The Centre for Equine Experiential Learning is distinguished from other experiential learning and therapy modalities involving horses by its 12 Guiding Principles:

• Self development – CEEL professionals continue to expand their awareness and responsibility for all their experiences;  they consciously manage their own life challenges and energetic state recognising the impact this has not just on themselves but on the horses, others, the collective, and beyond

• Horses as sentient beings – CEEL professionals recognise the horses as sentient beings whose innate wisdom as teacher and healer is significant to EEL.  CEEL professionals continue to explore their relationship with horses as sentient beings and question their beliefs and behaviours in this context

• Mindfulness – the foundation of all CEEL facilitation and interactions with horses, clients, and co-facilitators is mindfulness:  ‘paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, without judgment’

• Coaching-based approach – CEEL professionals focus on the present (not the past) and recognise the client is his/her own authority; they have the capability to determine their own solutions and outcomes; EEL professionals do not diagnose, categorise, advise, assess or fix
• Somatic-focused – CEEL practitioners recognise that the body is the ‘center of one’s physical universe’ – it holds the imprint/information about every experience (ancenstral, past, present), it processes (transmits/receives) 400 billion bits per second, is the mechanism through which the Soul communicates/expresses, and can drive our unconscious behaviour.  The body never lies, and nothing is private.

• Everything is energy – CEEL practitioners recognise that everything is energy, and that energy can be shifted, transformed, transmuted, manifested through the power of focus (attention / intention).

• Framework grounded in spiritually-based, universal principles -  CEEL professionals recognise that the purpose of every human is to know their true nature through experiences and continual discernment; and consequently guide others into alignment with their truth

• Integrity – CEEL professionals strive at all times to align with the values of EEL which is reflected in professional, safety (physical and emotional), and ethical behaviour

• Holistic – CEEL professionals recognise that all aspects of one’s being are interconnected and guide others to access and integrate their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wisdom

• Non-violence – Rather than advising or interpreting, the facilitator will respect the client’s coping strategies. This does not mean that the facilitator always follows the client.  Sometimes taking the lead, guiding and taking action can be non-violent, especially when non-action may be unsafe.

• Organicity – All living systems have the capacity to self-organise and self-heal. This principle places the locus of healing and control directly with the client, along with the client-horse-coach/facilitator relationship. Embracing this principle involves trusting a horse’s or person’s capacity to find his or her own path, and we are simply supporting the process as it emerges.

• Unity - The principle of unity reminds us that we are all connected, we are all in this together and due to the shared field effect, we constantly affect each other. As co-creators, we do not exist alone in this universe, we are a part of something much bigger than ourselves.