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Certifications in Equine Assisted Services: Comparing Apples to Oranges

Certifications in Equine Assisted Services: Comparing Apples to Oranges

By Bettina Shultz-Jobe (with a ton of help from Kate Naylor and Laura McFarland!)

 

This data is accurate, to the very best of our knowledge as of 09/07/2022. As we are made aware of changes or get better information, we will update this page.

 

Interested in becoming certified to offer Equine Assisted Services?

 

When it comes to getting certified in Equine Assisted Services, you have a LOT of choices. All of the programs offer something unique and the decision about which certification to pursue is a very personal (and, at times, daunting) one.  As the field grows, there are more and more really wonderful options for learning.  Unfortunately, it is not easy to compare the different programs side-by-side so you can make a decision on which one is truly best for you.  It’s a bit like. . . comparing apples to oranges, if you will. 

It is our priority that you find, and create, the path that is right for you. That may mean you choose one of Natural Lifemanship’s certification paths, or it may mean you choose one of the other programs in this field. Our goal with this comparison is not to sway you to one program or another, but to give you a snapshot of what’s out there. Of course we’re biased, but customers regularly ask us for this comparison. In this light, we’ve taken a deep look at six major EAS certification programs that exist in the United States today and compared and contrasted each program so that you can examine the options and make an informed decision.  

There is certainly a lot of subjectivity when it comes to choosing the program that is right for you, but our intention with this blog was to stick to the facts.  It is our hope that this detailed look at where each program excels and who benefits most from each of the programs will free you up to listen to your body, mind, and soul as you make an embodied and integrated decision.      

 

How did we choose which EAS certification programs to include?

 

Above all, we chose organizations that we regularly hear our students talking about. 

Additionally, most of the organizations we chose have been around for a long time.  We did choose a couple up and coming organizations because we’ve heard great things about their offerings from our students and are familiar with and have great respect for their founders.  Five of the six organizations we chose offer an official certification. It was our intention to include the most reputable certifications available on the market.   

This list is definitely not exhaustive.  This research took a lot of time, and truth be told, choosing which organizations to include was a somewhat challenging process because there are a number of great options available in our field today.  Please keep in mind that there are many fabulous places to learn and people to learn from that do not offer certifications.     

 

So Then, Why Certification?

 

While certification is not legally required to offer Equine Assisted Services to the public, a certification process is by far more impactful and informative than a single training. Most certifications require a certain amount of learning, paired with a number of practice hours and mentoring that will take your practice to the next level, and support you in offering services ethically. 

Take a look at our previous blog, Ten Things You Need to Know When Choosing an Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning Certification, to get a better idea of some of the qualities of a good certification process, to help you make – the more subjective part of – your decision.  

But not all certification paths are for everyone. In the charts below we have outlined information that can be gathered from each organization’s website.  We have done our best to give you accurate information and will make changes as new or different information is made available to us.   

Below you will find language from each organization’s websites on how they identify their mission/vision and general approach:

PATH Intl. (Professional Association for Therapeutic Horsemanship Intl): “PATH Intl. accredits centers and certifies professionals so participants can experience the best and safest services in the EAS industry. [PATH Intl. works] to ensure universal recognition of professional equine-assisted services and the transformative impacts that enrich lives.”

AHCB (American Hippotherapy Certification Board):  “The American Hippotherapy Certification Board (AHCB) endorses the concept of voluntary, periodic certification by examination for all professionals who use hippotherapy in their practice”

EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association): “The Eagala Model provides an innovative solution that provides a unique space for an emotionally safe, hands-on experience for clients. With real-time feedback, clients are able to reach issues where traditional talk-based therapies leave off.”

University of Denver: ”The Equine-Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate program is open to mental health professionals and graduate students who want to enhance their clinical work through incorporating equine interactions in psychotherapy (equine-assisted therapy).”

The HERD Institute: “[The HERD Institute works] to create a global community of students and practitioners for Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy and Learning, committed to furthering the work of the predecessors in our field.”

The Natural Lifemanship Institute: NL envisions a world where connection is seen and felt in everything we do. We help people and animals form relationships to overcome stress and trauma through both the art and science of interpersonal neurobiology and attachment.

 

Here are the certifications offered through these 6 major programs…

 

Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning Certification Programs

 

PATH Intl.

 

Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) in partnership with a therapist, educator, leadership specialist or personal development coach

*Certified Therapeutic Riding  Instructor (CTRI, Advanced, Master)

*Therapeutic Driving Instructor

*Interactive Vaulting Instructor

 

AHCB

 

AHCB Hippotherapy Certification

 

EAGALA

 

Mental Health Professional Certification

Equine Specialist Certification

Other Professional Certification

 

University of Denver

 

Equine Assisted Mental Health Practitioner Certificate 

(a one time process; not technically a certification)

 

Herd Institute

 

Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy Certification

Equine Facilitated Learning – Level 1

Equine Facilitated Learning – Level 2

As you can see, none of the programs are exactly alike. What each one offers varies quite a bit depending on the specific population they serve and their own sense of what is necessary and valuable for those wanting to enter the field. Nonetheless, we’ve tried to distill down the distinguishing aspects.  We hope it is helpful! 

*Moving forward in this article we will only refer to the Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning (ESMHL) certification for PATH Intl. 

Who is eligible for these programs?

PATH Intl.

 

You must be 21 or older to certify as an ESMHL. No education level is required to be the equine specialist in partnership with a therapist, educator, leadership specialist, or personal development coach.

The ESMHL certification is also valuable for psychotherapists, counselors and learning specialists to understand how to incorporate equines into their practice.

 

AHCB

 

Licensed or certified to practice as a:

Physical therapist,

physical therapist assistant,

occupational therapist,

occupational therapist assistant,

or speech and language pathologist

*one year of full time or the equivalent (2,000 hours) experience in this field is required

 

EAGALA

 

*Mental Health Professionals 

*Equine Professionals 

*must be partnered

A third option is available for other students or professionals (must be a third partner to MH and ES)

 

University of Denver

 

Mental Health Professionals 

Mental Health Graduate Students

 

Herd Institute

 

Mental Health professionals

Life coaches

Educators

Organizational Leaders 

Trainers

Human Resource Professionals

 

Natural Lifemanship Institute

 

Mental Health professionals

Life Coaches

Educators

Equine Professionals

Non-MH Therapists like PT, OT, etc.

