Heart Centered Horsemanship

Heart Centered Horsemanship Helping people discover mindful, joyful connection with horses.

Through movement, awareness, and compassionate practices, Heart Centered Horsemanship fosters safe, authentic relationships where both horse and human can thrive. Heart Centered Horsemanship is rooted in the intention to serve horses through supporting owners, horsemanship students and riders in creating partnerships that are enjoyable and mutually beneficial. Over 25 years of experience in traini

ng, teaching lessons, starting young horses, providing equine-assisted learning and therapeutic services, equine rehabilitation and working with rescues has given me experience that can benefit anyone seeking a safe and happy partnership with their horse. I can help you:
-Feel safe with your horse through setting clear and effective boundaries
-Listen to the horse and gain trust
-Become a calming and grounding influence
-Release tension in the horse and facilitate relaxation and connection
-Guide and move your horse without pressure
-Teach your horse to stay light and soft in the bridle
-Ride in a way that develops the horse's core strength to prevent damage from riding

Heart Centered Horsemanship is an holistic approach that teaches people the skills needed to build a meaningful and joyful relationship with their horse. It incorporates the practice of yoga to help people use body, mind and breath in a mindful and intentional manner. It includes techniques from Masterson Method, Feldenkrais, myofascial release, massage, and other equine bodywork modalities to help release tension and relax the horse. Groundwork is based on moving the horse with the least amount of pressure until all movements can be done at-liberty. In-hand training with the bridle and riding are based on classical dressage to help the horse build core strength and carry a rider without damage to the body. Services offered include training and support for horse owners, riding and horsemanship lessons for all ages with school horses, clinics, and "yoga and horses" classes, and equine assisted learning and therapeutic services.

For the nurturers, the caregivers, the healers, the space holders…Caring for others requires a lot of rather unglamorous...
11/14/2025

For the nurturers, the caregivers, the healers, the space holders…

Caring for others requires a lot of rather unglamorous effort. Horse people understand what it’s like to spend part of every day attending to another being.

At the moment I have 5 horses, all given to me. I never meant to have that many, but here we are. What is most important for them is that I hold a space where their needs are met. I make sure they have enough food and fresh water, their hooves are rasped frequently, they get movement and exercise, their wounds and discomforts are attended to, they have companions and a pasture to roam. They also help me in my career, which I hope is enjoyable to them, as they engage with students and clients in our various programs.

Many of the women I work with also hold nurturing spaces for others, a role that doesn’t take a day off. Sometimes the space holder needs someone to hold space for them.

If you could use a truly nurturing experience, and are interested in learning more about mindful horsemanship and how it intersects with equine assisted learning and therapy, consider joining me and Dr. Alita Buzel, author of Beyond Words: The Healing Power of Horses, at this February. If you book NOW you can get a private room at the rate of a shared room! This exquisite getaway will nourish your mind, body, and spirit, and what better way to tend to yourself so that you may hold a space for others ❤️

There’s something special about the black horses that have found me and stayed. They’re the kind of horses that were con...
11/13/2025

There’s something special about the black horses that have found me and stayed. They’re the kind of horses that were considered problematic by most humans. Each of them had a unique challenge that was both humbling and inspiring. A true Capricorn, the goat in me was determined to figure them out.

One lesson I had to accept was letting go of my idea of how things needed to be for things to be okay. Things were okay when the horse was okay, not when I could make them do something they didn’t want to do.

Real horsemanship is about taking care of the horses, showing up for them and providing for their needs. There is so much more to horses than riding them, as my friend Crow has made abundantly clear. This horse has a powerful spirit, and by holding a space for him I share his energy and wisdom. On our walk this morning I received this message:

There is not much to be gained from having more than everyone else to prove your importance. What matters the most is that everyone has enough. True leadership is in caring for those around you, so that you may be surrounded by peace and joy. When we all do this, our connection spreads across the planet, and we are all okay.

What is Leadership?Is it the ability to control others and gain power to pursue your personal ambition?Or is it the abil...
11/12/2025

What is Leadership?

Is it the ability to control others and gain power to pursue your personal ambition?

Or is it the ability to unite, to gain power for the group rather than the individual?

The first form of leadership is about getting what you want, the second is about ensuring all have what they need.

The first form is about achieving a personal benefit, the second is about assessing the needs of the group and finding solutions.

