What is Equine Assisted Activity?
When many people hear the term equine-assisted, they immediately think of horseback riding lessons or therapy programs. But there is another growing and incredibly meaningful area called Equine Assisted Activities (EAA) — and for many individuals and families, these experiences can be life changing.
At Healing Together with Horses, we believe horses have a unique ability to help people reconnect with themselves, build confidence, and experience calm, trust, and connection in ways that are often difficult to find elsewhere.
Equine Assisted Activities are designed to create positive interactions between people and horses in a supportive environment.
These experiences may be recreational, educational, emotional, developmental, or relationship-focused depending on the needs and goals of the participant.
Unlike traditional riding programs that focus mainly on horsemanship skills, Equine Assisted Activities place the focus on the human experience and the powerful lessons horses naturally help teach.
Some activities are very hands-on and active, while others are surprisingly simple and quiet.
For example, a participant might spend time grooming a horse, learning how to brush them properly while also building trust and becoming more comfortable around large animals.
For many people, grooming becomes calming and grounding because horses tend to respond to gentle, steady energy.
Another common activity is leading a horse through an obstacle course.
This is often used to build confidence, communication, patience, and problem-solving skills.
Participants quickly learn that horses respond more to body language, emotional energy, and clarity than force or control.
This may involve asking the horse to stop, walk, turn, or move through exercises together.
These interactions can teach self-awareness, emotional regulation, leadership, and trust.
As stated earlier, Equine Assisted Activities can also include riding experiences when appropriate, BUT the riding itself is often not the main focus. Instead, the emphasis may be on confidence-building, relaxation, balance, connection, or simply enjoying the experience.
In some programs, participants spend quiet time simply being with the horses. That could mean sitting in the pasture observing them, practicing mindfulness beside them, or learning how horses communicate with one another.
Programs for children or youth may incorporate games, team-building exercises, or activities designed to improve communication and social skills. Family-focused programs sometimes use horse activities to encourage cooperation, trust, and healthier interaction between family members.
If you believe in the healing power of horses and would like to help support the growth of Healing Together with Horses, donations of any size are deeply appreciated.
Thank you for believing in this journey and in the quiet but powerful impact horses can have on people’s lives.
We invite you to be part of what happens next
If this resonates with you -- if you believe in creating a place where horses are safe, where people can connect with horses and nature, and where something thoughtful and compassionate is possible -- we invite you to be part of continuing to build Maamawi-Noojimoiwewin Centre.
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Maamawi-Noojimoiwewin is Ojibwe and means "healing together".
It speaks to the connection between people, horses, and the land -- and the journey we all share.
The name was gifted by the mother and grandmother of Kara Perrault-Barry (Garden River First Nation), who created our logo.