Get in Touch
Contact Us
We’d love to hear from you.
Whether you’re curious about equine-led coaching, exploring leadership development, or simply want to learn more, you’re welcome to get in touch.
You can reach Caryl directly at:
caryl@change-dynamics.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
No, there is no riding involved, all work with the horses is done from the ground.
We will always work with you to enable you to make the most of our equine experiences and to keep you safe too. Sometimes overcoming a fear or nervousness of horses can be an empowering process that you can apply to other areas of your life if you’re prepared to step out of your comfort zone.
Please wear comfortable and suitable clothing, including long trousers and sturdy shoes, boots or wellingtons. The temperature at the yard varies depending on the weather and time of year and so it is advisable to wear layers of clothing including a waterproof top layer if rain is forecast. Dresses, skirts and shorts are not permitted, as bare legs are not advisable when working with horses. Gloves and hats are recommended in the winter. Jackets and anoraks, if worn, should be fastened. It is recommended that any loose jewellery is removed and that long hair is tied back.
If you come with an open mind and are curious about the work then there is no advantage or disadvantage to having lots of experience around horses.
Expressing myself verbally doesn’t come naturally so I was intrigued to discover the world of equine coaching and the benefits it could bring. No talking required! Being quite an anxious person it was comforting and reassuring to be greeted by Caryl, in a beautiful location, and her calming compassionate nature set me at ease while we discussed what I wanted to gain from the experience.
Caryl outlined the connection the horses develop with us followed by a grounding exercise to make us feel present and in the moment before introducing the horses. Wilf and Mooney were very casual and seemingly not interested in me or my anxiety and within 10 minutes I was gently stroking Wilf and asking him questions out loud (I forgot no talking required…) I’m a practical solution focused person always looking for answers and to refocus that mentality doesn’t come naturally. Caryl posed a few questions of me, and gently encouraged me to be less practical and more mindful in the present moment. That reminder to be in the moment allowed me the freedom to relax and be at ease with the horses, where I then experienced a real deep sense of calm.
It’s that calm I struggle with in everyday life and what I was looking to find from the session. Since then I’ve taken time to mindfully reflect on my time with Wilf and Mooney, channelling that inner calm I experienced in the field. It’s something I’ve discussed with my line manager as part of my personal development and he now refers to me walking on stage with my horse to aid calm and reduce my anxiety levels. One day I might see if I can persuade Mooney to come join me for a presentation!
Overall I found the experience rather profound and it’s given me the opportunity to push beyond my own perceived limitations.
I’ve been curious about how people work with horses in leadership development for a while now, and yesterday I finally took up a long-standing invitation from my friend and neighbour, Caryl Roberts at Equine Led Coaching. We met at her ‘office’ (fields) just down the road from our village for a catch-up just as storm Floris started making itself known.
We talked about leadership and energy – one of my favourite topics – and how horses can help us notice what’s really going on for us, and help us remember what's important.
Here’s what I learned:
🐎Horses are herd animals and therefore expert energy readers. They read and respond in the moment to the energy around them.
🐎They’re drawn to energy which is aligned and congruent, not forced or performative.
🐎They interact with us in a totally natural and authentic way. They don’t people-please or control. They just respond, so there's no fooling them.
Caryl walked me through how she works with the horses to help people, and even though we were only in the field for about 15 minutes, it was a potent and eye-opening experience.
My personal takeaway? A timely reminder to own my power. As I stood quietly, sensing MY place in the field, this beautiful grey horse – Moon Man – walked straight towards me and rubbed his head against me - horse language that Caryl decoded for me afterwards and a humbling nudge from nature at just the right moment.
I know that human beings are also 100% capable of this energy-reading skill, when we're tuned into our innate, intuitive, grounded centre (which is unfortunately a rarity in our modern world). Just think of the time, faff and drama we'd save if we were all more attuned to this untapped super-power that already exists within? Better, more effective leadership and a bigger, more sustainable thinking and impact for sure.
Thank you Caryl
I was curious but open to see what happened, and it turns out what happened was quite possibly the most powerful experience I’ve ever had. I’ve just experienced Equine Facilitated Coaching with the wonderful Caryl Roberts, and two equally special and perceptive horses called Orla and Nally.
You might wonder how on earth this could have been so powerful. Well for me this experience tapped into and exposed how I truly felt and who I truly am far quicker than any ‘conventional’ coaching session I have ever had (despite a little bit of tussling on my part as to whether I wanted to let any of the truth out). Then with the skilful facilitation and expertise of Caryl, these feelings and experiences were gently but powerfully explored in a safe, and non-judgemental way.
I felt truly seen throughout this experience as the horses beautifully reflected or responded to the changes in how I was feeling as I slowly let the real me emerge and be felt, seen and heard. The horses also quite literally created the most relevant and appropriate spaces in which I could explore, experiment and safely expose parts of me that are usually (but perhaps unhelpfully) very well controlled and contained.
I highly recommend other coaches take the time to experience Equine Facilitated Coaching because I believe it will add so much to your life both in your personal development as a human being, and in your professional development as a coach. I say this because I thought I was doing everything I could to look after myself and make sure I was in a good place (you know eating right, exercising, sleeping, taking care of myself) so I can be wholeheartedly present in all my conversations with my clients, but it turns out I hadn’t been looking after ALL of me. The horses showed me the parts that needed attention and with Caryl’s help have given me so much insight , acceptance and excitement for what’s both currently in my life as well as what’s coming next. These are feelings that have not been present in me for quite some time. This is why the world needs Equine Facilitated Coaching.
