Level 1 · Trauma-Informed Training for Therapists, Coaches & Healing Professionals
Equine-Assisted Learning Facilitator Training
Rediscover your most authentic self through horses, movement, and the wisdom of nature
A grounded, ethical, and embodied Level 1 training in the foundations of Equine-Assisted Learning facilitation, led by Angela Schellenberg, LPC, LMHC, LPCC, and co-facilitated by Rose Mary Riggs, Equine-Assisted Therapist and founder of Shakti Ranch EAL School. Level 1 is the prerequisite for the Shakti Ranch Level 2 Certification. A live training on Zoom with self-paced lessons, hosted on the Angela Schellenberg Members platform.
Enroll Now See the Curriculum
Step onto the land
Where the nervous system remembers how to settle
Program Overview
How horses become co-regulators in healing
This Level 1 training introduces professionals to equine-assisted learning through a trauma-informed, somatic, and relational lens. Designed for therapists, coaches, and healing practitioners, the program explores how horses serve as co-regulators, mirrors, and partners in emotional and nervous-system healing.
It blends nervous-system science, nature-based healing, and trauma-informed equine facilitation, weaving theory together with embodied practice. The course is ideal for those who want to ethically and intuitively integrate equine-assisted learning into their personal or professional path.
Who This Is For
Built for practitioners who want to hold this work well
Therapists and counselors bringing somatic, relational practice into the room
Coaches and grief workers who want a grounded, ethical foundation for equine work
Healing practitioners drawn to nature-based and embodied approaches
Anyone integrating equine-assisted learning into a personal or professional path
What You'll Learn
Three modules, twelve lessons
An arc that moves from foundation and ethics, into the natural world, and home to the body.
Module 1
EAL Fundamentals & Ethos
- History of Horse-Human Partnership
- What is Equine-Assisted Learning?
- Authenticity & Ethics in Facilitation
- Horses as Mirrors of Human Emotion
Module 2
Integration with Nature
- Why Nature Matters in Therapy
- Nature as a Co-Facilitator in Healing
- Nature-Based Storytelling in EAL
- Experiential Learning: The Nature Grid
Module 3
Embodied Movement
- Understanding Body-Based Healing
- Facilitating Grounded Presence
- How Horses Respond to Human Body Language
- Connecting with the Animal Body
The Core Concepts
What you'll walk away knowing
The difference between EAL, equine-assisted therapy, and therapeutic riding, and where this work belongs.
The facilitator's role as a co-regulator, not an instructor or clinician.
How horses read body language, breath, and nervous-system cues rather than words.
Titration and pendulation as somatic tools for nervous-system regulation.
Polyvagal basics: sympathetic, parasympathetic, and ventral vagal states.
Nature as co-facilitator: the Nature Grid and storytelling with natural objects.
A Day In The Training
What a training day looks like
A full eight-hour day, paced with breaks and built around experiential practice.
Learning Objectives
By the end, you will be able to
Define the evolution of the horse-human partnership
Identify the ethical responsibilities of an EAL facilitator
Apply five-senses grounding and the Nature Grid
Describe somatic co-regulation with horses
Demonstrate facilitator neutrality and embodied presence
Built For Clinicians
Aligned with five NBCC content areas
This Level 1 training maps to the following NBCC-approved content areas, as outlined in Policy Section G.
Counseling Theory, Practice & the Counseling Relationship. Foundational counseling theory applied to experiential, somatic work.
Human Growth & Development. Emotional regulation, body-based awareness, and nervous-system literacy.
Social & Cultural Foundations. Diverse cultural narratives around horses and healing, and culturally sensitive facilitation.
Group Dynamics & Counseling. Group process and trauma-informed experiential group work in equine settings.
Counselor Professional Identity & Practice. Professional scope, ethics, and trauma-informed care in alternative modalities.
A Glimpse
Moments from the work
Your Facilitators
Taught by two women who live this work
Angela Schellenberg
Lead Facilitator · LPC, LMHC, LPCC
Angela is a trauma therapist and EMDR-certified practitioner whose work is rooted in grief, attachment, and nervous-system repair.
