The EAHAE E-Book, titled “Equine AHA! Experience: On Theory & Praxis of Horse Assisted Education”, is a rich and inspiring collection of essays, case studies, and personal reflections that capture the essence and depth of Horse Assisted Education (HAE). Produced by the EAHAE International Association for Horse Assisted Education, it introduces readers to the transformative power of working with horses in leadership training, personal development, and organizational change.
Key Themes and Insights:
1. The Power of the Horse in Human Learning
Horses serve as non-judgmental mirrors, reflecting human behavior with honesty and immediacy. This feedback helps participants become more authentic, aware, and emotionally intelligent. They respond not to titles or roles, but to presence, clarity, and congruence.
2. Authentic Leadership & Self-Discovery
- Alyssa Aubrey emphasizes authenticity through the “I AM” model, describing how horses respond to our true selves—not the masks we wear.
- Horses naturally strip away pretenses, encouraging leaders to reconnect with their core values.
3. Emotional Learning & Integral Development
- Dr. Barbara Gorsler shares how horses complement traditional leadership seminars by fostering emotional insight and behavioral change.
- Real-life example: A shy banking professional, Lukas, learns assertiveness through horse interaction, gaining confidence and leadership presence.
4. Real-Life Transformation Stories
- Barbara Rector recounts how her horse, Brown, helped her recognize subtle communication and healing needs.
- David Harris illustrates how a participant’s realization of inauthentic behavior triggered profound emotional shifts through simple, unscripted interaction with a horse.
5. Large-Scale Applications & Organizational Change
- HorseDream trainers facilitated a surprise session for nearly 100 managers in a German car manufacturer’s leadership workshop—with strong emotional impact and long-lasting reflections.
- Gerhard J. Krebs explains how Horse Assisted Appreciative Inquiry and Integral HorseMapping are used in change management and corporate development.
6. How to Build a Business in Horse Assisted Education
- Traditional marketing doesn’t work for this field.
- Authentic connection, trust, and word-of-mouth are essential to building a client base.
- Emphasis on experiential impact over verbal persuasion.
The HorseDream Approach:
At the core is “reduction to essentials”—using the help of horses to bring people back to presence, simplicity, and clarity. Leadership is not taught but experienced, in a powerful, non-verbal way. Horses invite transformation by simply being themselves.
