The Power & Presence of the Speaking Horse

---

 Are you passionate about working with horses and eager to deepen your coaching skills? Join our transformative 6-week experiential course designed to springboard your journey into Equine Assisted Learning for Educators, Coaches, or Therapeutic practices. 

This program is designed to develop your skills and understanding in Equine Relational Behaviors and best practices for bringing horses and humans together in a safe and effective learning environment, rooted in science and Gestalt principles, with a focus on equine-assisted learning and mindfulness research.

 Expert Guidance: Learn from Lisa Walters and Angela Schmitt, MA. Lisa is a lifelong equestrian and Equine Assisted Learning practitioner and trainer with over 29 years of experience. Lisa has also been instrumental in conducting and supporting the research that has validated the effectiveness of equineassisted learning, ensuring evidence-based practices. Angela Schmitt, MA, has 27 years of experience in various therapeutic settings and has just marked 9 years of providing equine-assisted coaching to behavioral health, recovery programs, and other facilities in Arizona, as well as her private practice in Scottsdale, AZ. 

Course Structure: This is a 6-session course. It includes four weeks of immersive online learning, combined with 2-2-day in-person retreats (sessions #3 and 6). During the in-person intensives, we’ll delve into hands-on experiences with horses and practice horse-human interactions, as well as learn how to facilitate coaching and therapy sessions. 

Outcomes: Gain confidence and skills to integrate Equine Assisted Learning into your professional practice. 

 Program Includes: 

- The Seven Fundamental Relational Behaviors of Horses  

- Research summaries relevant to horse-human interactions (Lisa was part of the research team) 

- HeartMath techniques - scientifically proven components that create positive outcomes

- A list of the horse-human interactions & activities, Understanding of how and why to utilize them 

- Understanding and skill building in Equine Relational Behaviors 

- Written curriculum-related materials 

- 2 in-person intensives / with one-on-one coaching in person 

- Learning the principles and the application of Gestalt theory in equine work 

- Learning a new style of communication for horse and human 

-  Understanding the process between the horse and the human through the Gestalt lens 

- How these equine behaviors build trust and bonding in herds - How equine behaviors relate to human relationships 

- How to better “read and listen to the horse partner” 

- To determine how horses relate to humans, whether they are qualified to do this work 

- Non-Violent communication skills - Mindfulness /understanding presence / holding space/ therapeutic silence 

- Activities and “experiments"; learn how to feel and hear into your horse and clients. 

- Role of the facilitator. What your role is and what it isn’t. 

- Understanding the lines between EAL (education) and EAP/EAT (therapy) 

- Necessary concepts that a facilitator should be aware of 

- Industry standards (mainly the Professional Association of Therapeutic    Horsemanship — PATH)

- Gestalt Principles and how to apply the work with your clients and the horses 

- Mindfulness, grounding, holding space, creating a safe container 

- Activities that you can use in your practice and learning how to create your own 

- Cultivating your style to deepen the relationship with yourself and your clients 

- Expand your business 

Science: We provide an in-depth examination of recent studies (2006-2023) conducted with horses and humans, demonstrating the positive effects of EAL/EAP on human physiology and further establishing their efficacy. 

HeartMath Personal Resilience Training: This element of the course includes learning the basic HeartMath tools and their relevance in this work. For over 25 years, the HeartMath Institute has been researching the heart-brain connection and exploring how the heart influences our perceptions, emotions, intuition, and overall health. These tools help facilitators with self-care and emotional regulation.