Alternative Healing Practitioners

Anyone interested in trauma-informed practice (medical professionals, corporate, HR, etc)

The difference from program to program on who is eligible for training depends on program philosophy as well as training content – while some programs prefer to specialize in only training mental health professionals or other licensed therapists, others have expanded to include any professional who is equipped to work with people in a healing or learning format, and their training content reflects these decisions. 

Most programs seek candidates who are already a helping or learning professional and are qualified to counsel. Then the training offered is in how to incorporate horses into these services.  Note that there are only a couple programs who seek to certify equine professionals to co-facilitate with a practitioner. 

When searching for a program, it can be helpful to first find your profession in the list above – any program that doesn’t list your profession is not well equipped to prepare you for the work, and any program claiming to train a variety of practitioners likely offers quite a bit of substance in their teaching, working to create competence no matter your background. 

How are their trainings and certification requirements offered?

PATH Intl.

 

In-person + online exam

 

AHCB

 

Blended (online and in person) + online exam

 

EAGALA

 

In-person (a short webinar is watched prior to in-person training)

 

University of Denver

 

Blended (online and in person)

 

Herd Institute

 

Blended (online and in person)

 

Natural Lifemanship Institute

 

Blended (online and in person)

Fully Online

Learning to offer quality equine assisted services requires a blend of theory and practice, in the chart above you can see that each program has its own way of making learning possible for a variety of candidates. Online programs offer flexibility and time to digest learning, and in-person learning gives participants time to practice and experience the process.  

As you can see, Natural Lifemanship has the only fully online certification program at this time, but it’s important to know there is still a significant amount of hands-on practice that occurs. The difference is it is done at home with horses you have access to personally, and is supported by video consultations and review so you never have to leave home. 

When searching for a program, consider your personal learning style, and how you might best digest the information presented at a training.

What are the general requirements for each certification process?

PATH Intl.

 

ESMHL:

Membership required

In-person workshop

Horsemanship skills test

Portfolio, which includes 80 total clock hours of relevant education and experience comprised of: 20 clock hours of education in equine behavior and management, 60 hours of active participation and experience in equine-assisted services (EAS) at a PATH Intl. center and/or under the supervision of a PATH Intl. Certified Professional, two professional references, CPR/First Aid for adults and children, and an online exam

 

AHCB

 

Introduction to Equine Skills Online Course

American Hippotherapy Association (AHA) Level I and II equine skills and treatment principle courses (in-person)

25 hours of one-on-one direct patient treatment

Must be experienced and comfortable with horses and can ride safely and independently at the walk and trot. 

Certification Exam

 

EAGALA

 

Pre-req webinar

Fundamentals training (5 days in-person) 

Membership

Professional Portfolio

Exam

 

University of Denver

 

Online course (10 months)

3 Residential Workshops 

Supervised Client Work

50 hours additional training outside of DU

 

Herd Institute

 

For EFP: 

Online modules

Live webinars

In-person practicums 

Supervision

personal therapy 

20 hours Equine education

Clinical practice

For each EFL level:

Online modules

In-person intensive

Mentoring

Practice hours (L2 only)

 

Natural Lifemanship Institute

 

Fundamentals training (8 weeks online, 36 CE’s )

Intensive Training (15 weeks online, 62 CE’s)

Optional Practicums (5 days in-person)

At least 28 hours of group and individual consultation and mentoring

Video Submissions and Feedback

60 Client Hours/Practice

Membership

There is wide variation in what each program offers in terms of learning, and requires in terms of certification – it is very worthwhile to spend some time exploring the ins and outs of these requirements, and to consider your current skill set so you can decide which program will best prepare you.  

Ultimately, the requirements reflect the philosophies of each program – you can see the question “What is necessary for someone to offer EAS competently and ethically?” being addressed in each column.  Every program has its own definition of what it takes to do this work well. Which definition you align with is a very personal choice.  

Whether you would like a short training process that offers tools for your toolbox, or a longer process that offers theory and individual mentorship and support while encouraging personal development – you will ultimately be the one deciding!

How long does it take to get certified?

Here is the general length of time it takes from beginning to certified, keeping in mind that for programs requiring practice hours and mentoring, timing can vary.

PATH Intl.

 

Varies widely depending on experience

ESMHL practice hours

 

AHCB

 

Varies widely depending on experience

 

EAGALA

 

5 days plus exam and portfolio

 

University of Denver

 

10 months, on scheduled dates

 

Herd Institute

 

EFP: minimum 1 year, semi-self paced

EFL-L1,2: minimum 3 months each

 

Natural Lifemanship Institute

 

Varies widely; 6 months -2 years, semi-self paced

This chart and the one above it go hand-in-hand.  A more in-depth training process will take more time.  Embodiment takes time.  Again, only you can know how much time you have to give to this process, and ultimately, what you want to get out of it.  For some, a quick certification is preferred, while others want a deeper learning experience – and again, prior skill set should be taken into consideration.

Who will you be learning from in each program?

PATH Intl.

 

PATH Intl. faculty and PATH Intl. Certified professionals

 

AHCB

 

Faculty

Staff

 

EAGALA

 

Local instructors

 

University of Denver

 

Professor Nina Eckholm Fry and guest presenters

 

Herd Institute

 

Founder Veronica Lac and Herd faculty

 

Natural Lifemanship Institute

 

Founders Tim Jobe, Bettina Shultz-Jobe as well as selection of 13 advanced certified practitioners and equine professionals

When learning something new, who you learn from makes all the difference – their own experiences, philosophy, and training background will inform the way their training unfolds. Learn about the instructors that teach each model – it is important that they have spent a good amount of time implementing services in the field, so their instruction is realistic and applicable to your needs.  

As you can see, several of the current training programs are still at least somewhat facilitated by the founders of that approach (potentially offering an undiluted presentation of information). Learning directly from the founders of any given approach is not always possible, but when it is, students benefit from the direct transmission of knowledge and experience as well as the founders’ experience teaching the material in ever-evolving ways.  

Learning from the founders while also learning from those who are certified and currently practicing the model can offer a well-rounded experience.  It is valuable to learn from and consult with more advanced professionals who have much experience learning and applying the material in their own lives and practices.  EAS can be applied in a myriad of ways depending on your scope of practice, client specialization, facilities, and horses, so it’s important to be able to choose a mentor or consultant with experience similar to yours. 

How many client hours are required in order to complete certification?

PATH Intl.