She leads this training with a somatic, attachment-informed lens, holding the nervous-system and trauma-care heart of the work.
Rose Mary Riggs
Co-Facilitator · Founder, Shakti Ranch EAL School
Rose Mary is an Equine-Assisted Therapist and the founder of Shakti Ranch EAL School. A lifelong horsewoman, she is a gifted equine behaviorist with a deep understanding of trauma-informed group work.
She co-facilitates alongside Angela, and her school’s Level 2 Certification builds directly on this Level 1 training.
The Credential
You'll leave with a certificate in hand
Every participant who completes the training receives a Shakti Ranch Certificate of Completion for the Equine-Assisted Learning Facilitator Training, Level 1, a trauma-informed certification program.
This program is approved for eight NBCC continuing education clock hours. Your certificate confirms the hours you earn on completion.
Shakti Ranch has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. ______. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Shakti Ranch is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
The course lives on the Members platform
Your Level 1 training is already built and waiting inside Angela Schellenberg Members. The welcome orientation, every lesson, and your progress all live in one calm, private space.
- ✓Self-paced lessons alongside the live sessions
- ✓Track your progress, lesson by lesson
- ✓Your certificate and 8 NBCC clock hours on completion
8 NBCC Hours
Equine-Assisted Learning: Level 1 Foundations
0 of 17 lessons complete
Welcome to the Course
EAL Fundamentals & Ethos
Integration with Nature
← Continuing education
Start Here
Welcome to Equine-Assisted Learning Facilitator, Level 1
We’re so honored to have you here. Your presence signals a real commitment to this work, to the horses, and to the clinicians and clients you’ll one day hold space for.
Tuition & Enrollment
Reserve your place in the next cohort
Equine-Assisted Learning Facilitator, Level 1
Rediscover your most authentic self
Your tuition includes everything you need to complete the training and step into the work with confidence:
- Live sessions on Zoom for experiential learning, demonstrations, and guided discussion
- Self-paced lessons: video lectures, reflection prompts, and reading assignments
- The Shakti Ranch EAL Manual (digital copy)
- Guided journal reflections and a post-course assessment
- Ethical foundations for working with horses and clients
- Lifetime access to the course platform and updates
Tuition
$600
One-time payment, with lifetime access to the course on the Members platform.
Enroll NowA prerequisite for Level 2. Completing Level 1 qualifies you for the Shakti Ranch Level 2 Certification program.
Also From Angela
More continuing education ahead
Grief as Attachment Rupture
A 6-Week Virtual Intensive for Clinicians
Angela’s original clinical framework for identifying and treating grief that stems from attachment rupture, beyond bereavement. Built for therapists, grief coaches, and somatic practitioners.
$795 founding rate · $1,200 standard
Join the WaitlistGood To Know
Common questions
Will I receive CE hours?
Yes. This program is approved for eight NBCC continuing education clock hours, earned by completing the full training. Every participant also receives a certificate of completion.
Who is this training for?
Therapists, counselors, coaches, and healing practitioners who want a trauma-informed foundation for integrating equine-assisted learning into their work.
Do I need horse experience?
No. You don’t need to own a horse or have any riding experience. The work is relational and on the ground.
How is the training delivered?
This is a live Level 1 course hosted on the Angela Schellenberg Members platform. You join the live sessions and revisit every recorded replay anytime through your member login.
What does certification require?
Full attendance, active participation with your camera on for the live virtual format, and completion of the short assessment.
What if I miss part of the training?
Full participation is required for CE credit, and there are no make-up sessions. If you miss part of the course, you can re-enroll in a future cohort to complete certification.
How much is the training?
Tuition is $600, a one-time payment that includes lifetime access to the course and all updates on the Members platform.
Does this lead to a higher certification?
Yes. Level 1 is the prerequisite for the Shakti Ranch Level 2 Certification program, so it is your foundation for going deeper in equine-assisted work.
What are your refund and access policies?
Full refund if you cancel 14 or more days before the start date, 50% within 14 days, and none once the training has begun. Need an accommodation? Let us know at least 14 days ahead.
