, working on business development, or doing the ever popular admin tasks.  In and around that I will tour my property, feed the chickens, play with my dogs or meet a friend for lunch.  And like any career, some days are better than others and I might be spending my day balancing my finances, filling a job position, fixing fences, cleaning stalls or walking out a sick horse and waiting for the vet. There simply is no typical day.  And while my routine is anything but routine, there are a few key constants that stand true each and every single day:

• I wake up every single day excited about what's ahead!  I may not know for sure, it may not be what I had originally planned, but it is always invigorating and still on my terms.
• I feel empowered!  Meetings don't run my day anymore, I get to CHOOSE.   As busy as any given day is, there is a boat load of FREEDOM in that!
• I get to change lives.  Whether it's a corporate team member, a person overcoming a fear or a new certification student who is just venturing into this amazing career themselves.  My horses, my programs and I are making a difference.
• And ultimately...the reason most of us consider a career in EAL...I am surrounded by my horses.   Not a day goes by I don't get to interact, teach and learn with my horses.  Now that may be because I'm fixing a fence or the waterer is on the fritz, but any time spent with horses is time well spent in my book!

  So I guess you could say I have a not so typical, typical day.   And I personally wouldn't have it any other way. Tracey  

To find out how you can enjoy this not so typical career, visit www.dreamwinds.ca/eal-certification 

How to Create the Perfect Team

The elusive “perfect team”, does is even exist?  Perhaps not, but there are definitely teams that consistently out perform and come really close.  What makes them different? We see organizations investing in Management courses which can be valuable, in that they teach us how to create the perfect team, yet, many individuals in corporate teams feel a lack of connection. Unfortunately, when an employee feels disconnected or undervalued, they will underperform or lack loyalty - two crucial aspects of a productive, high performing team. Perhaps it is time to go back to the drawing boards to assess what we have known for many years, and look for the missing element. Google did a two-year long study following 180 teams, and found five aspects that - according to them - created a well-functioning, successful team:

1. Dependability
2. Structure and clarity
3. Meaning
4. Impact
5. and Psychological safety

None of this is really news. In fact, I would argue what really makes a perfect team, lies a layer below these findings. Of course a leader should encourage ideas, and it's common sense that a high performing team would consist of dependable team members. But what lies beneath the surface? What helps those team members to become dependable?

Perfect Teams Share an Emotional Connection

When managers help to connect and bond teams and encourage personal relationships, the team becomes invested in the success of each individual and in that of the team. This accounts for dependability. So how does one create dependability within a team? As the Google study suggests, it comes from a place of psychological safety. Sadly, one poor manager can destroy psychological safety and it takes more than one great manager to create it.

What is Dependability?

When a person does their job for fear of losing it, they are dependable. A person who does their job to be rewarded with achievement or recognition, is also fairly dependable. However, it takes more than a group of fearful and ambitious people to create a high-performing team. The employees in the example above are egocentrically focused, which means that they will ultimately act in their own best interest. They will do what they can to present themselves in the best light possible, which might negatively impact the overall performance goal.  I’m sure we all know that one teammate that would happily ‘throw us under the bus’ to make themselves look good. However, positively dependent teams have understanding and empathy for one another. Individuals are much more inclined to step in to help struggling team members. Not only do they care about the performance goal, but they truly want to support their teammate through a tough time. This is the kind of dependability a manager can count on within the perfect team.

Dependability & Psychological Safety in the Workplace

In the article on Google's research, author Michael Schneider also merely scrapes the surface in his definition of psychological safety when he writes, " A situation in which everyone is safe to take risks, voice their opinions, and ask judgment-free questions. A culture where managers provide air cover and create safe zones so employees can let down their guard. That's psychological safety." Psychological safety should be encouraged by the management, indeed, but a fantastic manager cannot carry the can alone. People certainly care about their boss' perceptions of them, but they also don't want to be judged by their peers. Therefore, it is important for managers to create a culture of openness and non-judgmental sharing. Creating emotional connections and strong team bonds is what will make the biggest difference in creating a culture of psychological safety. Authentic team relationships can change the work environment from one of every-man-for-himself to an all-for-one-and-one-for-all mentality. When co-workers view the team as friends, their ideas are supported with people they trust - people who will support them, rather than look for ways to one-up or tear them down.

