What makes a great equine-assisted lifeskill learning horse?

When Lisa Bowman first experienced the healing power of horses, she knew her life was about to change. What she didn’t realize at the time was just how many other lives those horses would go on to touch through her work. Lisa launched Hope for Hearts Farm in 2013 with a vision to help people grow, heal, and transform through connection with horses. “I personally experienced the healing power of horses and felt led to share that with others,” she says. “Going through E3A’s certification gave me the confidence and tools to assist clients to greater levels of transformation.” She became an E3A Level 1 Certified Practitioner in 2018, followed by Advanced Level 2 certification in Corporate Facilitation in 2021. Empowering Change Through Connection At Hope for Hearts Farm, Lisa offers two main programs: Personal Development and Well-Being for adults and children (ages 8 and up), and Corporate and Leadership Development, including team-building and executive coaching. Her ideal clients are those willing to embrace the feedback the horses provide and dig deep into their own thoughts, feelings, and belief patterns. “Of course, I also love when someone comes in very skeptical of the process and is blown away by the power of the horse/human relationship and the incredible insights they gain from the horses.” Lisa says. Moments That Matter Lisa’s years as a facilitator are filled with powerful moments of breakthrough and transformation—so many, she says, it’s impossible to choose just one favorite. “Seeing the changes in teams and individuals is incredibly rewarding,” she shares. “There’s nothing like hearing someone say, ‘I keep thinking I’ve got it, but every session with the horses knocks my socks off!’ Or a parent telling me that the experience didn’t just help their child, but their whole family—and that it’s leading to generational change.” She’s also witnessed the impact in the corporate world: “When a team tells us after a workshop that they’ll be forever changed, it reinforces just how effective this work really is.” Lessons from the Arena Looking back on her E3A certification journey, Lisa especially treasures her arena training—now known as the Capstone. “Hands-on experience with the horses, activities, fellow facilitators, and Master Trainers was invaluable,” she says. “It was there I learned to truly be open to outcome and trust the process—something that didn’t come naturally for my Type A personality!” That lesson continues to shape her facilitation style today. “It never ceases to amaze me how the horses show up exactly how each person or team needs,” she says. “When we trust our equine partners and stay open, the experience becomes even more impactful.” Through her partnership with E3A and her herd at Hope for Hearts Farm, Lisa Bowman continues to help people connect, reflect, and grow—one transformative session at a time.

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.