Harmony Hooves – Horse-Guided Learning for Emotional Growth & Life Skills

WHAT IS EAL – Equine Assisted Learning

Learning Focus Areas

At Harmony Hooves Equine-Assisted Learning, our sessions offer unique opportunities to grow through meaningful interactions with horses. Horses respond honestly to behaviour and emotions, providing immediate, non-judgmental feedback that helps participants reflect, adapt, and develop valuable life skills.

Each session is guided by a certified facilitator and tailored to individual goals, focusing on three key areas:

Social-Emotional Skills, Executive Functioning, and Mindfulness.

Social Emotional Skills

These skills help participants understand themselves, connect with others, and manage emotions in healthy ways—essential for strong relationships and daily life. We focus on:

• Self-Awareness: Understanding thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.

• Managing Emotions: Recognising, understanding, and regulating emotions positively.

• Motivation: Building drive to set and achieve meaningful goals.

• Empathy: Understanding and sharing the feelings and perspectives of others.

• Social Skills: Strengthening verbal and non-verbal communication and connection with others.

Executive Functioning

Executive functioning encompasses mental skills that help us plan, organise, manage time, and make effective decisions. We help participants strengthen:

• Planning & Prioritisation: Identifying tasks to reach a goal and deciding their importance.

• Organisation & Time Management: Planning, structuring, and managing time effectively.

• Memory: Retaining, recalling, and applying information when needed.

• Metacognition: Reflecting on thinking to understand strengths and areas for growth.

• Sustained Attention: Improving focus to complete tasks successfully.

Mindfulness

Mindfulness helps participants stay present, tune in to thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations, and respond thoughtfully rather than react automatically. We encourage the development of:

• Observation: Noticing what is happening around and within without judgment.

• Description: Putting words to experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

• Awareness: Becoming conscious of inner state and surroundings to respond thoughtfully.

Each program at Harmony Hooves is designed to meet participants where they are—emotionally, socially, and developmentally.

Children 6 -12  

Equine-Assisted Learning helps children aged 6–12 build confidence, empathy, and social skills through fun, hands-on activities like leading, grooming, and teamwork with horses. Because horses respond honestly and instantly to a child’s behaviour—not their history or diagnosis—they provide a powerful learning experience. In an engaging outdoor setting, children who may struggle in traditional classrooms can develop communication, emotional awareness, responsibility, focus, and self-belief within a calm and supportive environment.

Activity Examples:

• Grooming and Tacking (Planning and Responsibility)

Participants gather the correct equipment and follow a sequence of steps to groom or prepare a horse for a session. This activity develops planning and organisational skills—using a checklist if needed—while promoting responsibility, focus, and fine motor skills through hands-on care of the horse.

• Sensory Connection Walk 

(Mindfulness, Sensory Awareness and building Empathy and Connection with Horse)

The participant leads the horse on a nature walk, focusing on observing the horse’s responses to changes in the environment. This activity enhances self-awareness, emotional regulation, and empathy as participants tune into the horse’s sensory experiences in a new setting.

TEENS 13 – 17

Equine-Assisted Learning helps teens aged 13–17 build confidence, resilience, and emotional intelligence. Through activities like obstacle courses, trust tasks, and grooming, they develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, and skills such as task initiation, organisation, and prioritisation—while learning to navigate challenges, strengthen relationships, and grow in self-worth and direction.

Activity Examples:

• Boundary Bootcamp (Setting boundaries, Assertiveness, Self-Respect)

 Learn to communicate confidently by practicing moving a horse out of your space, exploring the difference between passive, aggressive, and assertive responses.

• “Plan-Do-Check” Obstacle Course (Planning, Organisation, Flexibility, Evaluation)

Teens plan and build an obstacle course to complete with the horse, engaging in a multi-step process that involves planning, execution, reflection, and cognitive flexibility.

ADULTS

Equine-Assisted Learning helps adults enhance self-awareness, communication, and emotional balance through meaningful interaction with horses. Activities like leading, grooming, and teamwork exercises promote resilience, mindfulness, confidence, stress reduction, and leadership skills—supporting personal growth, stronger relationships, and overall wellbeing.

Activity Examples:

• Grooming & Basic Care (Mindfulness, Focus, Responsibility)

The rhythmic act of grooming grounds adults in the present moment, reducing stress and promoting mindfulness. It also provides a structured way to foster connection with the horse and a sense of responsibility.

• Purpose Pony (Goal Setting, Planning / Prioritisation, Awareness of Actions)

Set a goal and map out the steps and timeframe to achieve it with guidance from our facilitator. Create symbols for each step, then bring your vision to life by painting them onto the horse — mindfully observing the horse’s responses throughout.

Session Logistics