 

80 hours

 

AHCB

 

25 hours

 

EAGALA

 

0 hours

 

University of Denver

 

50 hours

 

Herd Institute

 

EFP: 20 hours

EFL-L1: 0 hours

EFL-L2: 50 ‘practice’ hours

 

Natural Lifemanship Institute

 

60 hours

Clearly, there is a wide difference in client hours needed to complete each program.  Why does this matter? In most professions, classroom learning can only take you so far – this is particularly true in a field that is decidedly “experiential” or hands-on.  

Applying classroom theory and knowledge to real world situations requires practice.  It takes time to understand how a process can be applied in a variety of situations (and equine assisted services always present a variety of situations!)  A certification process requiring plenty of practice time while still under consultation or evaluation is a process that values hands-on learning and respects the responsibility we take on when serving clients.

How many hours of support and guidance will I get in professional consultation or mentorship, learning from my teachers or peers in order to complete my certification?

PATH Intl.

 

0

 

AHCB

 

0

 

EAGALA

 

0

 

University of Denver

 

Ongoing during client hour practice (number of hours are not specified)

 

Herd Institute

 

EFP: 10 hours

EFL: 3 hours each level

 

Natural Lifemanship Institute

 

8-11 hours individual

20 hours group

We all know practice is the best way to learn something new – and correct practice is the best way to learn to apply new learning correctly.  Requiring consultation hours means that while you are practicing you have access to your instructors for case consultation and reflection.  

The more guidance you can receive as you are applying your learning, the more likely you will be applying your learning correctly, competently, and ethically.  Not only will this make you a better practitioner, but it is better for your clients as well. 

Which program offers Continuing Education credits, and how are they offered?

PATH Intl.

 

Yes, in-person workshops

In-person conferences

Virtual conferences

Online webinars and courses

 

AHCB

 

Yes, in-person and online workshops and trainings

Conferences

 

EAGALA

 

Yes, in-person workshops

Conference

 

University of Denver

 

No

 

Herd Institute

 

Yes, occasional CE’s offered online and in person

 

Natural Lifemanship Institute

 

Yes

Online and in-person workshops and trainings

Online self-paced (over 500 hours of video library access w/ membership.  Many of these offer CE’s.)

In-person and online conferences

We are all always evolving – as we learn more, see more, and understand better – our approach to healing should adjust as well.  This is where continuing education comes in.  

All health practitioners are required to continue learning throughout their professional careers because new research and an evolution of thought is always emerging.  Most certification programs will require continuing education in order to maintain certification – and some programs offer ongoing learning they themselves have developed. 

Ongoing learning that is approved for official CEUs (continuing education units) or CE hours means that the learning content has been vetted and approved by a separate educational body – indicating a base level of quality.

What is the total cost of certification?

PATH Intl.

 

$600 – $700 plus travel expenses +  membership costs 

 

AHCB

 

Level I and Level 2 combined :  $1935 – $2135 depending on membership level 

Online Test:  $380 – $480 depending on membership level

+Travel and lodging to two in-person trainings

 

EAGALA

 

$2500 + travel/lodging

$95 annually membership

 

University of Denver

 

$4800  + travel and lodging for 3 residential workshops

 

Herd Institute

 

EFP: $6500 + travel and lodging for two in-person trainings 

*EFL-L1: $1500 

*EFL-L2: $1500

* + travel and lodging for one in-person training

 

Natural Lifemanship Institute

 

$3873 *for fully online (Choose Jumpstart Option and do consults with your co-facilitator)

**for blended options, prices will vary

This is probably the #1 question we are asked:  “How much does NL certification cost compared to the costs to be certified by _______ organization?”  Quite simply, it is terribly difficult to compare costs when the differences in each program are SO varied.  Since we know you are interested in offering high impact, ethical services to your clients, it’s important to consider much more than price alone.   

Just like the duration of training varies from program to program, so will the financial investment.  It is impossible to say the exact investment (except for the NL fully online track) because of all the variables present in each training program – for any blended program travel, lodging, and time away from work will be a factor, and most programs offer several tracks and levels of membership, of course, all having different costs.  As you explore the financial investment that is possible for you, consider the value of each certification process. 

Also, keep in mind that the costs associated with personalized support in the form of supervision, consultation, or mentorship are included in the costs you see in this chart for DU, The Herd Institute, and NL.  

PATH Intl. does require mentorship, but it is not included in the costs in the chart because the cost varies and the student is responsible for finding a mentor that will best meet their needs.  The Natural Lifemanship Institute has a team of carefully selected instructors and mentors with advanced training and experience applying our approach in a variety of situations. We take the guesswork out of finding a suitable mentor as several of our instructors are available to book for consultations right on our website. Personalized support is important to the process of embodied learning, so when choosing a certification program, it is worth considering how you will find the support you need.

The offerings are fairly different from program to program – consider not only what is feasible, but what kind of learning is worth your time and money, and the level of support and guidance you hope to have after online or in-person training. 

For a breakdown of the varied costs associated with NL certification,  this webinar offers a lot of insights.

What does it cost to keep my certification up to date?

PATH Intl.

 

$100 for membership annually + 20 CE hours every 12 months

 

AHCB

 

This information is not available online.

 

EAGALA

 

$195 annually +

20 CE hours EAGALA approved CEs every 2 years

 

University of Denver

 

None, it is a one time certificate, not a renewable certification

 

Herd Institute

 

20 CE hours annually

 

Natural Lifemanship Institute

 

$375 annually, includes 10 online CE hours, membership, and a listing in the Professional Directory

All of the top 6 programs offer an “ongoing certification” except for the University of Denver.  DU offers a one time certificate that does not require renewal.  This may seem like a benefit, however certification renewal is a way of promoting ethics and best practices in our field.  You will find this a necessary process in any health care profession – it is vitally important  to continue the growth and development of the field, as well as protect those who receive services.

Also, when considering certification renewal fees remember to consider the costs associated with continuing education requirements.  These costs can be quite high when you consider the cost for training, travel, lodging, and valuable time away from work.  

Also consider if this fee does more than simply renew your certification.  For example, NL certification fees include membership (more on that next) and a practitioner listing so that potential clients can find you.  Most importantly, you need not spend ANY additional money to get the CE’s needed to maintain certification.  In many cases, you may even be able to count our CE courses toward others licenses or certifications you are maintaining. 

Is there a membership offered and what benefits do I get for being a member?

