Equine Assisted Learning
What is Equine-assisted Learning (EAL)?
Equine-assisted Learning is an experiential learning approach that promotes the development of life skills. This focus on life skills can be related to academic achievement and classroom behavior, personal growth and exploration, or professional pursuits such as leadership development, team building, and executive coaching. First responders, college organizations or clubs, new mothers, senior groups, and many other populations can benefit from equine-assisted learning!
Who facilitates EAL?
The work is facilitated by professionals who have training and certifications that qualify them to work safely with horses, have knowledge and skill in experiential learning methods, and have been trained in facilitation. The highly trained facilitators offer safe, life skill directed sessions for their students. Sometimes sessions are co-facilitated by a team of professionals; one who is the equine specialist and one who is the human specialist. Each member of the team has the necessary skills to work with the type of individual or group in the session. For example, if a horse professional is hosting a team-building session for a corporate group and has not worked in leadership development before, that horse professional would partner with an expert in leadership development to facilitate the session as an equal partnership.
What does an EAL session look like?
EAL sessions can be individual or group sessions. Each session involves a horse interaction facilitated by the professional or professional team. Though there is always a lesson plan, a good facilitator will often follow the horse’s lead. Often the activities are problem-solving based, relationship-building, or focused on critical thinking skills. Though students can learn horsemanship skills through the sessions, it is usually not the primary goal. Most goals are focused on the development of life skills. Lessons are often groundwork or focused on relationships but could be mounted if they help the client meet specific goals.