If you love working with people and horses, becoming an Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) practitioner could be the perfect path for you.
EAL is a unique way of supporting personal growth, leadership, and social emotional learning by partnering with horses in guided experiences. It’s a growing practice in Australia, and with the right training and preparation, you can develop rewarding services for your community.
Backgrounds of EAL Practitioners
Many EAL training students come from a diverse background including teaching, integration aide work, support work, corporate and leadership work, life coaching, executive coaching, community work, youth work and so on!
It’s also valuable to have some experience with horses and/or with people in supportive, educational, or leadership roles. Even if you’re not an experienced horse person, a willingness to learn and a love of horses is essential.
Choosing the Right Training Provider
You’ll need specialised training in Equine Assisted Learning. Look for a training provider that offers hands-on, practical learning as well as solid theoretical, ethical and professional foundations.
In a nutshell, a good course should cover the following and MUCH more –
- Understanding Equine Studies, Equine Behaviour, Ethical Practices with Horses, Safety with Horses
- Specific principles, theory and practice methodology of EAL
- Facilitation, individual and group work skills
- Trauma-informed, ethical and professional standards of practice
- Risk management and safety practices
- Soft and hard contracting, practice management and business basics
- Much more!
Being one of the early pioneers around the world, The Equine and Animal Assisted Psychotherapy Institute offers nationally and internationally renowned EAL training programs designed to help you build both the theoretical understanding and practical skills, and the confidence to begin your EAL services with both structured psycho-educational sessions and process oriented sessions.
Complete Practical Training, Submissions and Supervision
EAL training is both theoretical and highly experiential. You’ll usually take part in training where you learn comprehensive principles, theory and practice for your psychoeducational services with horses. You will learn facilitation skills and learn directly from and with horses, inside and outside of class-time. Assessments or submissions help ensure you’re ready to work safely and ethically and give you an opportunity to develop reflective practice, an essential skill of any good EAL practitioner.
Supervision, support and mentoring is also an important part of the process. Learning alongside experienced practitioners, trainers and/or supervisors allows you to refine your skills, reflect on your practice, and grow in confidence over time.
Meet Completion, Certification and Safety Requirements
After you have completed your education and training, if you want to work with child clients, you’ll need a current Working With Children Check (or Blue Card in some states). Additionally you will be required to complete your First Aid and CPR certificate before beginning practice. You will require Public liability insurance and Professional indemnity insurance to cover your work in equine assisted learning or equine facilitated learning. You can join a professional body, such as the International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT), once trained and awarded your certificate, which can provide insurance options and additional professional support.
Develop Your Practice with Supervision
While completing your training, you’ll need to conduct a number of EAL sessions to consolidate your learning and complete certificate requirements. Many courses require you to log and submit these sessions and participate in supervision. Supervision helps develop and refine your knowledge into real-world skills and practice.
A Rewarding Path
Equine Assisted Learning practitioners play an important role in helping people discover new strengths, build confidence, receive support and learn in ways that go far beyond the classroom. By combining your love of horses with professional training, you’ll be able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
If you’re ready to take the next step, explore the training opportunities at the Equine and Animal Assisted Psychotherapy Institute. Our EAL training is designed for people who want to bring together their passion for horses with meaningful work that truly changes lives.
More about EAAPI
Horses offer a unique kind of change and healing. Be part of a global community of dedicated professionals who feel called to work deeply and authentically with horses.
- Online LIVE via zoom classes Mar-Dec 2026 & Self-paced Online Options
- Trauma-informed, somatic-focused, and relationally oriented
- Leading Equine Assisted Learning training, world-wide!
- Get the professional insurance you need completing our course
- Bonus: receive our Signature Horse Wisdom Program to use with your clients