PATH Intl.

 

$70-$190 annually

Networking

Discounts

Directory

Members-only resources

Free education

Online community forums

Subscription to Strides magazine

 

AHCB

 

$55-$95 annually with the American Hippotherapy Association

Discounts

Directory

“Find a Therapist” listing

Access to ScienceDirect Article and Journals

Members Only resources

Subscription to Hippotherapy Magazine

 

EAGALA

 

Networking

Monthly Support Calls

Directory 

Resource Library

 

University of Denver

 

No Membership

 

Herd Institute

 

$150 annually 

Networking

Online discussion forum 

Discounted supervision

Discounts on workshops

 

Natural Lifemanship Institute

 

Not every program offers a membership option, and oftentimes membership offerings are limited.  However, a robust membership and community is incredibly important in a new, quickly evolving, and smaller field.  

NL offers a free membership as part of the certification process. We know the value — both to you and to your clients — of being lifelong learners and we want you to have access to our entire suite of tools and courses as a certification student or certified professional.   

At times, this work can be isolating – it is a unique niche within the world of mental health, therapy, growth, and learning – finding safe and structured places to connect, learn, exchange ideas, and continue growing is invaluable and will make it much more likely that you will be supported and successful in this new endeavor!

Are there advanced certifications offered if I want to deepen my learning or specialize?

PATH Intl.

 

None

 

AHCB

 

Yes, advanced testing and certification is available

 

EAGALA

 

Yes, advanced training offered

 

University of Denver

 

None

 

Herd Institute

 

Coming soon

 

Natural Lifemanship Institute

 

Advanced training and certification available

While basic certification may be your greatest concern at this point, it can be helpful in the selection process to consider which programs also offer advanced training and support should you decide to pursue it.  Not all do.  After completion of basic certification, most practitioners will feel competent to begin seeing clients – however, you will likely find that clients bring different issues to sessions and being able to dive more deeply into specialized issues will only enhance your toolbox.  Programs offering advanced training and/or certification will not only support you in diving more deeply into a specialization or specific area of interest, but will also support you in more deeply understanding the model or approach itself.

*PATH Intl. does offer several certifications, but they don’t offer advanced training or certification (that we could find) in ESMHL.  Every one of these organizations offer conferences as a wonderful way to specialize and deepen your learning, even if they don’t officially offer advanced training or certification.

What is the minimum amount I can spend to begin the training process and see if a program is a good fit for me before signing up for certification?

PATH Intl.

 

$600 for an ESMHL 3 day workshop + travel expenses

 

AHCB

 

$950 – $1050 for 3 day workshop + one day online learning +travel expenses

 

EAGALA

 

$2500 for Fundamentals training + travel expenses

 

University of Denver

 

$1600 for a semester + travel expenses

 

Herd Institute

 

$6,500 EFP or $1,500 EFL (or payment plan) + travel expenses

 

Natural Lifemanship Institute

 

$425 for Fundamentals – foundations track online only (30 CE credits)

For many of us, taking that first leap into training can feel daunting.  Having a lower barrier to entry can make it that much easier to explore the different options that exist and choose for yourself.  Some programs have ways to engage with their training material that is less expensive, while some require a financial commitment to the full program up front.   Each journey will look a little different, and ultimately the deciding factor will be the value of what you are receiving.

 

Ready to explore certification for yourself?

So, there it is, a side by side breakdown of the requirements and benefits of the certification process for each of the major training institutions based in the United States.  Of course, this information serves only as a beginning point to help you narrow down which program might best suit your needs.  

Further exploration would be beneficial to gauge the values, principles, and goals of each training program  – because ultimately, the program you certify with should feel like a professional “home”. 

When you are ready to get certified, we will be honored to join you on the journey and be your partner at every stage of your growth and exploration. Learn more about NL Certification and select the path that’s right for you. And if you’re not sure where to start, take our quiz for some guidance. We look forward to supporting your learning!

We Found a Better Way— And Are Making the Path Accessible to All

We Found a Better Way— And Are Making the Path Accessible to All

The recent global pandemic forced us to. . .

 

Pause.

 

Reflect.  Connect.  Cry a little (or a lot depending on the day!).  Curse a bit (okay, so maybe a lot some days!).

 

Pause and reflect and connect some more. . .

 

Then evolve.

 

Okay, so I can only speak for myself when I say that the Pandemic resulted in a decent amount of “curse crying” – a coping mechanism I don’t necessarily recommend, professionally speaking, but do, personally, find quite effective at times.  Truly though, this transformation was at times painful for the entire NL team.  Even though the caterpillar’s story of transformation and loss was already near and dear to my heart, I now have a more embodied understanding of the plight of the butterfly.

 

All of this said, the pause, the reflection, the connection (and the blood, sweat, and tears. . . AND cursing!) allowed us to soar to new heights—and inspired us to adapt our teachings, trainings, and events to allow for transformative change in the larger Equine Assisted Services (EAS) community.

 

At Natural Lifemanship, we are designing a better way to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and experiences necessary for deep healing—allowing for greater access that meets each student where they are.  

 

Looking back…

We were, and are proud of the progress we have helped to make in the field of Equine Assisted Services (EAS). In finding unique and powerful ways of working with clients and horses based on principles of connection and healthy relating, over ten years ago my husband, Tim Jobe, and I chose to begin equipping other professionals to expand the reach of EAS’s potential for healing.

 

The world could benefit from more practitioners in the field—we recognized this.  

 

After 10 years of guided in-person trainings, we faced an unforeseeable obstacle. A global pandemic. With just days notice, people throughout the world found themselves indoors, and travel and in-person meetings came to an abrupt end.  As the need for support, healing, growth, and wellness grew, so too did the possibility our doors would remain closed for good. (Hence the aforementioned tears and cursing!)

 

This was not an option for us!  

 

Our little field offers some of the safest and most effective trauma treatment available.  Period.  People needed competent, connected, and impassioned practitioners more than ever.  

MORE THAN EVER.

And mental health professionals, equine professionals, and others in the healing professions needed more support than ever!

MORE THAN EVER!

 

Moving forward…

After reflecting on the needs of our clients and students, we chose to make our trainings accessible from home. We redesigned our popular *TF-EAP and **TI-EAL based Fundamentals training to be taken virtually, but with a personalized experience that provided guided feedback, one-on-one meetings, and experiential learning. All of which could be completed from home.

