Horse Medicine Leadership

On our latest podcase episode we are navigating a conversation of what it means to hold consent based horse care with our horse partners. Join our founder Hillary and faculty members Brittany and Breanne, as we share our intepretations and experiences of how to hold horse care in a consent based manner with our horse partners. On this episode we also share about our upcoming sacred stewardship retreat that is a horse care based retreat, you can learn more about that here:  https://www.horsemedicineleadership.com/sacred-stewardship. If you want to follow and learn more about our founder and faculty you can do so in the links below. Brittany Ashworth:  Website: www.sacredechos.com Instagram @sacredechos   Breanne Kerr:  Website: ⁠www.wildwynd.com⁠ Instagram ⁠@⁠⁠wildwyndequine⁠   Hillary Schneider Website: ⁠www.hillaryschneider.com Instagram ⁠@⁠⁠hillaryepona

In this episode, Brittany Ashworth sits down with trauma-informed horse trainer Poppy Peach to explore the complex world of trauma in horses. Inspired by a thought-provoking Instagram post, "What if you could make friends with your horse's trauma?" this conversation dives deep into understanding trauma responses not as flaws, but as protective gifts horses carry with them. Poppy shares her unique perspective on how common trauma responses (Flight, Fight, Freeze/Shutdown, Fawn/Appeasement, and Hypervigilance) can be reframed as gifts that once served a vital purpose, and how creating safe, supportive environments allows horses to no longer feel the need to wield them. Together, Brittany and Poppy discuss how these gifts show up in horses, the parallels with human trauma, and practical ways to support horses on their healing journey. Listeners will gain insights into creating compassionate, trauma-informed relationships and learn the importance of patience, gentleness, and holistic care.   About Poppy Peach Poppy Peach is a Trauma-Informed Horsemanship Coach, who also integrates Animal Communication and Reiki into her work with horses.   In her coaching, she utilizes environmental management, attunement, nervous system support and somatically informed trauma resolution work to help horses to live a thriving, emotionally fulfilling life.   She wants to empower horse-human partnerships to have a joyful, authentic and emotionally safe relationship together.   She is forever inspired by horses, and looks to them as friends and mentors, and sees them as being incredibly skilled in knowing what they need for their own healing, and is led by them in that process.   Poppy shares her life with a herd of three horses called Willow, Annie, and River.  

We are excited to be back for another season of our podcast, our first episode of season 5 we re sharing the journey of navigating transitions with some of our beloved horse partners in our herd. We are joined by Brittany Ashworth of Sacred Echos, who is also on our faculty, who shares her perpsective as an animal communicator and someone that has been a part of the transitions in our herd as we speak to all the layers that we have to sit in as we go through transitions.  Walking through the journey with our horses can be challenging, facing their loss can be hard for us to sit in. We talk about how we have held this space with our horses, and what can feel supportive for both horse and human as we navigate this journey. Hopefully listening to this pocast will be helpful if you are in this space, we also created course that supporst this as well if you are looking for a deepening of support. https://www.horsemedicineleadership.com/supporting-sacred-transition is where you can find out more. If you are curious to learn more about Brittany and her work you can do so through her website.  https://www.sacredechos.com

Join us in this episode as Brittany Ashworth introduces Shawna Van Nuys of @shawnavannuys, an alumna of the Horse Medicine Leadership Academy, to the community.  Shawna is passionate about helping women remember what's already within- rediscovering the wisdom, power, and magic they've always had but may have forgotten. She creates a grounded nurturing space and offers Equine-Guided Coaching, EFT Tapping, Numerology, and other intuitive tools supporting reconnection with inner guidance. Her work bridges the gap between what's present & tangible and what's boldly possible, empowering women to release old patterns, reclaim their confidence and deepen the relationship with themselves. In this episode, Shawna shares the story of how she came to be a facilitator of this work, along with her personal journey and the steps she's taken to support others in the way that she does. She talks about her lifelong love of horses and how her various trainings have shaped the way she connects with them now. To close the episode, Shawna guides us through a gentle EFT Tapping practice for Self-Care.   Connect With Us:  Shawna Van Nuys Website: www.shawnavannuys.com FB: www.facebook.com/shawna.nuys/ IG: www.instagram.com/shawnavannuys/ Youtube: www.youtube.com/@shawnavannuys Horse Medicine Leadership Academy:  Website: www.horsemedicineleadership.com  Instagram @horsemedicineleadership  

