The first horse that laid claim to me was Ricky. He was a birthday gift when I was in my early teens. Though we grew up with horses, Ricky was the first of them that was MY partner. Through Ricky I found freedom. I was not the most gifted rider around, far from it really, but I didn’t care about competition or performance. What I loved was riding in the hills, exploring, with Ricky’s four legs and big heart to carry me farther than I could ever go on my own two feet. Thanks to him, we had the best adventures!

Ricky kept me firmly in mind of what it means to be filled with childlike wonder. I remember galloping, bareback and barefoot through irrigated hay fields on hot summer days. Water splashing and wind blowing my hair back as we raced to the top of the hill to languish in the dappled shade of the elder cottonwood trees. Ricky would happily munch grass while I laid on his back smelling summer, delighting in the play of shadows across my face.

During my senior year in college, I met the mare who would become my partner of a lifetime. Gin was one and half years old and a red ball of fire when she was assigned to me for the colt starting class at Colorado State. She defied all the rules of how horses are supposed to respond to training, and this was my first glimpse into old school colt starting. It was brutal and I remember thinking that if this is the only way to start a horse, I need to find a different career. I guess you could say that was when I started dreaming of a different way.

When I graduated, Gin went back to Texas to be auctioned off and I was heartbroken that I couldn’t go to Texas and keep her in my life. Our partnership was hard won and already had me defying the norm in order to connect with her. As luck would have it, I got a call from a classmate who had gone down to Texas for his colt but came home with Gin instead. Gin was back in Colorado and a month later he called to let me know he couldn’t keep her. I sold the pony Dad got me as a graduation gift and Steve and I, newly married, pooled all the money that was gifted to us for our wedding and I brought Gin home.

She was with me for 30 years, passing away the day after my birthday in February 2022. Her legacy is stronger than any other. She was the horse that taught me about animal communication. She taught me that horses are sentient and intelligent on a level far beyond what people believe. She taught me an entirely new approach to training horses based on genuine partnership. She helped me refine my approach to bodywork, ultimately developing our own movement based system and most importantly, she taught me how to be calm and confident enough to put myself out there in the world. A tall order for a shy, empathic individual.

Funny to think it was a horse that taught me how to relate to humans better.

Every single horse that crosses my path teaches me. 

Watching 31 year old Sox’s condition worsen after visits from a massage therapist is what convinced me there had to be a better way and to pursue my own career as an equine bodyworker.

Romeo with his severe navicular disease inspired me to pursue barefoot hoof care and alternative therapies – and yes – he was sound and we had many good riding years together!

Mystic, a young powerhouse of a mare, pushed me to develop the foundations of Tango with Horses. 

So many horses came across my path that exhibited symptoms that resembled Post Traumatic Stress in Horses, inspiring me to study how we could train horses in ways that re-set their nervous system, and better yet, don’t stress them so much to begin with!

Caring for so many horses over so many years has given me a diverse background and a great many ways to help with all kinds of horses. When you work with me it’s not about doing it “my way”; you’ll become your own trainer, bodyworker, animal communicator, and your horse’s best advocate. My desire is to help people all over the world find their own path to their dream partnership with their own horse.

I’d love to hear your story and about your current challenges. Rest assured, if I’m not a good fit to help I’ll find someone who is.