The EAL Community of Practice™

Wednesday, April 30, 2025 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

Diving into Your Strengths & Strengths-Based Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL)

Presenters: Jeff Arnold, President, Leadership Adventures, Inc.

PATH INTL. CEUs:  1.5 CE

We'll dive into the power of CliftonStrengths and its use and applicability both internally (within your organization) and externally (for EAL applications). Learn from a certified CliftonStrengths Coach, and discover your Top 5 themes of most natural talent - which are your greatest sources of potential strengths! A CliftonStrengths Top 5 Code is included for those attendees who have not previously completed the CliftonStrengths assessment. We'll also look at the breakdown of Strengths from the results of hundreds in the industry, and share insights and trends. 

Thursday, May 22, 2025 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

EAL Research with Impact

Presenters:
John Lyons, University of Kentucky, Director of the Center for Innovation in Population Health and Professor of Health Management and Policy
Kimberly I. Tumlin, PhD, MS, MPH, University of Kentucky, Faculty, Center for Innovation in Population Health; Assistant Professor, Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition, College of Health Sciences Research Director, Equestrian Athlete Initiative

PATH INTL. CEUs: 1.5 CE

Are you interested in capturing change in EAL, but need a starting point? Transformational Collaboration Outcomes Management (TCOM) is a theory of change that emphasizes assessments, shared visioning, and collaborative decision-making. TCOM permits you to capture meaningful change from the stories which define people by more than their deficit. Fostering learning is core to EAL, and TCOM makes a natural starting place to ensure individuals are active partners in their experiences thus describing the transformation often observed with horse interactions. In this session we will both explore how organizations must act as agents of change, how applying the TCOM approach can help define transformations in EAL and explain a means for developing partnerships in applying TCOM.

Wednesday, June 18, 2025 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

Veterans EAL Programming

Presenters:
Courtney Gramlich, Executive Director, Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, Slippery Rock University
Betsy Kemeny, PhD, Associate Professor, Slippery Rock University

PATH INTL. CEUs: 1.5 CE

This veteran session will focus on the ins and outs of having a thriving veterans program: the need for funding and who it could encompass, where you can go to find veterans that want to participate, who we serve, length of a typical program and what programming encompasses, community partnerships, research components of the program, accommodations and adaptations that can be needed, precautions and contradictions when working with the veteran population. Any other questions people might have will be answered throughout or at the end.  Zoom session will also include a "walking tour" and a demonstration.

Thursday, July 24, 2025 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

True Safety Comes From the Relationship: A look at connected horsemanship principles in practice 

Presenters: 
Kate Naylor, LMFT, Director of Trainer Development and Community Engagement, The Natural Lifemanship Institute
Tanner Jobe, NL Director of Equine Professional (EP) Development & Director of Media, The Natural Lifemanship Institute

PATH INTL. CEUs: 1.5 CE

Safety is a foundational topic in any equine discipline, but perhaps none more so than in Equine Assisted Services (EAS). When we pair large animals with people who have little to no horse experience, safety is - and should be - a priority. 

But what do we mean when we say “safety”? And how do we go about securing it?

Join Natural Lifemanship trainers Tanner Jobe and Kate Naylor as they explore how intentional conversations with our horses develop their brains to achieve safer EAS sessions, while prioritizing equine welfare and acting as burnout prevention for both horse and human. Participants will get to see Connected Horsemanship in practice, consider the value of ongoing equine development, and learn practical tools for their own equine programs.

Thursday, August 28, 2025 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

Youth EAL Programming

Presenters:

Kay Barkwill, CEO, Horses with Hearts

PATH INTL. CEUs: 1.5 CE

In this session we'll review partnerships and results of EAL programming with youth, including our partnership with Boys & Girls Club to do a Horse Power Summer Camp, how to get corporate sponsors such as B&G sponsors a 4 day camp for both their K-2 grade children and a 4 day camp for their middle/high school students.

For the younger campers we provide Horse Power Reading and EAL sessions.  The Horse Powered Reading session allows children to interact with the horse

on the ground and uses toys and props to identify obstacles and learn five critical reading skills. (horsepoweredreading.com).  Our EAL sessions help children learn communication, self-care, confidence, and resiliency using the horse as their partner. We'll also review our extended EAL sessions for older youth where we use the 

Sources of Strength's platform.  Sources of Strengths is a national program that takes a strengths-based, upstream approach to preventing negative outcomes while promoting well-being, help-seeking, resilience, healthy coping and a sense of belonging. We'll also review our Equine-Assisted Leadership Development Academy approach with CASA of the Eastern Panhandle to provide leadership development for their teen leadership groups as well as staff.  Finally, we'll cover our Seasonal EAL programing for youth and young adults who are dealing with a variety of complex issues. Individuals with a variety of diagnoses such as trauma, PTSD, anxiety, ADHD, Autism have found the EAL sessions assist them in learning coping skills and resilience to improve their social skills and activities of daily living. Individuals participate in a 6 week semester meeting 1 time a week for 30 minutes.  Lastly, we'll cover our "My Village" program for Youth - a partnership with the Brian O'Neill Jr. Foundation allows us to host "My Village" once a Month during our open season (April-Oct). These events are focused around The Sources of Strength which is a suicide prevention program for middle/high school teens. We also provide a variety of other equine assisted learning sessions focused on resilience, focusing on martial arts, art therapy, music therapy, yoga and mood management techniques. This gives teens the opportunity to explode new things which can add positivity and strength based learning. 

