Equine Assisted Coaching

What is equine assisted life coaching?

Equine assisted life coaching is a hands on, ground based experience where you work alongside horses to grow in clarity, confidence, and presence. Because horses live fully in the moment and respond to your energy and body language, they give you honest, judgment free feedback that often leads to powerful aha moments and lasting change.

Is this the same as equine therapy or horse therapy?

Not quite, and the difference matters. What we offer is coaching and learning, not clinical therapy. The biggest distinction is that life coaching does not involve clinical processing of past trauma. If you are looking to process a past event with a licensed therapist, we offer equine assisted counseling as a separate service and are glad to point you there.

Do I ride the horses?

No. There is no riding involved. Everything happens on the ground, in the space where the horses live, work, and play. You do not need any horse experience to take part.

Who is equine coaching a good fit for?

It tends to resonate with professionals facing burnout, people navigating a big life transition, teens and young adults building confidence, and anyone who feels more like themselves around animals or in nature. It is also a welcoming option for people who feel done with traditional talk therapy but still want real, present focused growth.

What happens in a session?

Sessions are guided by our equine specialist and built around what you want to work on. You take part in on the ground activities with the horses, and your facilitator helps you connect what shows up with the horses to patterns in your own life, so you leave with practical insight you can use right away.

Can equine coaching help with anxiety, stress, or burnout?

Many people find working with horses calming and grounding, and our coaching is popular for stress relief, burnout, and building confidence and emotional regulation. It is a personal growth experience rather than mental health treatment, so if you are dealing with a clinical concern, we are glad to connect you with one of our licensed therapists instead.

Is this right for me if I am in crisis?

These sessions are not designed for crisis support. If you are in crisis or need to work through a mental health concern, please reach out so we can connect you with the right level of care, including our licensed therapists.

Where does equine coaching take place?

Sessions are held in person at The Hope Place on our 10 acres in Mansfield, Texas, with an accessible walking trail and a round pen for activities. Because it is an outdoor, in person experience with the horses, it is not offered online.

Who leads the equine sessions?

Your sessions are facilitated by Stephanie Kimmel, our equine specialist, who is certified in Equine Facilitated Learning. She offers private sessions and classes, and also serves as the equine expert in equine assisted counseling sessions alongside a licensed therapist.

Which horses will I work with?

You will likely meet Reno and Mo. Reno joined The Hope Place in 2018 to help nurture and heal others, and Mo is our pony. Neither is trained to perform. They simply stay present with you and reflect what is happening in the moment, without judgment.

How much does it cost and how do I book?

Equine coaching is private pay, and private sessions are generally $150, with classes also available. Sessions are by appointment only, and you can see current options and book through our scheduling page.

Equine Assisted Life Coaching at The Hope Place

Horses live in the present. They respond to energy, intention, and nonverbal communication. Working with them allows you to practice showing up clearly, honestly, and grounded in your truth. This creates powerful "aha" moments and lasting personal change.

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Life Coaching Experience with Horses at The Hope Place

Ideal Clients for Equine-Assisted Coaching

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  1. Professionals experiencing burnout
    – Looking for grounding, stress relief, and a renewed sense of purpose without traditional talk therapy.

  2. Women in transition
    – Navigating divorce, career changes, empty nesting, or identity shifts; seeking clarity and direction.

  3. Teens and young adults
    – Struggling with confidence, social anxiety, or emotional regulation in a non-clinical setting.

  4. Spiritual seekers
    – Wanting a deeper connection to themselves and something greater, often open to symbolism and intuition.

  5. People who are “therapy done” or therapy hesitant
    – They don’t want to dig into the past, but want practical, embodied growth in the present.

  6. Leaders and entrepreneurs
    – Looking to develop emotional intelligence, presence, and nonverbal leadership skills.

  7. Highly sensitive people or empaths
    – Drawn to experiential, sensory-rich, nonverbal insight work that honors intuition.

  8. Clients who love animals or nature
    – They already feel more regulated or “themselves” outside or around animals.

A wide open field with scattered trees under a partly cloudy sky, with a house visible in the distance.

It can get a little confusing trying to understand how equine assisted learning differs from equine assisted counseling and psychotherapy. The most important distinction is the 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 in equine assisted learning. The facilitator will refer you to a therapist if they recognize your need to process a past event. The class is structured to help you learn new skills moving forward. EAL does not involve riding the horse. It is on the ground activities in the space where the horses live, work, and play.

These classes are not appropriate if you are in crisis.

What it is not.

Book Your Private Session

Horses willingly teach us when we come ready to listen and learn.

If you’re searching for equine assisted counseling that involves processing with a therapist, please go here instead.

Meet the Facilitator

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Stephanie Kimmel, Equine Specialist - Certified in Equine Facilitated Learning

Stephanie Kimmel noticed personal benefits while working with horses, and combined with her training and knowledge began to pursue a way to help others learn through communication and interaction with horses. Horses are herd, prey animals that communicate through body language, breath, and sound. They are always in the moment, and they can teach us how to do the same when we’re open to learning. Stephanie provides both private EAL sessions and Classes. She is also the equine expert in the equine assisted counseling sessions in conjunction with a licensed therapist.

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Meet the Horses

Black horse standing on a wooden porch next to a rustic log cabin with a stone foundation, with a white horse grazing nearby outdoors on a sunny day.

Reno

Reno is one of the horses at The Hope Place that partners with us to provide equine therapy and mindful horsemanship. Reno was donated to our program in 2018 because his owner believed he could help nurture and heal others. Unlike you may think, Reno is not trained to do the activities you may do with him. He is simply being in the moment with you, and communicating with you about that moment without judgement or ambition.

A small cream-colored horse standing on a dry grassy field with tall pine trees in the background and a wooden log structure nearby.

Mo

Mo is the pony you see at The Hope Place. He was previously a kid pony. The size difference between Reno and Mo helps to change things up a bit.

 

We’re online and in Mansfield, TX.

Hours
Monday–Saturday
By Appointment Only

FAQ
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