Development and Evaluation
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Designing and Implementing EAL Programs
A successful EAL program requires a balance of vision, structure, and adaptability. The first step is defining your mission—what population do you want to serve, and what outcomes do you aim to achieve? Whether working with veterans, corporate teams, or at-risk youth, clarity on your purpose will guide program development.
Once the foundation is set, program structure follows. Consider the logistics: the number of participants per session, session length, and facilitation style. Will you use structured exercises with clear objectives, or do you prefer open-ended experiences that allow participants to draw their own insights? Selecting appropriate horses and ensuring they are well-suited to EAL work is critical. Observing their behavior in group settings, assessing their comfort with human interaction, and rotating horses to prevent burnout are key factors.
Implementation involves setting up a safe and engaging space for sessions. This includes designing activities that align with your program’s goals while allowing flexibility for participants’ unique experiences. Facilitators play a crucial role in guiding reflection, asking insightful questions, and adapting exercises based on the group’s needs.
Finally, sustainability is essential. Developing a business or funding model, whether through grants, private pay, or partnerships, will ensure the longevity of your program. Regular evaluation—gathering feedback, refining activities, and continuing professional development—keeps the program relevant and impactful. With a strong foundation, thoughtful design, and a commitment to adaptability, your EAL program can create lasting change for participants and their communities.
Grant and Program Evaluation
A strong Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) program requires clear goals and measurable outcomes to ensure effectiveness and sustainability. As a nationally recognized evaluator with experience in both small and large-scale grants, I help organizations define their program objectives in a way that facilitates meaningful evaluation and long-term impact. By structuring goals with measurable indicators, organizations can track progress, demonstrate success, and refine their programs based on data-driven insights.
I specialize in program evaluation, and have been helping organizations over 20 years develop frameworks to assess participant outcomes, program effectiveness, and overall impact. This includes creating data collection strategies, designing feedback mechanisms, and analyzing results to guide decision-making. A well-structured evaluation process not only supports continuous improvement but also strengthens credibility with funders, stakeholders, and the communities served. Additionally, I assist in developing overall program statistics that organizations can use for reporting, marketing, and future growth.