Thursday, September 25, 2025 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

Hope and Activation: An innovative program for people living with a diagnosis of dementia and their care partners

Presenters: Nancy Schier Anzelmo MSG, Co-Founder, Connected Horse, Paula Hertel MSW, Co-Founder, Connected Horse

PATH INTL. CEUs: 0.5 CE, 1 DE

The purpose of this session is to acquaint attendees with an exciting new research-based, equine guided learning and engagement program for people living with dementia and their care partners. This session will expose attendees to an evidence-based program with equine assisted learning principles . The highlights of the program and the benefits of activation after a diagnosis will be explored while considering offering programs to this population.
Session Learning Objectives:

• To gain knowledge of working with older adult individuals living with a dementia diagnosis and their care partners.
• Obtain insight and knowledge and special consideration for EAL Centers working with this special population
• Understand the foundation of the Connected Horse research project and program of evidence derived findings

Thursday, October 30, 2025 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

Engaging Your Staff & Volunteers

Presenters: 
Paula Del Giudice, Executive Director, Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center
Lindsay Shepard, Director of Volunteer Involvement and Digital Media, Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center
Jessica Comunale, Human Resources Manager, Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center

PATH INTL. CEUs: 1.5 CE

Join us to understand the journey of building engagement internally with your staff and volunteers.  We've embarked on implementing the Gallup Q12 Employee Engagement Survey twice - we'll share the process for doing this, as well as our results from year 1, what we implemented to drive engagement after year 1 results, and year 2 results.  In the process, we've implemented Strengths-Based Leadership and a number of initiatives including Catalytic Coaching and others.  We'll walk through the process and benefits (qualitative and quantitative) of our approach, as well as lessons learned. 

Thursday, December 04, 2025 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

Reading, Riding and Arithmetic

Presenters:  Jo Anne Miller, Executive Director, Brook Hill Farm

PATH INTL. CEUs: 1.5 CE

This presentation is based on a research paper I wrote (Applying Equine-Assisted Learning: A Program for At-Risk Youth ) that is being published in the HETI Research Journal Summer 2025. Based on existing theories by Dr. Steve de Schazar, (envisioning the future and making small steps to achieve that outcome), Anders Ericsson (deliberate practice) and Ann Masten (resilience), working on these skills partnering with horses leads to academic success in school. Combined with actual academic lessons in the arena, the at-risk youth studied in this paper showed a 100% improvement in grades and behaviors in the classroom, as well as 100% graduation rate of the participants.

Thursday, January 22, 2026 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

De-Mystifying EAL for Corporate Groups

Presenters:  Jeff Arnold, President, Leadership Adventures, Inc.

PATH INTL. CEUs: 1.5 CE

Session Details: Interested in offering Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) to corporate or organizational groups but not sure where or how to start? Join us to learn about the importance, impact and how-to’s of offering EAL to local corporate or organizational groups. We’ll demystify the process based on our experience of helping more than 60 Centers. We’ll cover a framework and checklist of steps and considerations, along with lessons learned and pro-tips (including audience best practice sharing)!

Learning Objectives:

1. To share the importance and impact of offering EAL to local corporate groups

2. To walk through a framework of steps to demystify the process, including obtaining contacts of local businesses, developing or acquiring EAL programming, business development and outreach process, contracts, and instructor training/certifications

3. To share first-hand Center stories, corporate stories, and pro-tips within each step

Bio:

Jeff has 15 years of Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) design, delivery, and implementation experience within a 31-year corporate consulting career focused on operational excellence, organizational design and leadership development. He has worked with more than 100 CEOs and client organizations world-wide, including Fortune 10 companies, non-profit organizations, colleges/universities, military and veterans organizations, police and first responders, and faith-based organizations. His organization has partnered with more than 60 therapeutic horsemanship centers to design, deliver and implement accelerated, experiential Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) to local organizations., colleges/universities, veterans, police & first responders, and youth to advance their leadership skills using EAL. In 2023, his organization developed the biennial EAL Summit™ to help organizations collaborate, innovate, and accelerate their EAL journey. He has been the recipient of the Inspiring Leadership Award by the world's largest consulting firm as measured by revenue, a Fortune Global 500 company, is published in McGraw-Hill's Industrial Engineering Handbook, and was recently featured in JH Style magazine and PATH Intl. Strides magazine discussing the use of experiential, accelerated, equine-assisted leadership development as part of the Equine-Assisted Leadership Development Academy™ (EALDA™).

Thursday, February 19, 2026 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

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Presenters:  TBD

PATH INTL. CEUs: TBD

Session Details: TBD

Thursday, March 26, 2026 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

Pony Pals - A reading program

Presenters:  Kristen Marcus, Executive Director, CHAPS Equine Assisted Services

PATH INTL. CEUs: TBD

Session Details: Interested in offering a reading program to young children? I will walk through how we planned and implemented a reading program with a local private school.

