connection - cooperation - awareness - mindfulness

Mindful HOrsemanship teaches you how to engage with horses in a way that honors their sentience, supports the nervous system, and creates willing, joyful partnerships.

Mindfulness is about awareness of how you show up, how the horse experiences you, and how to move together in ways that feel good to both of you.

DO YOU EVER EXPERIENCE

frustration when your horse resists, braces, or avoids?

a desire to move away from dominance-based methods without losing effectiveness?

a longing for real connection, not just obedience?

confusion about why "doing everything right" doesn't always work?

moments of fear, tension, or self-doubt around your horse?

wanting your horse to enjoy your time together as much as you do?

The missing piece is awareness.

Horses respond to how safe they feel, how clearly we move, and how congruent our requests are.

When we understand this - and learn how to work with it - everything improves.

connection

cooperation

awareness

mindfulness

Teaching you how to engage with horses in a way that honors their sentience, supports the nervous system, and creates willing, joyful partnerships.

Mindfulness is about awareness of how you show up, how the horse experiences you, and how to move together in ways that feel good to both of you.

DO YOU EVER EXPERIENCE:

frustration when your horse resists, braces, shuts down, or avoids?.

confusion about why "doing everything right" doesn't always work?

a desire to move away from dominance-based methods without losing effectiveness?

a longing for real connection, not just obedience?

moments of fear, tension, or self-doubt around your horse?

wanting your horse to enjoy your time together as much as you do?

The missing piece is awareness.

Horses respond to how safe they feel, how clearly we move, and how congruent our requests are.

When we understand this - and learn how to work with it - everything improves.

IN THIS CLINIC YOU WILL EXPLORE:

The Three Tiers of mindful horsemanship

build a foundation that supports safety, connection, and cooperation

The three tiers of Mindful Horsemanship include:

1. How you show up and how the horse experiences you - cultivating awareness of your nervous system, body language, boundaries, and energy, and how these influence the horse's sense of safety.

2. Giving the horse a reason to connect - creating an environment the horse chooses to engage in through presence, clarity, and supportive touch.

3. Communicating in the horse's embodied language - learning to communicate through movement, position, energy and intention.

These tiers are woven throughout all clinic experiences on the ground and under saddle.

Connecting through touch

inspired by debono Moves for horses

Through supportive, intentional touch, participants will learn to:

Encourage release of unnecessary muscular tension and offer a sense of relief
Facilitate ease of movement and interrupt dysfunctional habitual patterns.
Calm the nervous system and support a regulated, relaxed state.
Strengthen connection by creating a space the horse chooses to be in.

These skills are included during the groundwork portion of the clinic and can be integrated into everyday interactions to support softness and relaxation.

riding with mindful movement

experience the feeling of flowing together in unity, lightness, and ease

All horses are sensitive to subtle changes in a rider’s movement, balance, and internal state.

The clinic includes a movement lesson without horses to explore the specific, nuanced movements that naturally guide a horse - without the use of pressure, force, or trained cues. By first feeling these movements in your own body, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of how horses perceive and respond to us.

These insights are then integrated into groundwork and riding experiences. Through these practices, horse and human can move together with greater ease, clarity, and mutual understanding.

Riding is optional, participants may choose to focus on engaging with their horse on the ground.

The Three Tiers of mindful horsemanship

build a foundation that supports safety, connection, and cooperation

The three tiers of Mindful Horsemanship include:

1. How you show up and how the horse experiences you - cultivating awareness of your nervous system, body language, boundaries, and energy, and how these influence the horse's sense of safety.

2. Giving the horse a reason to connect - creating an environment the horse chooses to engage in through presence, clarity, and supportive touch.

3. Communicating in the horse's embodied language - learning to communicate through movement, position, energy and intention.

These tiers are woven throughout all clinic experiences on the ground and under saddle.

Connecting through touch

inspired by debono Moves for horses

Through supportive, intentional touch, participants will learn to:

Encourage release of unnecessary muscular tension and offer a sense of relief
Facilitate ease of movement and interrupt dysfunctional habitual patterns.
Calm the nervous system and support a regulated, relaxed state.
Strengthen connection by creating a space the horse chooses to be in.

These skills are included during the groundwork portion of the clinic and can be integrated into everyday interactions to support softness and relaxation.

riding with mindful movement

experience the feeling of flowing together in unity, lightness, and ease

All horses are sensitive to subtle changes in a rider’s movement, balance, and internal state.

These insights are then integrated into groundwork and riding experiences. Through these practices, horse and human can move together with greater ease, clarity, and mutual understanding.

Riding is optional, participants may choose to focus on engaging with their horse on the ground.

This clinic is ideal for

Horse people seeking connection over control, who want their interactions to feel calm, cooperative, and mutually respectful

Riders of any discipline who want to experience greater harmony, softness, and ease - both on the ground and in the saddle

Those looking for thoughtful, non-forceful ways to move through avoidance or resistance, while maintaining safety and clarity for both horse and human

People curious about offering physical, mental, and emotional support to their horses, and learning how presence, touch, and gentle movement can make a meaningful difference

Anyone wanting to deepen trust, relationship, and embodied communication and explore what becomes possible when horses are met as sentient partners

Meet Stacey Carter

Founder of Heart Centered Horsemanship and developer of the Mindful Horsemanship approach, Stacey's work integrates decades of experience as a rider, instructor, equine specialist in mental health and learning, yoga teacher, Certified Debono Moves practitioner, and lifelong student of the horse. Through a commitment to honoring equine sentience and nervous system well-being, she developed an approach that supports calm, cooperative partnership without force, dominance, or pressure. She teaches people how to show up with clarity, awareness, and intention to create relationships that feel safe, effective, and mutually beneficial.

mindful horsemanship

Will Transform how you engage with horses

This isn't about training horses, it's about training people through awareness, nervous-system regulation, intentional response, and embodying the language of horses in a way that is easy for them to understand.