In this heartfelt episode, Brittany sits down with Heather Flynn, an alumna and graduate student of the Horse Medicine Leadership Academy, who facilitates transformative work with her herd in Huger, South Carolina, just outside Charleston. Heather takes us on a journey through her life — from her early childhood longing and deep connection with horses, to rediscovering that connection later in life through a therapy barn, and ultimately becoming a steward of her own herd. Today, she co-facilitates healing experiences alongside these powerful animals. We explore Heather's passion for supporting women as they move toward their own purpose, her insights on relationship recovery (and what that truly means), and the sense of readiness required to walk this healing path with horses. Together, we dive into a rich, soulful conversation about what it means to be human — navigating the highs, the lows, and everything in between. The road may be bumpy, but as Heather shares, it can lead to profoundly beautiful places.   Connect With Us:  Heather Flynn:  Website: www.restorativesoulsequinecoaching.com Instagram ⁠@restorative_souls    Horse Medicine Leadership Academy:  Website: www.horsemedicineleadership.com  Instagram @horsemedicineleadership  

On out latest podcast we are joined by Chloe Elgar from Chaneled by Chloe, to share about her path and journey with horse medicine and her three spirit ranch just outside of Austin, Texas. The call and path to horses is one that speaks deeply to us, and how we arrive at our destination is a journey.  Chloe shares her past with horses and how it lead to her manifestation of her own ranch and the journey of stepping into horse medicine with her herd. This is a beautiful conversation of trusting the journey, the fullness of it and how to find our devotation in our path with horses. Chloe Elgar lives just outside of Austin, Texas on her ranch where she offers Horse Medicine experiences with her herd of 4 horses.   Since she was young she has been talking to animals and spent her twenties working as a professional psychic and medium. Her dream was always to live on land and share her gifts; an intimate love of horses and nature.   Connecting with Chloe will inspire you to connect with your inner wild. Her work will invite you to step into the unknown and access a space of meeting your unique magic, gifts, and potential.   www.channeledbychloe.com @channeledbychloe @threespiritranch

Hoof care can feel overwhelming for many of us—how do we choose the right farrier for our horses needed, support them during the appointment (especially when they struggle), and work together as a team to ensure we are working towards more cooperative care?  In this episode of the Horse Medicine Leadership Podcast, host Brittany Ashworth sits down with Brianna Ferguson of Evergreen Equine Wellness to explore the world of consent-based hoof care.  Brianna, an equine bodyworker and hoof care provider, shares insights on how to build trust with your horse, advocate for their well-being, work collaboratively with your trimmer or farrier, and so much more. Brianna is a wealth of knowledge! We discuss common hoof issues, key qualities to look for in a practitioner, and practical ways to support your horse's hooves between visits. Whether you have a horse that struggles with trims and farrier visits, or are just looking for ideas to give more choice to your horse during these appointments this episode is packed with valuable knowledge to help you and your horse thrive! As an Equine Bodyworker and Hoof Care Provider, Brianna is passionate about guiding horse owners to develop deeper relationships, restore wellness, & seek holistic transformation through consent-based support modalities. Her work has been guided by her herd of four horses who now journey with her in spirit. As a forever student of the horse, her practice is ever-evolving as she learns more about supporting horses and their humans through their holistic health journey.   Connect With Us Brianna Ferguson:  Website:  ⁠www.evergreenequinewellness.ca⁠ Instagram ⁠@evergreenequinewellness   Horse Medicine Leadership Academy:  Website: www.horsemedicineleadership.com  Instagram @horsemedicineleadership  

