Course Details

Special Interest

Start Date: 05/07/2025

Cost: $89

Instructor: Dr. Dalton Campana

Location: Withers Horse Farm: 11318 Beaver Creek Road, Salem, Ohio

Class Times: W 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

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Equine-Facilitated Learning Course

During the program, participants will learn about equine care, brushing, obstacle courses, and handling. Additionally, participants will learn about being mindful and present during encounters with the horses (versus being distracted and rushed) and learn to notice and respond to nonverbal cues from the animals. Participants will learn about observing behavior as communication and how to problem-solve if a horse behaves undesirably (responding productively, respecting boundaries, and using compassion, patience, and assertive energy for leadership). A different activity about horse exercises will be displayed each week, with each group doing another station or exercise. There will be an emphasis on mindfulness and being present in the moment.

Educational activities will be created to let the participants engage in the following concepts, similar to the standards of Equine-Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGLA) programs and the study by Saggers & Strachan (EAGALA, 2018; Saggers & Strachan, 2016):

Week 1 – Basic Equine Facility Rules & Horsemanship: Catching and Leading Horses

Week 2 – Horse Communication on the Ground (Off the Saddle): Showmanship Skills and Getting Familiar with Tack: Equipment Care

Week 3 – Communication with the Horses/Saddling and Bridling: Trail in Hand Education

Week 4 – Obstacle Courses: Teamwork with the Horses: Each Team Will Compete in Showmanship and Trail Courses at the Barn

About the Instructor: Dr. Dalton Campana graduated summa cum laude from Youngstown State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Chemistry in August 2015. He earned a Master’s in Environmental Science in the fall of 2019 and completed a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership – Health and Human Services at Youngstown State University in August 2024. For his dissertation, Dr. Campana developed a four-week Equine-Facilitated Learning Program (EFLA) for students, utilizing a mixed-method design to explore its impact on well-being, mindfulness, engagement, and a sense of belonging. Outside of research, Dr. Campana enjoys spending time with his horse, Odin, and is eager to share his passion and course with the public.