Can people just drop by Thunderbird Ridge?
EQUUS Experience® sessions and our other programs are by appointment only. Because of the nature of our work, and that we are often engaged with other clients, we do NOT accept drop-ins.
Can I ride your horses?
No riding is involved and we do not put people on the horses at any time.
Is it equine therapy?
The EQUUS Experience® is ‘Equine Integrated Learning’ and is not therapy. It is about learning, discovery and creating new practical ways to live and lead. The horses reflect who you are, and how you show up, absent the story you might tell yourself about that. This liberates potential and possibilities to enhance a fulfilling life and / or career.
Who do you serve?
We work with individuals, couples, families, professionals, and groups of all kinds.
Is it safe? And what if I am afraid of horses?
EQUUS Experience® horses are highly trained and very respectful of their human counterparts. Many clients first walk into the paddocks being very afraid of horses, and emerge with a deeper understanding of that fear and how to work with it, and a herd of new equine friends!
How long is a session?
We offer two-hour and half-day sessions. We also offer deep dive private retreats for a half-day, up to three days. These longer engagements use other processes, in addition to the horses, to inspire life-changing experiences.
Can I do a session today?
Advance notice is preferred, but last minute sessions can sometimes be booked.
Is there an age requirement?
Minimum age: 12. Younger children may participate with adult supervision and as pre-arranged.
Where are you located?
On site at Four Seasons at Thunderbird Ridge, our learning campus. We are literally a two minute drive away, or a seven minute walk away (on a lovely scenic well-marked trail that goes door to door).
What happens during a session?
Each session is custom-designed to meet the specific needs of the client, and so there is not ‘one way’ that it looks. But basically, people are engaging with either the entire herd, or one horse at a time using various forms of ‘groundwork’ exercises. They are accompanied by a skilled facilitator who is trained in the discipline of human development and learning, and this facilitator uses inquiry processes to assist in the insights and learning.
What are some of the things you explore?
- Leadership and right use of power
- Trust in ones self and others
- Creating conditions for thriving
- Mindfulness and presence
- Boundaries
- Connection to your authentic self and your purpose
- Accessing wisdom to inform your actions
- How to inspire others
- The power of intention
- Tapping into intuition and creativity
- Creating healthier relationships
- How to attune to others
- The art of regulating stress in yourself and others
What are some of the healing benefits of The EQUUS Experience®?
The EQUUS Experience® works with the confluence of neuroscience, attachment theory, radical self-inquiry and equine behavioral sciences to create breakthrough learning experiences that literally rewire participants brains towards wellness, fulfillment, confidence and courage. This results in peoples’ lives changing, whether it be within the context of their work or their personal life. Clients report that they feel greater awareness, increased trust in themselves and others, a deeper sense of purpose and meaning, and clearer direction informed by wisdom.
Are the horses really engaging, or is this just our imagination?
All of our work is based in the rigorous science of horse behavioral science. We do not anthropomorphize them, nor project stories upon them. Our horses are diligently engaged with daily through riding and groundwork that inspires them to be free-thinking, respectful, partnering and opinionated. Not every horse makes a good EQUUS horse. We enlist horses that are spirited, special, keen to engage with people, and equipped to be robust and opinionated partners in facilitation.
Are there pre-requisites such as knowing how to ride a horse that must be met before taking part in the program?
There are no prerequisites. No riding is involved, no horse experience necessary. This is not about the horse; it is about the individual person, group or team, and what they want to learn.
Why do you work with horses to teach people about themselves?
As horses are animals of prey they have acute sensitivity to all influences around them. They mirror these influences in very specific and direct ways. This makes them trustworthy reflections of what is really at work underneath the story we might tell ourselves, or the qualities about ourselves that may be hidden.
