SPECIAL SPIRIT PROGRAMS
Team Building
Equine Assisted Coaching

Team Building with Horses

Horses are natural mirrors. They don’t care about your job title, your stresses at work or who is frustrated with whom. They respond to how you show up and respond with calm authentic leadership. That’s exactly why equine-assisted team building works.

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Why uses horses?

• Immediate, honest feedback. Horses don’t sugarcoat. If you’re unclear, nervous, pushy, or checked-out, they’ll show it instantly, kindly but clearly.

• Pure communication. Team members practice non-verbal cues, emotional regulation, and clear intention.  

• Natural leadership lessons. Horses follow confident, grounded leadership. Teams learn how to guide, not dominate and to collaborate without chaos.

• Builds trust fast. Working with a 1,000-pound animal makes people rely on each other.

• Perfect metaphor for workplace dynamics. Boundary setting, communication styles, group problem ​

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What Teams Do in a Session

Activities are tailored, but often include:

• Leading a horse through an obstacle course (team communication + strategy)

• Building a pattern or task the horse must move through (creativity + collaboration)

• Paired exercises (trust + shared leadership)

• Observation and debrief (what the horse reflected back to the group)

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​What Participants Walk Away With

• Clearer communication

• Stronger group cohesion

• Better emotional awareness

• Respect-based leadership skills

• A positive shared experience​​

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Who It’s Great For

• Workplaces wanting to reboot trust or communication

• Teams experiencing change or growth

• Leadership cohorts

• Burned-out groups who desperately need something real

• Mixed-experience teams

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No riding is required. Everyone, even those who have never met a horse, can participate safely.