At EGLHE, Equine-Guided Learning and Healing Experience, we focus on youth mental health and on nurturing the harmonious and equitable exchange between human and non-human animals. EGLHE bridges Attuned Horsemanship with student-centered pedagogy and the liberal arts education. Dr. Amanda Minervini, founder, director. ATHENA I certified. Board of directors: Haley Griffis, Shaula Carboni,
EGLHE is a non-profit organization under IRC section 501 (c) (3)* Please consider making a tax deductible donation Paypal: paypal.me/EGLHE Venmo: @Amanda-Minervini-1 [specify "EGLHE"] Every contribution, even small, is a huge help!
Short documentary on EGLHE
EGLHE WITH COLORADO COLLEGE FIRST YEAR STUDENTS, MARCH 2022
Equine Guide Jimmy, OTTB (Off-the-track Thoroughbred) born in 2010 and First Year student Elena Berg after their matching steps session (September 2022)
The Biscuit Buddies with the Colorado College Equestrian Team on the campus quad, part of my class "Voice and the NonHuman" (December 2023)
Based on EAL (Equine Assisted Learning) research and techniques, EGLHE (Equine-Guided Learning Experience) is a method I created, which bridges attuned horsemanship and student-centered pedagogy, together with trauma-informed interactions. While EGLHE is new, there is vast scholarship on EAL:
EGLHE's foundational goals are: 1) to support students' mental health and focus (there is vast literature on the beneficial effects of equines on people suffering from PTSD, anxiety, ADHD. The effects are also observable in people not currently suffering from identifiable conditions) 2) develop self-awareness and appropriate empathic responses 3) to interact mindfully with a sentient nonhuman being and to keep the interaction based on equality 4) to learn about non-hierarchical ways of being with horses, and on being present and mindful I prefer "being with horses" and "working with horses" to the term "training" because the concept of "training" still implies a hierarchy with the human on top. I have been studying different approaches to working with horses, entirely based on putting the horse at the center, letting them communicate and have a choice (similarly to student-based teaching styles). This method is based especially on Warwick Schiller's Attuned Horsemanship and trauma-informed techniques 5) to have fun!
EGLHE is also based on these basic principles:
"Attunement is the sense of being seen, being heard, feeling felt, and getting gotten" (Sarah Schlote, Trauma and Attachment Psychotherapist)
“Connection is a horse knowing that in whatever you ask of them, they are considered. That your request will never exceed what keeps them safe, or keeps them sane” (Gareth Mare, founder of Heartfelt Horsemanship)
"Horsemanship is the art of mastering our own movements, thoughts, emotions and behavior. Not the horses" (Mark Rashid, founder of Considering the Horse)
EGLHE with Colorado College students, April 2022
WHAT STUDENTS ARE SAYING ABOUT THEIR EGLHE WITH JIMMY (MARCH-AUGUST 2022)
"I felt more calm and centered the rest of the day. I was happier and more motivated to do schoolwork" "I felt very thankful that Jimmy interacted with me so much" "I really enjoyed this experience and think it is very important to have relationships with animals. I am very grateful that you are sharing this gift with others" "I felt less anxious about the final exam after interacting with Jimmy and before I arrived. I have test taking anxiety, so I know being able to interact with animals (especially my dog) is beneficial to me to stay calm and be more focused. I felt more relaxed in the evening in my dorm and was able to fall asleep without trouble" "In comparison to other horses I’ve interacted with, I could tell Jimmy was more aware of his surroundings and cared about meeting each of us, as opposed to following orders" "I felt the friendship and trust being created between us, which is a beautiful thing to feel with a new animal or person" "I felt calm, happy, at peace. I learned how much being with animals impacts my mood, and how contemplative it can be to interact with other species" "I went from skeptical to accepting to peacefully content. (...) It felt like mutual trust" "I liked that being with Jimmy grounded me into the present" "I felt a little bit more calm and a great deal more present. Later that night, I felt like it was easier to concentrate" "I think that meaningful connections with animals can have a huge positive impact on our lives" "Once I got back to my dorm, I still felt relaxed. I realized that it was easier for me to start my work because I didn’t feel anxious"
"It was most interesting to match steps with Jimmy and watching how he reacted to that. Also watching him connect to other students and see their reaction" "The most interesting moment of interaction was when we were all scratching Jimmy, and he was letting us know what he liked and what he didn’t like. I didn’t expect to truly understand what Jimmy was telling us but I really felt like I really understood what Jimmy was trying to tell me" "I learned that there are various ways to communicate with other creatures and not just the ways that are generally taught. I realized that just because something is different or new, it doesn’t mean it is wrong. I will reflect on this when I encounter a learning method that I am not used too, and I will engage with the class and homework in a different method than I am used too!" "I really enjoyed learning about different training styles and their impact" "I enjoyed leading Jimmy around the property. I had to focus on being in tune with another living creature that I couldn’t speak too. Instead, I was able to communicate in a different way with Jimmy. Showing Jimmy that I was walking beside him and not in front of him showed Jimmy and me that were equally important" "I have been around horses a lot, but largely in a traditional sense where horses are used for a purpose and expected to follow orders. It changed my perspective to learn a new way to interact with and “train” horses that doesn’t automatically put humans in power. This experience was helpful in connecting with intuition in a broader sense; doing things that I want to do and when I want to do them" "I reflected that I could approach my school work like I approached Jimmy, with calm and patience and respecting my level of being comfortable"
"I never knew horses were so communicative! Jimmy is truly like a dog in a sense that he is protective and aware of those around him. I liked how I could notice when he was proud of himself or when he wanted rewards for his behavior. It was so cool to see how Jimmy and Dr. Minervini have such a strong bond and to see how much they care for each other. I loved this experience because it truly is just purely positive. Its relaxing, interesting, and fun"
Recent clinics and conferences. Click on the pictures for more information.