Building the Perfect Team: The Crux

By embracing the idea that the best teams are not about all work and no play, managers can transform the company culture and optimize returns on investment. For a brief moment, set aside the objectives and performance goals, and focus on the people - both the team and the individuals. Invest in providing opportunities for teams to be vulnerable, have fun, and get to know one another on a deeper level.   That investment will pay dividends by delivering a team that is committed to each other, the organization, and the goal.  You’ll not only see improvements in performance, but also a significant reduction in staff turnover and both of those metrics are money in the bank. Here at Dreamwinds, we provide equine assisted learning, which has been proven to forge deeper connections and improved communication within teams. We encourage corporate team managers and leaders to choose an off-site event that isn’t just about play, but is structured in a way that expands thinking, encourages self-reflection and provides an opportunity for team members to gain an understanding of each other – how they tick, communication styles etc.  With understanding comes connection and that’s what really sets us apart.  Our objective based exercises are structured to bring out these traits and lessons in a fun and engaging way. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our team building and youth leadership programmes, or find out how you can become a Certified EAL Facilitator.  

Creating Real Team Connections in a Virtual World

A study by Flexjobs found that remote job advertising increased by 52% in the last two years, which signals strong, sustained growth in opportunities for people who wish to telecommute, and for companies looking to reduce costs and the environmental impact of commuting, and increase productivity and staff morale. One of the main reasons why companies choose to outsource, is that it enables them to retain the best talent from around the globe. Proactive Team Building for Distributed Teams The one downside to distributed teams, is the fact that there may be less of a personal connection between team members. Virtual communication has been shown to result in miscommunication, which may result in members dropping the ball. A lack of engagement can translate into major issues for a remote team. When people like, personally know, and trust other team members, they are more likely to work together more collaboratively to ensure the success of both team and individual. As the leader of an organization built on a remote team, it is crucial to remain cognizant of the pitfalls of ignoring personal engagement between team members. You can ensure effective working relationships by proactively creating opportunities for your employees to connect in person. Do this by booking a team building program that focuses on:

• Building communication skills
• Understanding individual communication styles
• Group problem solving
• Leadership development
• And camaraderie.

Personal connections, shared experiences and real skill building will ensure remote teams stay committed, engaged and perform at their best to deliver bottom line results to their organizations. Get in touch with Dreamwinds today to learn more about our program, which will help you build a formidable remote team. Other Related Page: Corporate Team Building  

HORSE DAY @DREAMWINDS  Saturday, June 4th, 2016  11am - 5pm Plans for the 3rd Annual Horse Day @Dreamwinds are coming together!   We have an amazing line up of horse and rider demonstrations that are not to be missed! Last year we had nearly 600 people join us to learn about all things horse! We hope to double that this year and have added some great new demonstrations and activities to make it an even better way to spend a Saturday afternoon! RIDER DEMOS (Every hour on the :30):

• Show Jumping - Miguel Elciguary
• Dressage - Abby Simbrow
• Western - Bilby Ranch
• Saddle Seat - Kim Blease
• Polo - Brian O'Leary
• Gaited - Tina Hurd

BREED DEMOS (Top of every hour):

• Clydesdale
• Thoroughbred
• Hanoverian
• Spotted Saddle Horse & Tennessee Walking Horse
• Friesian & Saddlebred
• Quarter Horse
• And of course...Donkey!

Don't forget our Charity BBQ, Face Painting and the opportunity to experience our awesome Equine Assisted Learning Program! This is a rare opportunity to get up close and personal with our horses. Learn about their behaviour, their care and the differences between the breeds and various riding disciplines.  In our arena you can take the lead and experience our EAL program.  Learning to lead a horse and gain their trust and cooperation hones the same skills needed to build strong relationships and work effectively with people!  Our horses are gentle teachers, always happy to impart their wisdom! Of course you'll have a chance to meet our famous Clydesdale, Jimmy and Facebook star Benson the donkey! Net proceeds from the event go to The Terry Fox Foundation to support important Cancer research. It's an amazing day for all ages!  Don't miss it! check out our exciting schedule: