From Riding to Life Lessons
How Stacy Gendels Inspires Growth with E3A
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Stacy Gendels and her mare, May. Stacy and May have been partners for 11 years. May has taught Stacy more than horsemanship skills. She has taught her to be present and open to outcome. Stacy is forever grateful to her.
For Stacy Gendels, becoming E3A certified in March 2020 marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter—one that arrived just as the world was shutting down. "I had flown back to Connecticut from rural North Carolina, where the training was, and my family was already in masks," she recalls. "Quite a time to start a new chapter!"
Stacy is no stranger to the transformative power of horses. A PATH instructor for more than a decade, she has spent her life surrounded by horses and always sensed there was more to learn from them than riding alone could offer. That curiosity deepened when she attended an E3A workshop facilitated by her friend and colleague, Carrie Brady, at New Canaan Mounted Troop. "It was fascinating to watch—and even more fun to learn from," she says.
Since then, Stacy has brought E3A's equine experiential learning to an incredibly diverse range of people. During COVID, she facilitated strength-based workshops for healthcare workers, nurses, and community teams providing PPE. She has worked with first responders, 9/11 survivors and their families, families of children with disabilities, staff from mental health facilities, and individuals seeking personal growth. Each group, she shares, has been deeply meaningful—and she is eager to expand into more corporate work.
One workshop memory stands out vividly. While facilitating Leadership in a Box for parents of children with disabilities, the group struggled at first to guide their horse into the box. Once they chose to work together as a herd, however, success came quickly. During the debrief, one parent shared that the experience reminded her she wasn't alone in her journey—there was a team of support she could reach out to. "That moment was powerful," Stacy reflects.
Looking back, Stacy says the E3A certification process itself was just as enriching. She learned not only from master trainers Kathy and Jennifer but also from fellow participants. "I especially loved stepping into the role of participant before moving into facilitation," she says. "E3A provides such a strong, structured curriculum with activities that can truly meet people where they are."
For Stacy, E3A has opened doors to creating meaningful, life-changing experiences for diverse groups—and it all began with the decision to take that first step toward certification.
After three decades as a K-12 school counselor, Karen Finch was ready for retirement—or so she thought. Just one day later, life presented her with an unexpected opportunity. A local equine-assisted learning facility called to ask if she would consider becoming their therapist. Despite having no prior experience with h
By Starr McAlexander Spirit Song Youth Equestrian Academy Greetings! My name is Ella Grace. I am a registered 21 year old Overo Paint Quarter Horse. My lineage goes back to 5 breed foundation horses, one of which was Three Bars! So how did I end up in an Equine-assisted program at Spirit Song?! I have always been a favorite mount of children and youth and have participated in many western play days and gymkhanas, but the day came when my family outgrew the passion for fun and speed. I was donated to Spirit Song's riding program that better suited my needs. My nature is calm and gentle, therefore, I lend confidence to those who want to learn horsemanship like the young lad pictured here.
Above: Caspian is a former kids' rodeo horse. He is grounded, good-natured, and has an amazing sense of focus. Master trainer Jennifer Kaplan says, "He's just an all-around good guy, and he uses his strengths to benefit the Nevada herd." Want to supercharge your Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) programs? Here's a game-changer: weave CliftonStrengths into your workshop agenda and watch the magic unfold between your participants and their four-hoofed teachers. Here's what CliftonStengths brings to the arena: Custom-Tailored Self-Awareness: CliftonStrengths helps your participants discover what makes them tick—in! With personalized insights, they'll uncover how to create success in their daily lives, both at work and at home. (Think lightbulb moments galore!) Real-Time Horse Feedback (Yes, Really!) : Horses are incredible mirrors. When your participants show up aligned with their strengths, horses respond with clear, honest feedback—no sugar-coating, just truth with a tail swish. It's powerful, and often magical to watch. Confident, Calm Facilitators = Smooth Ride: Let's not forget you! CliftonStrengths gives E3A Coaching Facilitators a confidence boost, helping you feel more grounded and in sync with your co-facilitators, your equine partners, and your participants. Less stress, more flow. So if you're looking to add more spark, depth, and "aha!" moments to your EAL programs, CliftonStrengths is the secret sauce you've been missing. It's time to let strengths lead the way!
