Discover how existing horse businesses are adding equine assisted learning to their programs as a way to supplement income, utilize on-property horses, and change lives.
Welcome to the show notes! Remember, this is a brief summary from the How to Market Your Horse Business podcast. You'll want to listen to the entire episode for all the good stuff!
What comes to mind when you hear equine assisted learning? My guess is you’re thinking of therapeutic riding programs or programs that serve a specific population such as veterans or at-risk youth.
But, did you know equine assisted learning can also be a viable business model?
Yep, it does not have to be in a non-profit or therapeutic structure for it to be equine assisted learning.
Leadership development, team-building experiences, personal development, and even wellness retreats are ways you could incorporate equine assisted learning in your horse business.
In this interview with Tracy Evans you’ll hear how she went from being a corporate executive as Vice President of Marketing for American Express Global Teams to starting her own equine learning program, and then creating an EAL certification training center that helps people turn their passion for horses into a fulfilling career.
Perhaps you’ve been considering adding something similar to your existing business, or you’ve had an idea in the back of your head for something new.
Is Equine Assisted Learning the Same as Equine Therapy?
Equine assisted learning (EAL) is not the same as equine therapy, while they are often used together in programming.
EAL is an experiential approach to teaching life skills with horses or through horses. It's a learning-based program.
It's about building skills, self-awareness, confidence, etc. It's not therapy as that requires a licenced and trained therapist, whether it’s physical therapy or even a licensed counseler. That's how we differentiate.
From a learning perspective, it's very broad, because it can be used for anybody.
If I want to incorporate equine assisted learning into my existing horse business, what questions should I be asking? What do I need to consider?
Do you love people?
If you prefer horses, it’s okay! Just realize this isn’t the path for you. But if you love people, and you really see an opportunity to create change in people and want to help people evolve and change, then this is a great path.
Who would you want to work with, and who would you want to help?
Take time to discover where your passions are, the types of people you enjoy working with, or how you easily connect with certain groups of people.
What is your current horse situation?
Do you have horses that aren’t helping you provide lessons but could be used for EAL?
Or, if you’re a rescue or sanctuary, do you have horses on property that would be a good candidate?
Is a certification necessary when starting an equine assisted learning program?
At the time of this recording, there's no overseer that's requiring certification in this space. However, going through a certification program allows you to learn from others who have gone before you, while you develop a program that fits the needs of your business.
How do you choose the right certification program?
Questions to consider: Does the program suit the modality for your clients. Is it objective-based and includes a curriculum to follow? Is it research-based or more intuitive? Is there ongoing support after you complete the certification?
Of course, you'll want to listen to the full episode to dig into each of the insights shared and discover how you can apply each one in your horse business!
Links Mentioned In This Episode
Dreamwinds EAL Website | Facebook | X (formerly known as Twitter) | YouTube | Instagram | LinkedIn
FREE Beginner’s Guide to Online Memberships for Horse Businesses
Making A Big Decision? Ask Yourself These Questions With Katie Navarra [Episode 36]
Take the Reins: 1:1 Marketing Coaching for Equestrian Entrepreneurs
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