| Hello! I'm excited to bring you the August edition of Journey with Dreamwinds, filled with valuable insights, opportunities, and guidance to begin or elevate your EAL career. There’s so much happening at Dreamwinds, and I’m pumped after an inspiring weekend in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where we gathered with our founders and graduates at Cartier Farms for our Annual Graduate EAL Symposium. It was a weekend rich with learning, connection, and the camaraderie of passionate facilitators. I’m incredibly proud of the powerful community of support we’ve built together. Looking ahead, we have some exciting programs lined up! Our women’s fall retreats in Tryon are on the horizon, starting with our new Ladies Night Series. Join us on the last Thursday of each month for an evening dedicated to wellness and empowerment, with a fresh theme every time. If you’re still exploring the best EAL certification program for your goals, I invite you to join one of our upcoming EAL Webinars. I’ll be sharing industry insights, opportunities, and tips on evaluating the many certification options out there to help you make the right choice for your journey. Be sure to check our calendar of events—I can’t wait to see you there!
Thank you,
 Tracey Evans President/Master Instructor Dreamwinds LLC
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| | EAL NUGGET | What Makes an Effective EAL Facilitator?
To excel as an EAL facilitator, strong horsemanship and great communication and interpersonal skills are key. You should be good at reading both people and horses, empathetic, and skilled in coaching and leading groups. Being adaptable is important too, as each session is unique. Most importantly, you need a genuine passion for helping others grow and develop. Of course the right certification training will ensure you can tick all the boxes! :) |
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| INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
| | More evidence of the benefits of EAL when it comes to addiction. Here is an interesting study on how Equine Assisted Learning can help Adolescents with Internet Gaming Disorder. Getting them away from the screen and into the arena seems like a great plan! |
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| | EAL CAREER TOOLS | With so many EAL Certification program options out there, it can be hard to choose the one that will best help you reach your goals. Download our EAL Certification Checklist for some key questions to ask. And join an upcoming webinar for even more details!
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| NEW BLOG POST
| The Making of an EAL Program Horse:
Our horses are the heart and soul of our programs! Choosing the right horses and developing them into confident teachers that love the work is essential to the success of any EAL program. Putting the horse first is the key! Read about the steps we take to build our team!
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| | SUCCESS STORY | Meet Lynn Taborda. Lynn and her husband brought their vision to life, building their dream facility and bringing much needed EAL programs to their community. Lynn is the founder and Certified EAL Facilitator at Pura Vida Ranchin Shallow Lake, ON. Check out her story...
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| PROGRAM HIGHLIGHT
| WOW! What an incredible weekend at our Annual EAL Symposium! Hosted by our founders at Cartier Farms Equine Assisted Learning in Saskatchewan, this year’s event was a dynamic 2.5 days of intensive training, designed to deepen EAL graduates' knowledge and expand their programs while nurturing community and connection. It was truly inspiring to see participants from across the continent come together, embracing the opportunity to connect and grow. The weekend began with a lively social evening, where both familiar and new faces bonded over a shared passion. The focus soon shifted to our equine partners—the cornerstone of our programs. Daryl Cartier shared invaluable insights on keeping our equine teachers thriving and ensuring safe, effective programs for long-term success. The learning continued with daily arena work, featuring brand-new EAL exercises fresh from extensive trial and development—a unique benefit of being connected with the founders and creators of the Building Block Curriculum! On the final day, we delved into the latest research study conducted at Cartier Farms by McMaster University, examining the program's impact on individuals with PTSD. It’s exciting to see Cartier’s commitment to validating their program, and I eagerly await the published results next year. As I reflect on the learning and camaraderie, I am immensely proud of the remarkable community we have built together. I look forward to bringing us all together again for our 2025 symposium next Fall in North Carolina! |
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| | MEET THE TEAM | Meet Megan McGarrigle! Meg is our Program Coordinator and Assistant Instructor at Dreamwinds South! Meg brings 25 years of horse experience ranging from Barn Manager, Assistant Trainer, Equine Massage Therapist, Equus Coach, Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor and Certified EAL Facilitator. She is a master at getting to the heart of a matter and helping clients self reflect and grow. Join us in Tryon, NC and come meet Meg! |
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| #EAL_LIFE
| Continuing education is a big part of EAL Life!
Every 3rd Tuesday of the month, we host an educational lunch & learn featuring a local expert in the equestrian industry. In July we welcomed Holly Baughcome, Equine Chiropractor and her friend, Rusty, to educate us on equine spinal health. We learned a lot about degenerative issues and the impact injury and poor training can have on long term health. Dreamwinds horses love their Holly treatments! Even for those that don't carry riders, it can make all the difference in keeping them strong. |
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| | UPCOMING COURSES When you're ready to take that next step toward hosting your own impactful, professional equine-guided sessions, we're here to help! 
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| | FREE EAL INFO WEBINAR | | Kick Start Your EAL Career! Join me for this live webinar where I will share industry insights, information and how to evaluate the various EAL Certification options available to choose the best one for your goals! |
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