The EAGALA model is one of the most well-known certification paths for equine-assisted psychotherapy.
It offers a structured approach using a licensed therapist, an equine specialist, and a horse working together as a team.
But before getting an EAGALA certification, it’s important to understand not only what it involves, but how it compares to other ways of working with horses.
Equine Guidance® will walk you through what EAGALA certification is, what kind of person it’s for, and what to expect from the training.
EAGALA Certification for Equine Psychotherapy Training
EAGALA stands for Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association.
It’s a global nonprofit organization that offers structured training and certification in equine-assisted psychotherapy and personal development.
The EAGALA model is team-based. It always includes a mental health professional, an equine specialist, and one or more horses.
This team works together in a specific structure to help clients work through emotional or behavioral challenges using metaphors from their interaction with the horse.
One of the key points of EAGALA is that it’s “ground-based,” meaning clients don’t ride the horses.
Instead, they interact with them through activities that bring up patterns and emotions the team can help them process.
It’s a widely respected model and used in a variety of settings, including private practices, treatment centers, and schools.
What Does EAGALA Certification Involve?
The basic EAGALA certification training is a 4-day, in-person workshop.
It includes lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on practice.
You’ll learn the EAGALA model, how to build treatment plans, and how to stay within the ethical roles of the team.
After the workshop, you’ll need continuing education hours every two years to stay certified.
In order to become certified, you don’t need to already be a licensed therapist, but you’ll need one on your team if you’re not.
The same goes for the equine side: if you’re not a horse professional, you’ll need someone who is.
EAGALA certification is best for people who want a clearly defined structure and a clinical approach to equine therapy.
But for those drawn to more intuitive, somatic work, other methods may feel like a better fit.
The Role of Therapy Horse Training in the Process
Training horses to participate in therapy is a crucial part of this work—but it doesn’t mean turning them into “therapy animals” in the traditional sense.
Instead, it means selecting horses with calm temperaments and letting them stay true to their natural behavior.
In EAGALA and other equine psychotherapy training models, horses aren’t taught to respond in a certain way.
They’re seen as sentient, emotionally attuned beings.
The horse’s responses during a session can reflect what a client is feeling, often in ways the client hasn’t put into words yet.
Therapy horse training, in this sense, is about building trust.
Horses need to feel safe, have enough space, and be treated as equals in the process.
This is one area where Equine Guidance® takes a slightly different path.
We go more in depth into how horses co-regulate with humans through nervous system signals, not just behavior.
Equine Facilitated Therapy Training Is A Body-Based Approach
What Makes Equine Facilitated Therapy Training Different
Equine facilitated therapy training can take many forms.
Some programs focus on learning theory and behavior.
Others, like what we do at Equine Guidance®, focus on how the body, emotions, and nervous system respond in the presence of a horse.
Our team is EAGALA certified and values the structure and ethical grounding that model provides.
Our work has also evolved to integrate a more somatic, experiential approach rooted in nervous system awareness and trauma-informed care.
While EAGALA often uses metaphor and structured activities to support insight, our sessions are guided more by felt sense, attunement, and the co-regulatory presence of the horse.
How Horses Support Nervous System Healing in Therapy
We view the horse not just as a mirror for human behavior, but as an active participant in the healing process.
Clients often experience subtle shifts in breath, posture, or even heart rate when standing near a grounded horse.
In our training, professionals learn to sense these nervous system cues in themselves and others.
You’ll explore how trauma is stored in the body, and how the presence of a calm, attuned horse can help bring unresolved emotions to the surface gently, without requiring clients to re-tell their stories.
What to Look For In Online Equine Therapy Certification Program
If you’re looking for equine therapy certification programs online, you’ll find a wide range of these.
From self-paced courses to fully accredited diplomas.
But not all programs are the same.
Some online courses focus mostly on theory.
Others include video demos or live Zoom calls.
EAGALA’s certification, for instance, still requires in-person training, though continuing education credits can be done online.
Equine Guidance’s Online Coaching Services Worldwide
Here at Equine Guidance®, we know professionals need flexible options that still offer depth and real-world learning.
That’s why we offer training that includes online content alongside in-person retreats and mentorship.
You’ll get to study the theory, but also experience it in your body, in real time, with real horses.
The most important thing is to choose a program that aligns with your values.
If you want a clinical, structured path, EAGALA is a great place to start.
If you’re looking to understand how horses help people feel safe in their bodies and process stored trauma, look for a program like ours.
Our programs focus on nervous system healing and somatic work.
The Link Between Equine Therapy and Nervous System Healing
One of the reasons equine therapy is so powerful is that it reaches beyond logic and into the body.
The nervous system plays a central role in how people process trauma, anxiety, and chronic stress.
And horses, because of their sensitivity and ability to co-regulate, help people access this deeper level of healing.
When someone has a dysregulated nervous system, they might feel anxious, checked out, hyper-alert, or emotionally numb.
Traditional therapy can help, but it often works best when the nervous system is already calm enough to process thoughts.
If it’s not, the client can feel stuck.
Just standing next to a calm, grounded horse can begin to bring someone’s nervous system back into a state of balance.
Over time, the body learns that it’s safe to feel again. This kind of healing is hard to reach with talk alone.
Equine Guidance® is centered around this connection.
We teach professionals how to sense these changes, how to slow down enough to notice what’s happening in the body, and how to use the horse’s cues to guide the process.
We focus on right-brain-to-right-brain communication, where intuition, emotion, and presence matter more than words.
Comparing EAGALA Certification With Equine Guidance®
Both EAGALA and Equine Guidance® are serious about ethical, meaningful equine-assisted therapy. But the way they go about it is different.
EAGALA:
- Structured, team-based model
- Emphasis on roles: licensed therapist + horse specialist + horse
- Uses metaphor and non-riding activities
- Good fit for professionals who prefer a clear protocol
Equine Guidance®:
- Somatic, trauma-informed approach
- Focus on nervous system healing and regulation
- Uses right-brain communication with horses
- Emphasis on body-based sensing and emotional attunement
Some professionals start with EAGALA and then realize they’re looking for a deeper connection and less structure.
Others may want to skip the traditional clinical model altogether and focus on what the body knows but words can’t say.
Either way, knowing the differences helps you choose what fits you and the people you work with.
Choosing Your Path in Equine Psychotherapy Training
You don’t have to pick one method forever. Some professionals combine different models over time. But when you’re just starting, it’s helpful to ask:
- Do I feel more comfortable with structure or intuition?
- Do I want to work as part of a team or more independently?
- Am I more interested in metaphor and behavior, or body and emotion?
- Do I want to help people heal trauma by helping them feel safe in their body?
Answering these questions can help you decide where to begin.
EAGALA certification can be a solid foundation, especially for those who want to integrate equine therapy into a clinical practice.
Equine Guidance® might feel more natural if you’re drawn to deep emotional work, somatic healing, and building presence through the body.
Bring Horse Wisdom Into Your Practice With Equine Guidance®
EAGALA certification gives professionals a clear, structured way to begin.
But if you’re drawn to working through the nervous system and helping clients feel safe and connected from the inside out, there’s another path.
Equine Guidance® has seen how horses help people shift in ways words never could.
If you’re a therapist, coach, or healer looking to expand your approach, our knowledge can give you the skills, support, and experience you need.
You can explore our training options and see how our somatic, trauma-informed work is helping professionals like you build a different kind of practice.
Let the horses show you the way. Contact us to learn more about our programs.
