Equine Collaborative Coaching ™
What is Equine Collaborative Coaching (ECC)?
Simply put, it is partnering with horses in a fun, safe way by engaging in experiential learning activities. Studies consistently prove people learn best through direct experiences with 90% retention rates. Equine Collaborative Coaching™ leverages emotional intelligence from the horses with experiential learning to create profound shifts in awareness and being.
Equine Collaborative Coaching ™ creates a connection between the client and the horse coach that invites participants to experience “learning by doing” with reflection. Through ECC, we expand our nonverbal awareness and learn valuable tools that aid in our personal and professional growth.
No prior horse experience is needed. Horses inspire moments that facilitate rapid change and lasting results.
There are several benefits from this experience.
Clients are often surprised by how profound this work is.
As the horses mirror back to us our own feelings and behaviors, there is a unique opportunity for enhanced understanding around many personal and interpersonal topics.
Clients have reported: increased access to their intuition, greater clarity on a particular concern, improved awareness of personal boundaries, greater understanding of non-verbal communication, and significant shifts in how they perceive a particular challenge or problem in their life and awareness of personal energy and how to use it effectively.
ARTICLE: Coaching With Horses Part 1: Masters of Emotional Intelligence
Horses are the masters of emotional intelligence.
They have an innate ability to read and process emotions as information.
They live and operate in the state of presence and complete awareness all the time and utilize the information that they receive from everything all at once, instantly.
Horses can see details simultaneously with the whole picture, because they are aware of physical presence and the non-physical sphere of energy.
They are constantly in synch with themselves as well as with every other creature on the earth, all at once.
Horses are sensitive to changes in the surrounding environment.
As an animal that is preyed upon in nature, the horse has a highly developed ability to sense changes in the environment and arousal level of other herd members.
Horses intuitively sense the emotions and energies around them; and, in turn, they mirror and reflect those emotions and energies when interacting with us. They respond to what we are communicating, often knowing our intentions before we do and providing honest and instant feedback.
Horses reflect our authentic self.
The horse becomes the mirror in which we see ourselves and how we can measure our energy, effectiveness, and non-verbal communication.
Horses operate on pure authenticity and congruency, which gives us a genuine interpretation of our reality and helps to confirm our own truths.
Through their connection to our authentic self, horses transport us beyond our limitations into greater realms of possibility.
ARTICLE: Coaching With Horses Part 2: Experiential Learning
Horses help us explore and address personal issues.
Any issue of personal importance can be a great subject for exploration with the horses.
Sometimes we come into the session with an ‘agenda’ and find out something else wants to be expressed.
The good news is that our intuition is led by the emotional intelligence of the horses, so each session evolves organically and usually produces an outcome that is profoundly satisfying.
Some typical topics explored by clients include the following: personal boundaries, self-confidence, leadership, conflict resolution, relationship issues, personal awareness, non-verbal communication, and personal energy.
What types of activities take place during an ECC coaching session or workshop
Activities change depending on many factors, the most important being what the horses want to do.
We usually start out a session with sharing space with the horses and observing them in their natural environment. We initiate contact. As connection and rapport develop, we move into hands-on work such as interacting with and making physical contact with the horse, grooming the horse, and leading the horse through a course of objects, to name just a few of the exercises.
Private coaching sessions allow for more interaction between you, the horse coach, and the human coach or facilitator. A private session runs approximately 90 minutes to two hours. In private session, you as the client set up the topics you want to explore.
Workshops are offered several times throughout the year, depending on weather conditions.
The workshop format gives participants an additional opportunity for learning through observing and also learning in small teams or groups.
The workshops are conducted with multiple human and horse coaches working with small groups of people. We limit participant numbers to ensure that each person has ample opportunity to interact with the horse(s) and ensure a great learning experience for everyone.
We typically set the theme of the workshop ahead of time so that clients can opt into the topics that resonate most with them. To learn more about upcoming workshops, please visit the workshops page.
ARTICLE: Coaching With Horses Part 3: The Synergy of Experiential Learning & Emotional Intelligence
How do I prepare for this type of work?
Prior to your session you will want to reflect on topics that are important to you now; i.e., personal or professional goals, relationships, personal obstacles and the like. It is not necessary to share these with your human facilitator but having a topic of focus will add a lot of value to your time with the horse(s).
Sometimes the horses have their own ideas about what to work on in the session. We set our intentions for the session and hold space to allow the session to unfold organically with the horses.
Practical Matters Regarding the Session
You will want to wear comfortable clothing that is appropriate for the local climate conditions. Most horses spend at least part of the day out of doors, so you can expect to get a little dirty when you interact with them. You will want to wear washable clothing that you don’t mind getting a little dust or dirt on. It is important to wear safe footwear. This means close-toed boots or shoes, with no high heel.
The ECC exercises are meant to stimulate personal insights and learnings. You may want to bring a notebook with you to record your impressions, ideas, and feelings. Sometimes an apparently random thought in the moment can become a very poignant insight upon later reflection.
Experience learning about yourself by doing.
You will be surprised at the change, as you work with an honest partner, a horse.
Contact me for more information.