Healing and Horsemanship

Leah is a horse trainer based in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Central California. Her practice is rooted in natural horsemanship and she works to develop better relationships between horse and human through communication and prioritizing consent.Some people are talented in working with horses. Other are talented in working with humans. Leah is one of the rare few who is very skilled at both. With nearly fifty years of experience in the horse world, Leah talks passionately about horses’ unique personalities, how to truly listen to the horse in front of you, and the importance of addressing fears and taking your time every step of the way.In this interview we talk about:- Working with very different horse personalities and finding what motivates each individual- How culture informs horsemanship, and the difference between primitive and evolved horse cultures- Leah’s background in the traditional English riding world in Philadelphia, PA and her experience working with top level three day eventing horses- The traumatic riding incident that broke her tailbone, but didn’t break her love for horses- Leah’s return to horses after a break during college when she lived in Montana and raised a fiery chestnut filly from birth- The influence of birth on foal-mare bonding, Dr. Maddigan’s squeeze, and developmental work- Her experience training horses in India and how it all began with wanting to learn about Marwari horses- How deeply rooted misconceptions are around stallions, and why we need to reexamine our beliefs about them- The problem with getting back in the saddle after taking a fall, and how to respond to your fears about riding- How when you’re really listening to your horse, you begin to see that they are not “misbehaving,” but rather that they are asking for help- The life-changing practice of showing your horse how much you careResourcesThis show is supported by The Herd, a holistic horse community. Herd Members gain access to my ever-growing Health, Wellness, & Horses resource library, and much more. Join today online at wildwilling.com/herd-membership.Links from this episode:Get in touch with LeahDr. Madigan’s SqueezeHold Your Horses Therapeutics (Equine Developmental Work)Wild WillingWild Willing on InstagramThe Herd MembershipPodcast cover photo by Tricia Mogensen

Rachael is an Osteopathic manual therapist with a multi-species practice based in Northern California. She specializes in working with babies and youngsters, supporting healthy attachment and optimal developmental processes by working with the physiology and the nervous system. She works with all ages and has been in practice for over twenty years. I’ve had the honor of watching Rachael do manual therapy with horses, and it’s something to behold. The transformations are astonishing, even after the first session. I knew right away meeting Rachael that she brings a very unique, powerful skillset to the table. Rachael and I connected through horses and have been friends now for years. We have long said, “we need to record this on the podcast!” And finally in September of 2025 we sat down and recorded our first interview together. It’s taken a while to get the final episode out into the world, largely because Rachael and I are heavily fueled by inspiration and have three big collaborative projects in the works, which draw out our attention in many directions. So this long-awaited interview is something we’re both proud to put out there, and I hope that you enjoy hearing about Rachael’s story and the amazing work that she does.I encourage you to reach out to Rachael to connect with her more deeply. If you’re in Northern California, or a nearby region, and feel called to schedule a session, do it! When you do, you will know why I am blown away by this incredible woman.In this interview we talk about:+ Rachael’s early interactions with horses which helped shape her sense of self and provided a source of comfort through the turbulence of adolescence+ Her first career as a musician teaching music in special education classrooms offering nonverbal and mobility challenged children a way to engage and express themselves in a meaningful way+ Rachael’s bodywork studies and therapeutic education and her capacity to discern subtle things happening in the body early on+ How vices that horses develop may be adaptations from early interruptions including developmental delays, neglect, confinement, inadequate socialization or early imprints from birth / attachment injury+ Nervous system and weaning injuries with horses and the connection between problem behaviors and or disruptions in bonding and attachment + How the attachment experience shapes our capacity to inhabit our own body and form relationship  + The importance of consent as a relational practice when doing manual therapy with horses+ How we can reorient to what is important to horses through noticing and taking part in their routines and rituals+ The question of what’s on offer in the horse-human relationship and how to be a good herd mate to your horseGratitude and Acknowledgements by Rachael:To my teachers and mentors who have guided and shaped my growth and development over the years. To my clients and students who continue to support me to put into practice and refine this work. There are a few people who I wish to name, and give special recognition to: Andrea Pfeiffer who watched me march purposefully out into the pasture as a young girl, to catch my lesson pony, holding a halter upside down in my outstretched arms. Thank you for believing in me and guiding me in the first decade of my riding and horsemanship journey. Elsa Sinclair for providing endless insight into the most subtle forms of listening and learning from horses. Because of you I have learned how to listen more deeply and recognize small cues and information with the horses in my life. You have helped me become a better parent and friend to my young horse. Your dedication to inquiry and exploratory spirit are an inspiration.Cyndi Lukk for saying YES and allowing me to learn from your herd of therapy horses. I cannot imagine a more well-suited bunch to guide my hands and my understanding in developing this work. My Parents for continuously and wholeheartedly supporting my dreams - even to this day. The gift of your love is immeasurable, and is with me always. To all the horses I have loved, thank you for all the life lessons… From my first pony Sky, to Boston Blackie my first eventing pony, and finally GT the gentle tall grey who helped me know myself more deeply. To Solstice for trusting me to be his mama, modeling how to meet adversity with creativity and curiosity, for bringing a spirit of peace and reverence into my life, and for calling me forward into a more powerful, coherent, steady, devoted version of myself.  ResourcesThis show is supported by The Herd, a holistic horse community. Herd Members gain access to my ever-growing Health, Wellness, & Horses resource library, and much more. Join today online at wildwilling.com/herd-membership.Links from this episode:Resonant BodyworkResonant Bodywork on InstagramHold Your Horses Therapeutics on InstagramElsa Sinclair, freedom based trainingSacred Way Sanctuary Pre-and perinatal process workWild WillingWild Willing on InstagramThe Herd MembershipPodcast cover photo by Tricia Mogensen

