EQUINE-ASSISTED LEARNING
Equine-Assisted Learning for Personal Growth & Self-Discovery
Feeling stuck, unsure, or ready to understand yourself in a different way?
At Celtic Medicine Horse, we partner with our herd to create ground-based experiences for reflection, awareness, connection, and personal growth.
Through guided time with the horses, we create space to slow down, notice what is happening inside you, and explore what the experience may be showing you.
BEGIN WHERE YOU ARE
What Brings You Here?
You do not need to have everything figured out before you come.
Sometimes you only know that something feels ready to be explored.
I Feel Stuck
Something feels hard to move through, even if you are not sure why.
Explore ↓I’m Looking for Clarity
You may be facing a decision, change, or uncertainty about what comes next.
Explore ↓I Want to Trust Myself More
You may find yourself second-guessing your choices, instincts, or inner voice.
Explore ↓I’m Exploring Boundaries
You may want to better understand your needs, limits, and how you respond to the boundaries of others.
Explore ↓I Want More Confidence
You may be looking for a different way to explore self-belief, presence, and how you show up.
Explore ↓I Keep Seeing the Same Patterns
You may be curious about reactions, habits, or relationship patterns that seem to repeat.
Explore ↓THE EXPERIENCE
What Is Equine-Assisted Learning?
Equine-Assisted Learning is a ground-based way of learning through guided experiences with horses.
You do not ride the horses, and you do not need horse experience.
You may observe, groom, walk beside, spend quiet time with, or take part in another guided activity with the herd.
Horses communicate without words. They use movement, posture, attention, distance, expression, and response.
Those moments can give you something to notice about yourself. There is no one lesson you are expected to learn.
The experience grows from what happens between you, the horse, and the moment you are in.
No Riding Required
You do not need to know how to ride, lead, groom, or handle a horse before coming to Celtic Medicine Horse.
Julie guides and supervises the horse experience.
WHY HORSES?
Why Horses?
Horses communicate in quiet, responsive ways. They notice movement, attention, distance, posture, and changes around them.
A horse may move closer, step away, become curious, or stay still. At the same time, you may notice yourself becoming tense, calm, hesitant, open, guarded, confident, or deeply present.
We do not tell you what every horse response means. We help you slow down and notice what the experience brings up for you. The horse becomes a partner in awareness, not a tool used to create a set result.
Presence
Horses can draw our attention back to what is happening right now.
Communication
Much of the exchange happens without words.
Boundaries
Both people and horses have space, preferences, and limits that matter.
Relationship
Connection cannot be forced. It grows through attention, trust, and respect.
Reflection
What happens with the horse can give you something new to notice about yourself.
What Does Research Say?
Research is beginning to explore how people and horses may become physiologically synchronized during interaction, including changes in heart-rate variability. We see this as an interesting area of emerging research, not a promise about what any one person will experience.
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HERD
The Horse Has a Choice Too
When you meet Shaman, Smokey, and T.J., we do not simply assign you a horse. You are invited to spend time with the herd and notice who you feel drawn to.
The horse’s comfort matters too. We look for a connection that feels right for both you and the horse.
Connection is not something we force. It is something we notice, allow, and explore.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Each Session Follows a Gentle Flow
No two sessions need to look exactly alike, but most move through a simple rhythm of arriving, noticing, exploring, and reflecting.
STEP 1
Arrive & Talk
We begin with a conversation about what you would like to explore. You do not need to have everything figured out.
STEP 2
Settle In
We may use tuning forks and an intuitive essential-oil selection to help you settle, become present, and prepare for the experience.
STEP 3
Meet the Herd
You meet Shaman, Smokey, and T.J. in a safe, enclosed space and notice which connections feel natural.
STEP 4
Listen to the Body
We may guide you through a body scan to notice what is happening physically, emotionally, mentally, or intuitively. The goal is not to force an answer. The goal is to notice.
STEP 5
Explore With the Horses
Your session may include grooming, ground-based activities, round-pen work, quiet herd time, Reiki with the horses nearby, or another guided activity.
STEP 6
Reflect & Integrate
We talk about what came up. Journaling or artwork may be included. The session often ends quietly in the barn with the horses nearby.
No riding • No horse experience needed
YOUR SESSION, YOUR EXPERIENCE
Your Session Can Meet You Where You Are
We do not ask every person to move through the same set program. Different sessions may draw from different approaches depending on what feels appropriate for the person and the experience.
Equine-Facilitated Learning
Ground-based activities involving observation, interaction, and relationship with the herd.
Sound Frequency
Tuning forks and other sound-based practices may support settling, awareness, and presence.
Reiki & Energetic Work
These may be included when they fit the individual experience.
Essential Oils & Meaning
An intuitive oil selection may offer another point of reflection.
Creative Reflection
Journaling, artwork, and conversation may help give shape to what you noticed.
The goal is not to fit you into a method. It is to create space to notice what may be ready to come forward.
WHAT MAY BE ASKING FOR YOUR ATTENTION?
What You May Explore
Sometimes the question is not “What is wrong?” Sometimes it is “What is asking for my attention?”
Feeling Stuck
Something feels like it needs to shift, but you are not sure what.
Looking for Clarity
You may be facing a decision, transition, or change and want space to listen more closely.
Trusting Yourself More
You may want to notice how you make choices, respond to uncertainty, or listen to your inner voice.
Exploring Boundaries
You may want to better understand your needs, limits, and how you respond to the space and limits of others.
Building Confidence
You may be curious about how you show up, take action, and trust yourself in the moment.
