If you’ve ever had the desire to incorporate horses into your professional offerings as an educator, enthusiast, coach, therapist or the like, you may have quickly discovered that there are many, many, many different options and pathways. I first heard about Equus Coaching in 2006 during a random moment in my Life Coach training; I also had a friend who was an Equine Therapist. These were the only two types of certifications that I knew of back when I signed up for Equus Coach® training in 2010. Today, sorting through equine-assisted training and certification options can be quite the adventure! The following is intended to help shed a little light on the process.
Historical Reference: The use of horses for therapeutic purposes dates back to ancient Greece when Hippocrates discussed the therapeutic value of horseback riding in his writings. In England, other pieces of literature describe animal assisted therapy as early as 1792. In 1946, Equine Therapy was introduced in Scandinavia while Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding followed in the 1960’s.
How many training and certification options are there? Over the past few decades, progress in research and education regarding how horses can help humans has opened the door for the expansion of a variety of equine-assisted services. A Google Search will reveal that in the USA alone there are at least 40 different training or certification options; Canada and Europe each have 10; Australia, New Zealand and South Africa together have 10. Further, another 10 are listed as “international,” either because the training is offered in more than one country, or the providers practice internationally.
What types of equine-assisted services are out there? To begin, it’s important to note that every equine-assisted service has a scope of practice, training schedule, certification requirements and acronyms that are unique to that service. Understanding these can go a long way in narrowing down one’s choices and finding a good fit. Some programs, for instance, offer 3-5 days of training plus other written requirements for certification. Others involve one or two years of coursework, modules, onsites/hands-on experiences with horses, classes on horse psychology, observed sessions with clients and on-the-spot feedback from instructors, which is more in line with what I needed, even though I was a licensed therapist and had a bit of horse experience already.
While not an exhaustive list, the following are some services you might come across in your search:
- Adaptive Riding is a term that may be used interchangeably with Therapeutic Riding to describe mounted therapeutic activities for individuals with special needs.
- Equine-Assisted Services (EAS) is a general term describing services involving equines and humans (mounted and on-the-ground)
- Equus Coaching® is facilitated by a Certified Equus Coach® or certified master coach (ECMF) and is a form of personal, leadership or organizational development coaching, in partnership with horses in guided sessions, to help individuals, couples, families, groups and teams gain insights into their behavior, communication patterns, and leadership style.
- Equine Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) or Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) is a type of therapy that involves working with horses to help people process emotions and develop skills. It typically involves at least one facilitator licensed as a mental health practitioner.
- Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) or Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is a method that uses horses and the equine environment to help people develop skills and achieve goals in the areas of education, personal development and organizations.
- Equine Guided Education (EGE) or Equine Guided Learning (EGL)
- Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy™ or Equine Gestalt Coaching combines Gestalt therapy/principles to assist clients in self-awareness and self-growth by interacting with the horse as a reflective partner in the healing process.
- Hippotherapy is a term that refers to how occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech or language pathology professionals use evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning in the purposeful use of equine movement to engage the human sensory, neuromotor and cognitive systems to achieve functional outcomes. Hippotherapy is part of a patient’s larger integrated plan of care.
- Therapeutic Riding or Therapeutic Horsemanship is a practice where people with physical, cognitive, or emotional disabilities use specially trained horses to improve their physical abilities, balance, coordination, and overall well-being through riding lessons, focusing on teaching riding skills rather than solely using the horse’s movement as therapy (like in hippotherapy) while also providing potential emotional and social benefit.
- Rhythmic Riding refers to the conscious practice of aligning the rider’s movements with the natural rhythm of the horse’s gait, creating a harmonious and connected partnership. Rhythmic Riding is also an equine based therapeutic approach used in Trauma Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (TF-EAP)
But wait! There is more!
Organizations and Associations (listed alphabetically) that have contributed to setting standards in equine-assisted modalities, as well as professional training and certification of providers and practitioners. (*Not a comprehensive list, but a good start!)
- The Center for Equus Coaching (CEC), formerly the Koelle Institute founded in 2006, offers training, certification, and continuing education as a Certified Equus Coach® to work with individuals, couples and families, and Equus Certified Master Facilitator (ECMF), to facilitate groups and team workshops. The CEC is in the accreditation process with the ICF.
- The Equine Experiential Education Association (E3A), established in 2006, is an international professional membership organization and offers training, certification and resources for EAL providers and programs. E3A certifies individuals, not facilities.
- The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA), established in 1999, is both a membership and network of practitioners that offers training, certification and continuing education. The EAGALA model of Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) involves both a Mental Health Professional (MH) and an Equine Specialist (ES) in sessions with clients/patients.
- The International Coaching Federation (ICF), founded in 1995, is an international membership organization for trained professional coaches. ICF-certified coaches are professionals who have met stringent education and experience requirements and have demonstrated a thorough understanding of coaching competencies. ICF accredited training programs also meet a set of stringent standards of coach education and mentoring.
- The North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA), founded in 1969, contributed to bringing therapeutic riding to both the United States and Canada.
- Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH), founded in 1969, is an international professional membership organization that offers training, certification, continuing education and resources in mounted and un-mounted activities such as Therapeutic and Adaptive Horsemanship, Driving, Vaulting, Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) and therapies incorporating equines in a variety of ways, including occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), psychotherapy (EAP), and speech and language pathology (SLP). PATH Certified professionals are also called Instructors and their client’s sessions are called lessons. PATH certifies individuals as well as facilities that offer riding, driving, interactive vaulting, groundwork, stable management and more.
- TeachingHorse, founded in 2004, is a leadership development organization that incorporates equine experiential learning into executive coaching and leadership development and offers facilitator training and licensing in a specific model (The Diamond Model of Shared Leadership™).
Indeed, it might take a little research and consultation, but there are ways to make sure the type of training and certification (or continuing education) you are looking for will be the right fit. Do your research. Ask questions:
- What is the approach or modality being taught?
- What is the location and format? (Virtual, hands-on, weekend intensive, combination of these, etc.)
- What is the content? (Does it include horse handling, equine psychology, coaching skills, or therapeutic exercises, etc.)
- What is the length of training and additional requirements for certification?
- What is the experience and training of the instructor(s)?
- Is the training program accredited by a well-established organization or association?
- What is the scope of practice for which the training will prepare you?
- What type of certification will you receive and where is that recognized?
- Is there an accrediting body that has approved the organization or founding individual(s) providing the training or certification?
Stay Tuned! If you are NOT interested in becoming trained and certified, but you are looking for an equine-assisted coaching or therapy session, look for a follow up article in early 2025 for an overview of what some of these experiences might be like and what to look for when choosing services.
In the meantime, if you have more questions about coaching or the process of choosing a program, set up a free consultation or discovery call with Lori Moskal, Student Coordinator (CLICK HERE) or Renee Sievert, Continuing Education Coordinator (CLICK HERE).