Welcome to SEDA Equine

Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) and Equine Facilitated Therapy (EFT) are approaches that involve interactions with horses to promote emotional growth, learning, and healing. While they sound similar, they serve different purposes.

SEDA Equine offers an intervention which blends equine facilitated learning (EFL), equine facilitated therapy (EFT), with equine  interaction-based groundwork skills (natural horsemanship style); this approach facilitates increased self-awareness, personal and emotional development, increased levels of self-esteem and confidence for the participants.

The work often includes goal-oriented coaching, designed to develop a basic understanding of some horsemanship skills; the work we do will also develop participant's abilities to self-regulate emotions, find clearer ways to communicate, and find a compassionate style of leadership - All the skills used in the sessions are transferable into everyday living.

Blending EFL/EFT with Natural Horsemanship

When EFL/EFT is combined with natural horsemanship, the focus shifts to the relational aspect between the person and the horse, fostering healing and personal development. Here’s how the blend works:

• Trust-building: During these sessions both participants the human and the horse are encouraged to trust one another. Horses are prey animals, so they are naturally cautious. By practicing natural horsemanship principles, the human builds trust with the horse, learning patience and subtle communication.
• Non-verbal communication: Horses respond to body language, tone, and energy, so participants in therapy learn to become more aware of their own non-verbal cues. This helps them improve self-awareness and emotional regulation, which are critical skills in emotional healing.
• Behavioural change: By learning to work with the horse rather than against it, the participant often sees parallels in their own life. For example, if they’re struggling with anxiety, they might learn that a horse responds better to calm energy than to nervous, erratic behaviour. This can be a profound insight that can help them to measure their own reactions and learn how to manage their own emotions.
• Empowerment: As participants develop their skills in natural horsemanship, they develop confidence. The horses’ responses to this confidence serves as immediate feedback— generally if a person approaches a horse in a calm and confident manner, the horse will mirror that behaviour. This can have therapeutic benefits, especially for individuals who struggle with self-esteem or self-doubt.
• Healing through connection: Horses, by nature, are empathetic and non-judgmental. In therapeutic settings, the horse’s instinct to connect emotionally with the person allows a safe space for the participant to process difficult emotions, to heal, and to find new perspectives.

 In a nutshell, blending equine facilitated learning/therapy with natural horsemanship focuses on:

• Horses playing an integral role in facilitating the session – the participant’s challenging emotions and behaviours may come more into focus and can be worked through in a safe space with the facilitator.
• Encouraging more affective, authentic communication, building trust, and respect in a non-dominant way.
• Empowering participants to gain insights into themselves through their interactions with horses.

 learning and healing in a way that emphasises mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and healthy communication.