What We Offer
Learn about our programs and which one might be the best fit for you!
Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) Sessions
EAL sessions are designed to encourage connection between the student(s), the horse, and the facilitator while developing life skills that the student can use day-to-day.
During each weekly one-on-one or group session, we will follow a plan consisting of several barn activities. Each hour-long session will include time spent working with the horse (this can be on the ground or riding the horse), and challenges designed to work toward the participant’s goals. There will be carefully planned and purposeful challenges, games, activities, and more to complete alongside the equine partner.
The student has an active role in deciding how they want to spend their time at the barn. After each session, the instructor will take time to review the participant’s goals, record notes, and develop a plan for future sessions. This is a great way to build new friendships and relational skills.
Equine-Assisted Learning is catered toward participants of any age - children, teens, or adults - who are looking to build valuable life skills, foster character growth, and develop their unique strengths and abilities.
We are certified through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Intl.) and HorseWork Education (Strides to Success) to bring added value to these EAL sessions.
Fill out the form below to register, and we will be in contact with you to answer any questions, discuss pricing and availability, or schedule a session.
Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) in Education
Equine-Assisted Learning in Education is an experiential learning tool designed to encourage positive character growth, develop relevant life skills, and conquer challenges that students (from elementary age through high school) encounter in their day-to-day life.
Designed according to the Wisconsin Academic Standards, these EAL sessions supplement the materials teachers are promoting in their classrooms by adding a memorable hands-on component, and making the lessons personal to the student’s lives. These sessions explore school subjects such as math, reading, writing, music, history, science, and more, all while working with our equine partners.
Perhaps you are a teacher with students who are disengaged in the traditional classroom. This program is designed to reengage even the most disconnected students, instill a love of learning, and promote healthy relational skills that students can take back to class with them. Topics addressed in our current educational curriculum include respect, creative thinking, alertness, imagination, making choices, thriftiness, punctuality, attitude, honesty, courage, sportsmanship, integrity, and learning to celebrate successes alongside the horses. During each weekly group session, we will follow carefully planned and purposeful challenges, games, and activities to complete alongside the equine partner. Following each session, we will have a self-reflection and evaluation form, as well as rubrics to document measurable progress throughout the 13 week (or semester-long) program.
Equine-Assisted Learning is catered toward teachers and school groups of any age - elementary, middle school, or high schoolers - who are looking to build valuable life skills, foster character growth, and develop their unique strengths and abilities. When students have the life skills they need to be successful, they can be confident in their academics too.
We are certified through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH Intl.) and HorseWork Education (Strides to Success) to bring added value to these EAL sessions.
If you are a teacher, school administrator, or are interested in partnering with us to create a school program, please contact Ivy Bledsoe directly at ivy.bledsoe@northstareal.org.
Horsemanship & Riding Lessons
Horsemanship & Riding lessons are designed for beginner equestrians of any age wanting to get into the equine world and learn more. Learn about different breeds of horses, coat colors, gaits, tack, and styles of riding. Learn the history of how horses have shaped our world, how we continue to work alongside them, and how they point us toward God.
While lessons are usually Western-based, there are opportunities to learn English and bareback style riding as well. Enjoy time spent in the arena, on the trails, and around the barn. Learn how to groom, tack up, and care for your horse (see Proverbs 12:10). Gain practical experience working with a variety of horses, each with their unique personalities and stories.
Choose between a one-on-one lesson format or join group lessons to connect with other equestrians and enjoy time in the saddle in our safe, laid-back, fun-loving corner of the equine world.
This experience provides the broad, practical, usable foundation any equestrian needs to safely and comfortably work with horses, branch into specific riding disciplines, to exhibit horses at shows, or even own their own horses someday!
Fill out the form below to register, and we will be in contact with you to answer any questions, discuss pricing and availability, and schedule a visit or lesson.
Upcoming Events, Camps & Retreats
Adoption Family Retreat (April 24-26, 2026)
During the Silver Birch Ranch Adoption Family Retreat weekend, North Star Stables will partner with adopted and foster children and their families to experience equine-assisted learning (EAL) sessions. These sessions focus on providing the tools for children to build life skills that will benefit them day-to-day. The relational nature God has designed horses with provides a perfect backdrop to develop friendships, learn boundaries, build stronger communication skills, and to grow in confidence and leadership. More information to come soon — see this page to register today!
