Equine assisted learning is an experiential form of professional or personal development that involves interactions between individuals and horses. Participants engage in various activities with horses, such as grooming, leading, or other activities, to achieve specific educational goals. These interactions with horses can promote self-awareness, emotional regulation, communication skills, and professional and personal growth, as they provide a unique opportunity for individuals to learn about themselves and develop valuable life skills through their interactions with these sensitive and intuitive animals.

No. Equine assisted learning is an optional delivery method for your facilitation experience. We can facilitate your Everything DiSC^® and The Five Behaviors^® workshops in-person, online, or at our farm with equine assisted learning.

No. With the proper lead time, we can use other professional or informal assessments with our workshops. We can also custom structure EAL workshops without assessments.

Equine assisted learning (EAL) and equine assisted therapy (EAT) are related but distinct approaches involving interactions between individuals and horses for therapeutic or educational purposes:

1. Equine Assisted Learning (EAL): EAL focuses primarily on professional, educational and personal development goals. Participants engage in structured activities with horses to learn specific skills, such as communication, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving. The emphasis is on learning and personal growth rather than clinical therapy.
2. Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT): EAT, on the other hand, is a therapeutic approach that involves trained therapists or mental health professionals who incorporate horses into the therapeutic process. It is a form of animal-assisted therapy where the horse serves as a co-therapist. EAT is used to address various mental health issues, emotional challenges, and psychological conditions, with the goal of improving individuals’ well-being.

While both EAL and EAT involve interactions with horses and can offer significant benefits, the key distinction lies in their primary objectives: EAL focuses on education and personal development, while EAT is more focused on therapeutic interventions for mental health and emotional well-being.

No. We have trained equine facilitators who will assist you with the horses. A safety presentation is required prior to the workshop.

No.

An example of a workshop that uses Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) without assessments could be a team-building and leadership development workshop for a group of professionals or individuals. Here’s how it might be structured:

Workshop Title: “Equine-Assisted Leadership Development”

Objective: To enhance participants’ leadership skills, teamwork, and communication through interactions with horses.

Workshop Activities:

1. Herd Observation: Participants observe a group of horses in a paddock and discuss their observations. This activity encourages participants to draw parallels between horse herd dynamics and human group dynamics, fostering discussions on leadership, hierarchy, and teamwork.
2. Leading Exercises: Participants pair up and take turns leading a horse through an obstacle course without using any physical force. This activity emphasizes the importance of clear communication, trust-building, and non-verbal cues in effective leadership.
3. Problem-Solving Challenges: Participants work in small groups to solve problems or complete challenges involving the horses, such as guiding them through a series of tasks. This encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and adaptability.
4. Reflective Discussions: After each activity, there are facilitated discussions where participants share their insights, observations, and the lessons they’ve learned from their interactions with the horses. These discussions help individuals translate their experiences into leadership principles applicable to their professional and personal lives.
5. Individual Goals: Participants set personal leadership development goals based on their experiences during the workshop, with guidance from facilitators. They create action plans to apply what they’ve learned to their everyday lives.

Key Takeaways: Participants leave the workshop with a deeper understanding of leadership, improved communication skills, increased self-awareness, and a practical toolkit for effective leadership based on their experiences working with the horses.

This type of Equine Assisted Learning workshop leverages the unique qualities of horses to provide hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that can have a profound impact on leadership and teamwork skills.

See our sample half-day agenda here. A full-day agenda would be similar, but it would include lunch.

Yes! You can make a request, and if it makes sense for our organization, we can make it happen!

We charge for grooming sessions because we have a specific curriculum for individuals with little or no experience with horses. We have to pay our employees to assist and monitor, and we have to pay for our liability insurance.

The decision to restrict minors from participating in most equine assisted learning (EAL) sessions is primarily based on safety and liability concerns, as well as considerations related to the child’s ability to fully comprehend and engage in the activities. Here are some reasons why minors are typically not allowed in EAL sessions without specific age-appropriate programs:

1. Safety: Working with large animals like horses can pose physical risks. Horses are powerful and unpredictable creatures, and even the most well-trained horses can behave unexpectedly. Minors may not have the physical strength or coordination to handle horses safely, increasing the risk of accidents or injuries.
2. Liability: EAL providers are often concerned about legal liabilities associated with having minors participate in sessions. In the event of an accident or injury involving a minor, there may be legal complications, especially if informed parental consent and legal safeguards are not in place.
3. Emotional and Cognitive Development: EAL sessions often involve emotional and psychological aspects, including self-awareness, empathy, and communication. Young children may not have the cognitive or emotional maturity to fully engage with these concepts or to process the experience effectively.
4. Horse Welfare: Ensuring the well-being of the horses is a priority in EAL. Minors may not have the awareness or control to treat the horses with the care and respect they require, potentially leading to stress or harm to the animals.
5. Consent and Communication: Minors may have difficulty providing informed consent to participate in EAL sessions. It’s essential to ensure that participants understand the activities, potential risks, and benefits fully, and minors may not have the capacity to do so effectively.
6. Program Suitability: EAL programs are often designed with specific age groups and developmental stages in mind. There may be age-appropriate programs for children or adolescents that address their unique needs and abilities while ensuring safety.

However, it’s important to note that there are EAL programs specifically designed for minors, including educational programs tailored to children and teenagers. These programs take into account the developmental stages and safety considerations for younger participants, allowing them to benefit from the unique experiences that interacting with horses can offer while ensuring their safety and well-being.

Fehd Road, Elberfeld, IN, near the Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area and Miles Landing Campgrounds.