November 12, 2020
Equine-assisted Business Launched to Help Organizations and Businesses Strengthen Collaborations

Fred Bueltmann, an entrepreneur, former brewery executive and expert in company culture, has joined with leaders in equine-assisted experiential learning to launch Red Horse Center for Collaborative Leadership.  Red Horse is established to serve the mission of strengthening collaborations for the greater good by working with humans and horses, through mindful experiential learning and considerate leadership models to discover and empower positive change in the world.

Red Horse Center is located at Red Horse Ranch, a horse-farm owned and operated by its co-founders, Fred Bueltmann and psychologist, Ulla Frederiksen MA, LLP.  It has been the home-base of The Sundance Center, Ulla’s private practice providing individual and group therapy for more than thirteen years.  In 2020, they constructed a covered arena, and an indoor retreat center with meeting space to accommodate their goal of launching Red Horse Center for Collaborative Leadership, and inviting nonprofit organizations, businesses and individuals to attend workshops, retreats and other educational opportunities.

The inaugural board for the organization has been announced, and includes a diverse range of talent and experience, with Fred as Executive Director, Shawn Gary (Alliance Beverage) as Vice Chair, Jenny Atlee (Friendship Office) as Secretary, Ulla, and Tom Loudon (Friendship Office.)  Red Horse Center is currently registering as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.

Red Horse Center is focusing on helping organizations that are working towards positive social change in their communities, and business working on team development and improving company culture.  Fred states, “We have long believed in the power and softness of collaborative leadership, and mindful practices for learning and developing new ways to work together.  The challenges and conflicts in our world’s current events have brought to light that the need for this work and positive change in our communities is essential and imminent.”

The building of the new spaces is complete, despite the multiple challenges of building through the COVID-19 pandemic.  They are “open for business,” although relying on a combination of virtual meetings, and limited group size to account for appropriate social distancing.  When the weather is nice, there is ample outdoor space for teams of twenty-five to gather, and work on their organizations. Over the winter – group size for indoor gatherings will be determined on a case by case basis and will follow safe protocols. 

Fred, Ulla and Jenny are certified facilitators of the Eagala Model, a distinctive experiential framework designed to hold space for clients to discover, learn, and grow from a horse and human experience.  Eagala (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) is the leading international nonprofit association for professionals incorporating horses to address mental health and organizational development needs.

Eagala model work is ground-focused and solution-oriented, creating a safe environment for both horses and clients to be themselves.  It is an extremely effective form of experiential and metaphoric learning. Drawing metaphors from interaction with horses, while outdoors in nature, empowers teams to explore difficult topics with productive distance and emotional safety. The powerful insights that result create positive, actionable change. www.Eagala.org

Red Horse Center for Collaborative Leadership is launching their website, along with a fund-raising campaign that includes membership and sponsorship opportunities designed to support scholarships to assist nonprofit organizations with workshop fees and contribute to ongoing operational costs.

More information can be found at www.redhorse.red and on their Facebook Page www.facebook.com/redhorsefennville