Hoofsteps of Change

Embracing Change through Horse Human Interaction

 What is Equine facilitated Learning?

Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) is a form of experiential learning that involves interactions between individuals and horses. In EFL, the focus is on using horse-related activities to achieve specific educational or therapeutic goals. The term is often used interchangeably with Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), but some practitioners make distinctions between the two.

key aspects of Equine Facilitated Learning

Experiential and Hands-On

Like other forms of experiential learning, EFL emphasizes hands-on activities and direct experiences. Participants engage in activities with horses and then reflect on and discuss their experiences.

Educational Goals

The primary goal of EFL is often to achieve specific educational objectives. This could include developing communication skills, improving leadership abilities, enhancing problem-solving, or addressing other personal or interpersonal challenges.

Facilitation by Horses

Horses are considered co-facilitators in the learning process. Their responses to human behavior, body language, and communication provide immediate and non-judgmental feedback that can be used for reflection and learning.

Tailored Activities

EFL activities are often designed to be flexible and adaptable, allowing facilitators to tailor the experiences to the unique needs and goals of the participants.

No Riding Involved

EFL typically does not involve riding horses. Instead, participants interact with the horses on the ground through activities such as grooming, leading, and problem-solving tasks.

Applicability in Various Settings

EFL is applied in a variety of settings, including education, personal development, leadership training, team building, and therapeutic interventions.

Professional Facilitators

Like other forms of equine-assisted activities, EFL sessions are typically facilitated by trained professionals who understand both human psychology and horse behavior. These facilitators guide participants through the activities and help them process their experiences.

Holistic Approach

EFL often takes a holistic approach to learning, recognizing the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, and social aspects of individuals. The horse's role is seen as a catalyst for holistic personal development.

Equine Facilitated Learning can be a powerful and effective tool for a range of purposes, from enhancing team dynamics in corporate settings to providing therapeutic support for individuals facing emotional or behavioral challenges. The focus on experiential learning and the unique qualities of the horse-human interaction make EFL an engaging and impactful approach in various educational and therapeutic contexts.

Why horses?

There are several common elements between horses and humans, by which horses can help humans in becoming better humans. Horses are social, prey animals and naturally form relationships with one another. Leaning to develop a relationship with a horse, we can learn to have a better relationship with ourselves and with others.

We can translate our learning from the horse easily into our human family and social environments. Horses show similarity to humans in their emotional (limbic) brain and in their need for socialization. In emotional and social aspects, relating to horses can serve as a model for participants to use in their relationships with others. Horses provide honest and immediate feedback about the person’s autonomic and underlying emotional state. Horses provide us with a way to see our internal landscape and how we operate in the world. 

Being prey animals they need to organize themselves without attracting predators, so horses most often communicate visually, using body language. This use of body language can help participants to better understand and learn how their own non-verbal communication might be impacting or influencing others in their lives. Horses ask people to be aware of their surroundings at all times. It is through interactions with the horses that participants learn about self-awareness, which helps reveal behaviour patterns and gives participants the opportunity to change their thinking and actions.

The horse's use of body language, in particular the small coordinated movements of their heads, ears and eyes, to communicate with one another, means horses have a natural predisposition to detect subtle facial and head cues, this translate in to subtle use of their energy. Horses are very sensitive to the energy surrounding them, this helps humans to understand how their energy states (i.e. feeling and autonomic states). This provides humans the opportunity to learn self-regulation. 

Participants gain self-esteem and self-confidence while learning how to work with such large and powerful animals. In addition, participants are challenged to solve problems, communicate clearly, develop social skills and empathy and learn leadership skills.

Types of Sessions

private EFL sessions

Private 1-on-1 sessions run between 1 to 1.5 hours, double sessions can be booked depending on your goals and the distance you are travelling. The facility address will be given when the first session is confirmed. 

group Efl sessions

Group ELF sessions are available. Please get in touch to discuss your needs.

coaching with horses

Combine in-person EFL sessions with the horses with online coaching sessions. The 1-on-1 life coaching with equine facilitated learning (EFL) in available as a 3 month program or as a 6 month program.

A Gift for You

My gift to you is a free 30 minute initial consultation to discover how equine facilitated learning and our other programs and services can assist you! 

Testimonials

Here is what some individuals had to say about their experience with a team building exercise focused on clear communication and active listening: