EQUINE-ASSISTED LEARNING IN DALLAS
Equine-Assisted Learning for Confidence, Regulation, and Growth
A hands-on therapeutic experience that helps children build confidence, emotional regulation, communication, and frustration tolerance through guided interaction with horses.
A Different Kind of Learning Experience
Some children learn best by doing. Equine-assisted learning offers a unique, engaging setting where children can practice important life skills in a way that feels active, supportive, and meaningful.
These Equine-Assisted Learning sessions are designed to help children grow in confidence while giving families another path for child behavior support and emotional development.
Each session is designed to support growth in areas that often matter both at home and in everyday life.
Confidence
Emotional regulation
Communication skills
Frustration tolerance
Leadership
Patience and self-awareness
How does Equine-Assisted Learning work?
These sessions are ground-based only, which means children do not ride the horses. Instead, they participate in structured activities such as brushing, leading, and guided interaction with a horse while receiving support and coaching throughout the experience.
This is not horseback riding. The purpose of these sessions are to help children build skills through calm, intentional interaction in a setting that feels active and relational.
A Collaborative Experience
These sessions are offered in partnership with Doreen Bruton, who owns the ranch where the sessions are held and operates nonprofit equine-assisted programs for children and families. Doreen is PATH International certified, and either she or one of her PATH-certified instructors will be present during sessions to oversee horse handling and safety.
My role during the sessions is to guide the coaching and reflection process, helping children connect what they are experiencing with skills like confidence, emotional regulation, leadership, and communication.
Typical Session Structure
Introduction & Ranch Safety
Children are welcomed, introduced to the horses, and guided through basic ranch safety rules and expectations.
Horse Introduction & Groundwork Activity
Children are paired with a horse and participate in groundwork activities such as brushing and leading.
Coaching Prompt & Guided Activity
As children interact with the horses, prompts are introduced around confidence, emotional regulation, communication, leadership, or frustration tolerance.
Reflection & Group Discussion
The session closes with reflection questions and age-appropriate discussion to help children connect the experience to real-life growth.
INVESTMENT
$150/session
Each Equine-Assisted Learning session includes a one-hour small-group experience in a supportive ranch setting, with guided activities focused on confidence, emotional regulation, communication, and frustration tolerance. Parents attend with their child and remain on-site during the session.
Sessions are offered at 2pm on the last Sunday of the month.
What to Expect at the Ranch
Equine-assisted learning sessions are planned as one-hour structured group sessions, typically with around four participants at a time. This small-group format allows children to participate in a supportive environment while still receiving individualized attention within the session.
Parents attend with their child and are required to remain on the premises during the session. In most cases, Brad works directly with the small group of children while parents observe nearby.
How is Equine Assisted Learning so Effective?
For some children, a traditional conversation-based setting is not the easiest place to learn new skills. A horse-centered environment can create a more natural opportunity for children to practice regulation, communication, patience, and confidence in the moment.
This can be especially meaningful for children who benefit from movement, interaction, and experiential learning.
FAQs About Equine-Assisted Learning
Got questions? Here are answers for a few of the most common.
If your question isn’t answered here, don’t hesitate to get in touch, our admin team at North Texas Adult & Child Counseling Center is happy to connect with you.
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Equine-assisted learning is a structured, experiential service that helps children build skills such as confidence, emotional regulation, communication, leadership, and frustration tolerance through guided interaction with horses.
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No. These sessions are ground-based only. Children participate in activities such as brushing, leading, and guided interaction, but there is no horseback riding involved.
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Yes. Parents attend with their child and must remain on the premises during the session, though the coaching activities typically involve Brad working directly with the child group while parents observe nearby.
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Either Doreen Bruton or one of her PATH-certified instructors or staff members will be present to oversee horse handling and safety. PATH International (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International) is a widely recognized certification in the equine-assisted therapy field.
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Sessions are planned as one-hour structured group sessions.
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Sessions are typically planned for around four participants at a time.
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Children should wear comfortable clothes they don’t mind getting a little dusty or dirty, since we will be working around horses and in an outdoor environment.
For safety and comfort, please have your child wear:
Closed-toe shoes (tennis shoes or boots are best — no sandals or crocs)
Long pants or jeans are recommended to protect their legs while around the horses
A comfortable t-shirt or long sleeve shirt depending on the weather
Hair tied back if it is long
We will be doing groundwork activities only, such as brushing and leading the horses, so no riding gear is required.
If the weather is cooler, bringing a light jacket or sweatshirt is also a good idea.
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Safety is a key part of every equine-assisted learning session. Children begin by reviewing ranch safety rules and getting comfortable around the horses before guided activities begin.
Prior experience is not necessary, and support will be provided for your child, according to their comfort level. The horses that your children will be around are calm, comfortable with children, and regularly used with children with special needs.
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While this is a therapeutic experience, it is not considered a true therapy relationship, due to the experiential focus and group aspect of our sessions, as well as the nature of each child and parent’s relationship with parenting coach Brad Williamson. Individual therapy sessions are available through North Texas Adult & Child Counseling Center.
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We’ve partnered with Doreen Bruton, who owns the ranch where the sessions will be held.
494 W Highland St, Southlake, TX 76092
Ready to get started?
Equine-assisted learning is a structured, experiential service that helps children build skills such as confidence, emotional regulation, communication, leadership, and frustration tolerance through guided interaction with horses.