Shonel Balsillie

Improving Social/Emotional Well Being In Children Workshops, Incorporated With Horses

Improving Social/Emotional Well Being In Children Workshops Incorporated With Horses

About Shonel
– Shonel is coach who started riding when she was 3 yrs old, riding Shetland ponies for the “Qld Shetland Jockey Club.” Shonel’s father trained thoroughbreds from their Equestrian Centre “Kurshonbrooke Lodge” in Gumdale and Shonel started competing in Pony Club representing Queensland in her primary school days. As a Queensland representative they travelled all over Queensland and New South Wales countryside.

Shonel was coached by her mum and dad in the early days and then started competing in Eventing in High School. She was also a Member of the Queensland Junior Eventing Squad

When competition days finished when she became a full-time Primary School Teacher, but still coached riding to school aged children on weekends. She has coached a number of children who rode in the Queensland Inter-school competitions.

Shonel is currently with the Moreton Bay College Equestrian Development Riding School. Her husband and Shonel bought her parents property in Gumdale 2 years ago and took over the family Equestrian Centre “Kurshonbrooke Lodge” named after her brother Kurt, Shonel and her sister Brooke. It has been her family home for 31 yrs.

Shonel runs a riding school for children as young as 4yrs up to adults who have never ridden before or who would like to re-start riding. She also delivers Equestrian Australia’s ‘Ready Set Trot’ program. Last year she started “Tiny Tots @ Kurshonbrooke” for mums to bring their toddlers along for pony rides whilst enjoying a play and picnic. Shonel wanted children’s first interaction with horses to be a positive one. This program has been a huge success.

Shonel also runs a business called EI Generation (Emotional Intelligent Generation) where she uses her teaching skills and experience from the classroom and run workshops with children and parents to develop children’s social/emotional well-being. She also incorporates “Equine Therapy” into these workshops which has been a huge success. Her passion is teaching, not only teaching children to ride but everything that comes with horses – the responsibilities and horsemanship. During this journey they not only learn a new skill they also learn so much about themselves.

To Listen to Shonel Balsille on iTunes – Click Here

Or Listen below

Shonel’s Favourite Inspirational Quote
– Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.

Who Has Inspired Shonel
– Shonel’s Parents
– Simone Kann
– Anjanette Harten
– Jocelyn Park
– Gillian Rolton

About This Episode
– Shonel discusses treating her riding school horses as part of the family, educating children about horsemanship

Time Stamps
01:08 – Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.
02:51 – Riding at 3 years old at Gumdale in Queensland – The horse that would buck and the first barrel jump
04:15 – Coaching at university and continued through her teaching career
05:11 – Resilience, commitment, work ethic, listen and learn
07:01 – Satisfaction working with horses. The bond is like nothing else
08:29 – How Simone Kann, Anjanette Harten, Jocelyn Park and Gillian Rolton inspired Shonel
09:52 – The riding school horses who have inspired Shonel
11:06 – Riding school horses
11:43 – At high school, the ribbons and making city kids dreams come true
13:30 – Educating children about horsemanship and ‘on the ground’ stuff
15:18 – Teaching grooming other horse care to students
16:57 – Anxiety, little to no self esteem, bullying incorporating to an ‘Emotionally Intelligent Generation’ workshop
20:30 – “War Horse”
21:55 – Continuing to teach children and equine theraphy
22:45 – Enjoy your horse journey
Contact: see below details

Shonel’s Contact Details
Phone: 0402 857 853 or +61 402 857 853
Email: kurshonbrookelodge@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ksblodge

Music
BenSound.com

When Shonel is a return guest on Horse Chats, what question would you like to ask her?
(Please leave comment below)