The Equine Guided Education Certification Program

Founded in 1998 by Ariana Strozzi, pioneer in the Horse as Healer/Teacher Profession since 1980’s. Endorsed by the Equine Guided Education Association

Proven Success: Our certified EGE go on to run successful Equine Guided programs around the world

Quality Education: Small classes with experienced teachers and staff. You wont’ get lost in the crowd

Supportive Environment: Ongoing Mentoring available when you need it during and after the program

Community Support: Upon Completion become an Associate of the Equine Guided Education Association

Financially Feasible: Investing in your education, knowledge, experience and wisdom is smart

The Equine Guided Education Certification Program is for new and seasoned professionals. It is valuable for people just entering the horse as healer/teacher’ profession and for professionals who are already incorporating horses into their offers.

We know from experience that to incorporate horses into your professional offer requires additional education. Bringing horses into educational and learning models, creates a whole new set of complexities and unknowns. Avoid the 4-6 years that it will take you to develop your experience independently.

Our certification program will give you the confidence, knowledge and experience required to incorporate horses into your professional offer. We teach you how to think, how to trust yourself and your horses, and how to navigate in a wide variety of situations.

For new people coming into this field, you do not have to know exactly how you plan to incorporate horses into your work in order to enter our certification program. You will gain that clarity during the program and upon completion have a concrete sense of how you want to incorporate horses into your offer. We will also help you determine what continuing education you need to be successful and confident in your work.

For seasoned professionals, avoid the-4-6 year learning curve it will take for you to figure this work out on your own. If you have already received training in the EAGALA or EPONA models, this program will expand on what you already know and continue to develop your skill and competency.

Participants of the certification program come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experience. Our goal is to encourage you to expand on your existing skills as well as learn new skills. We are not focused on one particular methodology, but rather on the universal application of what horses can offer to healing and teaching models. You will be able to retain your current terminology and methods with an expanded vocabulary, understanding and knowledge of horses, humans and the learning process.

Because this is a learning-by-doing program you will not only learn how to incorporate horses into your offer you will come away with clear goals, a plan of action for your business plan, confidence and new perspectives on horse/human nature, life and learning.

One important component that makes our Equine Guided Education Program unique is that we incorporate the somatic (non-verbal) underpinnings that make this work possible. We focus on developing your ability to observe, recognize, and articulate the non-verbal/body language dynamics of the horse(s), yourself as the facilitator (translator) and your client.

The certification program is comprised of EGE-1 (a 5 day class) and EGE-2 (2 week class with weekends off). You can take the EGE-1 and EGE-2 back to back or, if you cannot do the 3 week program at once, it can be split into 2 parts. A phone or personal interview is required for the EGE program. Class generally goes from Monday through Friday each week, and weekends are days off. Cost of program includes continental breakfast and lunch during class days.

To schedule your interview email us at:

What You Will Learn

Intuitive Horsemanship™:

· The universal principles of horsemanship that allow this work to be possible
· Horse psychology-social, hierarchal herd structure
· Body language and how the horse deals with energy
· Leading by following vs. command and control
· The appropriate use of pressure
· Herd dynamics
· Identifying the horse's emotional state and willingness to relate
· Demystifying the predator/prey issue
· The intuitive quality of horses
· Working with horses with authentic presence as opposed to tool-based commands
· The importance of being able to read energy
· Shifting from traditional horsemanship models to EGE or EAP<

Equine Experiential Exercises
(How, when and why they are applicable to human development)
· Herd Dynamics-the archetype of the horse, symbology, leadership, etc.
· Passive observation exercises
· Energy Awareness Techniques
· Passive vs. Active processes
· Communication through non-verbal language
· Becoming part of the herd-listening to self, others, and energy fields
· Round pen-passive exercise, reflection, inquiry
· Leading the horse in hand-Extension, attention, vision, looking ahead
· Centering Practices
· On horseback-Allowing yourself to receive, listen to your body
· Grooming as a self-care practice
· Lunging-commitment, action, knowing what you care about
· Team Games-interactive group exercises
· Painting horses and other art activities-creativity, imagination, mythical, etc.
· Constellations
· Medicine Wheel
· Plus others…

