The Power of Experiential Learning: Why Hands-On Training with Horses Creates Lasting Leadership Skills
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Benjamin Franklin once said, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” I didn’t know that quote as a kid, but I lived it.
I always did very well in school. Learning came easily to me. What most people never realized is that I hated it. Not the learning itself, but the endless sitting still, the constant listening. I was the student who flew through assignments quickly, then got restless. I’d start wandering, talking, distracting others. Cue the reprimands, detentions, and being moved right up beside the teacher’s desk.
I needed to be doing.
By the time I hit high school, I was constantly searching for “legal” ways to get out of class. And when I went to university? I rarely went to lectures. Instead, I bought the textbooks, completed the assignments, and found my own way to learn—highlighting, rewriting notes, and breaking things down until it stuck. Looking back, I realize what I was doing was creating my own version of experiential learning. Listening alone was never going to work for me.
And according to research, I’m not alone.
Why Experiential Learning Beats Traditional Training
Studies show that after just three hours, people retain only about 10–20% of what they hear in a lecture. But when learning is active, visual, and hands-on, retention can climb to 65–80%. Even more compelling, a major meta-analysis in STEM education found that active learning reduces failure rates by nearly half compared to traditional lecture-based teaching.
The takeaway? Knowledge gained by listening alone fades quickly, but learning through experience transforms understanding into memory and memory into lasting change.
In other words, sitting through a two-hour lecture might feel productive, but within days most of that information is gone. Hands-on learning, on the other hand, sticks—because it’s connected to doing, not just hearing.
Why Hands-On Learning Works So Well with Horses
This is why I love Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) so deeply. With horses, you can’t just sit back passively and take notes. You have to step into the arena, adjust, respond, and reflect. Horses give instant, honest feedback. If your energy is unclear, they won’t follow. If your communication is inconsistent, they’ll hesitate.
Every lesson is a lived experience. And that’s exactly why EAL far outperforms traditional leadership training. People don’t just gain knowledge, they create memories. Relatable, real-life moments that stick with them long after the session ends. These memories become anchors they can draw on in the workplace, with their teams, and even at home. It’s not theory, it’s transformation.
Why Hands-On Certification Matters for EAL
This same principle applies when you’re training to become a facilitator. Reading a manual or watching videos might give you an overview, but it won’t prepare you to confidently guide clients through powerful, horse-led experiences.
I get asked frequently if our EAL Certification can be completed online only. And the answer is always no. An effective EAL Certification Program must include hands-on training with horses, structured facilitation practice, and real-time coaching. That’s how you build the skills, presence, and confidence needed to create meaningful impact. It’s also how we make sure every graduate meets the highest standard of facilitation we stand for. Because if experiential learning is what makes EAL powerful for participants, it has to be the foundation for facilitators too.
From Information to Transformation
Traditional classroom training has its place, but when it comes to leadership development, personal growth, and authentic change, experiential learning leaves lectures in the dust.
That’s why EAL works. And it’s why I love this work. At Dreamwinds, we don’t just teach concepts, we live them. Because transformation only lasts when it’s experienced, not just explained.
And that’s the kind of learning that truly changes lives.
At the end of the day, the research only confirms what I’ve felt my whole life, that we learn best by doing. That’s what makes Equine-Assisted Learning so powerful, and why hands-on training is at the heart of everything we do at Dreamwinds. Horses don’t just teach concepts, they create unforgettable moments that stay with us and shape how we lead, live, and connect. And to me, that’s the kind of learning worth investing in. If you’re someone who’s always learned best by doing, just like me, you’ll understand why experiential learning, and especially learning with horses, can be so life-changing.
About Dreamwinds
At Dreamwinds, we blend proven leadership principles with the wisdom of horses to help people grow—whether that’s teams striving for stronger collaboration or individuals seeking personal breakthroughs. From reintegrating remote teams and developing high-performing leaders to guiding women’s retreats, family sessions, and confidence-building programs, our Equine-Assisted Learning experiences create lessons that stick, long after the session ends.
Research & Resources
- Freeman, S. et al. (2014). Active learning increases student performance in science, engineering, and mathematics.PNAS. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24821756/
- Resnick, B. (2014). Study shows students in ‘active learning’ classrooms learn more than they think. Wired. https://www.wired.com/2014/05/empzeal-active-learning/
- Active Learning overview. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_learning
- The Formula for Successful Learning Retention. Columbia Theological Seminary. https://www.ctsnet.edu/the-formula-for-successful-learning-retention/
- Gallo, M. (2018). The Forgetting Curve: Creating Learning That Lasts. Faculty Focus. https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-teaching-strategies/student-retention/
- Active Learning Statistics 2025. Engageli Blog. https://www.engageli.com/blog/active-learning-statistics-2025
