heart-first & horse-led horsemanship
The Story of Transformative Horsemanship
Cedar came to Hannah kind of accidentally, as a project. Hannah thought that getting into flipping project horses would be a new stream of income. Cedar was jumpy, nervous, and very herd-bound. For a while, when Cedar would see people approach her in the pasture, she would tense up and leave. When Hannah used traditional natural horsemanship methods, she seemed to get more anxious. She would do what Hannah told her to do but seemed anxious and tense.
And then, they were given a strange opportunity. Cedar had a chronic injury that Hannah was advised to treat with rest. She could no longer imagine turning a profit in the traditional training model. So, they spent time together. Hannah cared for her and found patience. Training could no longer be about what they could “do” together. What a joy!
Hannah started to feel more aligned. She wasn’t riding much at all, but she felt more whole. They shared bodywork, liberty, care, connection, and time. Hannah got into holistic care which included herd dynamics, nutrition, mobilization, and so much more! She found that when you re-approach behaviorism with positive reinforcement you do so from a place of “be-ing” over “do-ing.” Now Cedar is soft and curious.
The most marvelous thing started to happen. Cedar started to show Hannah how to work with her. Cedar showed her how to move with her, how to touch her, how to be in consent, how to offer connection and comfort, and how to offer space. When Hannah was sad, she would nuzzle her, as if to look for “where does it hurt?” When feeling stuck, she would give her a boop and ask Hannah to go on a walk with her. When Hannah was tired, she’d ask if we could stop and rest. Transformative Horsemanship was forged from the transformation Cedar sparked in Hannah.
mission of transformative horsemanship
Our mission at Transformative Horsemanship is to educate individuals on how to connect with horses as companions, teachers, and guides, fostering mutual respect through transformative experiences in horsemanship.
Our values
We work to dismantle ideas that:
Humans or horses “owe” us anything
Domination and force are the only ways to be safe with horses
The horse is primarily responsible for a disharmonious relationship
Riding, working, or performing are the primarily valuable things a horse can do for us
We work to support ideas that:
Authentic and loving relationships are based on cooperation and consent
A reciprocal, consensual approach is the best way to stay safe with horses
Self-awareness and accountability foster growth and connection
There is inherent value in every living being, regardless of what they do or perform for us
influences & education
Transformative Horsemanship draws from multiple modalities, most notably including trauma-informed nervous system work, Positive Reinforcement (R+), Intrinzen, and Emotional Horsemanship. It is influenced by science, including the fields of equine behavior, affective neuroscience, equine pain science, and equine dissections. Previous and current mentors include Shannon Beahan of Humming Horse (somatic and observational horsemanship), Lockie Phillips of Emotional Horsemanship, and Hayley Josephs of Emotional Horsemanship.
Hannah spent 20 years in the hunter, jumper, and equitation world, always having a basis of dressage. The past five years she has deepened her practice of groundwork and focused primarily on any kind of horsemanship that leads her towards deeper, authentic connections with the horses.
She also integrates practices from somatics, emergent strategy, mindful awareness, meditation, art, music, and whatever feels resonant to the web of it all.
She is constantly ingesting knowledge and up-to-date science, as well as innovating, experimenting, and integrating original practices in horsemanship.
From all of this, Transformative Horsemanship has become its own methodology and practice that is notably responsive, relational, and centered in mutual well-being.
What is it like to work with you?
Hannah brings a steady calm and grounded humor to her teaching. She offers a simple patience and flow that follows what one of her mentors calls “horse time,” which simply moves at its own pace. Thus, lessons have a broad spectrum of experience!
We have done our best to give you a sample platter of what it might be like:
In terms of movement… Some lessons may involve very little movement, a lot of listening, and a lot of presence. Here, we explore a stillness and a subtle feel. Other lessons may be fast paced and athletic, asking for focus, energy, and coordination. This can be in the spirit of play as much as in the spirit of biomechanical study.
In terms of feel… Some lessons may ask us to be more energetically and intuitively oriented. Other lessons may bring us into our bodies, asking for kinetic and embodied feel. While others may be very intellectually or mentally stimulating.
In terms of technique… Some lessons may be more geared towards techniques that are adaptable and encourage discovery. While other lessons we might spend learning very specific and structured techniques.
In terms of structure… Hannah almost always has a plan for you and an opportunity for you and the horse(s) to collaborate on that plan. Though, with horses, Structure is a fine and fickle friend that helps us set the course, but it is the fluid dynamic between all that determines the destination.
Prepare yourself for humor, depth, and the slow, meaningful work of inter-species relationship building!