What is Equine Assisted Learning? 

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Equine-assisted learning (EAL) is a way of interacting and communicating with horses that brings change to the person.
​The process of EAL helps people realize where healing and change need to take place. Horses are highly sensitive to human emotion; they act as a mirror reflecting the handler's emotion and behavior, therefore, providing non-judgmental and unbiased feedback to the client.  Over time, a relationship can be built between a person and a horse. 
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What do you do during an EAL session? 
During an EAL session, the participant and horse will engage in activities such as walking, grooming, role-playing, mirroring, role-reversal, etc. The participant will then discuss the emotions and feelings they felt while participating in the activity. 

What is the Difference between Equine Assisted Learning and Equine Assisted Therapy? ​

Equine Assisted Learning and Mental Health

Depression and Anxiety
  • EAL is a beneficial tool for those experiencing depression and anxiety
  • Engaging in EAL can decrease depressive symptoms and decrease depressive episode relapses
  • Individuals that engage in EAL sessions report an increase in life satisfaction, self-esteem, confidence, and assertiveness 
  •  Adolescents and youth are more likely to discuss their feelings in the environment EAL provides
  • EAL increases leaves of hope while decreasing levels of depression in at-risk youth 
  • EAL allows people to recognize their negative behavior
  • The non- judgmental and outdoor environment of EAL further increases mental health  
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
  • Typically used equine assisted therapy (EAT) which uses equine assisted learning (EAL) techniques incorporated with psychotherapy 
  • High patient satisfaction and involvement despite the typical high dropout rate of PTSD treatment
  • Evidence of improved PTSD symptoms and functioning after completing EAT sessions 
  • Clients reported a sense of belonging, improved self-image, coping skills, and relationship skills 
  • Needs more in-depth research to determine the benefits and outcomes of completing EAT for PTSD ​
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Spiritual Healing 
  • Aboriginal youth have higher levels of every health indicator, including depression, sexual and emotional abuse, unemployment, and incarceration 
  • EAL was implemented and observed in First Nations youth who misuse volatile substances
  • Results included that healthy and safe touch was a significant finding for biological/physical wellbeing which allowed horses to offer a safe and non-sexual mechanism for physical touch to occur
  • The EAL program was able to offer social wellbeing through interpersonal relationships, comprised foremost of developing relationships and getting along better with others, and secondary as acknowledging the importance of community, family, and friends
  • Spiritual wellbeing was one of the most unique and significant findings found which encompassed spending time with the horse, equine-guided activities, and the basic opportunity to interact with the horse
References:
  • Adams, C., Arratoon, C., Boucher, J., Cartier, G., Chalmers, D., Dell, C. A., Dell, D., Dryka, D., Duncan, R., Dunn, K., Hopkins, C., Longclaws, L., MacKinnon, T., Sauve, E., Spence, S., & Wuttunee, M. (2015). The helping horse: How equine assisted learning contributes to the wellbeing of first nations youth in treatment for volatile substance misuse. Human-animal interaction bulletin, 1(1), 52–75.
  • Arnon, S., Fisher, P. W., Pickover, A., Lowell, A., Turner, J. B., Hilburn, A., Jacob-McVey, J., Malajian, B. E., Farber, D. G., Hamilton, J. F., Hamilton, A., Markowitz, J. C., & Neria Y. (2020). Equine-assisted therapy for Veterans with PTSD: Manual development and preliminary findings. Military Medicine, 185(5/6), e557–e564. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usz444
  • Coffin, J. (2019). The Nguudu Barnidimanmanha project-improving social and emotional wellbeing in aboriginal youth through equine assisted learning. Front. Public Health 7:278. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2019.00278
  • Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) Canada. (2022). https://ealcanada.com/
  • Fisher, P. W., Lazarov, A., Lowell, A., Arnon, S., Turner, J. B., Bergman, M., Ryba, M., Such, S., Marohasy, C., Zhu, X., Suarez-Jimenez, B., Markowitz, J. C., & Neria, Y. (2021). Equine-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder among military veterans: An open trial. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 82(5), e1-e8. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.21m14005
  • Frederick, K.E., Ivey Hatz, J. & Lanning, B. (2015). Not just horsing around: The impact of equine-assisted learning on levels of hope and depression in at-risk adolescents. Community Mental Health J 51, 809–817. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-015-9836-x
  • Obarzanek, L. (2019). The use of equine-assisted programs for nontraditional undergraduate clinical pediatric experiences. Teaching and learning in nursing. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.teln.2020.01.002
  • O’Malley, D. (2021, May 18). Equine assisted learning in action [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUKiu8f1sos
  • McKissock, B. (2016, March 21). What is equine assisted learning and therapy? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rd3Az0VviVU
  • Shelef, A., Brafman, D., Rosing, T., Weizman, A., Stryjer, R., & Barak, Y. (2019). Equine assisted therapy for patients with post traumatic stress disorder: A case series study. Military Medicine, 184(9/10), 394–399. https://doi-org/10.1093/milmed/usz036
  • Sudekum, K., Baggerly, T., Baggerly, J. (2019). Equine-assisted mental health interventions: Harnessing solutions to common problems. https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=MrJqDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT12&dq=equine+assisted+learning+a+depression&ots=pndTG3-sAB&sig=kLPQDP81F_1ieSgawn4JJCV5ab8#v=onepage&q=equine%20assisted%20learning%20a%20depression &f= false
  • Wilson, K., Buultjens, M., Monfries, M., & Karimi, L. (2017). Equine-assisted psychotherapy for adolescents experiencing depression and/or anxiety: A therapist’s perspective. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 22(1), 16–33. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1359104515572379