Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is a unique approach to experiential learning, where participants are offered safe experiences with horses for the purpose of personal development, social-emotional and relationship skills building, enhancing quality of life and professional development skills such as leadership and team building.

Participants may have experienced trauma, loss or grief, anxiety and/or depression, family violence, challenges with their mental health or challenges in daily life.  Participants may simply want to explore and nurture themselves by spending peaceful time with horses in nature. EAL sessions can be beneficial for those who prefer to be outdoors rather than a traditional room based setting. EAL sessions can also be beneficial as an addition to therapies with other mental health care providers.

• Equine Assisted Learning is experiential learning with horses where participants learn about themselves and learn valuable life skills with the support of horses. EAL sessions offer safe experiences with horses for the purposes of social-emotional and relationship skills building, personal development, enhancing quality of life and professional skill development such as leadership and team building. The focus of sessions does not include therapy although simply being with horses in nature can be therapeutic.

• Equine Assisted Therapy/Counselling -participants are offered safe experiences with horses for the purpose of exploring self-experience, exploring experience in relationship, building self-awareness, building awareness of patterns/habits that are no longer serving them well, psychological healing and addressing clinical or therapeutic goals participants have identified or agreed to. The focus of sessions is therapeutic in nature.

Why Horses?

Horses are intelligent, sensitive and strong beings who can evoke strong feelings. Calm and healthy horses can assist in regulating a person’s nervous system, reminding us how to live in the present moment and be authentic. Horses do not judge, they know and express their uniqueness. Horses live in connection with their herd and can remind us of our need for belonging.

Sessions may involve observing horse and herd behaviour, grooming horses, leading horses, walking and talking, leading with obstacles, mindfulness, active play with horses, connecting and expressing exercises.

Most sessions are ground based however riding/mounted sessions (with lead rope) may be included when appropriate for the content of the session. Sessions are based on developing social and emotional skills. Simply being with and connecting with horses can be very therapeutic.

“Horses see the real you. Being seen is incredibly healing”

Meg Kirby, Founder of Equine Psychotherapy Institute