Equine Assisted Services (EAS):
a term that encompasses various activities and therapies involving horses and humans, such as Equine Assisted Learning, Equine Assisted Coaching, Horsemanship, and Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.
Equine Assisted Learning (EAL)
Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is a hands-on, experiential approach facilitated by certified professionals, where participants engage in ground-based (unmounted) interactions with horses. This non-therapy method is designed to support those who serve and have served—military personnel, veterans, first responders, and their families—through three key service areas:
Education – strengthening life skills such as communication, emotional regulation, and personal responsibility in youth and adults within service families.
Organizational Development – providing effective team-building and leadership experiences for first responder units, military teams, peer support groups, and more.
Personal Development – creating space for individual growth, improved self-awareness, and relationship-building through supportive reflection and interaction with horses.
Rather than focusing on riding, EAL emphasizes connection, trust, and adaptability—meeting participants where they are, and helping them move forward with clarity and confidence.
Horsemanship
Our program emphasizes groundwork as the essential first step in horsemanship—before ever considering the saddle. We believe that true connection and leadership with a horse begins on the ground, where trust is earned, not assumed.
Participants begin with groundwork and equine partnership exercises that foster confidence, self-awareness, and adaptability. These unmounted sessions help develop core horsemanship skills while creating a safe environment for both the horse and human to learn from each other.
By focusing on non-verbal communication, boundaries, and mutual respect, groundwork builds a strong foundation for riding—if and when the time is right. Through observation and hands-on practice, participants engage in real-time reflection that sharpens decision-making, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities.
Whether you’re brand new to horses or returning after time away, our inclusive, supportive environment ensures each participant builds comfort and competence in handling, leading, and connecting with horses—all starting from the ground up.
As part of our Equine-Assisted Coaching (EAC) and Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) approach, these experiences are intentionally structured to promote growth in communication, leadership, and self-awareness through active, experiential engagement—without the need for mounted work.
We offer a progressive two-part program:
“Beyond the Saddle” – an 8-week unmounted course focused on groundwork, personal development, and equine partnership.
“Ride with Purpose” – an 8-week mounted horsemanship course for those who have completed Beyond the Saddle and are ready to deepen their connection and apply their learning in the saddle.
Equine Assisted Coaching (EAC)
EAC is a forward-focused, experiential approach led by certified coaches, where participants engage in ground-based (unmounted) sessions with horses to explore leadership, resilience, communication, and clarity in real-time.
This non-therapy method is uniquely designed to support military service members, veterans, first responders, and their families, using the horse-human partnership to surface insights, identify blind spots, and strengthen personal and professional growth.
At the heart of EAC is a structured process that promotes clarity and transformation:
Engage → Experience → Reflect → Apply
Engage with the present moment and the task at hand
Experience real-time feedback through the horse’s honest, nonverbal responses
Reflect on what’s happening and how your choices affect the outcome
Apply those insights to future decisions, relationships, and leadership situations—both in and beyond the arena
Participants are guided through purposeful exercises designed to:
Recognize patterns and build new strategies
Improve communication and presence under pressure
Navigate stress, change, and conflict with more awareness
Strengthen relationships through trust and accountability
There is no riding involved—the work happens from the ground, where truth meets transformation.
Leatherworking Experiences
Leatherworking at Mended Sparrow is a hands-on, skill-based experience that supports focus, patience, and craftsmanship through working with natural materials. Participants learn foundational leatherworking techniques while creating practical items in a calm, structured environment.
The process is highly tactile and accessible, allowing individuals of varying abilities — including those who are visually impaired — to participate fully through touch, sound, and hands-on engagement.
This process encourages attention to detail, problem-solving, and steady engagement — qualities that translate directly into everyday life, leadership, and personal growth. Like our equine programs, leatherworking offers a tangible way to slow down, build confidence, and experience accomplishment through purposeful work.
Teambuilding
