Equine Education for Disadvantaged Youth

Equine Assisted Learning

Equine Assisted Learning uses horses as a tool for emotional growth and learning.  EAL involves experiential activities guided by a team including a horse professional, speech pathologist, special education professional, and of course, a horse!  

All sessions use non-riding activities to mirror situations the client may face in their day-to-day life. Equine Assisted Learning promotes an understanding of how the clients relate to the world and how their behaviors affect those around them.

What is Equine Assisted Learning?

The EAL programs at Field of Dreams provide an opportunity for individuals and groups to develop skills in the following areas:

· Non-verbal communication

· Assertiveness

· Leadership

· Teamwork

· Confidence

· Creative Thinking

· Problem Solving

· Accepting Responsibility

· Relationships

· Verbal Communication

Program Results

Why Horses?

Horses are very much like humans in that they are social animals. They have defined roles within their herds. They would rather be with their peers. They have distinct personalities, attitudes, and moods. Most importantly, horses have the ability to mirror exactly what human body language is telling them.

Horses are large and powerful, which creates a natural opportunity for young people to overcome fear and develop confidence. Accomplishing a task involving the horse, in spite of those fears, encourages self-assurance and provides for wonderful metaphors when dealing with other intimidating and challenging situations in life.