Why horses?

So often this question is asked! Personally I have been drawn to horses since I could crawl towards them! Horses touch something deeply in our souls and psyche I believe: they have inspired humans and partnered with us for centuries, fostering our development as no other animal has. They speak to us of grace, power, freedom, myth and majesty. They are also masters of reading energy and intention – and it is this that enables such wonderful insights, breakthroughs and “aha!” moments in equine experiential learning.

This work requires absolutely no knowledge, nor experience with horses, just an open mind, a curiosity and desire to explore – beginner’s mind in other words, as does a mindfulness practice. Working with horses in this way helps us access the greater than 90% of communication that is non-verbal and to become more aware of, and tap into, our body’s multiple intelligence systems: the heart, the gut, the brain – as well as tuning into the wider energy field that connects us all.

Sawubona! Come – and be seen!

To foster compassion and connection, to tread more lightly and mindfully on the earth and to do so with joy and gratitude – to truly feel and live life – now, in this moment, that is my aim and what I hope to inspire in others, guided by horses.

About Judy.

Judy is a coach with over 30 years’ experience in global consulting firms and corporate groups in leadership development and assessment, change management and team-building working with both individuals and facilitating group workshops. She has also supported hundreds of people in managing career transitions.

With a lifelong passion for horses, Judy has ridden in many different equestrian disciplines in the past and been privileged to have horses in her life for many years. As she began to realise there was often more richness and depth in what she learned from her horses than trainings in the corporate world she got curious and found her path to the powerful practice of equine facilitated learning. That exploration brought some amazing encounters and experiences and led to an apprenticeship to become a recommended Eponaquest Instructor. Judy now facilitates individual sessions and group workshops, often with the help of horses, exploring the power of mindfulness and body-based practices to support personal and professional growth.

As an instructor, Judy taught riding to both able-bodied riders and those with physical, developmental and intellectual disabilities. She spent over 18 years as an accredited Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA) Coach and for 7 years chaired RDA NSW’s Equine Facilitated Mental Health & Learning Committee. In this capacity she worked with colleagues to develop and implement coach training in equine facilitated learning. She conducted EFL programs and sessions both at RDA and at home for a family therapy practice in the past, working with parents and children either separately or together, but these days she focuses on individual coaching sessions and group workshops for women wanting to rediscover their true north, reconnect to their inner wisdom or find balance. She also loves teaching leadership presence and conscious influence to both professional men and women. Judy is a recommended Master Herder Instructor, training she finds immensely influential in the corporate leadership programs she co- facilitates with colleagues both locally and internationally.

Growing up in Africa, Judy’s innate love of animals and nature was enriched by traditional indigenous wisdom. Somewhere in the international busy-ness of the corporate world and cities, this was pushed to the background for a while. Reconnecting with this ancient wisdom, Judy studied with numerous animistic teachers bringing these healing practices into daily life. Judy has eclectic interests and has studied mindfulness, numerous energy healing modalities and body-based practices including Qi Gong, acupressure and Reiki (certified Usui Reiki Master & Animal Reiki), animal communication and some equine bodywork. She has undertaken training in trauma-informed embodied transformational coaching and has both first aid and mental health first aid certificates.

Accredited in various psychological and personality assessments, Judy’s experience as a career management consultant can help you uncover strengths, and working with intuitive guidance, oracle cards and spirit guides reconnect to your core purpose and inner wisdom. Using somatic coaching techniques you are invited to experiment and embody conscious influence in a way that is congruent with your style and values.

Judy has explored several models of equine experiential learning, training with some of the most highly respected pioneers in the field as well as some of the emerging leaders. She brings a diversity of life experience to all sessions. She grew up in a troubled land wracked by civil strife experiencing the loss and trauma that war brings, experienced the brutality of apartheid in her student days at the University of Cape Town, survived marriage, divorce, exile and violent abuse. Her healing journey was born in relationship with a very special horse, and led to her exploration of eclectic healing and self-development practices. Her rich experience, both professional and personal, aids in her facilitation of personal growth, understanding and managing emotions and developing grounded, embodied awareness.