An Equine Partnership for enhanced AWARENESS

EQUINE EXPERIENCES

With tori dabasinskas

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist – MA, LMFT, LPCC, AF-EMDR, S-PSB, ESMHL

What is AN EQUINE EXPERIENCE?

As a variation of our counseling retreat, an equine partner joins us for an experiential opportunity.

As a retired equine therapist, I have the privilege of partnering with experienced equine professionals to offer thoughtfully designed horse-assisted experiences that deepen self-awareness and strengthen the way leaders and individuals relate to others. This is an organic outdoor experience separate and distinct in its own way from a therapy appointment.

Inspired by the beauty and spirit of the Pacific Northwest, each experience incorporates our PNW framework: Protection, Nurture, and Wisdom. Through meaningful interactions with horses, participants gain fresh insight into these essential relational qualities, discovering how they influence trust, connection, leadership, and personal growth.

These brief, experiential encounters provide a unique opportunity to slow down, reflect, and increase relational awareness in a peaceful Pacific Northwest setting.

Goals may include increased insight and awareness of leadership styles, mood regulation, confidence, focus, social awareness, assertiveness and empathy. 

Mirador Retreats equine therapy client with mr shot
“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
— Winston Churchill

Who should consider an equine experience?

If you appreciate animals and nature, and want to address self awareness in how you relate to others, an equine experience may be for you, your family or your team. Horses have a unique ability to sense emotions and react accordingly. An experience with an equine partner gives you a special opportunity to build confidence, trust, emotional regulation and more.

experience examples

Your experience will be tailored to its theme or focus.

Hands-on Stations:

  • Equine touch and grooming 

  • Lead rope leading: verbal, non verbal, obstacles

  • Equine training and guidance

PNW Themes: 

  • Leadership: Strength through acts of service 

  • Relationships: Trust 

  • Communication: Compassion and awareness

PREPARING FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE

  • Please dress warmly, wear close-toed shoes and prepare to get a little dirty. 

  • Basic safety and horsemanship will be taught. Both humans and horses are interested in being safe with each other.

pricing

Pricing starts at $175/hour per person. Total price is dependent on these factors:

  • Number of people attending

  • Number of horses needed at one time

  • Number of equine specialists

  • Number of hours

Pricing includes:

  • Education on how the equine experience connects to the individual or team objectives

  • Hands-on experience (groundwork - no riding)

  • Concluding self-awareness wrap-up

My TRAINING & experience

As a professional specializing in peoples’ stories and their relationships with others, combining my professional counseling training with horses has always been on my radar. 

The therapeutic benefit of horses has been around since the dawn of time, and scientific research now supports this finding.  I began my journey with horses at age 10, and began my professional journey with clients in my early 20’s. As my professional specialties honed in on anxiety, conflict, and trauma, my desire to incorporate equine experiences has grown over the past 30 years.  Read my complete set of credentials here.

There are so many to whom I owe thanks, influencing and teaching me, both past and present. Here is just a handful of those to whom I am grateful: 

  • Cindy Girdis and Sandpaper: my first teachers

  • Path Int’l

  • NCEFT, Woodside, CA,(thank you Board and Dad)

  • ONSITE WORKSHOPS, Cumberland Furnace, TN, (thank you Megan Repass)  

  • LITTLE BITS, Redmond, WA (thank you staff)    

  •  Raven Rock Ranch, Redmond, WA,  (thank you Sandy Matts) 

  • Hearts and Horses Therapeutic Riding Center (thank you PATH trainers)  

  • Rob and Debbie Fisher, Hope for Heroes Equine Therapy Consulting

  • Leigh Shambo - The Listening Heart

  • Sharon Wilsie & Gretchen Vogel - Horse Speak

We’d love to discuss how to meet your individual or team needs with an equine experience. Contact us today!