When we talk about equine assisted learning, one of the most common questions we hear is, “Why horses?”
That’s a great question! Let’s have a look.
In equine assisted learning, we often say, “How a person does one thing, is how they do everything.” That means, during an equine assisted learning activity or workshop, a person will interact with the horses in the same way they interact with human beings in their lives outside of the arena.
With their naturally honest, empathic and non-judgmental natures, horses give clients immediate, honest feedback that helps them see more clearly how they’re showing up in their lives, jobs and relationships.
Equine assisted learning can also help our clients develop leadership skills such as the following:
Awareness and Communication: As prey and herd animals, horses are highly aware of their environment. They use body language and awareness of one another and their surroundings to communicate, survive and thrive. These are also important skills to help us excel as human beings.
Through working with horses, your clients will be able to practice presence, and awareness of self and others. They will also learn the importance of being congruent (having their insides match their outsides) to build trust and inspire horses and humans to follow their lead.
Emotional Intelligence: Horses are strongly empathetic. They sense our emotions and respond to them immediately and honestly. A confident, relaxed human will easily evoke the same feelings in the horse. On the other hand, someone who is anxious will likely find their horse companion picking up on their anxiety and becoming anxious as well. In this way, horses help humans to gain greater self awareness and practice being able to feel, name and manage their emotional state.
Cooperation: A healthy herd relies on shared leadership and purposefully leaning on each individual’s unique strengths for the good of the herd. This approach aims to foster harmony, unity, and cooperation while protecting the herd. The human workplace can utilize a similar cooperative team dynamic in many different ways. Teams that work well have people in clearly defined positions that play to each person’s skills and working preferences, creating that same sense of unity and cooperation. The team has trust in its leadership and can respond and adapt to the changing environment creatively when this dynamic is present.
Confidence: In the wild, or even in pastures, horses typically live in herds with a leader who keeps the entire group safe, secure and together. Horse leaders usually don’t do this through violence but rather by being level-headed, confident and capable in all circumstances. With equine assisted team-building activities, your clients will learn non-aggressive, non-verbal, assertive techniques to lead their ‘herd,’ bringing out the best in themselves and everyone around them.
These are just a few ways that horses can help humans improve upon their skills, both professional and personal! Why is this?
Horses are highly empathetic and calming creatures that are 100% honest about how they feel in the moment. As herd animals, they form deep-rooted connections and are able to read their environment to escape danger, communicate, comfort one another, and maintain harmony within their herd.
These are amazing skills to have as an individual and as someone who aims to support and help others. Honing in on these areas will enable you to provide a better level of understanding and empathy. Horses can also teach us about connection and community!
If you are looking to co-create powerful transformation for clients, then adding this powerful and innovative modality to your toolkit will give you a higher footing in the field of personal and professional development.
Another way horses can enhance your business is through generating an additional income stream. You will be providing a niche service that is unlike what other businesses offer and has a unique appeal to potential clients.
How will equine assisted coaching benefit your clients?
Nature and horses are a powerful duo that allows for self-reflection, greater awareness, and a level of calm that cannot compare to traditional coaching or mental health methods.
There are many things that horses can help clients with – including interpersonal communication and teamwork.
For example, the heightened self- awareness and self-reflection realized through working with horses helps your clients understand what makes them tick, what challenges them, and what motivates them in life. By partnering with horses, you help your clients grow into their best selves, consciously creating an environment in which they can thrive.
Self-awareness will allow your clients to realize the areas where they can improve, looking inward to find out who they really are or who they want to become.
If you are interested in growing your revenue stream, enhancing your coaching practice, or providing a modality as a mental health professional, then equine assisted learning may be for you.