An equine workshop with Heather Macbeth is a journey of unexpected delight, discovery, and deep emotion. I’ll start with a disclaimer. I’m a logical left-brain person, not given to fanciful notions or New Age thinking. I embarked on my first workshop with Heather with the principle intention of overcoming the trauma caused by a riding accident many years ago, but I gained so much more than I had expected. Horses are magical! So many moments have stayed with me — approaching a horse while blindfolded, unable to see him but clearly sensing his physical presence from three feet away; the feel of a velvety muzzle and delicate lips exploring my shoulder, soft warm puffs of breath on my neck; lost in grooming a huge expanse of chest and back and hips with my eyes closed, feeling the strength of those massive muscles, and also the gentle restraint that allowed me to care for him so intimately. Besides the physical connections, interacting with the horses also awakened emotional dimensions: awareness of another being’s unspoken boundaries and responses, building trust and connection, exercising leadership through nonverbal communications. Interacting with the horses called on me to act from my deepest, most authentic self, for a horse will not allow anything less. Heather is the perfect person to guide this experience, kind, intuitive, gentle yet encouraging, and great fun. I’ve gone on to take two more equine workshops with Heather, and look forward to the next one very much!

Equine therapy with Heather Macbeth offered me the opportunity to take risks in an environment filled with safety and warmth. Having this optimal level of support, I was able to experience myself as brave and powerful as I interacted with my beautiful horse teachers with Heather’s clear and gentle guidance. Heather is particularly gifted in creating an environment that is filled with structure, fun and open-hearted adventure. She understands the vast impact of equine therapy and her enthusiasm for this approach to growth and healing is incredibly inspiring. Can’t wait to have another opportunity to learn, play, and heal in the ring with Heather and the horses.

Having attended my first equine-facilitated learning workshop with Heather in the fall of 2019 blew me away! I was truly impressed by how much horses can teach us about ourselves and our relationship to power; that of others as well as our own. The hands on experiential learning with horses really drove the point home while the knowledgeable instructors held the space for our group with great care. Thank you Heather for sharing your passion with me and the world. It is so timely and so needed! I look forward to more offerings.