Redefining the Role: Certification in the Eagala Model
The Eagala Model offers a powerful alternative to traditional therapy modalities—one where clients work alongside horses, mental health professionals, and equine specialists in a ground-based, experiential process. But while many people are familiar with the concept of equine therapy, there’s often confusion about what it means to be an Eagala Certified Practitioner.
Eagala does not certify people to become therapists. Instead, it trains licensed mental health professionals and experienced equine specialists to collaborate effectively in delivering Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) using a standardized, ethical, and internationally recognized model.
Becoming Eagala Certified means committing to a professional, team-based approach that honors both disciplines—and the unique role of the horse as a partner in the process.
The Eagala Model: A Team Approach to Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy
What sets the Eagala Model apart is its co-facilitating team structure, consisting of:
- A licensed mental health professional
- A qualified equine specialist or equine professional
- And the horse as an active, four-legged partner
This team works together in real time to facilitate client sessions. The model is ground-based (no riding), ensuring the horse can interact naturally and without restraint, and that both clients and professionals remain fully engaged in observing and interacting without physical constraints.
Sessions take place in arenas or pastures—spaces that are emotionally and physically open, allowing clients to explore relationship dynamics, develop insight, and move toward growth.
Who Can Become Eagala Certified?
Eagala certification is open to professionals in two categories:
1. Mental Health Professionals
To become certified in the Eagala Model, mental health professionals must:
- Hold a current clinical license in their field (e.g., LCSW, LMFT, LPC, psychologist, etc.)
- Be in good standing with their licensing board
- Have an interest in incorporating experiential, animal-assisted modalities into their practice
Note: No horse experience is required. The equine specialist brings the horsemanship expertise to the team.
2. Equine Specialists
To become certified as an equine specialist, individuals must:
- Demonstrate substantial experience working with horses
- Demonstrate knowledge-based understanding of horse psychology
- Be confident in reading horse behavior, managing safety, and handling horses on the ground
- Be open to learning the therapeutic role of horses within client sessions
Equine specialists do not need mental health training—they are trained to observe, support, and maintain the emotional and physical safety of horses and clients, while collaborating closely with the mental health professional.
How Do Horses Help the Process?
In the Eagala Model, horses are not tools—they are partners in the process. Their authentic, in-the-moment reactions to clients’ body language, energy, and emotional states provide powerful opportunities for reflection and change.
Unlike humans, horses respond without judgment or agenda. They reflect what’s happening around them, offering real-time feedback that can bring unconscious patterns to light. This makes them ideal collaborators in therapy—not just passive animals in the background, but active participants who help clients explore trust, boundaries, emotional regulation, and connection.
Because the sessions are ground-based and unmounted, horses are free to move and interact naturally. This gives them space to be themselves—and gives clients a chance to observe and engage in honest, meaningful ways.
Mental health professionals and equine specialists co-facilitate sessions by watching these interactions closely and creating space for client insight. The horse’s role is never symbolic or forced—it’s real, dynamic, and integral to the therapeutic experience.
What Does Eagala Certification Involve?
Eagala offers a structured training program to equip both professionals with the tools, standards, and philosophy behind the model.
Initial Certification Includes:
- In-person training
- Core concepts: ethics, safety, session structure, and facilitation techniques
- Guidance on how to co-facilitate sessions effectively
- Understanding the role of the horse as a partner, not a tool
- Core concepts: ethics, safety, session structure, and facilitation techniques
Upon completion, practitioners receive Eagala Certification, which is valid for one year.
Ongoing Requirements:
To maintain certification, Eagala practitioners must:
- Complete biannual continuing education – certification lasts for two years
- Agree to uphold Eagala’s code of ethics and standards of practice
- Participate in professional development opportunities (mentorship, webinars, twice-monthly live Global Member Meetings via Zoom.
This ongoing commitment ensures consistency, growth, and quality of care for clients worldwide, as well as how Eagala can be used in different cultures around the world.
What It Means to Practice the Eagala Model
Being Eagala Certified means more than attending a training—it reflects a professional’s commitment to integrity, collaboration, and client-centered care.
Eagala practitioners uphold values that distinguish the model:
- No riding—sessions are conducted fully on the ground
- Horses are partners—not props or tools
- Clients lead the process—the team holds space, and practices from the assumption that clients have the best answers for themselves.
- Sessions are experiential—growth occurs through interaction and observation, not interpretation
Eagala is recognized as the gold standard in equine-assisted psychotherapy. It is used in clinical settings, veteran and first responder programs, youth development, trauma recovery, and more—across more than 40 countries.
FAQs About Becoming Eagala Certified
1. Can I become an equine therapist through Eagala?
No. Eagala does not create or certify therapists. To become Eagala Certified, you must already be a licensed mental health professional or an experienced equine specialist. Eagala provides the framework for both to work together using the Eagala Model.
2. Do I need horse experience to be certified?
Only equine specialists need horse experience. Mental health professionals do not need prior equine knowledge—your equine specialist partner brings that expertise to the team.
3. Is riding involved in Eagala sessions?
No. Eagala is a ground-based model. Horses are allowed to interact freely, without saddles, bridles, or halters. This approach supports safety, authenticity, and emotional insight.
4. What kind of clients benefit from Eagala-based sessions?
Clients dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, or interpersonal issues may benefit. Eagala is used with individuals, families, veterans, youth, and more.
5. How long does certification take?
Initial certification typically takes place over a 5-day training. Afterward, you are certified for two years and can begin co-facilitating sessions within the Eagala Model.
Ready to Join a Global Network of Change-Makers?
If you’re a mental health professional or equine specialist ready to bring your expertise into a collaborative, client-centered setting, Eagala certification may be the next step in your professional journey.
Gain the tools, support, and community you need to deliver safe, impactful sessions using horses as partners in the process. Certification through Eagala means becoming part of a global movement—one that values ethical practice, meaningful collaboration, and lasting transformation.
Explore training options and start your Eagala certification today. Volume discounts are available for teams and organizations.
Let’s redefine what healing looks like—together.