 

To our delightwe found that we were able to provide more content, more resources, and more guidance than ever before. The results showed that many of our students not only thrived, but preferred the virtual fundamentals over our previous in-person training.

 

In 2020 we also started a scholarship fund and in 2021 we have awarded over $16,000 in scholarships and hope to award more as the year progresses!  We are seriously committed to making our trainings as accessible as possible!

*Trauma Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy

**Trauma Informed Equine Assisted Learning

 

Our New & Better Normal

Our greatest challenge in redesigning our trainings was the recognition that we needed to provide various options for the unique needs of our students. We believed that a temporary solution, such as a few online courses, would not provide students with the in-depth education they needed and deserved.

 

If we were to ensure that our students were fully prepared to work with clients in an EAS setting, we needed to think big—and we did.

 

Our team came together and designed the most extensive EAS (Equine Assisted Services) training available, with the option of FULLY completing the program from home.

 

Fundamentals of Natural Lifemanship—Redesigned

Prior to Covid, our Fundamentals of NL training was impactful in that it allowed our students to gain the foundational knowledge and skills needed to engage in the EAP/L process—using the principles of Natural Lifemanship.  Actually, I know I’m biased, but our pre-pandemic trainings were excellent!

 

It’s just that post-pandemic they’re EVEN BETTER!

 

Today, the Fundamentals of NL training is so much more extensive. We’ve created an 8-week curriculum that dives much deeper into the science of trauma, attachment, and somatics, and provides an immense amount of content that simply can’t be covered, digested, and embodied during a two or three day in-person training.  

 

Nowadays, IF you choose to do in-person training with us (more on this below) you get significantly more time doing the stuff that simply can’t be done online – building nuanced relationship with horses.  More time online means more time to experience the power of the horse-human relationship.  More time online means that when you come to us you are WAY better prepared to get busy and do some experiencing!

 

What’s more? Even online we are still able to give individualized guidance and experiential learning exercises that we review for feedback. Students benefit from taking the training in group settings, and interacting with one another—as well as the convenience of working from home with their own horses.

 

Given that each student has a unique set of circumstances, we provide the following training paths:

 

The Foundational Fundamentals is a comprehensive introduction to NL for those who may not have access to horses, will not be pursuing certification, or prefer to complete their experiential work in-person by adding on the Fundamentals Practicum, which is our in-person training experience. This is a great option for those who are completely new to Natural Lifemanship or need a refresher.

 

The Core Fundamentals is designed for people who have access to horses and who want to be able to say they are NL Level 1 trained. In taking this training, students move closer to completing NL certification.

 

Our Certification Jumpstart option allows students to jumpstart the certification process. Not only does this training count toward some of the certification requirements, it also comes with a bundle deal including a one-year NL professional membership, certification enrollment fee, two personal face-to-face consultations on Zoom––all of which are required for certification. This is the greatest bang for the buck if you know you want to get certified in NL.

 

What about the hands-on experience?

We fully understand the importance of providing an experiential component to our trainings. After all, what good is a practitioner who has yet to practice? We knew it would be a challenge to create a hands-on learning experience that could be completed from home. . . so we came up with the following solutions—and we couldn’t be happier.

 

Here are the THREE ways to complete the experiential work required for those seeking certification or wishing to claim that they are NL Level 1 trained. They are. . .

 

The At Home Experience in which students complete several video assignments and receive feedback and guidance from NL trainers. This experience does require that students have access to a horse.  

The In-Person Experience in which students attend one of many in-person practicums throughout the United States and practice their skills and knowledge with in-the-moment guided feedback from our experienced and intuitive NL trainers. (Students must attend the Fundamentals of NL prior to attending)

Or you can do a combination of the two—for those who really want to dive deep and get all of the experience possible.

 

Our In-Person Practicum

We understand that many people in our field prefer an intimate and interactive in-person training environment so we designed the Fundamentals Practicum to be an unforgettable training experience that allows students to build on their virtual learning experience through hands-on work utilizing the Natural Lifemanship principles.  Most of the didactic learning is done online in the Fundamentals of NL leaving significantly more time and space to truly embody the knowledge and skills gained.

 

We are currently offering several Fundamentals Practicums throughout the year that are hosted at our partner sites scattered throughout the country, making this experience more accessible for everyone.

 

By the way, in 2021 we adopted the same training structure for our NL Intensive training making it possible to get fully certified in NL from home!  The NL Intensive is virtual.  There are two options to meet your needs:  Foundational Intensive and Core Intensive.  The experiential portion of the Intensive training can be done at home or in-person at an Intensive Practicum.  

 

At Natural Lifemanship, we believe that leading means innovating, inspiring, adapting, and evolving—to meet the needs of our compassionate and impactful students as well as our communities, who are in need of deep healing.

 

While our trainings have evolved to better meet your needs, our principles remain the same. Every training experience through Natural Lifemanship continues to be centered around building healthy relationships and deep connections, based on mutual trust and respect—for EAS practitioners, clients, and horses.

 

Learn more by watching our latest webinar, “Our New and Better Normal.”

 

 

Learn more about the Natural Lifemanship way…   

 

#1  Take some of our courses.  We offer many low cost, single purchase courses and videos for those just wanting to get an idea of what’s out there.  Many of our courses offer CE credits through NBCC and NAADAC.  Many courses are also part of NL Membership or can be purchased by members at steep discounts.  Check out our courses here.

 

#2 Follow along for FREE!  We offer an array of free content online through webinars, blogs, and videos – you can do any or all of the following to stay connected and up to date on NL happenings!

 

  1. Visit our website www.naturallifemanship.com to explore blogs and other content.  Seriously, so much can be gleaned from our blogs!
  2. Sign up for a free introductory membership and gain access to educational videos and a new free video each month.
  3.  Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified of news, blogs, trainings, etc.
  4. Like and Follow our Facebook page and Instagram – we share videos, pictures, articles, and engage in thoughtful discussions.
  5. The Trauma Focused Equine Assisted Psychotherapy Networking Group on Facebook is also a valuable resource.  This group is managed by NL trainers, but is open to ALL.  Such great conversations happen in this group!
  6. Follow our YouTube Channel for free video content! This is a great place to begin understanding how the relationship between horse and person progresses, organically and over time, utilizing NL principles.  Watch this video first and then follow the progress made with Annie and Abilene.  

 

We look forward to supporting you as you grow professionally and heal personally—so you can support others.

