Equine-Assisted Coaching & Learning Skills & Benefits

Equine-Assisted Learning Skill & Benefits

Where Horsemanship meets Humanship

The skills and benefits gained through equine-assisted coaching, therapy, and learning are extensive. With all equine-assisted services, a customized growth plan is collaboratively envisioned to target specific goals and measure outcomes.

Regulation and Decision-Making

learning how to respond to the mind and body in relationship

Each session includes activities designed to foster emotional and physical regulation along with ownership of the growth process through collaborative planning. These activities often occur at the beginning and end of the session, sometimes with and without the horses. They translate to foundational skills essential for everyday experiences.

Lifemanship Skill	Horsemanship Skill
Session Check-In	Observing the state of weather, environment, and experiences impacting the herd.
Session Planning	Based on the state of the horse partner and self, determine the best interaction and exercises for the session.
Observing Self/Others	Observing herd interaction and horse partner.
Rating of Stress/Anxiety	Observing signs of stress/relaxation in horse partner and exploring the role of self.
Somatic System Grounding, such as 5-4-3-2-1 Mindfulness	Somatic co-regulation is evidenced by breaths, yawns, and relaxation signs.
Body Scan	Observing the horse’s body movement.
Box and Ball Breathing	Matching horse breaths with the human breathing.
Thumbs Up/Down	Choosing participation level with willingness and commitment.
Walking in Step	Syncing up to create connection.
Bouncing Ball, Swinging Rope, Drumming	Using rhythm to create regulation.

Personal Growth Skills

cultivating emotional resilience and relational strength

When working with horses, we have the opportunity to experience personal growth by seeing how we approach relationships and responsibilities. Each client can select from any or all of the following areas of growth to work on through equine-assisted coaching and learning sessions.

Lifemanship Skills
anger	forgiveness
anxiety	frustration tolerance
authenticity	grace
boldness	leadership development
boldness	observing others accurately
collaboration/teamwork	perseverance
compassion	responding to pressure
confidence	response to being ignored
connection	response to resistance
courage	time management
decision-making	strengths awareness
emotional regulation	working through weakness
empathy	worry
fear	responding to pressure
finding your voice	response to being ignored

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Trauma-Informed Core Principles

understanding the brain-body-relationship connection

The equine-assisted coaching and learning experiences are built upon trauma-informed principles that explain the way our body and brain responds to pain and the threat of harm as well as how new habit and mindsets are formed.

Human Principles	Horse Principles
Understanding the Human Brain & Body	Understanding the Horse Brain & Body
Body's Response to Triggers, PTSD, Anxiety	Evidence of the Survival Response in Fight-Flight-Freeze-Fawn
Human Heart Rate	Horses Heart Rate
Human Breathing Rate	Horses Breathe Rate
Human Relationship Principles - Co-dependency, Controlling, Compromising, Abuse	Herd Dynamics - Alpha, Prey, Predator
Boundaries and Leadership	Drive Lines/Quadrants
Confidence and Compassion	Pressure/Release
Arousal Continuum	Window of Tolerance
Learned Helplessness	Learned Helplessness
Neuroplasticity	Classical Conditioning and Behavior Change
Attachment Theory	Natural Lifemanship Principles of Connection with Attachment and Detachment
Human Body Language	Horse Body Language
Mind-Body-Soul Health	Wheel of Horsemanship

Responsibility & Stewardship

cognitive growth partnered with compassionate caregiving

All of these activities provide the opportunity to become intelligent and compassionate caregivers of our horse partners while also growing emotionally resilient and relationship strong in a way that impacts our human relationships.

Lifemanship Skill	Horsemanship Skill
Coregulation Stress Reduction Responsibility Servanthood Attention to Detail Leadership Confidence Compassion Empathy Communication Science Mathematics Connection Cognitive Functioning Physical Strength Building Resiliency	Identify Grooming Supplies and Correct Usage
	Identifying a Horse’s Anatomy
	Identifying a Hoof Anatomy
	Identify the Needs of Horse Teeth
	Taking Horse Vitals
	Recognizing the Signs of Pain
	Proper Blanketing
	Taking Temperature
	Administering Syringe
	Understanding Feed & Nutrition
	Keeping a Proper Stall
	Putting On/Off Leg Wraps
	Techniques for Bathing
	Understanding Clipping
	Mane/Tale Care
	Understanding Common Illnesses
	Understanding Common Injuries
	Identifying Parts of Saddle
	Identifying Parts of the Bridle
	Identifying Supplemental Equipment (Boots, etc).
	Taking Apart and Cleaning Tack

Confidence & Connection

life skills facilitated by horsemanship skills

All of these activities provide the opportunity for both the horse and human to gain confidence, cultivate leadership skills, overcome fear, reduce anxiety, develop new neuropathways (roads of learning), and experience the healing that comes through co-regulation.

Lifemanship Skill	Horsemanship Skill
Catching with Connection	Field to Gate
Haltering with Connection	Halter On/Off, Head Down
Creating Connection on Lead	Box Exercise
Leading with Confidence (Part 1)	Walking with Lead in Arena/Round Pen,
Leading with Confidence (Part 2)	In/Out Gate, Stall, Squeeze
Leading with Confidence (Part 3)	Backing Up, Leading Forward
Leading with Confidence (Part 3)	Moving Past Scary Places and Things (desensitizing - ball, hula hoop, tarp)
Connection with Attachment (Part 1)	Walking at Liberty
Connection with Attachment (Part 2)	Walking in Sync
Connection with Attachment (Part 3)	Obstacle Course
Connection with Attachment (Part 4)	Jogging/Trotting Together
Connection with Detachment (Part 1)	Lunging on Line
Connection with Detachment (Part 2)	Lunging at Liberty with Verbal Cues
Connection with Detachment (Part 3)	Lunging at Liberty with Breath Only
Connection with Detachment (Part 4)	Jumping Fence at Liberty

Recommend Assessments

establishing a foundation for growth

The following recommended assessments are ideal for establishing realistic goals and targeting skill development. Based on the client’s purpose for pursuing equine-assisted coaching and learning, assessments will be recommended and/or included throughout the program to enhance growth and development.

Assessment	Purpose
Highlands Ability Battery	Comprehensive personality and learning styles assessment that also provides work-type ability beneficial for college and career goals.
Learning Styles	Essential for effective communication instructions.
Strengths Assessment	Beneficial for strategizing success.
Attachment Style	Provides insights for targeted areas of relationship growth.
ACEs Assessment	Necessary for assessing the risk of triggers and areas of healing.