Equine Assisted Learning
What is Equine Assisted Learning and
how can it enhance people’s lives?
Here are some examples of how EAL can help participants:
To recognise the subtle cues horses give through body language; participants receive direct and honest feedback. This feedback builds self-awareness and compassion, leadership and responsibility. From here participants can better understand their decisions and actions, empowering them to identify the changes they wish to make.
To develop self-regulation, participants are guided in mindfulness and breathing techniques to help calm the body under pressure, reducing stress, anxiety and sensory overwhelm. Working with horses naturally supports nervous system regulation through rhythm (walking, grooming), touch, breath, nature connection and attunement. From a regulated state, participants are better able to access curiosity, initiative and creativity, leading to improved emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
To develop greater self-awareness, horses act as living mirrors, reflecting how we show up in the world. This encourages participants to move beyond self-criticism and step forward with confidence and clarity. If a participant is passive, distracted or unclear, the horse disconnects; when they become grounded, confident and purposeful, the horse responds. From this place of embodied awareness, participants are able to better manage stress, anxiety and big emotions.
Equine Assisted learning (EAL) refers to non-therapy, skills-based services that focuses on enhancing participant’s lives through partnership with the horse.
Through moments of pause and reflection, supported by the grounding presence of the horses, participants gain clarity and insight that lead to personal growth and purposeful goal setting.
All sessions are ground -based in a beautiful natural setting with calm, friendly horses.
Through consent-based interactions with horses, participants learn to recognise and respect their own boundaries. This naturally builds communication skills and helps them practise saying yes, saying no, and expressing needs in safe, supportive ways — skills that directly improve confidence and relationships with others.
To recognise the personal rewards of self-motivation. Horses require presence, not perfection. They don’t care about grades, labels or reputation. This creates a rare space where people feel free from judgement and pressure. There is no need to talk everything through, instead participants can access true identity, and purpose and from this place, intrinsic motivation grows.
To gain more insight into the world of equine.. horses are wonderful creatures to be around. Perhaps you would just like to spend time with them, learning a a range of horsemanship skills such as catching a horse, handling ropes, leading a horse grooming them and learning more about their communication methods. Being with horses is the pause in life many of us are craving in this high-tech, screen focused nature deficit world. Horses ask us to slow down, be present, re-connect and learn.
Is Equine Assisted Learning for me?
Equine Assisted Learning caters for all learning needs of children, teenagers, adults and families who:
Learn best by doing, not just talking
Want insight without judgement or pressure
Are open to learning from animals and nature and do need “fixing”
Want clear access to the parts of them that know calmness to better self- regulate
You don’t need riding skills as all the learning is done either by handling the horse on the ground or by observation. You don’t need to be “good with horses” either. Through safe, consent based activities guided by your facilitator, the horses meet people exactly where they’re at — which is where the pause, reflection and learning begin.
We are fully certified and insured so you know you are safe.
What happens in an Equine Assisted Learning session?
Through a range of varied activities Equine Assisted Learning can be really engaging and fun! Standard sessions go for one hour.
Compassion is at the core of all activities, with the horses’ needs at always considered. This way participants learn how to identify the “yes” signals horses display when working with humans which can help to form their own healthy boundaries. When both participants and the horse willingly give consent and are fully present in the interaction, true learning and insight can begin.
Over time, as trust and confidence grow, participants may progress to liberty work, where horses move freely off the lead and are gently guided in our safe and enclosed round yard.
We have witnessed profound changes in participants’ self-awareness and confidence through this process. It’s another example of how horses can help ground people; offering them the chance to pause, reflect, gain insight into their inner world and begin to make changes for their personal wellbeing.
We invite participants to deepen their nature connection with the horses beside our beautiful, crystal-clear river; these moments create a powerful sense of connection, presence and joy.
In an indirect and engaging way, arithmetic and language skills can be introduced through fun, hands-on games in a relaxed, nature-based environment. This approach gives participants the freedom to express themselves, share what they are interested in, and strengthen the skills they want to develop — all while being gently guided by the intuitive presence of the horses
“I had a really great experience as I don’t get to be around horses very often. I felt safe and secure and trusted Camilla”
Meet the Team!
Honey loves to be with people! She is a Guy Fawkes Herritage Horse and has a very lovey, calm and friendly nature
Tingah, and Australian Stock horse is a kind and gentle senior mare, great for participants at the beginning of their Equine Assisted Learning journey.
Lolli is young, expressive and playful! Great for demonstrations and for participants to work with who have had plenty of EAL experience
Camilla, a fully qualified Equine Assisted Learning facilitator will guide you through your EAL journey. People have said she is patient and caring. Camilla enjoys working both with people and horses. She is ready to help people heal and grow.
Book a Session
If you would like to get in touch with any queries or to book a session
we would love to hear from you! Please reach out via email
Camilla Bonnici
Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator
autarkyequineassisedlearning@gmail.com
0438868742
