At the Crossroads: Where Horses Help Humans Find Their Path

Every one of us comes to crossroads in life—moments where the old way doesn’t fit anymore, and the next step feels uncertain. Horses have a way of meeting us there.

They don’t wait to decide how they feel about us. They respond in the moment because that’s their very makeup. As prey animals, horses survive by being tuned into every shift around them—sight, sound, scent, and even the energy we carry. They demand presence. If you’re scattered, guarded, or incongruent, they feel it instantly. And they respond instantly.

That’s why horses are at the heart of this work. They aren’t just animals I chose—they are the reason I do this. Horses have walked beside me my whole life. They’ve carried me through childhood, young adulthood, into motherhood, through loss, growth, and rebuilding.

I always knew I wanted to do something with horses helping people. Back in in Highschool and college, I believed that might mean “horse therapy,” the common assumption. But even then, I said over and over: the horse is the therapy. I didn’t want them reduced to props or balance balls for someone else’s treatment plan. I didn’t want to dig into the psychology of others—that part was never mine to hold. Ill leave that to the professionals! What I wanted was for the horse to be the teacher, the healer, the one doing the work.

So when I applied for the Equine Connection certification scholarship on July 16, I felt like I was stepping into purpose. Then two days later, my back broke again. Fate, timing, pain—whatever you call it—it forced me to slow. To sit. To learn. The injury kept me couch-bound long enough to pour into that course, to absorb what it teaches. And it clarified this for me: I need that accreditation. Not for a certificate on the wall, but so the people who come to me know this isn’t guesswork. This isn’t just passion. This is grounded, ethical, rigorous training rooted in horse welfare, science, and structure.

The Equine Connection program offers deep theory portion, a 3-day (and life long) live in-person component, ongoing support, and a curriculum built to integrate both human growth and horse care.  Their framework makes facilitators part of a global team—where each client success is a win for all of us. The welfare of the horse is central. Horses are never overworked; they always have choice.

And still, life tested how much I believed it. That July day, I saddled up Gemma after telling her I was ready to receive whatever message she or the universe had for me. She gave me signs — pointing at her cinch, asking for bareback, releasing as we worked. I believed I was listening. But horses don’t wait for perfect consent.-

Emerging from the woods into the yard, she spooked and bolted. I hit the ground hard. Two new fractures lit up my already damaged lower back. I lay there in the grass, lungs gasping, skeeters tearing at me, unable to move, asking why.

That fall didn’t just break me physically. It tore open what was resisting change. And in that surrender, I realized again: horses don’t sugarcoat. They demand presence, and they’ll shake loose whatever we’re no longer willing to carry. That moment didn’t just break me—it redirected me.

Here at Crossroads Connection, the round pen becomes more than an arena—it becomes a space to notice patterns, shift perspective, and practice presence. The horses aren’t extras. They aren’t sidekicks. They are the therapy. Their feedback is instantaneous, their wisdom deep, their call to us to grow unrelenting.

Because of what I went through, accreditation matters more now than ever. When you work with me—or one of the facilitators who walk this path with me—you get more than intention. You get standards, rigor, accountability, and heart. I don’t just build you a program. I build you into a team. When you heal or grow, I feel that too. Your wins are my wins, magnified.

So whether you’re standing at a crossroads, looking for an opening, or wanting to step into something real—whether for yourself or to help others—this is a place you’re invited. At Crossroads, we don’t just step forward lightly. We step forward with eyes open, hearts ready, and the horses leading.