A barn isn’t a studio, and that’s the point.
This episode of Defiance of Silence was recorded in the middle of Operation Equine’s WARRIOR Pack Trip in the Colorado mountains—with wind in the rafters, horses nearby, and life moving around us.
Valerie joins five other women for an immersive week of horses, horsemanship, nature, shared meals, hard work, laughter, and opportunities to look honestly at themselves. Near the end of the week, she sits down in the barn with Operation Equine founder and executive director Michelle Kaye and co-facilitator Lee Dudley to talk about how the organization began, why horses are at the center of their work, and what can happen when people are given the space to experience rather than being told what healing is supposed to look like.
Michelle and Lee share the principles behind WARRIOR—Wisdom; Accountability, Awareness and Acceptance; Respect; Responsibility; Integrity; Owning Your Impact; and Relationship—and how those principles come alive through interactions with horses, nature, and one another. They talk about expectations and control, military cultural competence, the difference between supporting and rescuing, caring for themselves as trauma therapists, and what it really means to trust the horses.
Valerie also shares her own unexpected experience with a horse named Jake. She entered the round pen believing she had let go of her expectations, only to discover she was still waiting for something very specific to happen. What followed—including an entire herd thundering down the mountain—became a lesson in community, surrender, and the possibility that what we need may not arrive looking anything like what we asked for.
Then you'll hear directly from the women who lived the experience—veterans and a military spouse—along with one of the horsewomen who helped make it possible. Their stories are different, but common threads emerge: fear giving way to confidence, learning to stay present, letting go, finding connection, and discovering what happens when we stop forcing an outcome and become curious about what is already there.
This isn't a story about horses fixing people.
It's about relationship. Presence. Trust. Being willing to see yourself honestly. And what can become visible when there is enough safety and space to pay attention.
Sometimes the horse comes to you.
Sometimes it doesn't.
And sometimes you look up and realize you've become part of the herd.
For more information on Operation Equine and the visit their website - https://operationequine.org/
Although the 2026 Trips are currently full - Operation Equine is already interviewing for next year! So if you are interested in applying for 2027, contact Michelle Kaye, Executive Director, directly at [email protected]
(Please type "2027 WARRIOR Pack Trip" in the subject line) or, call or text 720.588.3035
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Remember YOU are loved and worthy of being witnessed!
If today’s episode stirred heavy feelings, you are not alone. Please reach out to a trusted friend or a professional if you need support:
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) | rainn.org
- SAMHSA Mental Health/Substance Use: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
- 988 LIFELINE: Call, Text or Chat https://988lifeline.org
- Veterans Crisis Line: Dial or text 988, then press 1
- Help for Veterans suffering with CPTSD https://saveawarrior.org/
- https://www.scarsfoundation.org/
- Operation Equine
*This podcast is not therapy. If you’re in immediate danger, please call 911 or your local emergency number.
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