Our Origin Story
Teaching Aids for EAS began with one rider. A longtime participant in our adaptive riding program experienced a major shift after undergoing surgery to receive a bone-integrated hearing implant — a device that required removal of the external component during mounted sessions for proper helmet fit. Due to its placement, the device could not be worn under a helmet, and custom options were out of reach. Suddenly, the rider could no longer hear verbal instructions, and lip reading became impractical. After all, when you're supposed to be looking where you're going, you cannot safely be watching the instructor’s mouth during the entire lesson.
To help him continue progressing safely and confidently, I developed a set of laminated, pocket-sized flashcards on a binder ring for his regular sidewalker to use during lessons. These included familiar key cues like: walk on, whoa, two-point, posting, trot, eyes forward, two hands on reins, toes up (heels down), trail ride, look at the instructor, dismount, wait, and repeat.
This simple visual tool made a huge impact — allowing for clear, nonverbal communication with a trained sidewalker reinforcing any missed instructor cues, and ultimately this supported his return to the group lessons he loved most.
After sharing this success online, fellow instructors began requesting a set of these flashcards. And more. What started as a homemade solution quickly grew into a community-wide resource. In 2021, Teaching Aids for EAS officially launched.
Since then, our products and services have grown to support professionals in 48 U.S. states and territories and 14 countries worldwide. Today, we offer 80+ tools and professional services tailored specifically to the equine-assisted services field.
What We Offer
We design visual aids, adaptive tools, and professional supports for equine-assisted services professionals — including instructors, facilitators, therapists, volunteers, and program staff.
Our ready-to-use products include:
• Flashcards (rider cues, warmups, mounted/unmounted skills)
• Games and worksheets for mounted and unmounted activities
• Adaptive tack and equipment
• Visual cueing tools
• Activity boards and laminated visuals for lessons, volunteer training & more
• Printable PDFs for affordable, DIY access
• Custom orders tailored to your program needs
• Resources for EAL, SEL, and OT-based sessions
We also offer professional services for new and experienced EAS professionals:
• CTRI supervision and mentorship
• Lesson planning and curriculum consultation
• Program development and piloting support
• Grant writing guidance and feedback
• 1:1 coaching for instructors and instructors-in-training
We love fellow EAS professionals and are passionate about helping you serve your participants and clients with creativity, clarity, and confidence.
Stay tuned — new virtual education opportunities are coming soon ...
Our Philosophy
We believe in teaching and facilitating with purpose. Visual tools are powerful, but in the arena, less is often more. Too many items can overwhelm or distract, so we design our materials to be intentional and easy to integrate into lessons and sessions. Every tool should have a “why” behind it — and support your goals, not compete with them.
We also know that EAS professionals are incredibly resourceful. That’s why we offer many of our products as printable downloads—typically discounted 50–60% compared to the physical version—giving you the flexibility to print what you need, keep costs down, and adapt to your specific environment.
Why We're Different
Most of our physical products are handmade in our studio, and everything we offer is created or curated with real lessons in mind. We do not sell anything we wouldn’t use ourselves. We’ve even had to turn down great ideas that simply were not realistic to produce — and we’ve got plenty still on the backburner while we find the right way to make them happen.
Our materials are made for a wide range of learners, not just kids — and not just traditional riding programs. They are designed to teach to diverse learning styles, to support quality instruction and facilitation, and to reflect the real-world needs of EAS programs across disciplines.
And because we work with programs around the globe, we also offer adaptations — for example, our vital signs posters are available in both Fahrenheit and Celsius.
Let’s Connect
Have an idea or need something custom? Email or use the Contact page to reach out. We’d love to hear from you and we're always happy to collaborate, brainstorm, or help you find the right tools for your program.
Thank you for being here, and for the work you do,
Chrissy Stout
Owner & Designer, Teaching Aids for EAS
PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor & Mentor
