Unbridled Awareness

An interactive experience for military families that combines equine-assisted learning with practical financial education.
About this Event

Unbridled Awareness is an interactive experience for veteran families that combines equine-assisted learning with practical financial education to strengthen family communication, build stress awareness, and increase financial confidence. Through hands-on activities with horses and family finance education, participants will gain tools to navigate challenges, build resilience, and create a stronger future together.

Program Outline
1. Money Personality & Financial Habitudes

Duration: 1 hour
Facilitators: USU Extension; Empowering Financial Wellness

Participants will engage with the Money Habitudes curriculum to explore their individual money personalities, financial attitudes, habits, and motivations. Through guided activities and discussion, families will gain insight into how different perspectives about money can influence financial decisions, communication, and household relationships.

Participants can expect to:

• Identify personal money habits, attitudes, and financial tendencies.
• Explore how different money personalities can influence family financial decisions.
• Recognize opportunities to improve communication and understanding around money.
• Begin connecting financial habits with family goals and long-term financial well-being.

2. Mindfulness & Equine-Assisted Family Learning

Duration: 1.5 hours
Facilitators: USU Equine Experience

Families will participate in ground-based, experiential activities with horses that encourage mindfulness, self-awareness, communication, and connection. Participants will learn to recognize equine body language, explore nervous system regulation and grounding strategies, and practice responding thoughtfully rather than reacting automatically. Family activities will reinforce concepts from the financial education session, helping participants apply what they learned about money habits, communication, and decision-making in a supportive, hands-on environment.

Participants can expect to:

• Learn to recognize basic equine body language and behavioral cues.
• Practice mindfulness, sensory awareness, and nervous system regulation.
• Explore how stress, assumptions, and different perspectives influence communication and decision-making.
• Strengthen family teamwork, trust, and connection through shared activities with horses.
• Apply financial wellness concepts to everyday family interactions and challenging situations.

All equine activities will take place on the ground. No riding experience is necessary, and no mounted activities will be included.

3. Family Dinner & Connection

Families will share a meal and have an opportunity to reflect on their experiences, connect with other participating families, and discuss how they can apply their new skills at home. Dinner will provide a relaxed conclusion to the program and encourage continued family connection.

Intended Outcomes

By the end of the program, participants will be better prepared to:

• Understand their own and their family members’ money habits and attitudes.
• Communicate more effectively about financial decisions and family goals.
• Recognize stress responses and practice mindfulness-based regulation strategies.
• Approach challenging situations with greater awareness, flexibility, and teamwork.
• Identify practical ways to strengthen family relationships and support long-term financial well-being.