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Eagala Certified
Our Equine-Assisted Therapy is guided by the internationally recognized EAGALA Model (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association). The EAGALA Model is a structured, evidence-informed framework that focuses on growth, healing, and learning through hands-on experiences with horses. In this model, sessions are facilitated by a licensed mental health professional and an equine specialist working together, ensuring both clinical expertise and horse welfare are prioritized.
Horses, with their natural sensitivity and honest responses, provide immediate feedback that helps clients gain deeper self-awareness, practice healthy communication, and develop problem-solving skills. EAGALA’s ground-based, experiential approach creates a safe space for clients to explore challenges, build resilience, and discover new ways of moving forward.
What To Expect
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Step 1: Phone Intake
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A brief call to learn about your needs and explain the process.
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Step 2: Paperwork
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Simple forms to create a foundation for your care and goals.
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Step 3: Session Day
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You’ll meet Dan (the therapist) and an equine specialist, who are with you at all times.
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Sessions involve 1–10 horses, depending on the herd.
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Be prepared for the setting:
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Summer: outdoors on a ranch (dust, dirt possible).
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Winter: indoor arena (sheltered but still chilly).
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Tip: Dress comfortably and appropriately for the weather.
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Step 4: In the Arena
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You interact with the horses, no riding required.
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Experiences with the herd help you tell your story in new, powerful ways.
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Step 5: Reflection & Growth
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Equine therapy draws on narrative and experiential approaches.
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The belief is simple: you already carry the answers within you, the horses help bring them out.
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I have treatment resistant depression and equine therapy helped me finally feel more positive and confident, this a big step in the right direction.
-an equine therapy client
What The Research Shows
Evidence-Backed Healing
Equine-assisted therapy is more than experiential, it’s backed by science. Research has shown that working with horses can lead to significant improvements in emotional regulation, self-efficacy, and quality of life. In a clinical study at Oslo University Hospital, participants reported measurable gains across all three areas, with reduced psychological distress and increased ability to manage emotions and cope effectively in daily life [Springer, 2024]. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10879-024-09660-8?
For veterans living with PTSD, the impact is especially powerful. A 2024 systematic review found that 87% reported very positive benefits from equine-assisted services, and every participant described gaining new coping strategies for managing their symptoms [BMC Psychiatry, 2024]. Other veteran studies show more than half experience meaningful reductions in PTSD and depression that continue months after therapy ends [Columbia Psychiatry, 2023].
https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/horse-therapy-helps-veterans-overcome-trauma
ABOUT
Equine Assisted Therapy