...with Equine Assisted Team Building and Leadership Development OPPORTUNITIES

IMPROVE TEAM DYNAMICS & COMMUNICATION 
GROW LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL 
OVERCOME WORKPLACE CHALLENGES 
ENCOURAGE INNOVATION & CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING 
AND HAVE FUN WITH EQUINE ASSISTED LEARNING (E.A.L.) 

De Frates Horsemanship is proud to offer Lead the Change EAL Programs to teams of all kinds,
businesses large and small, and to all the leaders that support them.

E.A.L. Frequently Asked Questions

Visit LeadTheChange-EAL.com to learn more

What is Equine Assisted Learning (E.A.L.)?

Equine Assisted Learnings (E.A.L.) are learning programs or developmental opportunities that use horses to enrich the participants experience. Equine Assisted Learning pairs concepts from horsemanship, horse behavior, and herd dynamics with traditional team development and leadership theories to create unique learning experiences that have a profound and lasting impact on participants.

How do horses enrich training opportunities?

Horses are prey animals who live in groups called herds. The very survival of each and every herd member depends on the effectiveness of the herd leader and the herd's ability to function as a cohesive team. To ensure their continued survival, horses must constantly be aware of threats to their herd, including predators, weak leadership, and poor team dynamics. We can watch this survival instinct in our domestic horses as their reactions to their environment will clearly dictate whether all is well and they are 'at ease', verses if they perceive a potential threat to their safety and are 'at attention'. When we work with horses, they provide us with immediate feedback on how they perceive and categorize us based on these principles. It is instantly clear whether the horses consider us a good leader, worthy herd member, or a potential threat. Best of all, horses continually reassess everything in their environment, including us, and will respond differently to even subtle changes we make allowing us to test and fine tune our skills. With feedback from the horses, even the most successful leaders and teams will enhance their leadership presence, communication skills, and team dynamics, helping to unlock a new level of performance.

​How will E.A.L. benefit me, my team, my organization, my business?

E.A.L. offerings provide your group with an unparalleled experience that combines all the benefits of classroom trainings, team building exercises, personal development opportunities, and fun events into one unforgettable outing. Getting out of the office and into the arena with the horses will energize your participants as they unite to achieve a common goal. Each E.A.L. session is a unique experience that has countless benefits to the individual, the team, and the organization. 

• Build trust, respect, and relationships
• Celebrate and embrace diversity
• Encourage innovation and 'out of the box' thinking
• Enhance verbal and non-verbal communication
• Increase self-awareness and emotional IQ
• Improve individual and team performance
• Strengthen leadership and strategic thinking skills 
• Tackle your toughest workplace challenges

Horses are aware of even the slightest change in their environment and will respond accordingly to ever changing factors, meaning no two E.A.L. sessions will be the same. This ensures that each E.A.L. experience is unlike the last, giving you and your team the ability to gain additional benefit from multiple sessions. ​​

Is horse experience necessary to participate in E.A.L.? 

Absolutely not! Quite possibly the greatest thing about E.A.L. is that everyone can participate and everyone will benefit, no experience required. In fact, E.A.L. will even challenge and impress your team members with lots of horse experience. There are no mobility or exercise requirements to be an E.A.L. participant. Heck, participants don't even need to touch a horse if they don't want to so there are even engaging participation options for those who may have some fear.

​Why should you use De Frates Horsemanship's Lead the Change EAL for your E.A.L. experience?

Lead the Change EAL Programs presented by De Frates Horsemanship offers you, your leaders, and your teams, the right combination of talent to ensure your E.A.L. session leaves your participants begging for more. Dana De Frates, our lead facilitator, combines extensive horse expertise as a lifelong equestrian and certified horse trainer and clinician, with 20+ years of experience in the high-tech corporate world where she has organized, developed and facilitated team building retreats, fun events, onboarding programs, and leadership and developmental trainings. In addition to knowing exactly what it takes to make your event successful, Dana is certified to deliver corporate equine assisted events by the creator of Equine Assisted Philosophy, Greg Kersten of the O.K. Corral Series. ​Not only are we uniquely qualified to make your E.A.L. experience amazing, we also offer you and your participants an incredible location and gorgeous facilities designed to make your event a success.

​Where are E.A.L. sessions held?

E.A.L. sessions are held at our facility, Flying P Ranch, conveniently located on the scenic Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail in Gilroy, CA. We are close enough for an afternoon visit, but far enough away to give your participants a totally fresh perspective. Our facility has amenities that will make all your participants feel comfortable, including a full kitchen and a fully plumbed, all gender restroom. We also have ample paved parking that can accommodate groups of all sizes from minivans to tour buses.

​How long do E.A.L. Sessions last?

Our standard programs are available in 1/2 day (4 hour) or full day (8 hour) increments. We can also customize a program to fit into your teams existing event, offsite or summit. We do suggest a minimum of 4 hours to fully immerse yourself in the E.A.L. experience but you can experience the magic of E.A.L. in as little as 2 hours.

What do E.A.L. Sessions cost?

Our pricing structure varies based on the number of participants and the length of the session. Larger groups require additional facilitators, both horse and human, to ensure a consistent experience regardless of group size. 
​
Individual Leadership Development Sessions: 
90 min: $350

Team Building Sessions:
2-15 Participants
1/2 Day Session (4hrs): $200/person ($1000 minimum)
Full Day Session (8hrs): $320/person ($1600 minimum)

16-29 Participants
1/2 Day Session (4hrs): $185/person
Full Day Session (8hrs): $300/person

30+ participants
Contact us to discuss options.

Need something custom?
We are happy to work with you design a session to fit into your existing summit or offsite. Let us know what you need and we'll send you a quote. Our minimum session length is 2 hours. 

We can also help you arrange catering, or you are welcome to bring your own food and beverages. 

Other E.A.L. Services are much more expensive. Why do you cost so much less?

There are lots of reasons why other E.A.L. providers are much more expensive, the most common is that most do not own the facilities where events are hosted, nor do they own the horses used. We are proud to call our facility and our equine facilitators ours, which not only keeps our costs low, but also allows us to ensure a consistent experience session after session. ​Also, in service of our mission to help everyone live their best lives through the practice of horsemanship, we do everything we can to make our sessions financially accessible. ​

Do you offer any discounts?

Yes! We proudly offer discounts to two groups: First Responders, Active Military, and Veterans (FRMV) and Minority Owned Small Businesses (MOSB). Contact us for details. 

Ready to schedule your E.A.L. Session?

Visit our sister site, LeadtheChange-EAL.com for more information or contact Dana: leadthechange-eal@gmail.com or 1(408)548-PONY (7669)​

Who have you worked with in the past?

​Our client list is extensive and includes a slew of 'name brand' companies like Apple, Cisco, GEICO, Google, IBM, and VM Ware, plus many local small companies. We are also thrilled to welcome teams of other types and often host family reunions and bridal parties.

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