Equine Assisted Peer Support Practitioner Course

The Alpha Mare Course is a peer support project with a unique selling point: horses. At With Horses, we know that the prospect of spending time with horses can motivate and inspire isolated and all kinds of people. However, women have a special affinity with them. As prey animals, horses are powerful yet vulnerable. The psyches of both horses and women are connected as they have a shared understanding of what it can feel like to be prey. Like the lead mare in the horse herd, women are nurturers. They are programmed by society to take care of others and are prone to make personal sacrifices. Due to putting their own needs last, they don't always access help for mental health. This course will help you learn to provide a medium-term, intensive Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) intervention designed to engage isolated women in peer support. Women and girls aged 16+ who experience mental health issues can take part. They learn about horse care and training as well as engaging in mental health discussions, developing life skills, confidence, improved mental and physical health and social networks. The Alpha Mare Course enables women experiencing mental health issues to set boundaries, make healthy choices, build self-esteem and cope with change. The course facilitates peer support as women join together to take part in a meaningful activity and bond over a shared interest. This equips women with the confidence and communication skills to talk about their mental health, form a supportive 'herd' and discover their inner Alpha Mare qualities.