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In this episode of The Empathetic Trainer Podcast, Barbara O’Brien talks with Rachel Windchaser, author and equine rewilding coach. Rachel runs Winchaser Ranch in Spain, where she cares for a rare herd of Spanish Mustangs.
They talk about what it really means to “rewild” — how slowing down, breathing, and paying attention can change the way we connect with horses and with ourselves. Rachel explains the value of touch, rhythm, and trust, and why real horsemanship starts with self-awareness and kindness.

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In this episode of The Empathetic Trainer podcast, host Barbara O’Brien chats with Jessica Gonzalez, a dedicated horse rescuer and author of Equine Empowerment. They discuss how horses help people heal, the power of positive reinforcement training, and the deep bond between horses and young people. Jessica shares her journey, the challenges of running a nonprofit, and the importance of trust, patience, and second chances—both for horses and humans.

Key Takeaways:

• Horses provide healing and companionship, especially for those struggling socially.
• Positive reinforcement builds trust between horses and people.
• Understanding horse behavior and emotions improves training.
• Working with rescue horses teaches patience, resilience, and empathy.
• Jessica’s nonprofit empowers youth through equine therapy.
• Every horse—and every person—deserves a second chance.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation on love, trust, and the transformative power of horses!

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Barbara O’Brien talks with horse trainer, coach and author Dr. Shelley Appleton about building trust and confidence between riders and their horses. Shelley shares how things like fear, aging, and hormones can affect riding, especially for women. They talk about the importance of patience, understanding, and learning to see things from the horse’s point of view. 
In addition to being the host of the Canter Therapy podcast, Shelley is the author of two books - Confidence & Trust, Solving the Human & Horse Equation; and Buying & Supporting a New Horse, The Essential Guide.
This episode is full of tips for riders and the value of working with others to grow and learn.

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Have you ever wondered what it takes to train a service dog that can transform someone's life? In this heartwarming episode, we sit down with Chelsey Bosak from Helping Paws Minnesota, an organization that specializes in training service dogs for individuals with physical disabilities, veterans, and first responders affected by PTSD. Chelsey shares her journey to becoming Helping Paws’ volunteer coordinator and offers an inside look at the organization's mission to provide highly trained service dogs free of charge, thanks to the dedication of volunteers and donors.

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Have you ever felt a profound connection to something that completely shifted your life's direction? 

In this episode of the Empathetic Trainer Podcast, we chat with Chris Lombard, a horse trainer and author who found his calling in the equine world at the age of 26. Chris shares his transformative journey from a conventional life to one filled with the peace and purpose he discovered through horses. We explore the deep emotional bonds between humans and horses, the courage it takes to follow one's heart, and the healing power of equine therapy. 

Throughout our conversation, Chris and I dive into themes of reconnecting with nature, the innate wisdom within us, and the courage required to pursue our true passions amidst societal pressures. We also touch upon the emotional bond formed between humans and horses, especially through Chris's poignant experience of losing his beloved horse, Rocky. These narratives highlight the importance of patience, presence, and bravery in building trust and meaningful connections with animals.

Chris shares valuable insights on healing from past injuries and overcoming fears, illustrating how horses can catalyze personal growth. Join us to discover the lessons that horses teach us about living authentically, embracing uncertainties, and fostering deep, soulful connections.

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Ingrid Henry, an equine coach, discusses the importance of trust and consistency in building a strong relationship with horses. Ingrid emphasizes the need for patience and understanding when working with challenging horses and highlights the value of undemanding time spent with them. She also addresses the issue of fear in horse-human relationships and offers advice on how to overcome it. 

In this conversation, Ingrid discusses her passion for dressage and eventing, emphasizing the importance of building a harmonious connection with horses. She shares insights on how to overcome fear and frustration in riding, highlighting the role of emotional awareness and regulation. Ingrid also talks about the significance of confidence, leadership, and honesty in horse-human relationships. She provides practical tips for handling spooking incidents and promoting a sense of curiosity and confidence in horses. Finally, Ingrid emphasizes the value of continuous learning, empathy, and gentle honesty in developing a harmonious connection with horses.

We tackle the challenging emotions tied to horse handling, especially after traumatic experiences. Our host recounts a pivotal moment involving an Arab mare and a broken pelvis, highlighting how past traumas can influence current training sessions. By comparing the responses of different horses to their handlers, we emphasize the crucial role of self-awareness and emotional control. Through personal stories and practical examples, we discuss the journey of overcoming fear, emphasizing the importance of not projecting past anxieties onto new equine relationships.

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Experience the transformative power of animal therapy with our special guest Grace Olson, a dedicated therapist and author from Leeds, West Yorkshire, whose unique practice involves the compassionate companionship of horses and sheep. Grace shares her fascinating journey into animal therapy, which began with her sheep, Merlin, providing unexpected comfort to a depressed client. Discover how these animals, once meant for slaughter, have found new purpose in offering emotional support to terminally ill individuals, promoting relaxation and peace through their gentle presence.

Grace also opens up about her journey as an author during the lockdown, from sharing heartfelt stories on Facebook to overcoming numerous rejections and finding success through self-publishing. Her book, "The Yard: How a Horse Healed My Heart," is a testament to her resilience and passion for storytelling. 

This episode emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of nature and animals, the importance of finding inner peace, and seeking support during tough times. As we wrap up, Grace shares behind-the-scenes insights from filming "The Yorkshire Vet," offering a humorous glimpse into the reality of working with therapy sheep. Tune in for a heartfelt conversation about purpose, legacy, and the healing power of animals.

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Kari Bastier of Wag &Train, is a dog behaviorist and canine nutritionist. She debunks the dominance theory, showing that dogs act out due to stress and anxiety and not a desire to dominate their owners. Carrie emphasizes the gut-brain connection, sharing stories about Paisley, a chocolate lab, whose behavior issues were improved by a simple change in diet.  

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New Zealand Horse advocate and author, Julie Smart joins Barbara O'Brien in a conversation not just about training, but about retraining ourselves to listen, to watch, and to feel the subtle cues that horses give us when trying to communicate. 

We talk about how spending undemanding time with our horses changes how they feel about and us and can really help build a better, more trusting relationship.  We also talk about how horses never stop learning and can be trained at any age with atunement and understanding. 

Julie recommends books like 'True Horsemanship Through Feel' by Bill Dorrance and Leslie Desmond, and 'Warwick Schiller's Principles of Training'. Julie shares her biggest failure, which involved a horse named Ethel, and how it taught her the importance of not believing what others say about horsemanship. They also talk about fear and the need to acknowledge and respect it, as well as the luckiest thing that has happened to Julie, which is having her mother as a role model.

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Susan Friedland and I explore the world of Marguerite Henry, a beloved author whose stories have enchanted readers for years. From "Misty of Chincoteague" to "King of the Wind" and so many others, Henry's books have made a lasting impression on people of all ages.

We talk about how much Henry loved horses, especially Morgan horses, and how her stories were influenced by her roots in the Midwest. Susan shares how Henry was kind and caring towards her readers, even writing them personal letters. Susan also had the chance to see original art by Wesley Dennis who illustrated many of Henry's books.

Our chat also touches on how Henry's books have inspired young readers to love horses and how they've brought horse lovers together. Whether we're talking about the excitement of the Chincoteague Pony Penning Swim or the comfort horses can bring, we celebrate Henry's legacy and the happiness her books bring to so many people.

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