The Empathetic Trainer

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Today I’m talking with Toni Mattson of Trinity Equestrian Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Toni and her team work with horses alongside veterans, first responders, youth, and individuals facing trauma, PTSD, dementia, and other life challenges.
We talk about what horses notice about people, why they respond so honestly to emotion, and how animals can help people reconnect with hope, trust, and themselves.
We also discuss Toni’s book Unlikely Recruits, her work with veterans, and Trinity’s dementia program, “Reminiscing on the Ranch.”
A really thoughtful and meaningful conversation.
https://www.empathetic-trainer.com/

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What happens after the horse reacts?
In this conversation, I talk with carriage driving trainer Christine Beattie about how driving changes the way we communicate with a horse — and why it can have such a big impact on the relationship.
We talk about ground driving, working horses in real-world environments, and what horses need from us when things feel uncertain.
A big part of this conversation comes down to something simple:
It’s not whether the horse reacts…
 it’s what happens next.
If you want to better understand your horse — this is a good one.
https://www.empathetic-trainer.com/

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In this episode of The Empathetic Trainer, I talk with Heather Mishefske of Embark Dog Training School.
I’ve spent my whole life with herding dogs. Then I got an Australian Terrier… and realized pretty quickly that my usual way of doing things wasn’t going to work.
This little guy has opinions.
So I went looking for help, and that’s how I found Heather.
We talk about what it’s like to live with dogs in a very human world, and why so many of the struggles we see make more sense when you look at things from the dog’s side.
Heather works with dogs and their people every day. What I appreciate most is how she helps people understand the dog in front of them, instead of trying to make every dog fit the same approach.
If you’ve ever had a dog that didn’t respond the way you expected… you’ll probably recognize this conversation.
https://www.empathetic-trainer.com/

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In this episode of The Empathetic Trainer Podcast, I talk with horsewoman and educator Gabi Neurohr about building trust with horses, understanding horse behavior, and creating a true partnership between horse and human.

From the moment we started talking, I felt an immediate connection to the way Gabi sees horses. So much of what she said rang true for me and my own experience working with them.

We talk about what horses are really trying to tell us, how trust between horse and human is built, and why true leadership with horses is not about control, it's about understanding.

At one point in the conversation Gabi said something that stopped me in my tracks:

“Every horse is a soul in a non-human body.”

That simple sentence really captures the heart of this conversation.

If you love horses and care about building a a better relationship with them, I think you'll enjoy this episode.

How to reach Gabi - https://www.facebook.com/GNunderstandinghorses
https://www.empathetic-trainer.com/

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“Find a dog that’s going to make you happy.”

I sit down with Denise Fenzi to talk about choosing the right dog for your real life — not the one you think you should want. We talk about fit, expectations, training, and working with the dog in front of you.
https://www.empathetic-trainer.com/