Basics of Equine-Facilitated Learning

Dr. Jordan Tourtelot Perzik is a Southern California professional who provides life coaching and professional psychology services to clients. Volunteering with the Hearts Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Dr. Jordan Tourtelot Perzik has an additional interest in the area of equine-facilitated learning/psychotherapy (EFL/P).

An experiential learning methodology, EFL provides a supportive environment, in close contact with horses, for developing skills that range from communication to leadership. horse-human interactions can be either mounted or unmounted, with activities on the ground including working through challenges such as getting one’s equine partner to walk along a specific path. Some other common activities in EFL practice include observing and joining the herd, navigating an obstacle course, and grooming the horse.

This is coordinated through equine as well as human facilitators, with an emphasis on being mindful and fully in the present. Among the qualities developed through such interactions are effective communication, building trust with others, and empathy. In the process, participants often gain self-awareness and insight into their own emotions and causes of stress.