Noticing Repeating Patterns
You may be seeing familiar reactions, habits, or relationship patterns and want to understand them in a new way.
These are not problems we promise to solve for you. They are areas you may choose to explore through awareness, experience, relationship, and reflection.
WHO THIS MAY BE FOR
Who Might Feel Drawn to This Experience?
This experience may feel like a fit if you are interested in personal growth and self-discovery, feel drawn to horses but do not want to ride, or want to explore something in a more experiential way.
You may be curious about your own patterns, boundaries, confidence, communication, or sense of direction. You may simply want a quiet, grounded place to slow down and listen.
You do not need to consider yourself “a horse person.” You only need to be willing to notice.
ABOUT JULIE
Guided With Experience, Care, and Respect
Julie Jurgens is the founder of Celtic Medicine Horse and a Certified Equine Facilitated Learning Instructor.
Before creating Celtic Medicine Horse, Julie spent more than 34 years in special education as a certified special educator and case manager. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration.
Julie spent eight years volunteering with a local hippotherapy program and later completed a year-long apprenticeship with Eponaquest Worldwide. She has also trained in Reiki, Access Bars, tuning forks, flower essences, and essential oils.
Her role is not to tell you what you should feel or what every horse response means. She guides the experience, helps keep both people and horses safe, and creates space for you to notice and reflect.
Julie’s Experience & Training
Certified Equine Facilitated Learning Instructor • Year-long Eponaquest Worldwide apprenticeship • 34+ years as a certified special educator and case manager • Master’s Degree in Educational Administration • 8 years volunteering with a hippotherapy program • Reiki training • Access Bars training • Experience with tuning forks, flower essences, and essential oils
PRACTICAL DETAILS
Planning Your Visit
Session Format
Primarily one-on-one
Small Groups
May be available
Session Length
Usually 2–3 hours
Adult Price
$150
Age Range
Infants through adults
Riding
None
Horse Experience
Not required
Location
Celtic Medicine Horse
What Should I Wear?
Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes suitable for being around horses and the barn.
What If the Weather Is Bad?
Depending on conditions, we may move more of the experience into the barn or reschedule the session.
Accessibility
Celtic Medicine Horse does not currently have a wheelchair-accessible restroom. If you have mobility or accessibility needs, please contact us before your visit so we can talk through the setting.
QUESTIONS BEFORE YOU COME
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to ride a horse?
No. All horse experiences are ground-based. Celtic Medicine Horse does not offer riding as part of Equine-Assisted Learning.
Do I need horse experience?
No. You do not need to know how to ride, groom, lead, or handle a horse before you come. We guide you through the experience.
What if I am nervous around horses?
We can begin with observation and move at a pace that respects your comfort and the horses’ comfort. You do not need to rush into direct contact.
Will I be assigned a horse?
No. You will have time to meet Shaman, Smokey, and T.J. and notice which horse you feel drawn to. The horse’s comfort matters too.
Is this therapy?
Equine-Assisted Learning at Celtic Medicine Horse focuses on personal growth, learning, reflection, and self-awareness. It is not psychotherapy or medical treatment.
What happens during a session?
Each session is a little different. It may include conversation, tuning forks, essential oils, a body scan, time with the herd, grooming, round-pen activities, Reiki, journaling, artwork, or quiet reflection.
How long is a session?
Most individual horse sessions last about 2–3 hours.
How much does a session cost?
Adult horse sessions are currently $150.
Can children participate?
Celtic Medicine Horse works with people from infancy through adulthood. Because needs vary by age, contact us first if you are considering a session for a child.
Can small groups participate?
Most horse experiences are one-on-one. Small groups may be possible depending on the group and the type of experience you are looking for.
Do the horses get a choice?
Yes. We pay attention to each horse’s comfort, willingness, space, and boundaries. The horses are partners in the experience, not equipment.
How is sound used during a session?
We may use tuning forks or other sound-based practices to help create a calm space for slowing down, becoming present, and noticing what is happening.
Can Reiki or other approaches be included?
Yes. Depending on the session, we may also draw from Reiki, energetic work, essential oils, journaling, artwork, or other reflective practices.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and closed-toe shoes suitable for being around horses and the barn.
What happens if the weather is bad?
Depending on the conditions, we may move more of the experience into the barn or reschedule the session.
Is the farm fully wheelchair accessible?
Not currently. Celtic Medicine Horse does not have a wheelchair-accessible restroom at this time. If you have mobility or accessibility needs, please contact us before your visit so we can talk through the setting.
KEEP EXPLORING
Curious About What Horses Are Saying?
Much of a horse’s communication happens without words. Ears, eyes, posture, movement, head position, tail, feet, and many other signals can offer clues about what a horse may be noticing or feeling.
Our Horse Body-Language Decoder lets you explore 54 horse signals and learn what to notice.
Explore the Horse Body-Language DecoderThe next time you are near a horse, pause before doing anything. What do you notice about the horse—and what do you notice about yourself?
WHEN YOU’RE READY
You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out
You may know exactly what you want to explore. Or you may only know that something feels stuck, uncertain, or ready to change. Either is enough.
Our role is not to hand you a ready-made answer. We create space for you to slow down, spend time with the horses, notice what is happening, and explore what the experience may be bringing into awareness.
If you feel drawn to learn more, we would be glad to talk with you about whether an Equine-Assisted Learning experience at Celtic Medicine Horse feels like a good fit.
No riding • No horse experience needed • Primarily one-on-one