Equine-Assisted Learning

The goal of Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is for students to take their experiential learning—building relationships with horses through hands-on, unmounted activities—and transfer it in practical ways to their everyday lives. People learn through relationships, observation, and feedback. Horses provide all three in an authentic way.

Through facilitated interaction with the horse, students can learn life skills such as:

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• Problem solving and decision making

• Creative and critical thinking

• Self-awareness and empathy

• Good communication and interpersonal relationships

• Self-regulation

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Open to children and adults of all ages and abilities, EAL can help people:

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• Become school-ready after interrupted education

• Move through life transitions such as divorce, moving, job switches, new schools, etc.

• Gain resilience and confidence to deal with social issues

• Learn social skills during puberty and the challenging social media era

• Acquire skills in defining friendship and making friends

Unmounted Horsemanship

Participants in our Horsemanship Program learn experientially by working directly with horses. In this non-riding program, participants learn individual responsibility, relationship, and communication skills and gain an appreciation for teamwork, self-discipline, and trust. Through their activities, they develop a sense of purpose as they help care for horses that are, in turn, caring for all participants.

 

Participants learn and improve skills such as:

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• Confidence and independence

• Horse grooming, chores, body language, and communication

• How to work around horses safely

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Group Participation

EquiCenter welcomes a variety of groups and organizations to participate in our Horsemanship Program. Packages can be tailored to fit the needs of each group, with offerings that can be as extensive as weekly sessions for 35 students for 8 weeks or longer or one-day field trips for an organization to experience the programs.