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"I have never experienced a coach/guide with more energy and commitment to each person's growth than Ariana. Not only did the horse work give me a piece of myself back...maybe the heart of who I am...but her intuition, her relentlessness with each of us waking up offered a model of fierce compassion that I will do my best to live into as I grow myself as a coach. She is my first live example, of what those old Zen Masters must have been like-Fierce compassion and unwavering commitment."
N. Wonders-Dearing
Programs
- Equine Guided Education (EGE)
- Intuitive Horsemanship™ - 3 day program
- Awakening Spirit - 3 day program
- Enrollment/Logistics
Equine Guided Education (EGE)
Equine Guided Education is a cutting edge self-development opportunity for people (from all walks of life) to gain unique and powerful insights through 'The Eyes of the Horse.' EGE offers an experiential, supportive learning environment for you to learn about yourself and reconnect to what has heart and meaning in your life. "The horse has an uncanny ability to reflect the inner workings of a person and thus offers us an honest mirror of where we are in a flow in our life and where we are stuck", Ariana says. Whether you are an individual, couple, family or team, EGE is rich with new perspectives on life's changing dilemmas and opportunities.
The combination of the Educator and the Equine Guide offers unique, impactful, experiential exercises geared towards developing people's self knowledge and self-responsibility. Some common learning schemas include:
- Identifying and refining your ambitions and goals
- Developing self confidence and self-esteem
- Uncovering old stories and behaviors that are no longer effective
- Developing new stories and behaviors relevant to goals and objective
- Learning how to listen to and respect one's intuition and sixth sense
- Building effective relationship and interactive practices
- Enhancing communication and negotiation skills
Horses are an ancient archetypal symbol in the human psyche. They represent dignity, honor, beauty, strength, power and endurance. For thousands of years training one's horse was about creating a partnership of balance and oneness. Less than a hundred years ago horses were our vehicles of transportation, agricultural support, physical laborers, and warfare partners. Yesterday we took great pride in training our horses for show and sport. Today horses are our teachers and healers helping us to reconnect to what has heart and meaning in our lives and assist us in re-aligning our mind, body and spirit so that we can walk into our future with grace and integrity.
A typical EGE program has approximately 10 participants from various walks of life. No riding or equestrian skills are necessary. The focus is on self-development distinct from learning horsemanship techniques. If you are an equestrian, the topics learned here will benefit not only your personal and professional life but your relationship with horses as well.
EGE-1: Horse Sense for the Leader Within
(aka Leadership & Horses™-5 day program)It's a natural part of life to find oneself, at some unexpected point in time, at a new intersection-a place where we ask ourselves the question, "Am I living the life I am destined to live? What do I need to do differently to get back in a flow in my life?" Our habits of thinking and being in the world may have suited us yesterday, but may be outdated today.
Horses have an uncanny, even magical, ability to reflect the deeper inner-workings of our psyche and spiritual longing. In addition, they respond to us honestly and without judgement. They share their compassionate heart in such a profound way that we can begin to let down our own old self-judgments allowing us to re-find our creative imagination so that we can dream into reality the next chapter of our life. Interacting with horses allows us to gain profound insights into where we are in right alignment with our values and intentions and where old stories or habits of thinking and behaving are now interfering with our ability to flow effectively in our relationships and life purpose. Through interactive exercises with horses we begin to refine our goals and practice more effective ways of being in our lives. The focus of this program is not on becoming a better rider, in fact we may not ride the horses at all. It is about getting back in touch with our curious, imaginative self, letting go of old judgments and attitudes, re-connecting to what has heart and meaning, and re-learning how to listen to our intuitive, sensate wisdom.
Horses quickly deconstruct our narrow human interpretations and judgmental undertones about what it means to be a 'leader' of one's life. They teach us that leadership is not about the outdated notion of the 'command and control' leader, the boss, or the 'dominant one'. They teach us that leadership is more directly about the qualities of presence that we bring forward and share with others. Join other like-minded participants in this 5 day program of inquiry, reflection, thinking outside the box and creating new perspectives and interpretations about your life experience and future goals.
Is This Program for me?
- Are you in a transition in your life?
- Are you interested in learning more about yourself and what inspires you?
- Are you looking for direct and honest feedback about your inner and outer intentions?
- Are you feeling a sense of longing or frustration in your life?
- Is there a lack of flow in your relationships?
- Are you having trouble building trust and relationship with your horse?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, this class is for you.
