Equine Facilitated Learning
Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) involves working with horses on the ground through a range of passive and active activities that support the cultivation of key skills and qualities that promote emotional and mental wellbeing.
As highly intelligent prey animals that naturally live in complex social groups, horses have evolved to be acutely attuned to both their own needs and the needs of their herd for survival. During an EFL session, the facilitator and young person become part of the herd, entering a space of presence and sensitivity naturally held by horses. Horses are highly sensitive to what our bodies are communicating and read our physical and emotional behaviour just as they do each other’s. Their reflection of this information back to us is the foundation of EFL’s powerful healing potential.
Horses’ unbreakable connection to the present moment and sensitivity to what is arising there can bring unconscious emotions, beliefs, and behaviours into awareness for the facilitator and young person to explore together. Awareness is the precursor to all healing and change. When coupled with compassion, this awareness provides the space to explore these emotions, beliefs, and behaviours. This supports the young person in learning about themselves and the way they relate to the world at their own pace.
Our approach to EFL focuses on working with what arises in the present moment with playfulness, acceptance, curiosity, and empathy. This is known as the PACE approach developed by Daniel Hughes. This works to foster self-compassion and self-confidence in the young person and which is the foundation for creating positive changes in wellbeing over time.
Find out more on our approach here:
Our Approach
OUR WORK
the service
Our service supports children and young people experiencing mental and emotional distress by bringing together humans and horses in an environment that fosters healing, learning and growth. Through mindfully guided sessions, individuals engage with our herd in ways that promote self-awareness, emotional regulation and wellbeing — all within a supportive and non-judgmental environment.
efl
Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) works in partnership with the natural sensitivity and authenticity of horses to enable powerful learning experiences. Horses are experts at providing immediate and authentic feedback. Exploring this feedback with the support of an EFL practitioner allows individuals to recognise patterns, develop new skills, and create meaningful change in their lives.
Policies
Our comprehensive policies reflect our proactive approach to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all participants, staff, and horses at Amy’s Trust. These policies provide the framework for upholding our professional, legally compliant charitable EFL provision of the highest integrity. This enables everyone to benefit fully from the healing environment we work to create.
Amy's trust CIO 