There is a whole world beyond what we can see and touch - and in this episode I dive into the subtle realm with my guest Dana Jenkins of Elevation Equine. In episode #12 of Healing and Horsemanship, I spoke with Dana who is an Equine Massage Therapist, Energy Worker for humans and horses, and wild horse advocate. I was mind blown hearing Dana’s story, about how she came back to the horse world after losing touch with horses as a young adult - a journey many equestrians have in common, I feel - and that her coming home to horses, and herself, was thanks to energy work.

In episode #10 of Healing and Horsemanship, I sat down with Ashley Frye, who will absolutely blow your mind as she did mine in the span of a ninety minute conversation. In fact, I had very little idea just what I was getting into in my conversation with Ashley, as my initial conversations with her revolved around the equine therapy work that she so passionately devotes herself to. I knew that she began her career as an Equine Therapy Facilitator at Wild Hearts Equine Therapy in Seneca, South Carolina. However, as I found out during our chat, the many lives she’s lived as a high school educator for 11 years and a birth doula offer a glimpse at the profound wisdom she has to share. And on top of all that amazing paths she’s walked, she has been a seer her whole life.

Where do we begin to describe the benefits of craniosacral therapy? I’ve heard many people speak to its applications and how it works, however none have sung its praises as tangibly as Maureen has in my opinion - both for humans and horses.

In episode #9 of the podcast, I chatted with Maureen Rogers, a pioneer and leading expert in the field of equine craniosacral therapy. She is the founder of Equine CranioSacral Workshops - an international education program that offers the most extensive program of study. She founded her program in 1999 and has over twenty years of teaching experience.

What I perhaps love most about the work Jordan Stanton is doing with horses, is that you can’t talk about her work without talking about ‘horsewomanship.’

In episode #8 of the podcast, I spoke with Jordan Stanton of JS Horsemanship, who calls attention to the power of women in the horse world through her intentional use of horsewomanship. After listening to my interview with Jordan, I think you’ll agree that it deserves greater recognition as a majority of people in the horse industry are, in fact, women. And if you aren’t already proud to be a woman doing work with horses, or singing the praises of one you know who is doing it, surely now is the time to do so.

The real adventure of a lifetime is getting to know ourselves at our ooey-gooey center, or innermost core - and for Kelly Dukarski, the journey self discovery was guided by horses, nature, and ultimately, the Equine Facilitated Therapy called Gestalt that changed her whole life. Kelly is an Equine Gestaltist who partners with horses to offer a somatic healing experience in which clients are able to clear trauma from the body, reclaim their happiness, and embrace the beauty of who they are.

I, (of course) connected with Kathryn initially through responding to her Instagram story about mustangs. As we got to talking, I quickly realized there was A LOT for us to talk about. My interview with her was nothing less than inspiring as she has a true way with words (I think especially when compared to how most gifted horse people I come across tend to have horsemanship come naturally, but words… less so). She possesses a wisdom far beyond her years thanks to her unique interactions with horses, and her health journey which she details in the episode, that is/was anything but easy.

Trent is a long rider, saddle maker, leather craftsman and all-around devotee of the old, wild ways with a so-called “addiction to packing.” Read on or listen here to learn about how Trent defines the word ‘wild’, how to coexist with fear and the belief that everything you want in life is on the other side of fear, and debunking the myth that horses are a ‘luxury’, and centering horse-human relationships as rich collaboration with endless potential.

In this interview, we talk about that one horse that changed everything. And for Nika, this was the magic horse Merlin, who put her through a fiery initiation onto an alternative path with horses. we talk about willing partnerships versus relationships based on control.

Read on to learn about how difficult horses have the most potent medicine for us, the gift of doing nothing with horses as the greatest gift of all, and unlearning tradition without shaming ourselves or others.