Discover a New Path Forward…

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” ~ Lao Tzu

Kristel Boon

Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator

“What began as an exercise in personal development opened a door to extraordinary connection, hope and healing.“

More about Kristel

Unhaltered Hope

Equine Assisted Learning

Unhaltered Hope is a social enterprise offering Equine Assisted Learning (EAL).

Equine Assisted Learning is an experiential way of growing and overcoming personal obstacle through gentle guidance and interaction with horses. Participants engage in objective-oriented exercises and find themselves learning valuable life lessons and skills in the positive, affirming company of horses.

Our programs are offered in partnership with Reverence Stables, Calgary, AB.

Unhaltered Hope

4.9

Based on 13 reviews

review us on

Sasha Donovan

00:23 27 Aug 24

Kristel Was very kind and accommodating. It was lovely to get to be in the presence both her and the horse. It was a fun and magical experience.

Elaine Gosbee

13:31 21 Feb 24

If I had to describe EAL w Kristel in one word, that word would be life-altering. I was absolutely blown away by the experience. As someone who loves horses but who is also terrified by them, I was very apprehensive going into my session. Kristel was so reassuring, supportive and encouraging and immediately set me at ease with my horse partner and by the end of the session my anxiety was gone and I felt such love and wonder for this intelligent and beautiful animal. I highly recommend doing Kristel's program. I learned so much about myself in this session and am eager to do another session with her.

Susan D. Hall

21:38 20 Feb 24

I grew up with horses. I signed up to take an Unhaltered Hope Equine Assisted Learning session with a friend. The session horse taught me an important lesson for my life and also my horsemanship with my own horse. A beautiful, powerful session with a well-educated and organized instructor. I’ll definitely be back for more sessions! Recommended, even if you have horse background. Be open to what the horse will teach! Incredible! ❤️🐴

Elizabeth Finzel

20:58 12 Jan 24

Before I completed an EAL session, I was pretty uncomfortable around horses. However - Kristel does an amazing job facilitating these sessions. I felt completely safe. It was truly such a worthwhile experience - I gained a ton of confidence in just 1 session! Kristel has a deep love for horses, and it shows. I would highly recommend trying EAL!

Carol Rose

20:54 04 Oct 23

The EAL experience with Kristel was wonderful in a number of ways. It helped me emotionally and was a confidence boost 🙂. I am very grateful for this opportunity to connect with beautiful LaCosta -a memorable moment.

Heather Ashkin

20:21 17 Aug 23

I had a fabulous time with Kristel during my own equine learning session, as well as watching her work with children. She is a calm and empathetic teacher who connects easily with her clients. Kristel sets her participants at ease and encourages them to take from the session what they need as individuals. I highly recommend her sessions.

Megan Becker

15:41 26 Jul 23

I have been working with Kristel in EAL Programs at ROARR since March. She has a kind, and caring way about her that makes her such a wonderful facilitator. She is creative and always very well organized - working with, and learning from Kristel has been such a pleasure and I always look forward to it!

JA Webb

15:49 04 Jul 23

Amazing program for kids. Highly recommended!

Alana Burton

14:34 30 Jun 23

I had the great fortune to meet Kristel and experience Equine Assisted Learning with her gentle guidance at Reverence Stables.Kristel is a caring facilitator who creates a safe environment to learn about connecting with self and others while interacting with the horse.As a person who has owned a horse for many years, she offered reminders that were so helpful in working with other horses - simple things that I've taken for granted with my own horse because I know him so well after working with him for so many years.Thank you for the lovely teachings that both you and Karma provided, Kristel.

Susan Hall

21:52 27 Jun 23

Professional, very well organized, transformative session.

Tia Bell

16:26 21 Mar 23

I don't think words can truly describe the experience! This was my first experience attending an EAL session. I have ridden horses before but have never been super comfortable around them. Kristel did such a great job at creating conversation around the worries and helping us to build confidence as we worked with the horses. I was happy to know that we won't be riding the horses but rather guiding them through various obstacles. The obstacles themselves were simple in design, but it was more about my own ability to connect with the horse I had and have her go through them. By the third obstacle I could feel myself and my teammate (that I had only just met that day) fully relax. The time went too quickly because I had so much fun being fully present in the moment and feeling really proud of myself. I hope for, and look forward to, many more EAL sessions with Kristel. She knew exactly when to step in for support but allowed us time to sort through the challenges. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!

Janet Robinson

20:03 06 Feb 23

Kristel is a wonderful facilitator. She takes the time to genuinely get to know her program participants and adapts her program to help her students find success. She is knowledgeable, caring and kind. Kristel puts safety first - that of her participants and of the horses.It has been a pleasure working with her and learning from her over the last two years.

What does Equine Assisted Learning Look Like?

Is class room learning not for you?

Perfect! During your EAL (Equine Assisted Learning) session(s) with us, the only time you will find yourself in a classroom (if you choose to) is during the briefing and debriefing. You will learn all other valuable life skills while working with a team that consists of two or three human participants, and one very informed horse.

The inside of a class room showing a screen and a large standing notepad

Are you curious about what horses can teach us?

In Equine Assisted Learning we are allowing the horses to teach you. Horses consistently assess and react to stimulus provided by participants, but they do this without judgement. This is the skill that is truly profound. Their feedback is honest and instant. By working with horses in an EAL (Equine Assisted Learning) setting, you will learn about leadership, problem solving, negotiation skills, and other valuable life skills.

What does “live in the moment” mean to you?

Living in the moment and mindfulness are terms that have resurfaced in this recent decade. You can practice these wonderful skills in a variety of ways, such as meditation, or yoga to name a few. But how about practicing living in the moment with the help of a horse? Horses are the best teachers to show you how to live in the moment and teach you other vital skills that can assist you for the rest of your life.

You can find more information about our Programs right here!

Take me to the Programs!