 

Ten Things You Need to Know When Choosing an Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning Certification

Ten Things You Need to Know When Choosing an Equine Assisted Therapy and Learning Certification

By Kate Naylor and Bettina Shultz-Jobe

 

Jumping into the field of Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT), Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), and/or Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) can be daunting – figuring out how to be properly trained and prepared can be even more so.  

 

You can’t just google “get certified” and find a website that explains it all.  It’s a bit of the wild west out here – so many teachers to choose from, so many approaches, and no central rules or regulation.  

 

So what is an aspiring equine assisted practitioner to do?  

 

The short answer is “do your research”…but, that’s not a very satisfying answer, is it?  

 

So, we at The Natural Lifemanship Institute have put together a list of things we consider to be incredibly important to a thorough and quality certification in Equine Assisted Services (our inclusive term for EAT, EAP, and EAL) – and we’d like to share it with you!  

 

Over the three decades that Natural Lifemanship founders Bettina and Tim Jobe have worked in the field of Equine Assisted Services (EAS), they have learned quite a bit about what is needed for effective, ethical practice.  

 

It isn’t a simple process, nor should it be…because when you enter a field in which expertise is needed in both the human and equine realm, there is a lot to learn.  Of course, we would love for you to train and get certified with us…but more than that, we want you to find exactly what you need to nurture your continued growth in this ever-growing field.  Below are our Ten Things You Need to Know When Choosing an EAS Certification – we hope it is helpful! 

 

1. Teacher Experience! 

First and foremost, as you begin a certification, you want to know you are in capable hands.  This is why understanding the qualifications of your teachers and trainers is so important. 

 

Consider their experience!  

 

How long have they been doing actual EAS work? In this newer field, many teachers may have great ideas but haven’t actually been offering EAS sessions for very long, or for very many total hours of practice.  Consider some practitioners see 25 clients a week while others might only see one or two – weeks and months may not be the best measure of experience.  

 

Time in the “pen”, so to speak, makes a world of difference when you are teaching both theory and skills. So as you do your research, ask yourself, how many hours of experience does this trainer have?  

 

Malcolm Gladwell argues it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill…do your teachers come even close to that in either clinical experience, horse experience, or both?

  

2. Excellent Equine Experience!  

Understanding the nuance of relating to equines and partnering with them in this work is a process that can only evolve with time, practice, and seasoned guidance.  

 

Working with equines is just like any other relationship – intimacy, trust, and clear communication come with intentional effort over time. . .

 

There are no shortcuts to good horsemanship. Be careful of programs suggesting otherwise – there are no cheat sheets and quick fixes to understanding the complex and often understated ways equines communicate their needs. 

 

Each one is an individual.  

 

Not only is it important to learn about general equine behavior, learning, and communication, it is also important to learn about the specific equines with which you hope to work.  

 

This takes time.

 

3. Clear ethics! 

As you search for a program, consider the language that is used and the ethics that are both implied and explicitly stated. 

 

The ethical motivations and underpinnings of any good certification program should be clear and readily available to you.   

 

How does a program see the clients, the animals, and the therapy team?  How does the program value experience, working within one’s skill set, perspective, theoretical underpinnings, acknowledgment of science/research, and a practitioner’s personal growth?  

 

All of these are areas needing attention and guidance if one is to practice any helping profession ethically.  It should also be evident that there are checks and balances in the approach itself, to safeguard against damaging bias and countertransference.

 

4. Personal Growth! 

As NL says “the horse doesn’t know who the client is”…in our unique field we are relying on feedback and communication from our equine partners to help us move forward in our relationships with our clients.  

 

Because we cannot ensure our equines only pay attention to client issues, our own patterns and internal experiences absolutely will and do influence our sessions.

 

Therefore, we cannot separate our own personal development from our professional development. A quality certification program will require you to consider your own internal experience as much as the client’s and horse’s in order for you to become a more conscious and effective practitioner. 

 

Reflecting on your own relational history, your personal blind spots, triggers, motivations, and being in tune with your own body/mind/spirit should all be valued in your professional development.

 

5. Depth and breadth of learning! 

What would you prefer if you were a client – a practitioner who had spent 5 days learning EAS, or a practitioner who had spent a year (or more) in coursework, practice, supervision, and consultation? 

 

The requirements for certification in the EAS field are wide and varied – pay close attention to what it takes to become certified and consider the client perspective.  What is best for our clients, who have little to no information about what it takes to say “certified in EAP, EAT, or EAL”?  

 

Programs of excellence should offer theoretical and scientific underpinnings for their approach to both equines and humans – and should give you plenty of hours of not only learning but practice and reflection as well.

 

6. Practical Experience!  

Practical experience is where the deeper learning happens…it is where theory is infused with reality, where cognitive information becomes embodied, where knowledge becomes wisdom, and where practitioners develop the “art” of their work.  

 

Some programs do not require a practitioner to have ever worked with clients before becoming certified.   Quality EAS isn’t just about what you know, it’s about what you do with what you know.  Practical experience is necessary for quality work. 

 

7. Trauma Informed Care!  

The term “trauma informed care” has become a buzzword in recent years, but what does it really mean?  

 

Trauma Informed Care means that practitioners operate from a foundation of knowledge based in brain science – it conveys an understanding of how life’s rhythms and relationships impact an adaptable brain and body from a macro level down to the smallest neurons.  

 

This knowledge informs the way in which practitioners engage with clients AND their equines, both in and out of session. 

 

Trauma Informed practitioners value relationship, rhythm, and science in their approach – it should be explicitly taught, as well as modeled in their everyday behavior.  

 

Trauma Informed Care should create safety and flexibility in the certification learning environment as well as in client sessions.

 

8. A Blend of Science and Art!  

Relationships are an art – an improvised dance informed by all that each individual carries within them as well as the energy between the two.  

 

There is no doubt that intuition and experience are paramount to guiding clients through a healing process unique to their needs.  However, there is so much that the relational neurosciences can offer us so that our work is better informed – making our art more effective.  

 

It is common in our field to acknowledge the art of EAS, what is less common is the incorporation of the sciences that can inform and guide our individual approach.  

 

The fields of interpersonal neurobiology, attachment, somatics, and more have transformed psychotherapy and our understanding of living beings, with so much to offer this work – it would be negligent to ignore them.

 

9. Individual Support! 

No two journeys are the same.  