Over the past year so much has changed. The podcast has been quiet, but under the surface, so much has been happening. Let’s get caught up!This episode is about big 2025 happenings, and an evolution that’s occurred in my horsemanship. Time is a scarce resource in my life as a mother of two little ones. And most recently, as a homeowner and land steward working to build my dream horse property from scratch, it has become even harder to find a sustainable routine to continue this work and put out new episodes. Out of necessity, time I get with my herd has become more restorative, as I sink into slow, relational skills that prioritize mutualistic horse-human relationships. And also out of need to embrace a more sustainable lifestyle, this year has changed my work and caused me to decide what I want to go all in on, and what I need to let go of.In this episode I talk about:+ The need to let go of things that are causing us to fight the tide, and embrace what is in alignment with our purpose and returns the greatest joy+ Our physiological need for connection and the pillars of support we all need in our lives+ How horses are built for social connection and thrive when they have herd members as their layers of support+ Why the grind cultures view of productivity is damaging and how true productivity is fed by rest just as much as effort and drive+ The wild horses I got to work with this Fall who reminded me where my greatest passion lies and how they reignited my purpose+ How the gentling process has informed my practice of restorative horsemanship+ The importance of being a good herd member, and how to gain clarity about our role as a layer of support for another person or a horseResourcesThis show is supported by The Herd, a holistic horse community. Herd Members gain access to my ever-growing Health, Wellness, & Horses resource library, and much more. Join today online at wildwilling.com/herd-membership.Links from this episode:Medicine Stories Podcast episode ‘Reshaped by Parenthood: Families, Fathers, and the First Year - Rachelle Seliga’Wild WillingWild Willing on InstagramThe Herd MembershipPodcast cover photo by Tricia Mogensen

Janelle, also known as the Equestrian Motion Coach, is a strength and performance coach inspiring equestrians to move better both on the ground and in the saddle.This interview was recorded way back in March of this year (2024). Listening to it again, it was re-inspiring to hear Janelle’s perspective on balancing and aligning our bodies for our own sake, and our horses. Especially now, as I’m currently 9 months pregnant at the time of this episode being published, I’m learning again in a whole new way how the importance of a daily movement routine is so essential. Movement is life, perhaps even more so for horses than ourselves. So, if we aren’t already prioritizing balanced movement in our lives, it’s high time we start!In this interview we talk about:+ Why all riders are athletes, regardless of how they feel about it because they’re a teammate to their horse+ How Janelle began connecting her studies of Kinesiology and biomechanics of humans to horses+ How body awareness is the missing piece for many riders+ How to motivate yourself to prioritize a movement practice (and even be able to do it in your jeans)+ Why breathing mechanics are essential in your movement practice and how it will change your life+ Ways we can become more aware of the core muscles and how to use them more effectively+ Training our bodies to be strong and balanced so that we are better able to ride through any trip or unexpected movement our horse makes+ The mind-body connection, and how we need to have both our physical and mental game strong to perform our bestResourcesThis show is supported by The Herd, a holistic horse community. Herd Members gain access to my ever-growing Health, Wellness, & Horses resource library, and much more. Join today online at wildwilling.com/herd-membership.Links from this episode:The Motion CoachThe Motion Coach on InstagramThe Motion Coach on FaceBookWild WillingWild Willing on InstagramThe Herd MembershipPodcast cover photo by Tricia Mogensen