The first form often results in accumulation of wealth and status. In the second, resources are used to provide for each according to their need.

Horses provide a model of leadership that is about collaboration of the herd. Many human models are based on the idea of dominance, control, personal power, status, and importance. When we impose these models on horses, we may get compliant behavior, but we will never get the deep sense of connection that comes from a co-creative partnership.

One of my clients is a mental health counselor offering equine assisted therapy halfway across the country. We have neve...
11/11/2025

One of my clients is a mental health counselor offering equine assisted therapy halfway across the country. We have never met in person, but I’ve been coaching her for over a year in basic horsemanship and integrating horses into sessions with clients. She asked me about mounted activities she could offer, and I told her about our final session in the Gift of Presence equine therapy series.

The theme was integration. We had covered a wide range of topics including getting grounded, being present, authentic connection, co-regulation, and moving in harmony. In our final activity, participants paired up and one rode while the other led the horse from the ground. The rider was guided towards fully experiencing the feeling of joy, gratitude, and peace that so often eludes us, what I call “The Eternal Moment.” The rhythmic movement and calming energy of the horses, the sense of safety and support from the group, and the space to become fully present created the perfect environment to return to the stillpoint within.

Tapping into the Eternal Moment is always possible, though sometimes we forget. Horses have a lovely way of leading us back.

If you’re interested in long-distance coaching for equine assisted professionals, reach out to learn more!

Mindful Horsemanship isn’t a riding lesson and it isn’t about horse training. It’s an opportunity to spend time with som...
11/06/2025

Mindful Horsemanship isn’t a riding lesson and it isn’t about horse training. It’s an opportunity to spend time with some incredible equines and let them teach you a few things about getting grounded and present, expanding awareness, and exploring possibilities.

If you’re craving a space where you can connect with others in a peaceful and supportive atmosphere, where your mind can settle and your heart can open, I invite you to join us! No prior experience with horses is necessary, and children may attend with a paid adult.

There is still time to register for our Mindful Horsemanship for Kids event this Saturday, November 8 at ! Link in the c...
11/03/2025

There is still time to register for our Mindful Horsemanship for Kids event this Saturday, November 8 at ! Link in the comments!

What an honor to be recognized as Happy Roots’ Community Partner of the Year! Providing services to youth is a mission v...
11/02/2025

What an honor to be recognized as Happy Roots’ Community Partner of the Year! Providing services to youth is a mission very dear to my heart. Equine assisted learning is a powerful way to improve emotional regulation, self-awareness, mind-body connection, relational awareness, mindfulness, leadership skills, and more. Thank you for supporting this work!

Sometimes I feel like the education of children is considered less important than teaching adults, but I strongly disagr...
11/01/2025

Sometimes I feel like the education of children is considered less important than teaching adults, but I strongly disagree.

I teach children the same horsemanship that I teach adults, though the lessons may be modified. For very young children, I am mostly modeling good techniques and explaining what I am doing as I go. I don’t expect them to do everything I do, but they can clearly understand by listening and observing, and when they are ready they can take over.

The most important thing I teach them is to honor the horses and to show up for them in a supportive way rather than trying to be dominant. I like knowing that no matter what someone tells them in the future, they will know the power of peaceful leadership.

As a child, I didn’t think too much about the methods that were used to get horses to cooperate. I didn’t realize the pr...
10/30/2025

As a child, I didn’t think too much about the methods that were used to get horses to cooperate. I didn’t realize the prevalent mindset that the horse needed to be dominated to be controlled, that if they acted out more force should be used to make the animal submit. The horses I rode generally cooperated, and if they didn’t it was up to a trainer, not me, to get them back on track.

Later, when it was me doing the training, it really sank in. In my career I have worked with some very challenging horses, and it was up to me to transform them into something rideable for someone else. As I examined every training method available, I realized that if I was going to work with a method that truly honored the horse while creating the desired outcome, I was going to have to try something different.

Now I teach students to create partnerships that benefit both the horse and the human. Riding a horse is something we earn, it is a privilege, not a right. When we honor our horses in this way, there is a shift in the quality of how it feels. Being creatures that do not care for material things, feeling good is the best gift we can give our horses.

Address

2445 Centenary Church Road
Mount Ulla, NC
28125

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Heart Centered Horsemanship posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Heart Centered Horsemanship:

Shortcuts

Share

Category