As EA coaches, Disability Awareness is ESSENTIAL! The mini-course in the Classroom will give you an overview of what that means in practice. The information refers to the legal requirements in the Republic of Ireland, so please check what's required in your location. Watch this space for a more in-depth accredited version

Introducing 'A Playful Guide to Horse Archetypes' Imagination, curiosity, and ethical equine-assisted personal development combined. This short course is a fun, creative exploration of how horses can appear as characters in a client’s unfolding story during equine-assisted personal development sessions. Before we begin, here’s an important Horses Connect reminder: This is a playful tool. It’s not science, psychology, or behaviour interpretation. We never ‘read’ horses or assign meaning to their behaviour. We do not analyse the horse or the client. We do not symbolise or interpret emotional states. Instead, we: honour the horse as a sentient being stay firmly in the personal-development lane support client agency and imagination let story lead, not analysis celebrate curiosity + creativity Archetypes in this course are simply light, imaginative invitations to notice how a horse’s presence, movement, or stillness can shape a moment, just like characters shape a scene in a story. Because sometimes… - a calm horse can represent an Anchor - a curious one can represent an Explorer - a watchful one can represent a Sentinel - a wandering one can represent a Space-Maker - a steady presence can represent a Companion And sometimes the most meaningful thing is: ‘They’re just being themselves, and that’s enough.’ This course gives you: ✅ A playful, ethical creative tool ✅ Story-based prompts that avoid interpretation ✅ Language that keeps you in your lane as an Equine-assisted Personal Development Coach# ✅ Ways to invite imagination and possibility ✅ A gentle method to your own deepen presence and awareness Who this is for - Equine-assisted personal development coaches - Horses Connect trainees & CPD learners - Anyone who loves imagination, horses, and ethical facilitation Who this is not for - People looking for psychological meaning or symbolism - Anyone wanting to analyse horse behaviour or client emotions - Therapeutic interpretation approaches Our mantra for this course:

We're often asked to explain the seemingly unexplainable effect that simply being around horses has on people - especially those with anxiety, or neurodivergence. While the research is scant, and most of the evidence is anecdotal and experiential, we've put together a short article to help you answer that question - for yourself, or your clients 🙂

For thousands of years, horses have stood alongside humans. They have shaped our societies, cultures, and even our myths. They ploughed our fields, carried us into battle, pulled our carts, and gave us speed long before the invention of engines. Ancient civilisations revered the horse not only as a work animal but as a symbol of power, freedom, and partnership. Today, most of us no longer depend on horses for daily work. Instead, we have the opportunity to meet them in a new way, not as tools or transport, but as teachers. When we move away from the concept of horses as functional tools and meet them as sentient beings they offer us something extraordinary: the chance to learn about our true selves. Why Groundwork is the Classroom Riding has traditionally been the most visible way of interacting with horses. From the saddle, we direct where the horse goes, how fast, and in what outline. While (at best) this can be a dance of harmony, it stems from the human setting the agenda. Interacting with a horse on the ground changes everything. On the ground, we meet the horse at eye level. We step into their space, not to control, but to connect, listen and understand. We are all on our feet, connected to the earth, sharing the same physical plane. This reminds us that we, like the horse, are part of nature, and invites us to be present, steady, and rooted in the moment. Here, the horse sets the pace of the interaction. They show us, through their honest, moment-to-moment responses, who we are and how we are showing up. What Horses Teach Us Eye to Eye 1. Authenticity and Presence Horses live entirely in the present. They don’t dwell on yesterday or plan tomorrow. When we step into their space distracted or tense, they notice immediately. Their response teaches us to return to presence, regulate our energy, and meet them in the here and now. 2. Self-Awareness Horses are mirrors. They reflect our emotions, energy, and intentions with complete honesty and no judgement. If we are anxious, they may not want to engage. If we are calm and centred, they are more likely to soften and connect. This gives us real-time feedback about what we are feeling and the energy we are giving - even when we haven’t yet named it ourselves.