Grief and pain will make you a stranger to yourself. It will compromise your system. Everything becomes a reminder of what you’ve lost, or your limitations.How do we prepare ourselves for the end of life? How do we move on after the loss of a loved one? And how can we find strength of spirit even when it feels like our body is working against us?This episode is about my journey navigating grief after the devastating loss of a loved one, and coping with chronic pain in a condensed timeline. My journey with grief and pain is unique in that it’s also been inextricably linked to creating new life, as I found out I was pregnant not long after losing one of the most important people in my life. However, it’s made me see that when we break down the process down into its bare parts, the cycle of death bringing new life is something we all experience in some way.In this episode I talk about:+ The importance of training ourselves our eyes to see signs of pain (in both human and nonhuman animals)+ How strength of spirit is so much more valuable than physical strength+ The phenomenon of losing a loved one and then birthing new life into the world+ How grief and pain transform us when we unflinchingly open our senses to them+ My insights on how to navigate the grieving process, and how there is no right or wrong way to grieve+ Why I have the utmost respect and empathy for those who suffer from chronic pain+ How time with my horses, even very limited, has helped me to find strength of spirit when I needed it mostResourcesThis show is supported by The Herd, a holistic horse community. Herd Members gain access to my ever-growing Health, Wellness, & Horses resource library, and much more. Join today online at wildwilling.com/herd-membership.Links from this episode:Wild WillingWild Willing on InstagramThe Herd MembershipPodcast cover photo by Tricia Mogensen

Dana is an Equine Massage Therapist,  Energy Worker for horses & humans, and a wild horse advocate who eloquently speaks volumes about her work - and something you may not have heard of, but you should know about: Active Pendulum Dowsing.This episode truly needs little introduction. To preface, though as I like to do, I’ll simply share some highlights that we get into in this interview. Also, I’m excited to say that Dana is offering 15% off of her offerings to Members of The Herd who support the podcast. So enjoy the episode, and get in on this deal if you’re as curious about this mind-blowing modality as I am!In this interview we talk about:+ How Dana’s childhood horse helped her co-regulate and get through traumas she didn’t yet have the tools to cope with+ Why Dana says her leaving the horse world was her biggest regret - and how she came back to horses later in life+ How unprocessed emotions are stored in the body+ Dana’s introduction to the world of energy work and pendulum dowsing through working with a shaman+ How horses came back into Dana’s life when she began to heal herself+ Her journey becoming an Equine Bodyworker, and why she feels that the energy work she was doing facilitated her getting to that point+ How everyone has the gift of intuition - it’s up to us whether we trust, believe in, or cultivate our abilities+ And finally how energy work can help us come back into balance in a number of ways, through clearing obstacles, patching energy leaks, and opening us to positivity on the subtle body frontiers. ResourcesThis show is supported by The Herd, a holistic horse community. Herd Members gain access to my ever-growing Health, Wellness, & Horses resource library, and much more. Join today online at wildwilling.com/herd-membership.This episode’s bonus for Herd Members is a 15% discount on Dana’s offerings at Elevation Equine - including remote Active Pendulum Dowsing. Go to The Herd’s membership site to learn more.Links from this episode:Elevation Equine ServicesElevation Equine on InstagramWild WillingWild Willing on InstagramThe Herd MembershipPodcast cover photo by Tricia Mogensen