We are thrilled to bring you this episode featuring one of our graduate students and alumni members, Margarita Romano, the Equine Guided Strategist at LeapZone.   Margarita Romano is a certified equine-facilitated coach helping heart-centred entrepreneurs and couple-preneurs connect the dots to lead spectacular lives driven by heart and soul. She is the best-selling author of Sitting on the Fence – How to Love Without Limits and is determined to help people increase their units of happiness.   In this episode, Margarita shares her powerful journey—from receiving a life-changing vision atop a volcano in Bali, to graduating from the Horse Medicine Leadership Academy, moving from a big city to a small town, and forging a profound partnership with her herd of horses.   She shares how she not only gained insights on her purpose but also experienced her horses manifesting their own dreams alongside her. Since graduating from HMLA in 2016, Margarita's practice has continued to evolve, creating new and exciting ways for individuals to receive support from her and her herd. She also explores how her horses want to engage in the healing process in unique ways, offering them opportunities to support client's journeys through a variety of modalities.   This episode is filled with heartfelt stories—some so moving and unexpected that you can't help but feel the deep alignment at play. Tune in for an insightful look into Margarita's path, her transformational work, and the incredible connection she shares with her horses. You can listen to the episode on all the major platforms or through the link in our bio. Connect With Us:  Margarita Romano:  Facebook @margarita.romano.33 Facebook: Caches Corner Linkedin @margarita-romano-a40445209 Instagram @leapzone.strategies Website: www.leapzonestrategies.com/horsepower Book: Sitting on the Fence – How to Love Without Limits    Horse Medicine Leadership Academy:  www.horsemedicineleadership.com   

In this episode, faulty member Laura Marie of Wild Awake Woman shares her experiences in the show horse industry. She speaks to her evolution—from engaging in a more traditional approach with horses to developing a partnership through Equine Guided Coaching. As her relationship with horses has deepened, so has her perspective on the industry and the way she chooses to show up within it.   Laura offers tangible strategies that can support anyone navigating this world,  from selecting the right coach and barn to building and maintaining a meaningful connection with your horse.  She also shares how individuals within the industry can help drive the changes she hopes to see in the equine showing world.   This episode is packed with insight, hard truths, and an inside look at the realities of this world—for both horses and their owners. We hope it inspires learning, growth, and a deeper connection with your equine partners.   Connect With Us  Laura Marie: www.wildawakewoman.com IG: @livingwildawake   Horse Medicine Leadership Academy:  www.horsemedicineleadership.com   

In this episode, Breanne Kerr and Brittany Ashworth dive deep into their transformative journeys with their horses—journeys that not only reshaped their relationships and lives of their horses but also led them to powerful self-growth and healing. They share the lessons learned along the way, the challenges of accountability (both for themselves and their horses), and the incredible parallels between their personal healing and their equine partnerships. Reflecting on their evolution, Breanne and Brittany explore how their awareness of themselves and their horses has shifted over time and why it's so important to meet both human and horse where they are today—not where they once were. If you've ever felt a deep connection with an animal or wondered how personal growth and horse partnership intertwine, this conversation is for you.   Connect With Us:  Horse Medicine Leadership Academy: www.horsemedicineleadership.com  Breanne Kerr of Wildwynd Equine: www.wildwyndequine.com  Brittany Ashworth of Sacred Echos: www.sacredechos.com  

On our latest podcast episode we are unpacking the notion of "bad behaviour" in our horse partners. In recent weeks we have had conversation with some of our students around some horse behaviour that was manifesting and what to do about it and if it was "safe" for people to be around. What our philosophy around this is here, there is no "bad behaviour" there is horse behaviour and certain behaviours that can be triggered by past experiences that we need to know how to tend to and support in our horse partners. There is a dance between holding our horses in the space of consent and honoring their communicaiton, while also having the space of being able to handle them outside of our purpose with them and knowing how to hold that in a way that still honors the horse. There are a few pieces we speak to in this podcast, that we are excited to bring to our community. To learn more about our programs you can check out our website www.horsemedicineleadership.com

Hera and Heka: A journey of joining our teaching herd. On our latest podcast we share the journey of two of our latest herd members that have joined us over the last few months. We believe that our horses are called to us as deeply as we are called to them, that they have a purpose with us and choose that. Both of these horses have their own unique journey in coming to our herd and we wanted to be able to give voice to what that journey has been. Sometimes we can question if our horses are called to this work as much as us, we believe that if our horses are finding their way to us, it is because they are choosing this path too. We have loved getting to know Hera and Heka more deeply and seeing them integrate into our herd.  Already their impact has been deeply felt and we are grateful to welcome these beautiful souls into our herd.

