Human-Equine Alliances for Learning (HEAL)

21/01/2026

Thank you for participating and sharing a truly wonderful weekend at the Keys to Connection course. Congratulations to all who earned the HEAL Bronze Certification! Leigh Shambo

14/01/2026

Hello Everyone! My name is Emma Reeves, and I am A senior at the University of Kentucky studying Community & Leadership Development. I was given the opportunity to work with Leigh to help her build a stronger community among the program graduates. I have a lot of ideas to revamp the HEAL platform and get people more involved. Some of my ideas, for example, are: highlighting/promoting graduates' new businesses, having people share post-grad stories, having people post workshops they come across that would be of interest to others, and more! I would also love to hear your feedback on what you would like to see more of on this page. So if anyone has ideas or things they want to see, please comment under this post or PM me! I’m excited to get to know you all and help bring everyone together!

06/01/2026

Enjoy this wonderful podcast from HEAL-Designated Instructor Norunn Kogstad (Norway), a doctor and psychiatrist, sharing her journey into the practice of Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy and its benefits to her patients.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/24ocZyXeH0BwFuy5BIlH9o?si=f001d2e2aa434d02
Norunn Kogstad Ashley Bryan Kristin Fernald Kathleen Muglia

The Horse And Beyond · Episode

18/10/2025

Join Leigh Shambo and Pernille Larsen for Keys to Connection live Bronze Certification course in Dronninglund, Denmark! January 16-18, 2026

25/06/2025

Horses are amazing healers, in so many unique ways. Check this out!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16Yi6Dbche/

In a hospital in Calais, France, a 15-year-old stallion named Peyo quietly makes his way from room to room, offering quiet companionship to patients in palliative care. Once a champion show horse, Peyo has found a new calling—one that defies explanation and touches the soul.

Affectionately known as Doctor Peyo, this remarkable horse isn’t a typical therapy animal. He possesses an uncanny instinct for sensing who needs him most. Without direction, Peyo will pause outside a particular room and gently lift one leg—a silent signal to his trainer, Hassen Bouchakour, that someone inside is in need.
Once welcomed in, Peyo stands peacefully at the bedside. Patients and loved ones often reach out to touch his mane, rest their hands on his back, or simply lean into his presence. Sometimes, he stays for hours, offering a wordless comfort where human language falls short.

This extraordinary journey began when Bouchakour noticed Peyo’s natural pull toward people who were ill or emotionally distressed. What started as an observation soon became a mission: to bring solace to those nearing the end of life.
Since 2016, Peyo has become a familiar and cherished figure at Calais Hospital. Families, doctors, and patients alike speak of the profound calm he brings—some even report needing less pain medication after his visits, a testament to the peace he offers simply by being present.

Though science has yet to fully understand how Peyo detects illness or emotional pain, one thing is clear: his impact is powerful, and deeply human. In the quietest of moments, this gentle stallion brings something medicine cannot—comfort, connection, and grace.

22/05/2025

I really enjoy this 2019 talk by Temple Grandin. She is one of my life's biggest heroes, for her important and ongoing work with animals and people. We love you, Dr. Temple Grandin!😍

Temple Grandin How Horses ThinkDenver, Colorado2019

27/02/2025

I field a lot of questions from people interested in equine therapy (or learning) that are essentially questions about "scope of practice". This important topic is reflected in thelanguage we use practitioners use to describe ourselves and our services. Many thanks to my friend Lissa Pohl for this clear and informative article!

Photo by Gillian Vallis. Photo courtesy Lissa Pohl. Over the past 50 years, services that incorporate horses to benefit people have diversified and expanded. Along with the exponential growth has come the proliferation and use of unclear and imprecise terms for naming and describing these services.T...

13/02/2025

Thanks to Lital Diament of MontanaTherapyforMoms for sharing about her HEAL experience!

Lital Diament 2/6/25 Lital Diament 2/6/25 Healing Through Equine Therapy As a young child, I remembered feeling a profound connection to horses. I felt connected, calm, grounded, and less stressed whenever I was around them. However, my fear kept me back from wanting to embark on the journey of ridi...

08/02/2025

Today’s scientists suggest an unseen thread ties all things together; we call this a holistic web of interconnectedness. This e-Book investigates the emerging field view of reality, including that Earth’s magnetic fields carry biologically relevant information that connects all living systems.
Our researchers ask, what is the potential for increasing collective consciousness as people begin to perceive their personal biofields and radiate a heart coherent field? Read about the surprising results of GCI’s Interconnectedness Study, which included participants in 51 countries.
Download for Free The Science of Interconnectivity: Explore the Human-Earth Connection PDF eBook. https://www.heartmath.org/resources/downloads/science-of-interconnectivity-ebook/

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09/01/2025

Happy New Year!