Learning Objectives:

1. Plan a reading program

2. Logistics 

3. Implementation

Bio:

Kristen is a life-long equestrian and Wyoming native. She has been in the EAS industry for just over 20 years and has held several different roles. She is certified through PATH International as an ESMHL and Driving instructor. She is certified with ARIA for english and western riding as well as stable management. Kristen also holds an EFL certification from the HERD Institute. 

Thursday, April 16, 2026 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

Horse Behavior & the 5 Domains Model of Welfare 

Presenters:  Ellen Rankins, Assistant Professor & Director of Texan Therapeutic Riding, Department of Animal Science, Tarleton State University 

PATH INTL. CEUs: TBD

Session Details: Have you ever wondered what horse behavior can tell us about their welfare? Join us to learn more about the importance of equine behavior, how we measure behavior in applied and research settings, and what behavior can tell us about equine welfare. You'll gain a deeper understanding of the 5 Domains Model of Welfare and why conceptual frameworks for understanding animal welfare are so important. 

Learning Objectives:
1) Describe why we observe and measure equine behavior 

2) Demonstrate methods for observing and recording equine behavior 

3) Describe the 5 Domains Model of Animal welfare 

4) Discuss what information behavior provides about an animal's state of welfare

Bio:

Ellen Rankins, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Tarleton State University where her research focuses on equine-assisted services (EAS) and equine welfare. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree at Auburn University in Animal Sciences – Equine Science and went on to earn a Master of Science degree at the University of Florida in Animal Sciences and a Ph.D. in Endocrinology and Animal Biosciences from Rutgers University. Before joining the faculty at Tarleton State University, Dr. Rankins completed postdoctoral training at the Temple Grandin Equine Center at Colorado State University. She also serves as Director of Texan Therapeutic Riding at Tarleton State University. When not in the lab or office, she can be found teaching adaptive/therapeutic riding lessons. Ellen has been a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, International (PATH Intl.) certified instructor since 2012 and a Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) certified instructor since 2024. Her hours spent in the riding arena have honed her research interests, which has spanned a variety of fields including kinesiology, behavior, and physiology.

Thursday, May 21, 2026 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

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Presenters:  TBD

PATH INTL. CEUs: TBD

Session Details: TBD

Thursday, June 25, 2026 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

Pegasus Refresh the Farm Service Learning and Leadership for Corporations

Presenters:  Jeffrey Rumpf, Executive Director, Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, Inc.

PATH INTL. CEUs: TBD

Session Details: Therapeutic Riding Farms provide a great opportunity to engage large numbers of Corporate Volunteers in the work of the farm. Corporations love the opportunity to be outside in a beautiful environment working together with the values and hands on excitement that built our country.... Painting and fixing Fencing like modern day Tom Sawyers, replacing Rail Road Ties , Road Building like John Henry and Gardening and farm and orchard planting like Jonny Appleseed. Corporations gain teamwork, leadership, connection and community while fixing our farms. Just as importantly, they enter our donor pipeline, engaging in charitable cultivation for the future. 

Learning Objectives:
1) Overview of Pegasus Refresh the Farm Initiative in 4 years, growing from 5 volunteers to 500, from $400 dollars raised to $100,000, from one company to 10 companies (30 minutes) 2) Startup, Paperwork, Marketing the Concept to Corporations (20 minutes)  3) Service Project day, agendas and management, hands on success and safety. (20 minutes) 4)Corporate Cultivation and Funding from materials reimbursement to Foundation access to Marketing sponsorships, to individual donors. (20 Minutes)   

Bio:

Jeff is a program centric Executive Director with a strong and inspired passion for the mission to build community and culture around shared goals. He is also a highly trained and highly effective fundraiser raising over $20,000,000 for his nonprofit organizations. Jeff has 30 years’ experience working with the under resourced, disenfranchised, disabled and those most vulnerable. He does not hesitate to roll up his sleeves and take on the biggest challenges for the most challenged people.

Jeff is the Executive Director of Pegasus. Pegasus uses equine assisted programs to restore and change lives! Jeff is excited to share a leading-edge holistic Pegasus program called HEAL-TH. Working with Horses, participants reach important Physical, Cognitive and Social Emotional goals that change their lives. In the last 7 years Jeff more than doubled programs, tripled earned revenue, rebuilt the facilities with an innovative corporate sponsorship “refresh the farm” volunteer initiative and raised Pegasus GuideStar rating from 1-star to the best in class 4-star rating. From staff development to facilities to fundraising Jeff has had top-tier results.

Thursday, July 23, 2026 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

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Presenters:  TBD

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Session Details: TBD

Thursday, August 20, 2026 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

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PATH INTL. CEUs: TBD

Session Details: TBD

Thursday, September 17, 2026 -  12:00pm - 1:30pm EST

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Presenters:  TBD

PATH INTL. CEUs: TBD

Session Details: TBD