We meet you at your growing edge—where comfort ends and learning begins. Sessions are designed to be exploratory, practical, and responsive to you and the horse in the moment. For the deeper philosophy behind “Frontier,” see The Meaning of Frontier.
Frontier EAL
FEAL is Equine Assisted Learning at HorsePower
FEAL stands for Frontier Equine Assisted Leadership, HorsePower's unique flavour of equine assisted learning:
- Frontier refers to how we approach EAL (and much more)
- Leadership (rather than Learning) helps make our focus clear
All together, HorsePower FEAL offers a series of programs designed to support wellness through equine assisted leadership.
In our FEAL programs, the horse is the teacher, working alongside your EAL facilitator. We work with individuals, couples, friends and family, students, teams and organizations, and more. to build leadership and other valuable skills that naturally link along the way.
You will build leadership skills (and, along the way, connected skills such as communication, boundaries, emotional regulation, and teamwork) through real-time feedback from the horse.
It's an approach where you can really FEAL the difference!
Distinct by Design
What Makes FEAL Different?
FEAL blends proven, ground-based Equine Assisted Learning with two defining elements: a Frontier lens and a leadership focus.
Frontier Lens
A Partnership, Not a Performance
The horse is a partner and teacher with agency. Sessions are shaped around consent, clear asks, and mutual respect. No riding—everything happens on the ground.
Real‑Time Feedback
Horses respond immediately to your energy, intention, and body language. You get honest feedback you can adjust to in the moment, supported by your facilitator.
Transfer to Life
What works with the horse (clear signals, congruent action, steady presence) tends to work at home, at work, and in your community. FEAL helps you practise it safely, then apply it.
“Finding out what you don’t like is, paradoxically, as valuable as finding out what you do like.”
Meet Your Teacher
The Horse as Teacher and Partner
In FEAL, the horse is not a prop. They are a sentient partner—and the clearest teacher in the pen.
- You and the horse learn to read one another—approach and retreat, timing and feel, space and pace. You practise asking clearly, listening closely, and adjusting with respect.
- Horses communicate through subtle cues—ears, eyes, breathing, posture, licking/chewing, yawning, head height, and distance. These signals tell you how your energy and intention are landing so you can respond in the moment.
- We centre consent and choice. Horses can say “yes,” “not yet,” or “no,” and we listen. Boundaries go both ways; your job is to lead with clarity while staying responsive to the horse’s state.
- Calm presence matters. When you soften your breath, find your feet, and align intention with action, horses often relax and connect. These moments are simple, grounded, and memorable.
- The horse’s honest, non‑verbal feedback helps you see yourself more clearly—what you project, how you hold boundaries, where you hesitate, and how you recover. Your facilitator helps translate that feedback into practical steps you can use beyond the arena.
FEAL at a Glance
How Sessions Work
Here’s the simple flow you can expect in every FEAL session. It’s paced to you, entirely on the ground, and guided by a trained facilitator so you can focus on learning safely with the horse.
Arrival and Orientation
We begin by setting clear intentions for your session so everyone knows what matters most to you. You’ll have a brief, practical safety overview and a gentle introduction to the horse and the space. You set the pace from the start, and we shape the plan to match your comfort level.
Notice and Settle
Next, we observe the horse’s signals and rhythms so you can tune your attention. Simple grounding helps you arrive in your body—steady breath, relaxed posture, feet on the ground—so you’re ready to connect and lead with clarity.
Main Activity (Tailored to You)
The core of the session is a ground‑based activity with the horse—there is no riding. Depending on your goals, you might explore boundary work, leading with clarity, navigating obstacles, or practising calm under pressure. Throughout, you receive real‑time feedback from the horse, with your facilitator offering guidance and adjustments as you go.
Reflection, Achievement Word, and Integration
We close by debriefing what the horse showed you and how your actions landed. Reflection activities include guided conversation with the facilitator and options for written reflection. You’ll be invited to choose an “achievement word”—one word that summarizes your greatest achievement from the session or captures your AHA moment—and, if you wish, to verbalize or share that AHA with the group or your facilitator. Together we translate those insights into practical next steps you can use in daily life, and, if helpful, agree on light home practices to keep the learning alive between sessions.
Safety and Support Throughout
Your facilitator is with you at every step to maintain a safe, supportive environment. There are clear stop points, and you can pause or opt out at any time. The structure suits complete beginners as well as experienced participants, so you can focus on learning with confidence.
“I define a leader as anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes, and who has the courage to develop that potential.”