Wild horses spark inspiration in our hearts and minds, but that isn’t all that they fuel. They are also source of hundreds of years of controversy and debate, that continues to this day in the not-so-wild west.This episode is about my journey coming to know wild horses, from an activists perspective, then a trainer’s perspective, a guardian’s perspective and then finally from the perspective of a researcher. In this episode I’ll be sharing all about the history of the wild horse in North America, as well as their present day plight, and why it’s even of consequence.The main reason I’m devoting this episode to wild horses, though, is because over the last decade I have essentially voluntarily and figuratively been dragged away by wild horses. I wouldn’t be where I am today without their influence in my life.And that said, I have some big announcements to share - all of which, were inspired by wild horses.I’m self publishing a book, What We Tame, a collection of stories on gentling wild mustangs! Pre-sale options will be coming soon. The book will be available in print and as an e-book (soon, I promise)!!!I’m also breathing new life into an old project, geared towards better understanding American mustangs, and all stories and perspectives that weave their narrative. I've launched The Wild Side, a community designed to bring the wild horse community together and empower people to become more effective advocates. So if you are voluntarily dragged away by wild horses too, I hope to see you over at The Wild Side.In this episode I talk about:+ The history of the wild horse in North America, as well as their present day plight+ What exactly an American mustang is, and why they matter+ The graphic details concerning the violence committed against them that led to the grassroots activism campaign and the passing of the 1971 Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act+ The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program and the complex pros and cons of the current management practices+ How my interactions with wild horses as a trainer led me to question the management practices of on-range populations+ Why my research on American mustangs in my postgraduate program in Anthrozoology drove me to gallop headlong into the wild horse controversy+ The importance of reflecting on our beliefs, unpacking our perspectives, and truly listening to others who think differently+ The difference between wild horse activists and wild horse advocates (and why I call myself an advocate)+ Why I believe that wild horses are the main character in my story+ How essential it is to think outside of ourselves - to think what the horse would want, instead of just what we want, and why there is often a difference between the twoResourcesThis show is supported by The Herd, a holistic horse community. Herd Members gain access to my ever-growing Health, Wellness, & Horses resource library, and much more. Join today online at wildwilling.com/herd-membership.Links from this episode:The Wild Side ArchiveThe Wild Side CommunityWhat We Tame - my book coming soon!!!Montgomery Creek RanchWild Horse Native Species ResearchBureau of Land Management (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro ProgramMustang: The Saga of the Wild Horse in the American West by Deanne StillmanWild Horse Country: the History, Myth, and Future of the Mustang by David PhilippsPopulation Genetics of Great Basin Wild HorsesWild Horse Annie and the Last of the Mustangs by David Cruise and Alison GriffithsWild Horses Adopted Under a Federal Program are Going to Slaughter by Dave PhilippsWild Horses, Wilder Controversy by Ben MastersWild WillingWild Willing on InstagramThe Herd MembershipPodcast cover photo by Tricia Mogensen

An Equine Therapy Facilitator, Earth Intuitive, Seer, and Space Holder, Ashley Frye speaks to the importance of “letting the wisdom of our bodies supersede any doubts we have about a particular path in life.”I was nothing short of blown away during my conversation with Ashley. She shared about the many paths she’s walked - as a high school educator for eleven years, a birth doula, a space holder for people to heal using photography and videography as her medium, and more. I’m so grateful for Ashley’s authenticity and courage as we delved into the shadows of what it’s like to have an incredible innate gift to channel, intuit, and work with Earth Medicine, only to fear being ostracized by the dominant culture.I feel so inspired by Ashley’s courage in sharing about her pursuit to not live small, and lead with an open heart, and I know you will too.In this interview we talk about:+ Ashley’s intense initiation through grief during the hardest time of her life and her decision that she was not going to live with a closed heart+ The importance of pause, and taking a moment to let things happen even if they are a struggle, instead of stepping in with the ‘fix-it’ mentality+ How horses have so much grace for us and continue to show up in spite of ourselves+ The way that horses sync their heart rate to humans with elevated respiration and innately work to regulate their nervous system+ Ashley’s work as a birth doula and how she is called to help people find the “yes, you can do it” when fear and doubt closes in+ Not playing it small and showing up authentically even with the fear of being ostracized for being different+ The gift of channeling or “seeing” which Ashely has had her whole life and how she is working to overcome cultural norms and share her gift with the world openly+ How when horses meet us where we are it gives us grace to meet ourselves where we are too+ And unlearning the need to have control, and how Ashley believes that horses are “exceptionally good medicine in teaching us to show up and be with what isResourcesThis show is supported by The Herd, a holistic horse community. Herd Members gain access to my ever-growing Health, Wellness, & Horses resource library, and much more. Join today online at wildwilling.com/herd-membership.This episode’s bonus for Herd Members is a 15% discount on Ashley’s Earth Medicine and Remote Journeywork offerings booked in 2023 through her business Of Breath and Bone.Links from this episode:Of Breath and BoneOf Breath and Bone on InstagramAshley’s Earth Medicine offeringAshley’s Journeywork offeringWild Hearts Equine TherapyWild WillingWild Willing on InstagramThe Herd MembershipPodcast cover photo by Tricia Mogensen

