Relax. Connect. Learn. Joy.
Equine Assisted Learning
Equine assisted learning sessions are co-facilitated by a horse and an experienced, qualified mental health professional.
Enhance self-awareness, connection, confidence, curiosity and well-being through an Equinnect-EAL session.
Develop your life skills and resilience while having fun in a supported, safe, relaxed, and natural environment.
Equinnect is person-led, trauma-informed & responsive.
Let Tanya and Burke or Mabel (or another of their special horse friends) at Equinnect provide you with an individualised EAL session in a safe and comfortable environment.
No prior experience with horses is necessary. There is no riding; all sessions are on foot.
This is for individuals or groups of two, ages 7+ years, adolescents, and adults.
Registered NDIS Provider for EAL.
Through Tanya's deep love for learning, her work with horses, and her evolving understanding of the horse-human connection, she has discovered that Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) offers a safe and enjoyable therapeutic environment for personal growth. As a member of the Polyvagal Equine Institute (PVEI), Tanya integrates Polyvagal Theory into this unique modality, fostering individual self-management, capacity building, and self-care and inspiring a sense of contentment and joy.
What is EAL?
EAL is a relational experience with a horse through equine (horse)- assisted activities that enhance self-awareness, connection to others, well-being, and life skills, which are transferable to all other aspects of life.
EAL is non-judgmental, confidential, strength-based, and person-centred, a (predominantly) humanistic approach to health and well-being.
Your learning occurs during the session (experiential) but also continues after your session, in how you process your experience—in a gentle, conscious, and subconscious way.
How does it work?
EAL activities with Burke or his horse companions offer a safe space to be yourself, free from judgment, and with self-compassion. These experiences foster deep self-connection, allowing your inner wisdom to emerge through attentive listening. This wisdom can come from your life, culture, environment, and nature. Burke helps you practice mindfulness, self-awareness, and presence, sparking insights that guide your growth.
In EAL, you are the expert of your own life. With a deeper understanding of yourself as a physical, psychological, spiritual, and social being, you can steer your own healing and personal development. Tanya and Burke offer gentle feedback to help you apply newfound insights, enhancing skills, self-care, relaxation, and joy.
EAL activities are varied and tailored to your needs, but learning how to interact with a horse safely is a key part of the experience (self-awareness, boundaries, self-compassion). It boosts confidence and provides valuable life skills.
Who can do it?
EAL is beneficial for nearly everyone. If you're curious, connect with Tanya to explore if EAL could be helpful for you, a loved one, or someone you care about.
EAL has proven effective for a wide range of individuals, including those with mental health challenges, whether diagnosed or undiagnosed. This includes conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, autism, disordered eating, acquired brain injury, and substance use recovery.
EAL also supports individuals dealing with life-limiting illness, anticipating or processing loss, and those facing other psychosocial or neurological conditions.
Why the horse?
Instinctive Teachers: Horses are naturally intuitive. Their survival instincts allow them to pick up subtle cues from humans, making them exceptional guides in emotional and behavioural awareness.
Highly Attuned: Horses are incredibly sensitive to their surroundings, including the emotions and energy of people, offering a unique opportunity for connection and presence.
Authentic Feedback: Horses consistently and authentically display their nervous system responses, helping humans better understand and regulate their emotional states.
Building Connection: The bond created through attunement between horse and human fosters awareness, understanding, and meaningful self-reflection.
Emotional Regulation in Action: Horses naturally return to a calm state after emotional activation, modelling self-regulation and resilience that participants can practice and apply in their lives.
“The horse will teach you if you listen”
Ray Hunt, Horseman
What are life skills?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) identifies 10 core life skills: self-awareness, empathy, decision-making, problem-solving, critical thinking, creative thinking, effective communication, coping with stress, emotions, and interpersonal relationships. For other identified life skills and more information about this, visit here. Enhanced life skills can expand your thinking, helping you personally and or professionally. They also assist you to engage and participate in your relationships and community safely and positively.
If you are interested in developing your life skills, this approach to learning supports you in listening to yourself and your needs gently and then self-managing or self-regulating your responses. Learning and practising these skills with the assistance of an EAL horse builds your confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth (amongst other benefits). And you can have fun, too!
