Equine-Assisted PTSD Coaching Curriculum: Trust and Confidence Building

The PTSD Equine-Assisted Curriculum offers a 6-week journey focused on helping clients who are navigating life with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to rebuild trust in themselves and strengthen their confidence. This curriculum emphasizes a structured, compassionate approach that combines evidence-based coaching techniques with the healing presence of horses. Ideal for equine-assisted coaches, the program provides practical tools for helping clients find calm, reframe challenging thoughts, and embrace a forward-focused mindset.

Curriculum Overview

This 6-week curriculum is crafted to address the core challenges faced by individuals with PTSD, such as difficulty with trust, feelings of helplessness, and a tendency to become “stuck” in past experiences. Each week introduces new equine-based activities designed to:

• Foster Personal Insight and Resilience: By working with horses, clients develop trust in their own capabilities and find pathways to embrace life beyond trauma.
• Encourage Self-Reflection and Growth: Through guided reflection with equine partners, clients explore their inner thoughts and emotions in a non-judgmental environment.
• Rebuild Confidence through Action: Practical activities encourage clients to experience their own strengths in real-time, supported by the gentle yet powerful presence of horses.

Key Components

The curriculum integrates various interactive activities that are enhanced by equine partners, each session building on the previous to support continuous growth. Here’s a breakdown of some of the key sessions and activities:

1. Building Trust with Horses
   The program begins with grounding exercises, allowing clients to connect with horses through synchronized breathing and herd observation. Clients learn from herd dynamics, observing how horses build trust within their groups and exploring how they, too, can cultivate trust in their own lives.

2. Creating an Ideal World
   Clients are prompted to visualize and create their “ideal world” using items in the arena. This exercise allows them to articulate what a safe and fulfilling life might look like, fostering a sense of agency and providing a goal for future sessions.

3. Mapping Goals and Strategies
   Building on the previous session, clients map out the steps needed to achieve their ideal world. Working alongside the horses, they explore these steps through interactive exercises, promoting problem-solving and a proactive mindset.

4. Mindfulness Walk with Horses
   Clients participate in a guided mindfulness walk with the horses, using a self-selected mantra such as “I am strong and capable.” This practice enhances their ability to stay present, calming the nervous system and reinforcing positive self-perception.

5. Observing Trust and Confidence in Horses
   In this session, clients observe the horses’ body language and interactions, noting signs of trust and confidence. This helps clients recognize these qualities in themselves and reflect on how their own emotions influence those around them.

6. Solution Trail and Problem Solving
   The program concludes with a “solution trail,” where clients navigate obstacles with horses, each representing challenges they face in their lives. This exercise encourages clients to apply forward-focused and solution-oriented thinking, supported by the grounding presence of the horses.

Unique Benefits

This curriculum is deeply supportive of PTSD clients by integrating equine-facilitated learning with the WISE model, which emphasizes Personal Wisdom, Inspiration, Strength, and Education. Through structured activities, clients gain tools to navigate PTSD-related challenges such as flashbacks, anxiety, and difficulties with self-confidence. Additionally, horses offer a calming, reflective presence, helping clients feel grounded and more connected to the present.

Why This Program Works

• Horses as Reflective Partners: Horses are naturally attuned to human emotions, mirroring feelings and providing immediate, non-verbal feedback. Clients can witness their own growth and resilience through interactions with their equine partners, building self-trust and confidence.
• Structured Progression: Each session builds on the previous one, ensuring that clients have a clear path to follow and measurable progress. By the end of six weeks, clients will have engaged in a variety of activities that build trust, confidence, and emotional resilience.
• Focus on Empowerment and Growth: This program encourages clients to look forward rather than remain anchored in the past. By setting personal goals and overcoming obstacles with horses, clients develop the resilience needed to create new possibilities in their lives.

This curriculum is an invaluable resource for coaches looking to provide effective, empathetic support for clients with PTSD. By blending structured coaching principles with equine-assisted activities, the program offers a pathway for clients to heal, grow, and reclaim their sense of trust and confidence.