Equine Assisted Learning (EAL)

What is Equine Assisted Learning (EAL)?

EAL is an innovative form of experiential learning where participants develop new insight and learn new skills via relational experiences with horses.

EAL is a psychotherapy and trauma informed model, the model was developed by Meg Kirby of the Equine Institute of Psychotherapy - the first of it's kind in Australia.

EAL can benefit everyone, from NDIS participants, those experiencing anxiety, stress, grief and loss to those wanting to explore themselves and begin living the life they want to live.

What is the Equine Psychotherapy Institute Model?

The model is a holistic approach across all layers of human experience including somatic/body, feeling/affect, cognitive, behavioural and relational.

What are the benefits of EAL?

What happens in an EAL session?

In EAL, participants are offered safe (physically and emotionally) experiences with horses for the purpose of exploring self-experience in relationship, building self-awareness, building awareness of patterns or habits that are no longer serving us well, developing social and emotional skills, and addressing learning goals participants have identified.

We offer experiences with horses, one on one, with several horses or the entire herd. A participant can expect to interact with the horses through unmounted experiences, grooming and other hands-on activities. Mounted and horsemanship sessions can be included upon request and after a safety evaluation is performed by one of our facilitators.

The experiential approach means that the offering with the horse or herd will be facilitated in ways to support your awareness, growth and learning . Each session is holistic and in the present moment of what you are experiencing. We work with whatever you feel you would like to address .You don't need to have any horse knowledge or experience. Participants are then invited to explore and process their feelings, behaviours and response-patterns.