 

A certification process needs to be flexible and helpful to your specific skills, goals, and dreams.  Whether you are a seasoned clinician, an experienced horse professional, a student just starting out, or something in between or otherwise – you can reach your EAS goals.  

 

Look for a certification process that not only considers your experience an asset but offers teachers who know your field of expertise. 

 

EAS can be blended with a wide variety of therapeutic approaches – and the certification process should reflect that! 

 

And finally, more than anything else…does a certification process offer you….

 

10. Relationship!  

Rather than a nameless, faceless, and relation-less training process, how about one where you know your teachers, engage with them in a variety of ways on a variety of topics over time, and develop a supportive and engaging network of colleagues?  

 

Relationships are the vehicle for change – whether in therapy, in learning something new, or out in day to day life. 

 

Can you speak to someone when you need guidance? Do teachers care about your individual development? Is your time valued and respected? Relationships make all the difference. 

 

So what kind of relationship do you want with your training and certifying organization?

 

Wondering how to get started with NL?

The Fundamentals of NL is the entry level training for all certification paths.  The next cohort starts September 13th and registration is OPEN.

Deification is Still Objectification

Deification is Still Objectification

Typically, when we think of objectification we think of the overtly negative kind.  Women’s bodies as objects for other’s consumption, children as extensions of ourselves, or the Earth as a disposable resource for our own benefit. Yet, a more subtle objectification is alive and well in human nature – that is, the deification of someone or something, the act of putting someone not below us, but above us and on a pedestal.

This can be seen clearly in the equine therapy world, where there seem to be two opposing camps at odds with each other.  One believes horses are a useful tool for the healing and growth of humans – the other believes horses to be wise beyond measure, bordering on otherworldly, and having unknowable gifts to offer us.

The “horse as a tool” camp has a long history; throughout their generations, horses alongside human beings have been work animals.  They carried warriors into battle, pulled farm equipment, were a mode of transportation, and then more recently, a source of recreation.  None of these activities with horses lends itself well to seeing them as sentient beings.  To care for them and think about them as we do a human would interfere with the work.  And generally speaking, humans also have a long history of seeing animals as fundamentally different from us; they couldn’t possibly share in our experiences, feelings, and needs.  Much of horse training reflects these beliefs – domination, power, and control continue to be the go-to for working with horses, no matter their job.  For this camp, horses are considered less intelligent than humans, less capable of self-control/self-determination, and certainly in need of our leadership.  In equine therapy specifically, this plays out as horses being a facilitator for therapy and not much more.  They are an object for practicing leadership skills, setting boundaries, for guiding through obstacles; and when the horse listens and does what he is told, we humans feel strong and confident.  Also in the “horse is a tool” camp, there is the horse that isn’t even a horse – he is a representation of my angry father, or my cold mother, or my demanding boss.  He doesn’t necessarily have to do anything to make me feel that way, I just feel it because I needed to – and the horse was there to embody those feelings for me.  It’s easier to project onto him than onto an inanimate object, like in the empty chair technique commonly used in office therapy – and easier to project onto him than a real person, because a person is inclined to express their own thoughts and feelings that don’t fit for our projection.  The horse’s feedback then, his own experience and behaviors are not often taken into consideration – it would give him more dimension than would be helpful in the “horse as a tool” paradigm. He is something of a chess piece moved through a session in order to produce feelings or reactions in the human client.  His presence is very useful, but he is not an individual and there is no dual-sided relationship there.  The relationship is all on the human’s terms.

In more recent years, thanks to science and some evolution of thought, we are beginning to be reminded that humans are also animals, and perhaps not that different from those who surround us.  More consideration for the welfare and internal lives of horses has arisen – a very good thing.  However, it seems we are overcorrecting a bit, and now witnessing another camp forming.  Or actually, simply growing in prominence – as this camp has been around as long as the first, really, but gaining traction in this new attempt at honoring the horse.  This second camp sees horses not as tools or mere utilitarian devices, but as powerful spiritual guides, insightful creatures with gifts for healing.  In this camp, horses are mystical, operating on another plane of existence, and here to give us messages that our limited human brains cannot detect for ourselves.  They are, in a sense, deities walking among us.  Some would say this is a beautiful correction to the idea of horses’ as lesser beings and tools for our use.  But, to me, this is simply the other side of the same coin.

If a horse is a tool we use him for our benefit, and often miss the real flesh and blood animal standing in front of us.  We see only our desires for him, our own goals, our own path.  We control him to practice leadership or we project onto him to provide catharsis, and we worry very little about his own desires and needs.  We don’t take in his presence, his behavior, as information on how we can change to be in better relationship with him, this specific horse.  We miss that he is perhaps checked out, or stressed out, or confused and irritated – because we just want him to do what we ask, or represent someone he is not.  But the flip side is not much better – here’s the thing, if a horse is a sort of a god – a creature capable of telepathy and mystical healing, he is STILL an object.  In this camp, much value is placed on the act of just being with horses.  It is often argued that simply sitting with them provides healing, growth, and insight.  Now, as a horse lover myself I can honestly say there is something lovely about sitting with horses.  There is a peacefulness there, and much like meditation, when I am still and peaceful I have clarity of mind.  But to say the horse, while grazing and drinking water and pooping on the ground, is sending me messages from others on another plane of existence, is telepathic somehow, is to continue not seeing that horse, for who he is.  He is still an object, a representation of my inner world.  (Not to mention, feeling peaceful while sitting with horses may feel nice, but it is not therapy.  We cannot ethically call this sort of work psychotherapy, we cannot bill insurance, and we certainly cannot be taken seriously by the psychotherapy and medical fields. Feeling peaceful momentarily or experiencing catharsis does not equal therapeutic growth. )

There is a fine line between being spiritual and twisting spirituality to suit ourselves.  This treatment of horses crosses that line, frequently.  I by no means intend to suggest that a spiritual connection with a horse isn’t possible – on the contrary, I firmly believe it is.  But, I have seen time and time again this desire for a spiritual connection taken to an extreme that renders horses one-dimensional, and even more upsetting, continues the destructive paradigm of power and control – the exact paradigm this camp set out to destroy!  When the horse is simply a conduit, a reflection of our inner world, or a creature on a pedestal, we still control him.  We decide what he tells us and when, we decide what his behavior means to us.  We go to him when we need something from him, and think little of how our interactions could be mutually beneficial from his perspective. What disturbs me about the blending of the spiritual with horses is I rarely hear of someone getting a negative message from their horse.  I’m not sure I’ve ever heard people speak of communing with horses and receiving the message, “I don’t really want to be around you, will you go away?”  – and yet, I see horses respond to people, through their behavior, with this exact message frequently.   So what’s happening here?  To me, it is the disconnect between reality and human projection.  We want to control the information we receive.  No one wants to hear that they are a mess and not fun to be around.  But, spirituality, when it is done in the search for wholeness, has real darkness to it.  There is brutal honesty, grief, and unpleasantness when we dig deep – as well as the good.   If your spiritual connection with a horse is all telepathic sunshine and rainbows – it might be worth questioning.   It’s scary to release control of both sides of the relationship, but it is also where the real, tangible healing happens – healing that can be carried forward into new relationships.

