What is the boots-on-the-ground model?

It’s the core of the Eagala Model, where clients interact with horses without riding or leading them, allowing for a more natural and intuitive connection.

What are the benefits for older horses?

Older horses, or those no longer suitable for riding, can still engage in therapy by using their intuition and natural movements to help clients.

Boots on the Ground Model

A man kneeling and putting his hand out to a horse in Georgia.

Boots On The Ground: A Key Difference in Our Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy

The Eagala Model is a unique approach to equine-assisted psychotherapy, designed to foster a genuine, unfiltered connection between clients and horses. What sets Eagala apart from other forms of horse therapy is its focus on boots on the ground—meaning there’s no riding involved. Instead, the horses remain untethered, and clients engage with them while standing alongside them, on equal footing.

This model reflects the belief that when both the client and the horse are free to move, a more authentic interaction unfolds. The horse’s movements and behaviors mirror the emotional state of the client, helping to reveal insights that might otherwise remain hidden.

At the core of Eagala’s philosophy is the idea that on-the-ground and experiential interactions create a more open and honest space for clients. This therapeutic setting provides the opportunity for deep self-reflection, guided by the intuition of the horse and the expertise of the facilitating team.

The role of the mental health professional and equine specialist is to observe and facilitate—not direct—allowing the natural bond between the horse and client to take center stage. This model has proven effective across the globe, where Eagala-certified professionals help people work through trauma, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.

2023 Fundamentals Participant

“Horses are amazing. They’re very intelligent animals. They sense where you’re at sometimes even more so than you do, which is why they make such great partners in therapy.”

Benefits for Clients: No Riding Required

One of the main advantages of Eagala’s boots-on-the-ground model is that clients don’t need to learn how to ride a horse to benefit from this model of psychotherapy. In some forms of equine therapy, learning to ride can often become a distraction, making the experience more about mastering the mechanics of horsemanship rather than focusing on personal growth and emotional healing.

By removing the element of riding, clients are free to focus entirely on the therapeutic process. This is especially beneficial for clients who may feel intimidated or uncomfortable with the idea of riding. Instead of worrying about controlling the horse, clients can concentrate on being open and honest with themselves.

The horses, in turn, provide immediate, non-judgmental feedback through their behavior and emotional congruence. Clients are able to see their emotional state reflected in the horse, allowing them to better understand and work through their feelings. This dynamic can lead to breakthroughs that might take longer to achieve in traditional therapy settings.

In addition, the absence of riding and on-the-ground experience makes this model of therapy more accessible to a wider range of clients. People of all ages and physical abilities can participate, as there’s no need to worry about mounting, balance, or physical exertion. This creates an environment where anyone can benefit, regardless of prior experience with horses.

Someone standing between two horses with a hand on each horse in a Texas pasture.

2023 Fundamentals Participant

“They offer a great gift to us as therapists, as instructors, so that we can look at what they’re presenting to us in an experience with a person, and then we can help facilitate some conversation with that person, whether it’s a client or a student about their experience with that animal, about that animal’s interaction with them, that can allow that person then to use that experience to do some introspection to help, heal or to grow in, in different ways.”

An older man petting a white horse in a field.

Why the Boots-on-the-Ground Model Benefits Horses

The boots-on-the-ground model doesn’t just benefit clients, it also creates a healthier experience for the horses. Horses are naturally intuitive, highly attuned to the emotions and energy of the people around them. When they aren’t being ridden, restrained, or confined to a stall, they’re free to move, respond, and interact in ways that feel authentic to them.

This freedom allows the horses to engage with clients on their own terms, guided by instinct rather than pressure. Without the physical demands of riding, horses experience less stress and greater comfort, which in turn makes the therapeutic process more effective. They can choose to approach, connect, or hold back, offering real-time, genuine responses to the client’s presence and emotions.

This approach creates a natural rhythm of interaction, where both horse and client engage with one another in a mutual, respectful way. Importantly, the boots-on-the-ground model also offers new opportunities for horses who may no longer be suited for riding. Older horses, or those with physical limitations, can still contribute meaningfully to the therapeutic process.

