Three Pathways of Equine-Assisted Healing

Therapeutic Riding, EAGALA, and Equine-Assisted EMDR in the Year of the Fire Horse

The Year of the Fire Horse invites momentum, intuition, and transformation—qualities that mirror the horse’s natural ability to support regulation, awareness, and adaptive change. In equine-assisted therapy, these qualities are not symbolic alone; they are experienced through rhythm, movement, and relationship.

Although the term equine therapy is often used broadly, there are distinct pathways within equine-assisted work. In our practice, we offer three differentiated approaches: Therapeutic Riding, Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAGALA), and Equine-Assisted EMDR. Each pathway is grounded in safety, collaboration, and respect for the nervous system.

Therapeutic riding sessions are clinically informed, individualized, and regulation-focused, integrating horse movement with mental health support. Sessions are facilitated by a two-person team:

• A professional horse trainer serving as the equine specialist, responsible for horse selection, behavior monitoring, and physical safety
• A certified equine mental health professional with advanced training in equine-assisted EMDR

This model is not adaptive riding, PATH programming, or riding instruction. While horsemanship skills may occur incidentally, the primary focus is therapeutic engagement, nervous system regulation, and adaptive responding.

Session Length & Fees

• 60 minutes: $150
• 90 minutes: $200

Session length is determined collaboratively based on therapeutic goals, participant capacity, and tolerance for somatic and emotional activation.

Therapeutic Components

Therapeutic riding sessions may include mounted and unmounted activities, intentionally selected to support regulation and embodiment. A core element woven throughout sessions is E.Qi bilateral resourcing, which supports:

• Nervous system stabilization
• Interoceptive awareness
• Grounding and orientation
• Increased adaptive capacity

E.Qi bilateral resourcing may be facilitated through:

• Rhythmic mounted movement
• Alternating movement patterns
• Coordinated leading or walking alongside the horse
• Tactile and sensory-based bilateral input

These interventions are EMDR-informed but not protocol-driven. They emphasize safety, rhythm, and attunement, aligning with the Fire Horse’s steady power rather than performance or exposure-based outcomes.

EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) is a ground-based equine-assisted psychotherapy model delivered by a licensed mental health professional and an equine specialist working together as a team.

In EAGALA sessions:

• All work is unmounted
• Horses function as part of the therapeutic environment
• Sessions emphasize observation, metaphor, boundaries, and relational dynamics
• Meaning emerges through experience rather than instruction

Session Length & Fees

• 90-minute team-facilitated sessions

• $250 per session

EAGALA is well-suited for individuals or groups seeking experiential psychotherapy, relational insight, and reflective processing.

Equine-Assisted EMDR integrates EMDR therapy with equine-assisted psychotherapy, using the horse’s movement and presence to support regulation, bilateral stimulation, and adaptive processing. This approach emphasizes Phase 2 resourcing prior to and throughout deeper EMDR work.

The Role of E.Qi Bilateral Resourcing

Within equine-assisted EMDR, E.Qi bilateral resourcing is explicitly used as Phase 2 EMDR resourcing. This may include:

• Bilateral stimulation through equine movement (mounted or unmounted)
• Alternating tactile, visual, or movement-based bilateral input
• Resource development that incorporates the horse as a co-regulating presence

This process supports:

• Stabilization and preparation
• Expansion of internal and relational resources
• Increased tolerance for emotional and somatic activation

Session Formats & Fees

Cofacilitated Equine-Assisted EMDR (Team-Based)

• Mounted or unmounted
• 90 minutes
• $250 per session, comparable to EAGALA team facilitation

Single-Facilitator Equine-Assisted EMDR (EquiLateral-Trained)

• Facilitated by one clinician trained in EquiLateral, EMDR, and equine-assisted psychotherapy
• 60 minutes: $120
• 90 minutes: $175

All sessions emphasize therapeutic pacing, consent, and nervous system safety rather than protocol-driven exposure.

Choosing the Right Pathway in the Year of the Fire Horse

The Fire Horse symbolizes movement and strength—but also discernment and balance. Each equine-assisted pathway offers a distinct way to engage this energy:

• Therapeutic Riding: Regulation and embodiment through rhythm, movement, and E.Qi bilateral resourcing
• EAGALA Psychotherapy: Insight and relational awareness through ground-based experiential therapy
• Equine-Assisted EMDR: Phase 2 resourcing and adaptive processing supported by horse and body

There is no hierarchy among these approaches—only alignment with your goals, readiness, and nervous system needs.

If you are unsure where to begin, we are happy to help you explore which pathway may be the best fit. Contact us here.