What others are saying

"A real game changer"

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.

Danni Wojick

"Compassionate teacher"

Stacey is a compassionate, innovative teacher who helps horses and humans develop joyful relationships. She has an exceptional ability to apply creative solutions to help horses and riders discover comfortable, athletic movement.

Mary DeBono

Creator of Debono Moves for Horses

"Stacey creates magic"

I’m always amazed and impressed at Stacey’s ability to read horses, know instinctually what they need, and help people better understand themselves through interactions with these gentle, sentient creatures. Stacey is a natural teacher; kind, patient, wise. I recommend, wholeheartedly, any training experience you could have with her.

Alita Buzel, Ph.D. LCP

Author of Beyond Words: The Healing Power of Horses

this clinic offers

Small group learning with personalized attention to address your specific goals, challenges, and circumstances.

Supportive, non-judgemental atmosphere that welcomes all levels of skill and experience.

Time for integration and reflection, including question and answer sessions during lunch breaks.

Respect for horses' needs and limits, with customized learning to support them where they are.

what you'll GAIN FROM attending a mindful horsemanship clinic

Nervous-system awareness

You’ll be able to recognize subtle signs of tension and stress - and how to respond in ways that restore safety and trust.

Mindful, embodied communication

You’ll learn how to influence behavior through clarity, presence, and intentional movement.

techniques for offering supporive touch

You’ll learn gentle ways to help your horse release unnecessary muscular tension, find ease of movement, and experience relief - enhancing performance and connection.

Practical, EFFECTIVE tools

You’ll stop second-guessing yourself and start responding with confidence, knowing how to adjust your energy, body language, and intention in real time.

Relationship-centered approach

The horse learns that being with you feels safe and supportive, increasing their desire to stay engaged and connected.

Transferable, lifelong skills

These tools aren’t tied to one exercise or situation. You’ll be able to apply them with different horses, in new environments, and through future challenges.

what you'll gain from attending a mindful horsemanship clinic

Nervous-system awareness

You’ll begin to recognize subtle signs of tension, stress, and relaxation - and how to respond in ways that restore safety and trust.

Mindful, embodied communication

You’ll learn how to influence behavior through clarity, presence, and intentional movement.

skills for offering supporive touch

You’ll learn gentle ways to help your horse release unnecessary muscular tension, find ease of movement, and experience relief - enhancing performance and connection.

Practical, EFFECTIVE tools

You’ll stop second-guessing yourself and start responding with confidence, knowing how to adjust your energy, body language, and intention in real time.

Relationship-centered approach

The horse learns that being with you feels safe and supportive, increasing their desire to stay engaged and connected.

Transferable, lifelong skills

These tools aren’t tied to one exercise or situation. You’ll be able to apply them with different horses, in new environments, and through future challenges—long after the course ends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes this different from other horsemanship clinics?

Rather than focusing on techniques to change the horse, this clinic teaches you how to change the conditions that influence behavior - your presence, movement, nervous system, and communication - creating cooperation that feels genuine and sustainable.

What if I don't ride my horse?

No problem! This clinic builds a foundation through engaging with the horse on the ground. Participants may choose to focus on advancing groundwork rather than riding.

What if my horse has behavioral challenges or a trauma history?

This work was shaped through years of working with horses who were reactive, shut down, fearful, or labeled “problematic.” Rather than attempting to correct behavior, you will learn how to create the conditions that support safety, trust, and cooperation - where meaningful change begins.

What if I am following a different training method?

Mindful Horsemanship doesn't have to be practiced instead of your other methods, it can be an enhancement to them. Developing awareness and feel will improve the quality of anything you are doing with your horse, whether it involves sport, trail riding, or engaging on the ground. While some training methods are in direct contradiction to the practices in this course, this is not a training method. It is a way of being in relationship that can be a part of whatever you do with your horse.

What if I want to participate but I don't have my own horse?

Emerald Rose Farm has a limited number of horses that can fill in to help you learn. Inquire regarding availability before registering.

CLINIC SCHEDULE

DAY 1:

10 am - Introduction to Mindful Horsemanship, Exploring Nervous-System Regulation and Mindful Movement off the horse

11 am - Groundwork including Connecting Through Touch and Speaking the Horse's Language

12 pm - LUNCH BREAK/Q&A

1:30-4:30 pm - Advanced groundwork and riding with personalized attention

DAY 2:

10 am - Mindful Movement for Riders off the horse

11 am - Refining softness and harmony through groundwork and hands-on practices inspired by Debono Moves for Horses

12 pm - LUNCH BREAK/Q&A

1:30-4:30 pm - Advanced groundwork and riding tailored to each participant's specific goals and challenges

Participant Fee: $250

Single Day Participant: $150

Auditor Fee including lessons off the horse: $50

Location: Emerald Rose Farm, 575 Windy Know Way, Salisbury NC

Imagine...

approaching your horse with calm confidence, knowing how to respond in each moment with clarity and ease. Imagine feeling grounded in your body, connected in your movement, and understood by your horse; without force, pressure, or second-guessing. Imagine relationships with horses that feel safe, cooperative, and genuinely fulfilling for both of you.

I hope you will join me to explore the possibilities.

May your journey be joyful,

Stacey

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