Facilitation Concepts:
· Providing a non-judgmental and optimistic approach to learning
· Understanding the phases of creating change and learning
· Understanding group dynamics
· Creating a supportive learning environment for a variety of situations
· Develop your sense of timing, when to interpret
· Developing your intuition and listening skills
· Interpreting and articulating horses responses
· Reading body language and incongruence in story and action
· Knowing when to enter into challenging areas and when to hold back
· Grounding interpretations in somatic feedback and body language
· Staying centered on the goals of the client
· Working with fear and judgment
· Developing personal skills for staying focused and centered during intense interactions
· Knowing when to use what exercises and why
· Balance of positive feedback and honest reflection
· Somatic concepts of Energy, Center, Extension, Balance, Authenticity
· Knowing your boundaries and competency in deeper personal work
· Biological perspective of being human and being an animal
· The power of seeing student/client from phenomena-based point of view
· Importance of knowing how to work with aggressive behavior and incongruent situations
· Differences between coaching and psychotherapy
· Choosing facilities and horses
· Business and curriculum development

The Equine Guided Educator creates an experiential, supportive learning environment for participants to learn about themselves, heal what has been broken, and re-connect to what has heart and meaning through interactive experiences with horses. He/she allows the horse to 'guide' the process of learning, reflecting and exploration.

He/she combines the process of kinesthetic learning and cognitive reflection in relation to the student's/client's mental, physical, spiritual, emotional and social well being. Through the process of evaluating an individual's current patterns of behavior, perceptions, and performance, the Equine Guided Educator encourages the student/client towards a healthy self-image and supports the exploration of new practices for achieving personal and/or professional goals.

The Equine Guided Educator guides his/her students/clients through a learning process that is centered on their ambitions and goals for the future. He/she assists his/her students/clients in refining their gifts and creating environments in which they can thrive. He/she facilitates the student's/client's growth and learning through experiential exercises with horses.

The horse, in this process, literally 'guides' the student/client and the Educator by revealing inner states of mind and physical energetic states of presence. The noun "guide" means "someone who can find paths through unexplored territory." The Equine Guided Educator as 'Educator' cultivates the integration of mind/body/spirit through experiential learning practices.

The combination of the Educator and the Equine Guide offers unique, impactful, experiential exercises geared towards developing people's self knowledge and self-responsibility. Some common learning schemas include:
· Identifying and developing the student/client ambitions and aspirations
· Developing the ability to stay focused on goals
· Enhancing communication and negotiation skills
· Encouraging self confidence and self-esteem
· Assisting the process of developing trust with the oneself and others
· Learning how to listen to and respect one's intuition and sixth sense
· Building effective relationship and interactive practices
· Uncovering old stories and behaviors that are no longer effective
· Developing new stories and behaviors relevant to goals and objectives

The Equine Guided Educator understands how to allow the horse to reflect each student's/client's unique strategies and presentations in such a way that the student/client can receive this often intense feedback in a supportive process. Leveraging the process of 'learning by doing' (experiential) integrated with the horse's natural wisdom and healing presence assists the Educator in encouraging the student/client to accept responsibility for their own learning and behavior.

The word "Experience" is defined as the state or extent of being engaged in a particular study or work; developing knowledge, skill or technique resulting from experience; the sum total of the conscious events which compose an individual life as observed facts and events in contrast with what is supplied by thought.

Effective learning occurs when the student/client engages in some activity, reflects upon the activity, derives useful insight from the analysis, and incorporates the result through a change in understanding and/or behavior. As Lao Tzu once quoted, "You cannot learn from a good book, because a book will not tell you what you do not want to hear."

What are the Ethical Reasons to Become Certified?

The unique and profound opportunities of bringing horses to people for the sake of growth and learning is both exciting and serious. Horses can become unpredictable around incongruent emotions and energies within their environment in a way that even an experienced horseperson cannot anticipate.

While a person may be competent with horses and/or human development, incorporating the two requires a whole new set of competencies. It is important to respect the horses and humans as sensate beings, each with their own unique perspective. The safety of the horse and human-emotionally, physically and spiritually-is an important and sensitive matter.

To make this amazing process accessible to the public it is important that we collaborate and learn together to develop a consistent industry standard. It is also important to respect what experts in the field who are committed to developing this discourse have already learned. The more that we learn from each other and share our experiences, the more Equine Guided Education will develop and flourish as a respectable and important part of human learning and growth.

