Professional Training and Team-Building Equine-Assisted Retreats

Equine-assisted team-building offers an engaging, experiential way to improve workplace communication, leadership, trust, collaboration, and problem-solving. Located on 240 beautiful acres in the West Houston area, these customized retreats combine ground-based activities with a herd of 15 horses, outdoor mindfulness exercises, and guided team reflection.

Horses are intuitive and highly responsive to movement, behavior, and changes in their environment. Their immediate, nonjudgmental responses can help participants become more aware of communication patterns, leadership styles, boundaries, and team dynamics. Unlike traditional corporate team-building activities, working alongside horses encourages teams to remain present, communicate clearly, and adapt together.

This strength-based experience gives businesses, nonprofit organizations, healthcare professionals, schools, and leadership teams an opportunity to step away from daily demands, reconnect, and develop practical skills that can transfer to the workplace.

Benefits of Equine-Assisted Team-Building

Improved Team Communication

Horses respond to clear, consistent communication and coordinated action. Guided activities help team members practice listening, giving directions, reading body language, and working collaboratively toward shared goals.

Greater Trust and Connection

Trust is essential in both horse-human interactions and successful workplace relationships. Experiential exercises can help participants strengthen mutual trust, recognize individual strengths, and build more meaningful professional connections.

Leadership Development

Working with horses creates opportunities to explore different leadership approaches. Participants can learn how confidence, clarity, flexibility, emotional awareness, and nonverbal communication influence their ability to guide and support others.

Creative Problem-Solving and Adaptability

Completing challenges with an equine partner encourages teams to think creatively, adjust their strategies, and remain flexible. These problem-solving skills can translate directly to workplace projects, leadership responsibilities, and organizational change.

Stress Reduction and Team Resilience

Time outdoors with horses can offer a restorative break from workplace demands. Mindfulness exercises and nature-based activities encourage participants to slow down, become more present, and explore healthier responses to stress.

What to Expect During Your Retreat

Each equine-assisted team-building retreat is facilitated by trained professionals and customized around the team’s identified needs, strengths, and goals. Activities may include:

• Leadership challenges: Collaborate to guide a horse through an activity or obstacle.
• Nonverbal communication exercises: Explore how body language, positioning, and movement affect communication.
• Collaborative problem-solving: Develop and revise strategies while working toward a shared objective.
• Outdoor mindfulness exercises: Practice present-moment awareness and stress-management skills in a natural setting.
• Team reflection discussions: Connect observations from the activities to communication, relationships, and goals in the workplace.

No previous horse experience is needed. All interactions are completed from the ground, and no horseback riding is involved. Retreats are held outdoors and are subject to appropriate weather conditions.

Retreat Length and Group Size

Equine-assisted corporate and organizational retreats may be scheduled in blocks ranging from four to eight hours.

• Group size: 4–20 participants
• Half-day retreat: 4 hours
• Full-day retreat: 8 hours
• Location: 240-acre equine facility in the West Houston area
• Format: Outdoor, ground-based activities with no riding

1. 1. Schedule an initial planning consultation.
      A one-hour intake meeting is held with team leaders or managers to identify organizational goals, participant needs, and the preferred timeframe.
   2. Choose the retreat date and format.
      Select a half-day or full-day experience and review the location, schedule, participation guidelines, and safety procedures.
   3. Participate in the retreat.
      Your team completes customized equine-assisted activities, mindfulness exercises, and facilitated discussions during the reserved block of time.
   4. Complete a post-retreat evaluation.
      Participants provide feedback about their experience, learning, and opportunities for applying insights within the workplace.

   Contact Amanda Martin Counseling today to schedule an initial consultation and begin planning your equine-assisted team-building retreat in West Houston.

• • Half-day retreat for 4–10 participants: $3,000
  • Full-day retreat for 4–10 participants: $6,000

  Contact Amanda Martin Counseling for pricing and scheduling information for groups of 11–20 participants or to discuss a customized retreat experience.

Amanda Martin, PhD, LMFT-S, LPC, BCN-L, is an EMDRIA Certified EMDR Therapist™, EMDRIA Approved Consultant™, and EMDRIA Approved Trainer™. She provides professional EMDR education through live webinars, in-person workshops, and on-demand courses offered by CompassionWorks.

Private group training is available for advanced EMDR workshops and EMDR basic training. Counseling practices, treatment programs, agencies, and other organizations may contact the office to discuss customized topics, scheduling, group eligibility, and pricing.

Learn more about EMDR professional standards and credentials through the EMDR International Association