On our latest podcast episode we share our own journey of feeling the courage to hold this space with horses outside of what we were taught. We have many conversations with those that have found us over the years, where there is a question of can I hold this work this way? A way that is often different from what we have been taught how. There are many times where we feel we are giving permission to and validating where we are called to hold this path differently than what we have been taught. Hillary founder of horse medicine leadership shares her own personally journey with this and how she moved from beyond her own teachers into finding the courage to hold this work the way the horses called her to it. Sometimes we need someone to say, it is ok to hold things differently and to listen to your inner knowing and partnership with the horses in a way you are feeling lead and called to. Permission granted. You can listen to our podcast on all major platforms, would love to hear your thoughts and how this might resonate for you!

On our latest podcast episode we are unpacking a conversation around our perspective that horses are not problems, they are partners. We came across something recently that advertised supporing problem horses in the equine therapy field, we felt the urge to speak to this concept and how we believe that in looking at horses as problems, we are deeply dishonoring them and our partnership with them. This is a great podcast to hear some insights with Hillary and Laura as they share their experiences with a range of horses and backgrounds and how they support them in the equine guided learning field. How do we as facilitors be responsible for holding safety for both horse and human while also knowing our capacity and how to call in the "right" horses for our practice.

In this episode, faculty members Laura Marie and Brittany Ashworth sit down to introduce themselves and talk about their journeys with The Horse Medicine Leadership Academy training program. They discuss how it's impacted their relationships with their horses, helped shape their businesses, and what they envision for the Academy moving forward. This is an honest and meaningful conversation about the many layers of horse ownership and how walking in partnership with horses can honor them as sacred beings.   If you want to connect with Laura, her website is www.wildawakewoman.com  If you want to connect with Brittany, her website is www.sacredechos.com   

Welcome to Season 4! We are really excited to be welcoming another episode of our podcast.   In this episode we are sharing an update of where we are with horse medicine leadership, how it has evolved this year and what new programs, retreats,  and new spaces we are welcoming in for the new year.   To learn more about our programs and retreats or to explore more deeply check out our website www.horsemedicineleadership.com You can also see us on instagram, horsemedicineleadership.  We look forward to a new season with you all!   

On our latest podcast we are sharing our journey of starting in the breeding industry to running and owing our an equine retreat center. We don't always see the journey to get the final outcome, when people find us now, there is sometimes a comparision of looking at what we have with our herd and our center and feeling like this is what we need in order to do this work. The truth is, it took us 10 years since we found the path of EAL to get to here, and sometimes we need to be reminded of the journey to get to where we envision ourselves wanting to be. We hope today's episode proves as an inspiration and encouragement that wherever you find yourselves on the journey in your EAL practice, it is enough.

On today's episode we are sharing a message and wisdom that felt inspired by our lead gelding chief. Why is it important for us to acknowledge and own our leadership alongside of our horse partners? What is powerful about us recognizing that our voice and presence is as equally as impactful as the horses? We answer these questions and more in this episode.

We were inspired to record our latest podcast from our lead gelding Chief to share some stories of horses of ours in how they found their way to us and to empower the perspective of horses being able to choose their journey and path in life and with us. Our horses can be consciously manifest their journey, choosing their connection to us and being part of what we choose to do in our partnership with them. In this podcast I share a few stories of the horses in our herd in their unique and individual paths to us and this journey we walk with them. We answer the question, do horses choos their path with us?  And... How do we empower and witness this choosing and trust it. We hope you enjoy this episode and gratitude to the horses of ours that shared their journey with us.

We are really excited to be joined again by Kim Hallin of Unbridled LLC. On this podcast we are deepening into the conversation of becoming an advocate for our horses and how that is part of our journey when we become horse owners. It can be overwhelming and at times paralyzing when we are new to horses and are not trusting of what we feel in this relationship. How do we navigate coming up against judgment and opinions around how we be in relationship with our horses in the traditional horse approach, when it is not something we resonate with? How do we find our courage to advocate for our horses and our partnership with them when we don't feel confident around our voice or what our horses need? Lots of depth to this conversation along with some resources for those that feel called to them. If you want to explore more of Kim and her work visit her website https://www.kimhallin.com.