While some professionals may have extensive horsemanship and coaching skills, the EGE process creates a whole new paradigm for learning. While the EGE process is unique and profound, it can also complex and unpredictable. A complete paradigm shift in consciousness and learning takes place. An EGE professional needs to be skilled in recognizing even the slightest shifts in states of mind and energetic responses in the horse, human and environment at any given moment. It is essential to have experience or knowledge in the EGE process before attempting to facilitate the process. Even for professionals with extensive horsemanship skills, one must unlearn many of the horsemanship skills they have been taught in order for EGE to be successful. This makes the certification program relevant to all professionals.

Horse Human Competency

A certified Equine Guided Educator demonstrates through curriculum vitae and enrollment in an Equine Guided Education program that he/she has studied to be either the horse specialist, human specialist, or both. An individual who does not already have extensive equine or human development skill should not expect to become competent to work with people and horses on the certification program alone. For example, a horse trainer who completes the certification program can become an Equine Guided Educator who is competent as an equine specialist. A certified coach who attends the certification program can become an Equine Guided Educator who is competent as a human development specialist.

A person who does not have certified experience in horses or human development needs to take on additional learning in either the human or horse component. We can help you make those choices in your professional development. You do not have to have other credentials first, as this program will help you gain clarity on the type of work you want to do and the skills you want to develop.

Because of the inherent risks involved with equine activities it is essential that an experienced equine specialist be present at any process in which a student/client is near or around horses. If the Equine Guided Educator is not a horse expert, then he/she needs to partner with someone who is. Even with an equine specialist present the Equine Guided Educator needs to have some experience with horses. He/she needs to be comfortable around horses and understands the basic safety issues associated with horses. Ideally the equine specialist should also be an Equine Guided Educator, and at a minimum should have some personal experience in EGE.

EGE-1

Week 1 is a live public program focused on refining goals, re-connecting to one’s purpose and life calling and making new plans about personal and professional endevours. This allows the EGE student to experience an actual program. In addition, the EGE student engages in the process of learning and developing their goals. Week one establishes all of the principles required to understand the process of growth and learning including what stops learning and what enhances learning. It also focuses on the biological aspects of both humans and horses and sets the foundational principles required to understand and facilitate the EGE process.

Topics Covered in EGE-1 Include:

· Stages of Learning
· Process of Making Change
· Developing an Authentic Presence
· Identifying Patterns of Behavior and Thought
· Bringing forward imagination and possibility
· Intuition and body wisdom
· Understanding and working with fear and judgment
· Armoring and inhibited chi
· Mood and attitudes that open and close possibility
· Re-evaluating core values and ethics
· Horse communication
· Herd dynamics
· Energy of communication
· 9 principles of leadership
· Building relationships
· Building trust
· Phases of action
· Skill sets of a business owner
· Connecting to the natural world
· Refining your goals and plans for your personal life and profession

EGE-2:

Week 2 and 3 focus on developing each participant’s particular style of facilitation, while gaining further clarity on the EGE process, exercises that each participant plans to utilize, and goals and plans for incorporating EGE into one’s professional offer. During this program we encourage each individual to refine their own voice, expand on their existing skills, and develop the facilitation skills necessary to incorporate horses into the learning process. Participants will practice leading EGE sessions throughout the 2 weeks cumulating with a 1-day public program that the EGE students will plan, prepare and deliver.

The program also includes further studies in Somatics and how to read and articulate body language which is a fundamental aspect of EGE work. participant will learn how to read the horse, the participant and how to translate what the horses are reflecting in an effective way.

Topics Covered Include:

· Developing your facilitation style
· Refine your feedback to have maximum effect
· Developing and maintaining your presence during coaching/teaching
· Maintaining beginning, middle and end of sessions
· Knowing when to choose what exercises
· Holding a space for learning and possibility for change
· Identifying core issues
· Developing ability to work with principles that were set forth in week 1
· Designing curriculum
· Implementing a programs to the public
· Gain clarity on type of people you want to work with
· Determine type of programs and themes you want to offer
· Evaluating horses for EGE work
· Understanding differences between coaching and therapy
· Learn to articulate the EGE process, it’s value and importance
· Working with group dynamics
· Develop your listening skills and sense of timing
· The universal principles of horsemanship that allow this work to be possible
· Horse psychology-social, hierarchal herd structure
· Body language and how the horse deals with energy
· Herd dynamics
· Identifying the horse's emotional state and willingness to relate
· Understanding the predator/prey dynamic
· Horses as mirrors
· Understanding the difference between horsemanship models and EGE

Application Process

Please fill out the application or call us to set up an interview at 707-876-1908 or email
Please see the calendar page at SkyHorseRanch.com or www.egea.info for class dates and cost.