Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is a unique experienced-based learning approach that promotes the development of life skills by working with horses.
Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) is a unique, hands-on way to learn that helps develop life skills by working with horses.
Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) lets work with the horse guide the client. While the Equine Facilitator guides the activities and supports the client, the experience is hands-on and not just based on talking. This allows the client to move beyond intellectual awareness and understand in a real way how their behaviors, attitudes, and beliefs impact themselves and others. Clients have the opportunity to get immediate feedback on their behavior and learn how to make effective change.
Alma Vida Horse Ranch offers Equine Assisted Learning for people of all ages and abilities. Whether you want to alleviate stress, anxiety, learn new communication skills, increase self-confidence or experience personal growth, our program can help you reach a new level of connection, confidence and joy.
Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) incorporates horses for hands-on learning for better emotional and mental health. Sessions include a Licensed Therapist and a certified Equine Facilitator.
Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) incorporates horses experientially for emotional growth and learning. Sessions include a Licensed Therapist and a certified Equine Facilitator.
Horses provide a powerful partner for insight, change, and personal growth. Many of life’s challenges quickly become clear through activities with the horses. The client is then able to better figure out and explore ways to change their behavior and ways to interact.
As treatment progresses, clients become aware of faulty thinking patterns, actions, and reactions. They learn to solve problems, improve communication skills, self-regulate, and are able to identify and change unhealthy behaviors and perceptions. Participants develop a sense of empowerment and responsibility. Typical outcomes include increased self-esteem, leadership skills, relationship skills, self-control and awareness.
The goal of Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy is to help gain a deeper understanding of one’s self and the world around them. This kind of therapy can help with a variety of issues such as trauma, anxiety, eating disorders, depression, autism, ADD/ADHD, grief, and major life changes.
People always ask: Why horses? How can horses help? The #1 thing that comes up is this: horses are bigger than we are. Being in the presence of a horse shows us that there are bigger things in the world than us. Most notably, the heart of a horse radiates out up to 3 meters beyond their physical body. This means that being in the presence of a horse affects us on a physical level.
We believe in healing through experiencing relationships with the herd. Horses have been our greatest teachers since the beginning of time; carrying us through millenia without asking for anything in return. Through forming relations with horses, we have the opportunity to regulate our nervous system, set firm boundaries, and heal our nervous system somatically.
Horses help guide us through healing on multiple levels. They hold the key to ancient wisdom and practices that help us reconnect our soul to our body (otherwise known as wholeness).
Our programs are designed with your heart in mind. We know we live in a society that, consciously or not, creates separation and isolation of the human spirit. Horses naturally have an open-heart that invites all who are weary into love. Love is our birthright, and horses help us step out of chaos and into love.
We believe that everyone is welcome here. Horses love the real you! Our herd of horses have your heart in mind, and they’re here to create a safe healing container for you to process, heal, and create new possibilities for yourself.
Bring your group of friends, your organization, or members of your business team for an afternoon at Alma Vida Horse Ranch.
We can create a personalized agenda for your event.
Learn in a fun and unique way how behavior, attitude, and beliefs impact those around you. We use the nature of the horse to highlight opportunities for team performance, staff development, communication, and leadership. Through structured group activities with horses, the team can identify patterns and behavior about communication and relationships. Build a more cohesive, flexible, and productive team.
Learn in a fun and unique way how behavior, attitude, and beliefs impact those around you. We use the nature of the horse to highlight opportunities for team performance, staff development, communication, and leadership. Through structured group activities with horses, the team can identify patterns and behavior about communication and relationships. Build a more cohesive, flexible, and productive team.
Focus on grounding, breath-work, and meditation exercises that highlight the benefits of integrative wellness. Gain insight into yourself through interactions with the horses and our coaches.
Learn how to activate your senses one at a time, slowly and mindfully in order to connect to your surroundings. When you connect to your senses, it helps regulate the nervous system and keeps you calm instead of being overloaded by a hectic world. Sight, sound, and touch can all be stimulated in a positive way round horses.
Horses are very in-tune to their herd mate's physical state. When one horse's heartbeat or breathing changes, the others instantly notice: I t could be a matter of life or death in the wild. Horses are also sensitive to people's breath and heartbeat. Horses will match your breathing, allowing you to physically see and experience your own breath. Horses can help us be conscious of our breathing and activate our cells to heal and organize.
