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Explore
Levels 2 & 3

Professional Training in

EQUINE GUIDED DEVELOPMENT &

Equine Facilitated Wellness (EFW)

Professional Training Programs

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Nature is calling…

Inviting you into the field of Equine and Nature Guided Wellness. 

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Are you ready to be naturally inspired?

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Chiron’s Way has been offering nationally endorsed and internationally sponsored trainings for over twenty years, beginning in the public education system where Sandra, as a teacher and school counsellor, created the first school-based, equine guided program in Canada.

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Trainings at Chiron’s Way take place on a little piece of heaven near Vancouver. Online and in-person options are available, allowing for participants to virtually join the fun from further afield and/or attend onsite, in nature’s classroom.

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These Professional Trainings are for people who are interested in experiencing and learning how to teach, learn, lead, coach and counsel in the company of horses, other animals and nature, to support the growth and evolution of individuals, groups and teams.

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  • Master the art of partnering with horses & nature in the field of human development

  • Learn unique and fun ways to revitalize your private or corporate practice

  • Catalyze the goal attainment of your clients, personal and professional

  • Work with the principles of Nature to create sustainable programs

  • Facilitate transformational sessions with equines and other animals

  • Unbridle your creativity while working in a career you love

  • Become certified in the field of Equine Facilitated Wellness through Pro-EFW

Why we use the word Guide...

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Because horses, and other animals,  do more that facilitate or assist, we honour them as respected guides in our Chiron's Way growth and development programs. EFW/AAT/NGW professionals listen to and follow the animal's guidance which is a key component in successful sessions. The word guide means one who can find a path through unknown or unexplored territory, making horses invaluable members of the Equine Guided team.

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LEARN MORE about the CHIRON'S WAY APPROACH 

LEVEL 1 Training

Explorations in 

Equine Facilitated Wellness

This is the first step for anyone interested in facilitating Equine Guided Wellness(EGW)/Equine Facilitated Wellness (EFW) though it can also be taken by anyone feeling called to experience the growth opportunities and transformational guidance that horses - and Nature - share. This 2-day experiential workshop (plus additional distance learning components) is for those interested in exploring the possibility of adding a Horse as Teacher, Coach, or Healer to your existing or developing wellness practice.

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Exploring Equine GuidedWellness is the foundational course of study at Chiron’s Way, equivalent to the Explorations Training in EFW for those wishing to follow the certification model outlined through the Professional Association of Equine Facilitated Wellness (Pro-EFW).

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This workshop will provide an overview of the EFW field while introducing participants to its fundamental concepts, principles and considerations. It may be of special interest to those in an educational/mental health/human services field, to those in a leadership or corporate setting and to those who have experience working with equines. It is also available to anyone who wants to learn more about working and being WITH horses.

 

Participants will leave with a general understanding of the EFW field, of Pro-EFW's philosophy, principles, ethics and certification process and with knowledge about next steps should they wish to further develop their skills in this wonderful field.

 

This course is open to everyone. A manual will be provided.

Learning Objectives of the Explorations Workshop:

  • General understanding of Equine Facilitated and Nature Guided Wellness

  • Awareness of the history and foundation for these approaches

  • Increased sensitivity to the animals we work and live with, their needs and unique abilities

  • Appreciation and understanding of the perspective of the horse and all animals as sentient beings

  • Relationships - at the heart of all equine, animal and nature centric practices

  • The safety and risk management considerations in EFW and associated practices 

  • An introduction to how EFW/NGW can be applied in individual, family and group environments

  • An introduction to how EFW/NGW can be applied with various client populations and needs

  • Introduction to the Pro-EFW training, mentoring and certification model and how this applies to candidates

  • An appreciation of the importance of always working within your scope of practice

  • Developing your personalized next steps for exploring the EFW/AAT/NGW field

  • Ideas of what you can do after completing the Explorations training

 

This Level 1 training is now being offered in 2 formats:

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Format 1: ONLINE within a Group Cohort

Workshop topics will be covered through a blend of online discussions, assignments, presentations, demonstrations, recordings and videos. There will also be experiential exercises to complete at home - with horses if you are entering the Pro-EFW Certification. 

 

This format will be delivered online through a Thinkific Classroom; an online portal where you can interact in discussion forums, view videos, read research articles, receive and respond to weekly assignments.
Additionally, you will meet with Sandra and your cohort for live Zoom calls.

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ONLINE with LIVE ZOOM CALLS

Dates: March 4, 11, 18, 25 with an Optional Post-Workshop Bonus Call April 1 

Times: 4-630 pm Pacific Time

Location: The Online Thinkific Classroom and 4 Live Zoom Calls

Tuition: Early Bird: $650 + gst otherwise $695 + gst

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Format 2: ONLINE Self-Paced

Workshop topics will be covered through a blend of discussions, assignments, presentations, demonstrations, recordings and videos. There will be experiential exercises to complete at home - with horses if you are entering the Pro-EFW Certification. 

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This format will be delivered online through a Thinkific Classroom; an online portal where you can view videos, read research articles, receive and respond to weekly assignments. Additionally, you will meet with Sandra for two 1-1 calls,

one to start the program and antoher at its culmination.

