The Empathetic Trainer

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What does it mean to trust life when life breaks your heart?
Chris Lombard is back on The Empathetic Trainer, and this time we’re talking about his new book, Warrior Horse: Living and Dying With Animals in a Soulful and Heartfelt Way. I loved this book, but I don’t want to tell you too much about what happens in it. What I will tell you is that it led Chris and me into a really honest conversation about loving animals, losing them, and figuring out how to keep living when they’re gone.
We talk about grief, guilt, letting go, the awful second-guessing that can come after a loss, and whether it’s okay to be happy again. We also talk about giving ourselves some of the same grace we so easily give our animals, and about the possibility that sometimes the animal we lose somehow makes room for the one who comes next.
And underneath all of it is the question Chris and I keep coming back to: after everything, can we still trust life?
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What if healing isn't about trying harder...but about learning to listen?
In this episode, I sit down with equine somatic practitioner Cara Gereau for a thoughtful conversation about trauma, trust, emotions, and the remarkable way horses respond to what we're actually feeling - not what we're trying to hide.
Together they explore how our bodies often know the truth before our minds do, why animals can become powerful partners in healing, and what horses have to teach us about authenticity, safety, and connection.
Whether you've experienced trauma yourself, love someone who has, or simply want to understand the extraordinary wisdom animals have to offer, this conversation is filled with insight, compassion, and hope.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why horses respond to our emotional state rather than our story
What "somatics" really means and why it matters
Trauma, healing, and the nervous system
How animals create a sense of safety and connection
The importance of authenticity—for both people and horses
Lessons from a lifetime of living and working alongside animals
Although Cara and I come from different backgrounds, I found myself saying, "Yes...I've seen that too." Much of what she shared resonated with my own experiences working with animals. I hope you enjoy our conversation.
https://www.empathetic-trainer.com/

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Horse Brain, Human Brain was one of the first books I read when I was trying to understand horses better. So when I had the chance to sit down with its author, Janet Jones, for the podcast, I was pretty excited.
Janet is a neuroscientist, horsewoman, and the author of her new book, A Horse's World.
We talked about trust, fear, learning, the horse's sensory system, and some of the things horses notice that humans often miss. One thing that really stood out to me was this:
Dogs tend to give their trust freely. Horses make us earn it.
Whether you live with horses, train them, compete with them, or simply enjoy being around them, I think you'll find plenty to think about in this conversation.
I hope you enjoy it.
https://www.empathetic-trainer.com/

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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/