Discipleship with Horses (DWH) is our biblically based experiential Christian Equine Assisted Activities & Learning program. It seamlessly integrates biblical principles and scripture with hands-on horse interactions to promote personal and spiritual growth, healing, and maturity. As with traditional equine assisted learning (EAL), it also facilitates the development and enhancement of essential life skills such as self-awareness, self-confidence, empathy, compassion, communication, leadership, and so many others!

DWH is a gospel-driven equine assisted program in which principles of discipleship with Jesus Christ are intentionally employed to frame and guide the activities, relationships, and learning experiences with horses. While other Christian organizations may engage with horses for therapeutic or recreational purposes to enhance spiritual well-being, DWH experientially integrates biblical discipleship principles directly into the equine assisted activities and learning.

In DWH, biblical parables, principles, and behaviors modeled by Christ are not only designed into the sessions but also freely incorporated within sessions as the Holy Spirit leads. Ground-based and even occasional mounted activities provide opportunities for experiencing authentic relationships with the horses, which in turn help model and deepen one’s relationship with God and other people.

DWH also encourages awareness of God’s faithfulness and seeks to help participants discover and strengthen their identity and self-worth in Christ from a healthy biblical perspective. After a number of sessions, participants may even begin to demonstrate increased self-worth, self-confidence, decreased behavioral challenges, and improved family, school, social, and work dynamics.

DWH strives to have relationships with horses mirror the biblical relationships Christians are called to have with Jesus Christ and each other. In doing so, DWH helps bring greater clarity and appreciation to the horse interactions as well as introduce and vividly demonstrate the relatable power and truth of God’s Word.

The ultimate goal of DWH is spiritual growth in Christ for each participant, involving the horse as an authentic, non-judgmental partner in potentially transformative experiences that help increase one’s faith, trust, empathy, compassion, and a deeper connection to and love for God’s Word.

By the way, even horses respond wonderfully to the simple and practical biblical application of God’s grace, mercy, and faithfulness, especially when offered through Spirit-led participants.

With DWH, the main reason to spend time with your horse is the love of the relationship, while the equine-assisted activities and learning (EAA/EAL) are simply things the participants get to do together with the horses!

From grooming for mindfulness and connection, through groundwork activities that cultivate authentic mutual trust, confidence, and respect, to occasional mounted activities, participants enhance their spiritual understanding, essential life skills, and partnership with horses. They also come to understand and appreciate both equine behaviors and their own relationship with the Lord in ways that can guide them into closer and healthier connections and relationships with both humans and horses, all while honoring and glorifying God in Christ!