Horses are animals, mammals, similar to us in some ways and different in others.  They have their own desires, their own needs, and their own priorities.  We, over the centuries, have domesticated them and insisted they live alongside us.  The least we could do is learn about their communication, their behavior and do our best to see each of them as an individualWhether we see the horse as a tool or an otherworldly being – what ultimately suffers is the therapy, and the horse’s welfare. (Keep an eye out for blogs on those topics later).

Until proven otherwise, what we currently know is horses communicate through body language – the combinations of tension and relaxation, ear position, movement, and more.  In a therapy session, when a horse leaves us to go drink water – is he telling us that our soul is thirsty and it’s time to take better care of ourselves, or is he rejecting our attempts at connection just like our mother…or is he simply an animal that needs to quench his own, literal, thirst?  Which one is based in his reality, and which one is something we decided based on what we wanted to hear/feel/see in the moment?  Not to mention, what does this do to the therapeutic growth of the client – to ignore a simple behavioral choice and pile countless meanings on it instead? To interpret behaviors as more than their face value?  To expect telepathy?  Have you ever experienced that real desire for your spouse to read your mind?  To just know you wanted or needed something without having to ask…and for those of you who have been with a partner for a long time – how often does this telepathy occur? For my clients, this sort of thing is often what landed them in relational difficulties in the first place – mind-reading, meaning-laden interpretations of behavior, projection.  These are road blocks to true connection –  love based on reality, intimacy, authenticity.  I, for one, do not want to recreate these unhealthy patterns in my therapy sessions, and therefore, cannot try to control the horse, dismiss the horse, or deify the horse.

The thing that makes me the saddest about these two camps, besides the possible damage done to clients and horses – is that both are missing out on the very real relationship that is possible.  I can’t have a connected, nourishing, and challenging relationship with an object like I can with a sentient being.  And in therapy, a lack of real relationship restricts significant opportunities for lasting healing.  This is different from the cognitive shift that can happen when I see my mother in the horse’s behavior, or lead a horse through an obstacle course, or hear wisdom from within when I sit quietly watching horses graze.  None of these activities require the horse to be a sentient being, a unique individual – this same work is being done with furniture in an office, or drawings, or solitary contemplation.  And while, of course, these activities with horses can be beneficial, it is difficult for these benefits to last.  For lasting change, our brains and bodies have to practice a new way of being – insight alone is not enough.  Consider how many people you have met who know the right things to do, and simply can’t do them consistently (myself included!). The beauty of the horse as a sentient being, a partner in therapy, is that I can build a real two-sided relationship with him.  I can try to engage, ask things of him, have him ask things of me; I can make mistakes and see the horse’s negative response, and then I can repair those mistakes and see the horse’s positive response.  It’s harder, and it’s more vulnerable.  There are moments when I will be greatly humbled, and moments when I don’t get what I want.  But, it’s also real.  With time, I can learn his preferences and he mine – and we can navigate the difficulties of boundary setting, intimacy, listening, and asking.  I can learn, deep in my bones, how to be in a healthy partnership where we both heal, and then I can practice it each time we are together.  And when I do that, I can go back to my human relationships with new ways of being, not just thoughts.  My human relationships transform – and isn’t that the ultimate goal of therapy with horses?  To heal not just in session, but out in the world too?  But none of that is possible if this specific horse, with his specific temperament, isn’t truly seen for who he really is.  Not for what he represents and not for what he can do for me.

Some folks may assume I mean that these two camps aren’t ever doing good work, or that there is malice in these approaches.  Neither is fully true.  Good work can be done, and it is human nature, not evil, to try to control others and our experience.  My argument, though, is that there is a third way.  A way in which horses are neither less than or better than, but animals just like us; full of foibles and bad habits and grace and healing  – and in this third way are both the human and horse honored for their real, flesh and blood contribution.  My argument is for letting go of controlling the other, so we can see what is really there, right in front of us. 

Do Horses Seek Leaders or Rewarding Connections?

Do Horses Seek Leaders or Rewarding Connections?

A recent article published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science suggests that the concept of human leadership equating to the hierarchy in a horse herd, which has become foundational in many training approaches, is unreliable and largely irrelevant. Instead, the researchers found that consistent reinforcement of desired behaviors had a much greater effect on horses’ responses than the application of dominance or leadership types of interventions.  Although the emerging language used in Natural Horsemanship training methods may sound kinder and gentler, the techniques employed still tend to be based on the use of power, domination and control, which ultimately removes the element of choice from the interaction and largely keeps a horse in his brainstem, where he is operating out of a survival, or fear response system.

The Natural Lifemanship approach to building relationships between horses and humans relies on the principles of pressure, or the raising and lowering of a calm, centered body energy, to invite connection as a choice coming from the horse’s neocortex.  The horse always has the option to ignore, resist, or cooperate with the request.  By creating a safe space for all of these responses, the horse learns to experience the positive benefits of being in a connected relationship with a human without fear or coercion.  Releasing pressure when the horse makes the choice to cooperate uses negative reinforcement (the removal of a stimulus) to encourage positive behaviors.   This lines up with what these researchers concluded after sifting through 100 scientific studies on horse behavior, where they found that “horses’ responses to training are more likely a result of reinforcement” rather than of humans taking a leadership role.  The researchers ask, “could horses be assigned a more active role during training or are they merely followers with little autonomy if concepts such as leadership are applied in a training context?” Natural Lifemanship practitioners are all about giving horses an “active role” in developing healthy relationships!

To read the article, “Leaders among horses:  Don’t count on humans being among them” go to https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2017/02/09/leaders-horses-humans/

To learn more about Natural Lifemanship go to www.naturallifemanship.com