Discover the power of

co-creation

with your horse

A transformative approach to horsemanship for riders, equine caretakers, and professionals in equine-assisted learning and therapy who value authentic connection over control

Transform your relationship with your horse through science and empathy-driven methods that honor both your needs and your horse's, creating a space for listening, trust, and deep understanding—the heart of true connection.

Traditional horsemanship methods often overlook the emotional intelligence of horses, which fails to fully acknowledge the equal partnership we seek with them.

Many horsemanship methods focus on control, leaving you and your horse feeling disconnected and misunderstood. What’s really missing is the art of listening - not just speaking - to develop a relationship of mutual support.

With years of experience in therapeutic horsemanship and equine-assisted learning, as well starting horses under saddle and rehabilitating horses with past trauma, Stacey offers a compassionate, relationship-based approach that honors how horses naturally connect, learn, and respond to humans.

Develop an intentional partnership where communication flows both ways.

With practical clinics and intensive retreats, you and your horse will build a language of trust and unity. You'll learn techniques that encourage your horse to engage willingly and joyfully, transforming routine interactions into opportunities for mutual discovery and growth. Together, we'll ensure that your communication is clear, your connection is strong, and your sessions are filled with learning and joy.

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Build Advocacy into Every Step of your Horsemanship Journey

Every session gets you closer to understanding your horse better and deepening the bond you share. Experience an approach that emphasizes the importance of positive experiences shared between horse and rider, and acknowledges the horse as a sentient being capable of teaching humans valuable lessons. Join clinics and retreats with like-minded individuals that not only enhance your skills, but also enrich your life and the life of your horse, ensuring each moment you spend together is rewarding.

The Heart Centered Way

Stacey began riding at a young age, and especially enjoyed participating in Pony Club, competing in combined training events, and foxhunting. These early experiences provided a solid foundation in traditional horsemanship. Over time, however, her path evolved into something quite different—an approach rooted not in performance or control, but in presence, connection, and mutual trust.

Today, Stacey blends decades of hands-on experience with horses—including those healing from trauma—with formal training as a PATH Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning, a registered yoga teacher, and a Certified Practitioner of Debono Moves, a movement-based modality for humans inspired by the Feldenkrais Method and developed by Mary Debono.

Rather than focusing on training conditioned responses, Stacey helps humans and horses develop an authentic relationship by communicating in ways that feel natural to both. Her work emphasizes body language, energy, presence, and mindful interaction to create trust, clarity, and a sense of safety.

Stacey’s work is featured in Integrating Horses into Healing by Cheryl Meola and Beyond Words: The Healing Power of Horses by Alita Buzel—two respected resources in the field of Equine-Assisted Services that highlight stories and insights from practitioners who are reimagining what’s possible in horse-human relationships.

Bridging the Gap Between Mind, Body and Spirit to Bring Out the Best in You and Your Horse

Enhanced Well-Being

Explore a unique blend of nervous-system regulation, mindful movement, connecting with horses through touch, and practical horsemanship techniques at our retreats. The combination of mindfulness practices and outdoor activities with therapeutic horsemanship provides a powerful catalyst for growth and healing, for horse and human alike.

Mind and Body Harmony

Our Mindful Horsemanship Classes and Clinics go beyond riding to enhance your physical and mental connection with your horse. These experiences offer a retreat from daily stresses, allowing you and your horse to achieve balance, flexibility, and a deeper relational harmony.

Speak the Horse's Language

I teach people to communicate through movement, energy, position, and body language. When we can speak their language, any horse will understand, regardless of training. The challenge is in developing self-awareness, congruence, and intention in each request and response to the horse. Our classes and clinics can help you master these powerful skills.

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What People Are Saying About Heart Centered Horsemanship

When I started working on a collaborative book in the field of equine-assisted services, one of the first people I invited to contribute was Stacey. After working with her personally during a quest to reconnect with horses during my PhD studies, I knew I wanted her to write a chapter for my book, Integrating Horses into Healing. I knew she’d bring something special—and she did. Her insights into building true, relational partnerships with horses are exactly what this field needs. Her work helps create the kind of connection where horses feel safe, seen, and free to show up authentically—something every professional in equine-assisted therapy should strive for.

And if you need proof that her methods work? Just look at Benny. She found him in a pasture—a big, kind, slightly pushy draft cross—and brought him along with patience and clarity until he was ready for a partner. I bought him from her after his training, and today he’s thriving with my goddaughter, confidently competing in three phases and loving the connection they’ve built.

If you’re an equine professional looking to deepen your horsemanship and create real safety and collaboration with your horses, Heart Centered Horsemanship is the place to start.

— Cheryl Meola, PhD, LCMHCS, Author of Integrating Horses into Healing, Founder of Mane Source Counseling

Many books, articles and certification paths for EAP don’t give a lot of actual “hands on” techniques to use with your clients - it’s more about theory, philosophy and general practice (i.e. connection, nervous system regulation). That information has been great, but I wanted more ideas of what to do when in the session with a client (or clients) and horses. Stacey has given me countless activities and techniques to use when working with my clients and horses. All in keeping with the concepts of kindness, connection, regulation, mindful movement and horsemanship. It has been invaluable. I have used her ideas in many sessions with my clients, and am having wonderful results. Learning how to implement the concepts of connection, nervous system regulation, mindful movement, etc. has helped me so much in my journey in working with clients.

-Leslie Bell, LCSW

I have been riding for a long time, practically my whole life. I have always felt a pull towards the horses. The disciplines I enjoy are hunter/jumper, eventing and dressage and each one of these requires understanding of timing, rhythm and balance both within yourself and with the horse. I was taught each discipline with a very classical mindset and over the years I still felt like I was missing some deeper form of connection to heighten my finesse in the saddle.

Working with Stacey at first felt like a foreign language because the traditional ways felt so engrained. But over the months working with her on the ground and in the saddle, that has rapidly changed and my tool box has gotten much more versatile and deeper.

Stacey has found a way to unlock and put into words what the great riders already know and feel within their bones when communicating on the ground or in the saddle with these amazing animals. What I as a person who didn't originally come from a family of equestrians or strong financial means have come to understand mentally and physically on my own but didn't quite know how to utilize. Stacey has found a way to emulate exactly what my body should feel and how to respond in the way that the horses instinctively understand. It has been a real turning point and game changer in my riding!

-Danni Wojick, client

I have known Stacey for several years and have always admired her kind approach to horsemanship. Stacey began her yoga journey from an equestrian's perspective and realized how intertwined the two disciplines are. I am a fitness professional by vocation and Stacey's leadership in teaching yoga is also kind and gentle. Finally I am able to blend my two loves, fitness and horses into a practice that helps me form a better bond with myself and my horses. Everytime I have the opportunity to take a class from Stacey I learn something new to take to my horsemanship. Thank you Stacey for your guidance in my journey for softness.

-Julie Luther, owner and operator of JL Winding Road Farm

Stacey is the embodiment of Heart Centered Horsemanship! It was obvious from our first encounter that her heart is in all she teaches. My relationship and connection with my horse (Dixie) has improved because of her methods. Stacey has made me a better rider and Dixie is calmer and we are more attuned to each other.

-Kathy Knutson, client

Stacey has an unequivocal talent to teach you the ability to connect with your horse and become a better rider. Her horsemanship skills tap into the needs of your horse and you as a rider. She educates you to have a better understanding of how to communicate with your horse. Her methods encourage the horse to want to perform with ease and grace, without the pressures of tugging, kicking, and pulling. I have experienced great improvements as a rider and vast enhancements for my horse.

-Celeste Rouben, client

Let The Horse Be Your Teacher

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