What a perfect way to finish off season 8! This episode with Dr. Barbara Parks was fun, fascinating and fully geeky - my fave. We turned over a lot of stones, discussing clicker training - why many people think it doesn't work, what can go wrong and how to move into a place of understanding and success with this very helpful tool, especially in the realm of body work and other care practices, getting into many of my burning questions about equine body work, from how to set a boundary with a client, to when to have a hard conversation with an owner, to what to do when your treatments aren't feeling like they are working. We traveled far in this conversation and it was a treat! This is definitely a must-listen episode if you are an equine manual therapist or if you have a body worker for your horse(s). 

After this episode we're taking a breather as I launch the Whole Horse Collective, my new communuty membership, based on nine years of the Whole Horse Apprenticeship. Keep your eyes peeled for more details! I'll be back for the start of season 9 in late November 2025 - more awesome horsey guests and mind and heart-opening conversations to come. See you then! 

Dr. Barbara Parks is a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy and Certified Equine Rehabilitation Practitioner who has built her practice around the intersection of evidence-based rehabilitation and whole-horse wellness.

Barbara holds multiple certifications, including NBCAAM-certified Equine Massage Therapist and PATH Intl. Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor, and has completed extensive continuing education in equine biomechanics, orthopedic assessment, hoof care, nutrition, and behavior.

Her approach to equine rehabilitation is integrative and guided by a deep respect for the horse’s physical and emotional experience. She specializes in using positive reinforcement training as both a therapeutic tool and a way to improve equine body awareness, movement, and emotional regulation during rehab.

Based in the greater Nashville, Tennessee area, Barbara offers in-person therapy for horse and rider, virtual consultations, online educational courses, and rehab boarding on a track system designed to support natural movement and healing.

Whether she’s working with a high-level performance horse or helping a backyard companion recover from injury, Barbara’s mission is the same: to support long-term soundness and whole-horse wellness through compassionate, informed care.

https://www.drbarbaraparks.com/