Open House & Barn Tour (August 16th, 2025)
Thank you to the 20 people who joined us for the first annual North Star EAL Open House and Barn Tour! Even though there were thunderstorms all day, a great time was had by all as we gathered to meet the horses, share food and good conversation, and learn more about Equine-Assisted Learning. We look forward to hosting a similar event next year, but just in case you missed this one, don’t hesitate to reach out and plan your visit to the barn today!
Past Events, Camps & Retreats
Mother-Daughter Retreat (May 16-18, 2025)
Thank you to the 42 participants who joined us in the Northwoods for equine-assisted learning sessions during the Silver Birch Ranch Mother-Daughter Retreat weekend!
Healthy, thriving relationships are founded on the basis of communication, connection, and trust. Using these skills is the key to making sure people in our lives are seen, heard, safe, and know they are cared for and loved.
During this relaxing retreat, we welcomed 19 mothers and their 23 daughters to the barn to experience how the horses demonstrate trust with each other, and how we can connect with the horses using these skills ourselves.
These ladies worked alongside our horses Jezebel and Lucy (who are both mothers themselves) and also heard some of Freddie’s story of learning to trust people. We compared how the horses are beautifully designed to partner with us to show us things about God, about people, and how we can relate. Finally we asked the ladies and their horses to demonstrate trust, knowing that ultimately God is the One who we can trust the most.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Adoption Family Retreat (March 7-9, 2025)
During the Silver Birch Ranch Adoption Family Retreat weekend, North Star Stables partnered with 15 adopted and foster children and their families to experience equine-assisted learning (EAL) sessions. These sessions were faith-based, hands-on, and tons of fun! This year we talked about Psalm 139 and what it means to be fearfully and wonderfully made, and what makes each person (and horse) wonderful.
EAL sessions focus on providing the tools for children to build life skills that will benefit them day-to-day. The relational nature God has designed horses with provides a perfect backdrop to develop friendships, learn boundaries, build stronger communication skills, and to grow in confidence and leadership.
A huge thank you goes to Heidi Gossen and Elise Baird from Crossfire Ranch, an equine-assisted growth and learning facility near Manitowoc, for helping us design the adoption retreat sessions this year. We hope they can return and join us again in hosting these sessions in 2026!
Summer 2025 Camp Program — Silver Birch Ranch
Thank you to the wonderful SBR Youth and Family campers who joined us this summer! Each summer session focused on a theme and during the summer of 2025, we focused on the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Our goal is to explore the following questions alongside the horses: What are the fruits of the Spirit? What do they look like practically? How do we see the fruits of the Spirit showing up in our lives?
A session might have included the following: Upon arrival at the barn, we went through an opening exercise - a welcome, game, and setting basic safety rules around the horses. Then we introduced the fruit of the Spirit focus for the day. Each session included reflective questions to discuss, a simple activity with the horses related to those questions, and a closing conversation and daily challenge tying the day’s activities together (Check out an example lesson plan here).
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
Riding Adventure Camp (August 2-7, 2025)
Hosted by Silver Birch Ranch, the Riding Adventure Camp is for girls who have completed 6th-8th grades and will teach campers the entry level skills and knowledge of horsemanship. Riding Adventure campers stay together in a cabin and each session is limited to a maximum of eight campers. Each morning is devoted to learning about and riding horses, both in the classroom and through hands-on learning. Riding Adventure campers will have a Bible Time together in the afternoon, and then are merged with the larger camp session in progress for afternoon free time activities and evening activities including the evening Chapel session. As time and weather allow, we often include a trail ride & picnic with the horses in the woods and a fun horse show to showcase the skills learned throughout the week.
See this page for more information about this exciting camp!
Let’s work together.
Do you have a larger group that would like to plan a field trip, professional development day, or participate in an equine retreat? Perhaps you have an idea for a service that you don’t see listed above? We would love to work with you to create an equine experience that serves your specific needs. Contact us with your thoughts and we can chat!