It was a joy and actual breath of fresh air to speak to Kathryn. I’m grateful for her ability to unabashedly acknowledge those seemingly larger-than-life and at times, intimidating aspects of pursuing healing in the horse world, while simultaneously bringing an immense amount of grace through her intentionality, vulnerability, and thoughtfulness.

Kathyrn Hoftstetter is an Equine Trauma Specialist, Holistic Horsemanship Facilitator, Certified Usui and Equine Reiki practitioner & Master Teacher, Equine Herbalist, and Para-equestrian whose dedicated to using her voice to raise awareness about invisible disabilities in the equine industry.

Her methodology is rooted in equine psychology and biomechanics. Through her business Open Heart Horsemanship, she operates programs such as Equine Trauma Recovery, Soulmate Synergy Equitation, Equine Emotional Empowerment & Rider Anxiety Resolution, Youth Horsemanship, and (my personal favorite) the Mustang Mystery School.

My interview with her was nothing less than inspiring as she has a true way with words (I think especially when compared to how most gifted horse people I come across tend to have horsemanship come naturally, but words… less so). She possesses a wisdom far beyond her years thanks to her unique interactions with horses, and her health journey which she details in the episode, that is/was anything but easy.

In this interview we talk about:

+ Invisible disabilities and the role they played in leveling up Kathryn’s horsemanship and opening her eyes to the equine-experience

+ Validating and allowing trauma in horses in order for them to unwind, and how their healing can promote our own self healing

+ Self-accountability and how horses aren’t simply “cosmic therapists we’ve been blessed with” but highly emotional intelligent beings that reflect our nature, thoughts, feelings, and more

+ Ethics of our scope of practice as horsemanship facilitators who acknowledge the healing capabilities of horse-human interactions

+ The importance of saying “I don’t know” and “show me” as horse trainers and horsemanship practitioners

+ Embracing Holistic Horsemanship over Natural Horsemanship, and the difference between the two

+ The need to do shadow work and sit with the heavy emotions in our interactions with horses rather than forcing play, fun, and a no-bad-days mindset

+ The elephants in the horse industry and how being the person to point out the “elephant in the room” means becoming comfortable and OK with having people not like what you have to say

Resources

This show is supported by The Herd.

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Check out the interview transcript for this episode, ‘Addressing Elephants and Finding Grace with Kathryn Hofstetter’ on the blog.

Links from this episode:

Open Heart Horsemanship

Open Heart Horsemanship on Instagram

Open Heart Horsemanship on Facebook

Wild Willing Therapeutics & Training

Wild Willing on Instagram

The Herd Membership

Podcast cover photo by Tricia Mogensen