Equine Coaching vs. Equine Therapy – The Difference Explained
People often ask: “Is this therapy with horses?” It’s an important question. Horses have the power to heal, but not every horse program is therapy. Some are designed for clinical treatment. Others, like equine coaching, are designed for growth, empowerment, and self-discovery.
Here’s how to tell the difference — and why it matters.
Why the Confusion Between Coaching and Therapy?
Because both involve horses, it’s easy to assume equine coaching and equine therapy are the same. Both can be deeply healing, both can change lives, and both use the horse’s sensitivity to mirror human states. But they are built on very different foundations. Understanding the distinction helps people choose the path that best fits their needs.
What Is Equine Therapy?
Equine therapy is a clinical, therapeutic process facilitated by licensed mental health professionals. Its purpose is treatment — addressing specific conditions such as trauma, PTSD, depression, or anxiety. Therapy with horses may be part of a broader treatment plan, and the facilitator is trained to work with clinical issues, diagnoses, and therapeutic goals.
Equine therapy is powerful and important, but it is not the only way to experience the healing presence of horses.
People who frequently use equine therapy include veterans with PTSD, children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and individuals in recovery for childhood trauma, addiction, and other mental health issues. The therapy is also used to treat a wide range of other physical, emotional, and cognitive challenges.
What Is Equine Coaching?
Also known as: Equine Guided Coaching / Equine Facilitated Learning (EFL) / Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) / Equine Facilitated Self Discovery / Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning / Horse Medicine and more…
What Keren Levy practices, Equine Guided Coaching, is not therapy. She is certified in the Eponaquest method, which is a growth-focused, experiential process where horses support participants in building skills such as:
• Confidence and leadership
• Emotional regulation and resilience
• Boundary setting and communication
• Mindfulness and presence
• Self-discovery and empowerment
The coach’s role is to facilitate experiences and insights, not to diagnose or treat. This makes equine coaching accessible for anyone seeking growth, whether they are parents, professionals, teens, or wellness seekers.
Key Differences Between Coaching and Therapy
Goals & Focus
Therapy: Healing diagnosed conditions, addressing trauma, mental health treatment.
Coaching: Growth, empowerment, self-awareness, and skill-building.
Facilitator Training / Certifications
Therapy: Licensed mental health professionals with clinical training.
Coaching: Certified equine-facilitated learning practitioners and coaches with training in experiential learning, leadership, and horse-human dynamics.
Participants and Needs
Therapy: Individuals seeking treatment for specific clinical issues.
Coaching: Individuals, groups, or teams seeking personal or professional growth, mindfulness, or leadership development.
Structure of the Experience
Therapy: Often integrated with clinical assessments and ongoing treatment plans. It can be as simple as grooming or riding a horse, and sometimes it is woven into talk therapy. The focus remains on therapeutic goals and clinical progress, with the horse providing support for treatment under the guidance of a licensed professional.
Coaching: Groundwork-based activities with horses designed to evoke insights, strengthen awareness, and create embodied learning moments. Sessions may take place in a round pen, where participants explore Leadership through Relationship, or in an open field, practicing boundaries and attunement. Exercises often highlight how our parasympathetic nervous system energy fields influence connection — helping participants regulate, align, and communicate more authentically.
When to Choose Equine Guided Coaching?
If you are not seeking clinical treatment but instead want to:
• Build confidence
• Practice healthy boundaries
• Reduce stress • Explore personal growth
• Learn leadership through presence
… then equine coaching is likely the right fit. It is especially helpful for people who want to explore mindfulness, energy awareness, or leadership skills in a non-clinical, experiential way.
How Horses Support Growth Outside Therapy
Horses are sensitive mirrors of human behavior and energy. They reveal when we are congruent or incongruent, present or distracted, calm or agitated. This reflection creates powerful growth opportunities:
• A professional learns that when they push too hard, the horse resists, but when they lead calmly, the horse follows — a lesson in authentic leadership.
• A teenager struggling with self-confidence sees a horse respond to their clear boundary and realizes they do have inner strength.
These are not therapy sessions, but they are deeply transformative experiences.
Miami and Asheville Equine Facilitated Learning Opportunities
• In Miami, I offer one-on-one equine coaching sessions and workshops at the Enchanted Forest. These are designed for individuals, families, or small groups seeking clarity, confidence, and connection.
• In Asheville, NC, retreats at HapBE Valley immerse participants in a multi-day journey with horses and nature. These retreats are ideal for those seeking emotional growth, leadership skills, and renewal.
Final Reflection
Equine coaching and equine therapy are both powerful — but they serve different purposes. Therapy supports clinical healing. Coaching supports growth, empowerment, and embodied learning. If you are ready to step into a new level of awareness, confidence, and connection, equine coaching offers a safe and supportive path forward.
The horses are waiting — ready to mirror your truth and invite you into deeper presence.
FAQ
-
A: Therapy is clinical and focuses on treatment. Coaching is experiential and focuses on personal growth, confidence, and skill-building.
-
A: Yes. It is non-riding, beginner-friendly, and guided step by step.
-
A: Not necessarily. Coaching is for anyone seeking growth and self-discovery, regardless of therapy experience.