Shea Center Blog

What is EAL? A Unique Wellness Service for All Ages

October 4, 2023

By: Kelli Navarro, ESMHL

The Shea Center offers mental health services, which include Equine Assisted Learning (EAL). EAL can be described as an experiential learning approach that promotes the development of life skills for educational, personal, or professional goals through equine-assisted activities, including ground work, leading, and work at liberty. Participants are exposed to activities that can help promote critical life skills such as problem-solving, self-awareness, and enhanced communications. This service is facilitated by a Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator.

Equine Assisted Learning can be divided into three main pillars: education, personal development, and organizations.

Education

            EAL in education is a non-therapy approach that utilizes experiential learning theory and approaches to promote the development of life skills applicable to educational goals and learning readiness.  It can play a valuable role in helping reengage students back into the learning process. Equine Assisted Learning can help provide motivation, ease stress and anxiety, and help students engage and feel connected to their peers and classmates. Applicable core standards can be targeted for each participant and individual goals are created which can include decision-making, problem-solving, creative and critical thinking, communication, and interpersonal skills, to name a few. EAL in education is for school-aged children and is conducted here at The Shea Center and can be done one-on-one or in small groups.

Personal Development

EAL in personal development is the broadest category that takes a wellness approach and is focused on self-growth for individuals.  Participants build confidence, self-esteem, and explores their own strengths and values.  Individuals are encouraged to set realistic personal goals, which could focus on communication, self-awareness, congruency, and taking personal responsibility. During the sessions, the equine is the catalyst for motivation, change, and inner exploration.  Horses provide opportunities to connect, offer immediate feedback, and can help the client practice relationship skills in a personal and meaningful way. Equine Assisted Learning in personal development could be right for young children and adults, young teens who may be at risk, college students or recent grads that are finding their way in a new season, empty nesters, or people looking for new careers.

Organizations

EAL in organizations focuses on team building and leadership development.  It is effective because it increases self, team, and organizational awareness, offers strategies for improved team interaction, and increases awareness of organizational and personal resources and strengths.  Equine Assisted Learning in organizations can offer active engagement opportunities in a new experience for the purpose of motivating and creating new views toward work goals.  Team building exercises can help expose individual and group patterns, strengths and contributions.  Groups can become more aware of individual talents and how those team members can better contribute to the overall team.  Additionally, focus on leadership development through EAL in organization helps enhance people’s ability to provide direction by expanding their capacity to communicate clearly, make decisions, and maximize their resources. These organization events create long lasting memories and increase creative thinking, planning, problem solving and communication skills.  Companies who may be under new leadership or who would like to have a unique team building event are served well by this program.

Equine Assisted Learning offers a unique opportunity to teach life skills to people of all ages by fostering new thinking and behavior through memorable equine-human interactions, which stay relevant to participants’ daily lives.

With the increased demand for our services, our greatest need is funding support to grow our vitally important mental health programs. Funds directly support program expenses, including horse care, staff, equipment, and financial aid for clients. This allows us to subsidize service fees and ensure accessibility. To help The Shea Center programs grow, consider donating at SheaCenter.org/donate.

If you are interested in participating in EAL or are curious if it is right for you, please contact Adre Hudgson at ahudgson@sheacenter.org or call (949) 240-8441 ext 123.