Increased self-awareness & confidence.
At Equinnect, you'll learn essential skills for safely interacting with a horse, which can boost your self-esteem. As you work with the horse, you'll gain confidence and self-awareness while observing their behaviour, which offers non-judgmental feedback to help you adjust your thoughts, feelings, and actions.
You'll also enhance your observational and awareness skills through nonverbal communication with the horse. EAL fosters personal growth, expanding your self-perception and unlocking your potential.
Joy & Relaxation.
This is your time to relax, play, and bring joy back into your life. You'll discover your inner wisdom, creativity, and authentic positivity with the horse's support and Tanya's guidance. The EAL environment helps you reconnect with yourself, others, and nature, reminding you of your true essence.
Enhanced Communication.
EAL sessions with your horse co-facilitator focus on verbal and nonverbal communication, emphasising nonverbal skills, which horses excel at. These activities enhance self-awareness, helping you understand, empathize, and communicate more effectively with others.
Through improved active listening, observation, and respect for boundaries, you can build trust, confidence, and empathy while strengthening relationships. Enhanced self-perception, clearer communication, and accountability support informed decision-making and alignment with your values, goals, and plans, fostering healthier, more functional relationships.
Compassion – self & others.
In this open, caring, and nonjudgmental space, you can connect with your true self and practice compassion—for yourself by taking this time and with your horse co-facilitator through empathy and care.
You are not required to share your thoughts or feelings during your EAL session. Any insights that arise are yours to keep and apply to daily life. If you choose to share, you’ll be supported in a safe environment, and we can explore referrals to additional support if needed.
The horse is always available as a trusted confidant, offering a quiet space for acknowledgment and reflection on your experiences.
Health & well-being.
Equine-assisted learning (EAL) supports health and well-being through connection with nature, horses, and reflective observation. EAL offers mental, emotional, and physical benefits, such as reduced stress, improved mood regulation, relaxation, and gentle movement. It helps individuals tune into their whole selves—body, mind, and feelings—fostering understanding, communication, and acceptance of their experiences.
EAL nurtures well-being by enhancing self-awareness, purpose, and quality of life. Interacting with horses, embodying a sense of ‘wildness,’ reminds us of life beyond societal roles and labels, encouraging self-acceptance, boundaries, and clear communication.
EAL also benefits horses, aligning with Equinnect’s and Zia Park’s commitment to equine welfare. Older horses who enjoy human interaction can remain active and social through EAL, reflecting a synergistic relationship between humans and horses, supported by emerging evidence.
An EAL session provides an individual with a unique opportunity for self-compassion and gentle life-learning. And whatever the individual discovers is theirs to keep and apply to their life at their readiness and choosing.
How EAL differs from other talk therapies...
Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) differs from traditional counselling or psychotherapy in its approach and focus. While counselling and psychotherapy are often talk-based and guided by a therapist to address psychological concerns or intentionally explore deeper emotional issues, EAL uses experiential, nature-based interactions with horses to foster personal growth, learning, and self-awareness.
Key distinctions include that EAL is:
Experiential Learning: EAL involves hands-on activities with horses, emphasising reflection and observation rather than structured discussion. These interactions help participants learn through experience rather than verbal processing alone.
Non-Clinical Setting: EAL often occurs in outdoor or natural environments, offering a relaxed and non-clinical atmosphere that promotes well-being through connection with nature.
Focussed on Skills and Insights: EAL emphasises building practical skills, such as communication, boundaries, self-awareness, and empathy, without delving into deeper psychological issues unless the participant chooses to explore them further then the client will be supported by Tanya’s counselling skills (with referrals recommended as appropriate).
Partnership with Horses: As sensitive and intuitive animals, horses provide non-judgmental feedback through their behaviour and interactions. This dynamic creates opportunities for self-reflection and growth in a unique, non-verbal way.
While EAL complements counselling or psychotherapy, it is not designed to replace these modalities for addressing complex mental health concerns. It focuses on fostering well-being and personal development through experiential and relational learning.
The Equinnect experience.
Discover more about the unique Equine Assisted Learning sessions by Tanya & Burke, Mabel, or other skilled horse co-facilitators.