When the body is deeply listened to, miracles happen. Maureen’s pioneering work applying craniosacral therapy to horses speaks volumes to the “miracles” that happen when the body is truly seen, and deeply listened to.Maureen is 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.A really big takeaway from this episode is that there are amazing therapies available at our fingertips. Craniosacral being a very profound one. I’m eager to learn more about craniosacral in my continuing education as a bodyworker. And for you listening out there, even if you don’t learn to do cranial yourself, I hope you seek out a practitioner to experience it for yourself, and for your horses. Experience for yourself how the body responds when it is truly, deeply listened to. I believe that’s when “miracles” happen. In this interview we talk about:+ The severe whiplash injury that led Maureen to craniosacral as “living in pain wasn’t an option”+ How Maureen got back into the horse world, and her experience with a special foal named Willy who inspired her to apply craniosacral to horses+ Why craniosacral is especially vital for horses, as they contend regularly with pressure on their head, neck, and in the sensitive structure of their mouth from bridles, bits, nosebands, halters, and dentistry that has ramifications for their whole body+ How the tack and equipment we use is second to the hands that use it, but still has the potential to greatly or negatively influence our horse’s physical wellbeing+ The common problems that horses being worked in all disciplines of equitation run into, and the compensations that develop due to certain movement patterns+ Myths about horse conformation that are rampant in the horse industry+ Many issues, lamenesses, and patterns of disharmony that can be relieved or addressed by craniosacral that include, head shaking, navicular, spookiness, chronic pain, headaches, back pain, TMJ issues, head shyness, and more+ The importance of educating ourselves and horse guardians to be able to assess imbalances and harness simple tools that can help the horse find balance+ How all bodywork is a conversation, not a “fix it” strategy+ Why we need more good horse handlers in the world+ Maureen’s studies in shamanism and indigenous healing arts balance her knowledge of science and ultimately inform her cranial work+ The belief that earning the horse’s trust is at the center of it allResourcesThis show is supported by The Herd, a holistic horse community. Herd Members gain access to my ever-growing Health, Wellness, & Horses resource library, and much more. Join today online at wildwilling.com/herd-membership.Links from this episode:Equine CranioSacral WorkshopsMaureen Rogers on InstagramHorses are the original shamans - Dr. Tracy Rainwaters quoteWild WillingWild Willing on InstagramThe Herd MembershipPodcast cover photo by Tricia Mogensen

Jordan practices what she calls equine soul work, offering a blend of somatic work, depth psychology and nature based practices to women while also educating people about botanical medicine, and how to bring herbs into our horse care and self care.Jordan is a lifelong horsewoman, herbalist, and marketing maven. She has been practicing herbalism for 25 years, and is a plant medicine woman in her blood and bones as her great grandmother was an indigenous healer in Oaxaca, Mexico. She offers workshops, classes, and wellness consultations on how to offer plant medicine to horses.To say I enjoyed nerding out with Jordan about herbal medicine would be a grand understatement. We also covered great emergent topics like the importance of integration in healing work, how to work with plants as living, energetic beings, and why horses are our heroes.In this interview we talk about:+ Honoring and owning feminine energy and the difference between horsemanship and horsewomanship+ Jordan’s experience becoming an herbalist, and how a love of plant medicine was instilled in her through her ancestry+ How herbal gardening can help us develop an alliance with plants, and to see them as another living, energetic being+ The importance of not only offering horses access to herbal medicine, but trusting that they have innate wisdom about their own bodies to make their own self care decisions+ How the horse world needs more herbalists who work small and go deep, and less of imposter syndrome that keeps us doubting our valuable knowledge and wisdom+ Why Jordan believes (and I second) that horses and the human soul speak the same language+ The importance of integration, and the alchemy of turning undigested experiences that manifest as trauma into wisdom+ How horse’s saved Jordan’s life as a childhood trauma survivor, and made her feel alive when nothing else did+ And why we need to ask the question of whether our pursuit of health is exploitative of another being or communityResourcesThis show is supported by The Herd, a holistic horse community. Herd Members gain access to my ever-growing Health, Wellness, & Horses resource library, and much more. Join today online at wildwilling.com/herd-membership.Links from this episode:JS HorsewomanshipJS Horsemanship on InstagramUnited Plant SaversThe Business of Botanicals by Ann ArmbrechtWild WillingWild Willing on InstagramThe Herd MembershipPodcast cover photo by Tricia Mogensen