Topics of Program Include:
- Re-connect toy our curiosity and imagination
- Identify and let go of old judgments and limited perceptions
- Develop intuition and sensate knowledge
- Move into the future with intention, strength and balance
- Learn how body language is a primary source of communication
- Re-learn how to trust your feelings and support your beliefs
- Refine your goals, values and ambitions
- Find your center and take a stand for what is important for you
- Refine your unique leadership style
- Become a leader of change, without having to know all of the answers
- Be flexible and graceful in complex situations and conflict
- Learn how to be less reactive and have more choice
- Develop your emotional intelligence and self awareness
EGE Certification Program
Ariana Strozzi, pioneer in the field of Equine Guided Education (EGE), offers her 18+ years of experience in this certification program for educators, coaches, equestrians, teachers, college students, therapists and other individuals who want to incorporate horses into their professional offers. The certification program covers the fundamental distinctions underlying any form of horse as healer/teacher process, the facilitator and equine skill competencies required, tried and true EGE exercises, how to know when to use what exercises and why, how to choose EGE horses, and much more. The program includes 3 weeks of instruction, experiential learning, practice sessions and supervision.
Although our preference would be that you take the 3 week program as a whole, if you cannot do the 3 week program at one time, you can be split it into 2 parts. The entire program consists of a minimum of EGE-1 and EGE-2. A phone or personal interview is required for the EGE program, you can email us anytime to schedule your interview.
EGE-2-Horses, Somatics, and Coaching—2 week program
EGE-1 is a pre-requisite for this class. The program includes 3 weeks of instruction, experiential learning, practice sessions and supervision. Class goes from Monday through Friday each week, and weekends are days off. Cost of program includes continental breakfast and lunch during class days.
Intuitive Horsemanship™ - 3 day program
Horsemanship is an art that can be practiced and refined for a lifetime. In this program Ariana opens up a whole new way of understanding horses that is universal to any method of horsemanship. Re-discover the magic and lightness of being with horses. This class is for all riders, regardless of discipline or experience.
One of my primary goals in this program is to dispel inaccurate myths about working with horses and bring forward our curiosity so that we can see horses in a new light. Once we let go of what we know, a new world opens up that I am still fascinated to discover, as I imagine you will be too. When our mind is open, we are better able to notice when miscommunication is happening, which we otherwise would never notice. And, one of the most valuable and important consequences of an open mind, is that we can let go of self-judgment and become like the horse, a non-judgmental, free spirit. It does not matter how much riding experience you already have or what style or techniques you've been trained in. All that matters is that you want to learn more about horses and yourself in relation to them. If you are stuck in a particular area with your horse or in your own horsemanship practice, this is a great place to learn what is actually stuck and we'll get it unstuck and back in a flow. In this program you will learn what 'being a leader of the horse' really means:
Develop your intention, direction, confidence, and follow-through Refinement of cues, working with the energy first, and tools/techniques second Timing-learn about horse time and how it creates balance
Know what the horse is feeling and what it needs from you to flourish How your body language and mood influences your horse's performance Find balance-mentally, physically, spiritually
After a long search to find comfort, enlightenment and connection in a horse world in turmoil, I found Ariana's Intuitive Horsemanship™ program. She is amazing-magnificant-and a master mind in horsemanship and communication.
Jackie Nowell, Tevis rider
Awakening Spirit - 3 day program
Every now and again it is important to take time to, reconnect to land and nature, refine what has heart and meaning, re-inspire your spiritual longing, nurture your imagination and creativity, expand your consciousness, relish in the bounty of living. Treat yourself to 3 days of experiential activities with horses as spirit guides and connectors to heart and wisdom, nature walks, journaling and creative art exploration.
To Enroll
Fax or phone 707-876-1908
Email: ariana@strozziranch.com
Register online
Cancellation Policy
In the event that you cancel your attendance prior to or during your attendance in one of our Ranch program, the amount of your tuition and lodging fees that are refundable are: 7 days or less: 0%, 8-14 days: 20%, 14-29 days: 35%, 30 or more days: 50%.
Loding at our Ranch Guest House
Enjoy the country spirit and panoramic views on this 200-acre sheep and horse ranch near the Sonoma Coastline. This beautiful vacation rental is set off the main road and resides among the beautiful rolling hills on the border of Sonoma and Marin County and the Esteros Americanos. The house is surrounded by pastoral views graced with sheep and an abundance of wildlife. We are only 10 minutes to the Bodega Coast and 45 minutes to the Pt Reyes National Seashore, Napa and Sonoma Valley, Healdsburg and the Russian River. We are ideally located near several recreational activities including wine tasting, golfing, trail riding, kayaking, bicycling, trail riding, bird watching, fishing, beach walks, shopping and fine dining.
This guest house features three rooms each with 2 single beds (serta mattresses for extra comfort). We can turn one room into a king bed upon request. Sheets and towels are included and an assortment of comforters including down. The living room has a roll out couch, satellite TV and VCR. The kitchen is stocked with tea and basic essentials (like flour and sugar, oil and vinegar), a microwave and coffee maker. The house has one full bathroom and includes an outdoor shower, a BBQarea, washer and dryer.
Weather at Valley Ford
Coastal, and therefore unpredictable. It can be cool and foggy, or very warm in the afternoon. Suggested attire includes jeans, boots (with good ankle support), a sweater and/or jacket. Be sure to bring bottled water to keep yourself hydrated.
Hours of Program
We start each day at 10am and go until 5-6pm.