A horse’s behavior is mainly based on survival instinct. They feel and observe many things we do not register. To understand, handle, and interact with horses we must begin to understand how they perceive their environment and our behavior and actions.
Horses can help people experience risk-taking, uncertainty, and the success and failure that comes with a new task. Horses can help people feel empowered to make decisions and take responsibility for their feelings and actions.
Working with horses helps you develop motor coordination, reflexes and balance. It also allows you to become aware of your heartbeat, your breathing, and connect physically to nature. Learning has been shown to be more effective when learning is done via “doing.”
Becoming a partner with the horse promotes the development of respect, responsibility, perseverance and lovingness towards animals. Figuring out how to have a relationship with a horse makes other relationships easier.
Because horses have the innate power to reflect back what humans are feeling, you become more aware of your emotional state, increasing emotional intelligence. A horse’s gentle nature allows you to develop empathy.
A horse’s behavior is mainly based on survival instinct. They feel and observe many things we do not register. To understand, handle, and interact with horses we must begin to understand how they perceive their environment and our behavior and actions.
The equine nervous system is like a huge receiver and amplifier for emotional vibrations. No matter how good you are at hiding things from yourself and others, your nervous system still involuntarily broadcasts what you’re really feeling - at a frequency horses are especially good at tuning into
Horses can help people experience risk-taking, uncertainty, and the success and failure that comes with a new task. Horses can help people feel empowered to make decisions and take responsibility for their feelings and actions.
Working with horses helps you develop motor coordination, reflexes and balance. It also allows you to become aware of your heartbeat, your breathing, and connect physically to nature. Learning has been shown to be more effective when learning is done via “doing”.
Becoming a partner with the horse promotes the development of respect, responsibility, perseverance and lovingness towards animals. Figuring out how to have a relationship with a horse makes other relationships easier.
Because horses have the innate power to reflect back what humans are feeling, you become more aware of your emotional state, increasing emotional intelligence. A horse’s gentle nature allows you to develop empathy.
Kaity has been working with horses since she was 14 years old. Her passion has developed from riding and teaching lessons, to focus on building a relationship and connection between horse and human.
Kaity has experienced first-hand the personal development and growth that can come from working with horses. She’s fascinated by the powerful influence horses have on people and wants to share this incredibly strong, healing power.
Kaity has been working with horses since she was 14 years old but her passion has become building a relationship and connection between horse and human.
Kaity has experienced first-hand the personal development and growth that can come from working with horses. She’s fascinated by the powerful influence horses have on people and wants to share this incredibly strong, healing power.
Eagala (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) is a licensing association that develops standards and criteria for working with horses in therapy.
The Eagala method incorporates a licensed Mental Health Professional and a qualified Equine Facilitator working together with horses and clients as equal partners in an experiential process that empowers life-changing outcomes.
The basis of the Eagala Model is a belief that all clients have the best solutions for themselves when given the opportunity to discover them. Therapy-focused experiences allow clients to explore, problem-solve, overcome challenges, discover and grow.
To become Eagala Certified, the Equine Practitioner must have 6,000 hours of hands-on experience with horses; have a minimum of 100 hours of continuing education in the equine profession; and be tested in competency with ground work, horse psychology knowledge, and nonverbal communication with equines.
Pave found her way to Kaity for $1. Even though she was seen as not being valuable in the traditional sense of a show horse, she just had to work through some changes. Pave is now the top therapy horse, and Kaity’s ridden horse, and has been an excellent teacher for many people (including Kaity!).
Kaity rescued Mirabel from a general auction. While we’ll never quite know what life she had before coming to Alma Vida, her health was neglected and she was very skinny.
Now she has found new friends and loves all of the attention that comes with being taken care of.
When you arrive, we will show you around the Ranch, introduce you to our horses, and discuss your personal goals!
Depending on your goals and level of comfort with our horses, you may start interacting with the animals immediately. We go at the client's pace, no one will ever feel pressured or pushed beyond their abilities.
As sessions progress, your comfort level and self-evaluation will grow. You'll begin to develop a stronger bond with your horse and learn to adjust your behavior and emotions.
Hear personal stories about how horses have transformed people’s lives, including testimonials from celebrities like Randy Travis, Tanya Tucker, Jill Rappaport, Riley Smith and more through Horses for Mental Health foundation.
Located in Queen Creek, AZ
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