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Dates: Ongoing so email info@chironsway.com to get started.

Location: The Online Thinkific Classroom

Tuition: $650 + gst

 

LEVEL 2 & 3 
Foundations and Focus Training in Equine Guided Wellness
Dancing With Equus 

In a world that is looking beyond the status quo for personal and professional development, horses are leading the way. When you commit to working with Sandra and the Chiron's Way Herd, you will learn about, and engage with, the vast potential of partnering with horses, the accessibility of Equine and Nature Guided Wellness to a wide range of markets and how to identify and define your unique contribution to this beautiful field.
 

Dancing With Equus is an innovative facilitation program for anyone interested in honing their Equine and Nature Guided awareness and skills as well as for EGW 

professionals such as wellness practitioners, coaches, counsellors, educators and equine professionals who want to:

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  • Master the art of partnering with horses in the fields of personal and professional development

  • Incorporate reflective, active, creative and transformative equine and nature guided sessions into your existing programs and practice

  • Begin to apply non-verbal communication skills to deepen your connection and conversations with horses, nature, each other and yourself

  • Learn how to enliven EGW sessions with expressive and creative arts - a perfect compliment to all equine and nature guided programs 

  • Incorporate innovative, research-based techniques that help people and animals engage in mutually supportive relationships

  • Use your own nervous systems to calm horses and other animal companions during stressful situations

  • Alleviate the perception of stress and/or trauma before they take a toll on your clients, you and the animals you work with

  • Be introduced to Sandra's Conscious Horsemanship and its applications

  • How to use the subconscious to become more horse conscious

  • Balance the skills and creativity required to facilitate transformational EGW sessions and programs

  • Work with proximity, space and energetic boundaries

  • Speak the language of emotion while going deeper than words

  • Exercise your intuition and become more versatile in your approach to individuals, teams and herds

  • Help clients move quickly, easily and joyfully toward the attainment of their goals

  • Create a safe environment for learning, sharing and growing

  • Get up every day knowing the work you do is making a difference in the world

  • Dance With Equus!

 

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The Foundations and Focus Trainings 

will be offered back-to-back through a blend of online learning, home study and in-person elements and experiential practices.

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Foundations will begin with Online and Home Study leading into 2.5 days In-Person at Chiron's Way. ​


Focus will begin with 2.5 days In-Person at Chiron's Way followed by Online and Home Study.

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Location: Online via Zoom and In-person at Chiron's Way in Maple Ridge - near Vancouver, Canada

Tuition: Early Bird $1750 + gst for each week = $3500 + gst due one month prior/$3650 thereafter

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*Previous exposure to or training in equine guided work is a prerequisite for this training,

such as the Level 1 Exploring EGW Training at Chiron’s Way, the Pro-EFW Explorations Training, or equivalent.

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**If you have not studied with Sandra previously, a phone meeting is required prior to acceptance into this training.

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This course meets the requirements toward certification with the Professional Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness Canada (Pro-EFW).

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NOTE re 2025: Sandra is currently working on her dissertation in Equine Guided Wellness and therefore will not be offering Foundations and Focus this year.
Please check in with one of the other Pro-EFW Trainers.

LEVEL 4 Training

EFW Integration Week

Pre-Requisites:
 

1. Completion of the Explorations, Foundations and Focus Trainings.

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2. Completion of fifteen (15) hours of direct client contact practicing EFW with individuals or groups

 

3. 4 of the 10 mentorship hours must be completed before Integration, 2 of which must be with your Pro-EFW Trainer. 

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4. Written drafts of the candidate's Scope of Practice and Personal Progress Plan must be submitted one month prior to the training. 

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5. Participants must be a Pro-EFW Certification Candidate. Non-certification candidates may be considered at the discretion of the individual trainer. If a non-certification candidate completes Integration Training and then decides at a later date to pursue Pro-EFW's Certification, they may need to complete Integration Training again.

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This training allows candidates to integrate and embody their EFW knowledge, experience, and skills. 

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Integration is an embodied opportunity to deepen and ground your learning to date while ever-evolving into an EFW practitioner. We work with equines - and Nature in collaborative partnership, honouring them as guides who inspire and co-create every facet of the EFW process. 

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Integration experiences may include:

  • independence in creating experiential exercises and being with the equines

  • sharing and outlining your vision for this work 

  • working with populations from the public

  • an opportunity to share your ideas and receive caring and meaningful feedback 

  • discussions and reflections

  • a deepening equine collaboration

  • putting your vision into practice

 

Candidates commit to meeting their unique professional requirements (e.g., confidentiality, compliance with relevant ethical codes, record keeping, etc.). 
 

Each participant will update their Scope of Practice and outline in writing the areas where additional experience and/or training is needed to meet identified training goals. Scope of Practice is an opportunity to name your work and clarify your professional competencies. 
 

Integration is a combination of online, on-site training and preparatory work.

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Dates: Pre and Post Calls + In-Person Gathering on August 11-14, 2025

Location: Chiron's Way in Maple Ridge - 45 min east of Vancouver, Canada

Tuition: Early Bird $1750 + gst with $500 deposit in by May 11/$1850 + gst thereafter
*Registration Closes June 11

Level 4 Integration
Enhanced Facilitation
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