Greetings E3A Herd!
As a member of the E3A Board and a Master Trainer, I am incredibly excited to share an update on the E3A Certification Process beginning in 2021!
While the pandemic caused E3A to cancel its in-person arena classes in 2020, the Master Trainers took advantage of the opening in their schedules to collaborate on moving part of the E3A Certification process to an online course and revamping the arena class.
The new Level 1 Certification process still consists of three classes and now is in the following format:
Introduction to the Equine Experiential Education Facilitation Method – A 90 Minute Webinar and Self-Test
Foundations of Equine Experiential Education Facilitation – An 8-Week Online Course and Self-Test
Capstone Arena Experience – A 5 Day Arena Session and Self-Test
The 90 Minute Introductory webinar sets the stage for learning the E3A 5 Question Model of Facilitation. The class covers concepts from the book “Open to Outcome” as well as various experiential learning models that create the framework of the E3A 5 Question Model.
The Foundations of E3 Facilitation Online Course is the next step in preparing certification candidates to facilitate EAL sessions with clients. The course is self-paced over 8 weeks, and includes five live Zoom sessions with two E3A Master Trainers to dive deeper into the course content and provide students with the opportunity to ask questions and get to know fellow E3A Certification candidates prior to working together in person at the Capstone Arena Experience. The content of the online course is primarily comprised of material that was previously covered in the C2 arena session.
Modules include:
An Overview of Equine Experiential Education
Safety
Horse Behavior and Herd Culture
Horse and Human Connection
Equine Partners and Facilities
Preparing to Facilitate
Debriefing
The Role of Powerful Questions
Additional Guidance for Facilitators
Communication for Facilitators
Individual Client Assessments
Once the Foundations of E3 Facilitation Online Course and associated Self-test have successfully been completed, candidates are then eligible to attend the Capstone Arena Experience. During the 5-day in -person Capstone Arena Experience, candidates will be immersed in practicing the E3A 5 Question Facilitation Model with two E3A Master Trainers alongside to coach them. The Capstone Arena Experience also includes a focused session on the horse as a facilitation partner.
Upon successful completion of all three classes and the associated Self-tests, candidates will be awarded the E3A Level 1 Certified Practitioner certificate!
Our first online course cohort of 17 participants began January 15, 2021 and is going superbly! Participants have had positive feedback so far and the Master Trainers teaching the course are enjoying the interactive discussions with participants.
We are looking forward to 2021 being a year of exciting growth for E3A!
Ginny Telego, E3A Board Member and Master Trainer
