What is Equine Assisted Coaching

What is Equine Assisted Coaching?

Equine Assisted Coaching (EAC) is one of many different types of equine-assisted work that help individuals work through circumstances that are hindering their growth. EAC can help people establish healthy relationships and boundaries in addition to improving leadership skills and self-esteem. EAC can also help people reflect on previous life experiences that are preventing them from moving forward in either their personal or professional career. EAC allows individuals to build healthy, authentic relationships at home, work and school through meaningful engagement with horses.

Pairing people with horses who have their own life experiences allows a unique bond and opportunity for growth for both the people receiving the coaching and the horses they are working with. Horses do not judge individuals, and they have no agenda. They are large, powerful animals, but they are also prey animals, and trust with a horse must be earned; they are honest, mirror our body language and act accordingly.

EAC work can allow individuals to take steps forward in areas needing growth much more quickly than in using more traditional methods.

EAC transforms the human heart and spirit. Horses are very “present” beings, meaning that they do not focus so much on the past or the future, but live in the moment. They are the perfect animal to help leaders develop presence, self-confidence and awareness.

Through the process of coaching, you learn more about yourself, your values, your leadership style, how you show up and what you really want. When you are in alignment you can create positive change for you and for others. You will deepen your understanding, learning, improve your performance and productivity and just have a better quality of life.

Horses are well-suited for the therapy environment because of their natural instincts and communication methods. While humans can speak, explain, and rationalize thoughts, horses live in an entirely action-based social structure. This works well in therapy because in action-based exercises you must change your actions to change your results—horses don’t question your motives, they react to the actions you take.

Their hyper-vigilance and heavy reliance on body language is also a large part of the counseling process. Horses are significantly more aware of body language than humans and more readily recognize and react to levels of anger, anxiety, fear, or sadness that are imperceptible to humans. This provides real-time feedback for the participant and the therapist.

There is no magic or mystery as to the use of horses in therapy. They’re therapy partners that simply have the natural perception, response, and inclination to allow participants to try new communication strategies.