Instead of being retired or overlooked, these horses are given a renewed sense of purpose. Their instincts and emotional sensitivity become their greatest assets, allowing them to support clients without the physical strain of carrying a rider. In this way, horses continue to enjoy rich, purposeful connections with people—while clients benefit from their wisdom, presence, and authenticity.

2023 Fundamentals Participant

“You get a lot of people that can sit in a talk therapy and they know the right things to say, but when you’re out there doing experiential, the horse doesn’t care what you say.”

How Boots on the Ground Helps Mental Health Professionals

The boots-on-the-ground model also offers unique advantages for the professionals facilitating each session. In more traditional forms of equine therapy, mental health professionals often feel pressure to be skilled horse handlers as well, an added responsibility that can distract from their true area of expertise.

With the Eagala Model, those roles are clearly defined. The therapist is free to focus entirely on the client’s emotional and mental health, while the equine specialist ensures the horses’ well-being and interprets their behaviors. Because the horses are not ridden or directed, the therapist can observe authentic interactions between client and horse, gaining deeper insights into the client’s emotional state.

This team-based approach allows each professional to work from their strengths. The therapist guides the client’s inner journey, while the equine specialist provides expertise in equine behavior and safety. Together, they create a balanced, supportive environment where clients, horses, and professionals interact naturally – maximizing both the impact and the authenticity of the therapeutic process.

Two groups of two women each petting horse in a Texas field.

FAQs About Eagala’s Boots on the Ground Model

One of the main standards of the Eagala Model, boots-on-the-ground, means clients interact with horses without riding them, allowing for a more natural and intuitive connection, without barriers

No, there’s no riding involved in the Eagala Model, making it accessible to people with no prior horse experience.

Removing riding allows the client to focus on emotional and mental healing without the distraction of learning to ride or control the horse.

Therapists can focus on guiding the client’s emotional journey without needing to manage the horse, allowing them to use their expertise more effectively.

Rather than being directed or controlled, horses are allowed to make their own choices. This freedom lets them respond authentically to the client’s presence and emotions. Their reactions – whether approaching, standing back, or shifting in subtle ways – provide honest, non-verbal feedback that becomes a powerful part of the therapeutic process.

Horses that may no longer be suited for riding still have an important role in therapy. Their intuition, sensitivity, and natural responses become their greatest strengths, allowing them to support clients without physical strain. This gives older or retired horses a renewed sense of purpose and meaningful connection with people.

Each session is facilitated by an Eagala-certified mental health professional and an equine specialist working together. The therapist focuses on the client’s emotional process, while the equine specialist ensures the horses’ well-being and interprets their behavior. This team provides the structure and safe environment in which the client leads their own interaction with the horse.

Mental Health professionals are able to focus fully on the client’s emotional process without the added responsibility of handling the horse. This allows them to draw on their professional expertise more effectively, while partnering with the equine specialist to create a safe and supportive environment for therapy.

Equine specialists are able to bring their unique expertise forward in a way that is truly valued. Their deep understanding of horse behavior becomes a central part of the process, as they observe the horses’ natural responses and share those insights with the team. Because the horses are not ridden or controlled, equine specialists can focus on creating a safe, respectful environment where the horses’ authentic behaviors shine through. This gives their role purpose and recognition, making them an essential and empowered partner in the client’s healing journey.

Yes, the boots-on-the-ground approach makes the Eagala Model accessible to people of all ages, abilities, and levels of horse experience.

The model is effective for a range of mental health issues, including PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges.

Eagala has a global network of certified professionals and programs. You can find one near you through our program directory.

If you’re a mental health professional or equine specialist looking to expand your skills, Eagala offers Fundamental and Skillset Intensive Training in equine-assisted psychotherapy. Enroll in a training program today to learn how to integrate the Eagala Model into your practice effectively. If you’re already certified, the Skillset Intensive Training course will deepen your understanding and enhance your ability to help clients.

For those in need of mental health support and are interested in equine-assisted psychotherapy with the Eagala Model, our global network of certified professionals is ready to help. Find certified professionals near you by visiting our Program Directory and take the first step toward healing today.