changing direction on the course of life….

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP)

EAP is the collaboration of a credentialed mental health professional and equine specialist while providing a therapeutic unmounted equine activity. The activity is created and guided by both equine and mental health professionals to support the therapeutic goals and needs of individuals, families, or therapeutic groups. Equine Assisted Psychotherapy often utilizes metaphors and draws parallels to real-life experiences, while allowing clients experiential opportunities to practice new skills.

Equine Assisted Learning (EAL)

EAL is typically provided with a qualified equine specialist and other additional staff as needed. The activities for these sessions are created and led by the equine specialist with the intent to plant seeds and opportunities for personally driven exploration. Sessions will provide highly engaging experiential unmounted activities with horses. Equine-assisted learning sessions are most beneficial to clients who have already experienced EAP.

Organizational Development

Organizational Development through equine activities can serve small organizations and groups to larger corporations. Through interactions with professional peers during equine experiences, individuals and groups can address specified needs or follow the parallels and metaphors that are presented in the moment. Groups can address goals such as leadership, team development, communication, respect, boundaries, delegation and relationship building or repair to name only a few.

Why Horses Matter

  • The earliest recorded use of horses in a therapeutic context can be found in ancient Greek literature, around 600 BC.

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  • "It is nice to see genuine wonder and excitement in my students when they interact with the horses and the counselors at Flying Changes. I saw my students grow more confident as they interacted with the horses and staff. I can’t wait to bring my student groups back."

    - VT Assistant Director, Workshop Participant

  • Mirroring: Horses are keen observers and are vigilant and sensitive to movement and emotion. They often mirror a client's behavior or emotions, conveying understanding and connection that allows the client to feel safe.

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  • "The horses bring the participants to instant empathy, warming to the horses and in doing so, warming to each other."

    - A horse’s favorite human client.

  • Just like people, horses can be extroverted, shy, a little stubborn and genuinely affectionate. Nothing is more therapeutic than knowing you have a loyal, loving friend who will greet you every day with tail swishes, “nosings” and a deep desire for your company.

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  • "My confidence in myself grew with each session and all of my daily experiences happening outside of my therapy sessions somehow lined up with the new skill that I was acquiring that week in therapy. Horses feel what their person is hiding on the inside. I have walked into a session with anger on the inside and my horse friend could feel the energy shift in me so much so that she could not contain her response to the turmoil that I was feeling on the inside."

    - Individual EAP client.

  • Horses demonstrate complete congruence in how they act; humans, in contrast, often say one thing and behave entirely differently. When we see this among leaders, trust is broken and difficult to re-establish.

    Forbes Article - Read More.

  • "I didn't think I'd miss nature so much, it was very nice just to enjoy the environment around me."

    - Workshop client.

Experience the wonder of horses!

Horses act as a mirror for our emotions, thoughts, and feelings and provide opportunities to experience and practice life sills in a safe and non-judgmental, calming environment. Complete with metaphors and parallels that speak louder than words, horses speak volumes.