The Herd is Calling: Recent Episodes
My Horse Journey
Welcome to ‘The Herd Is Calling’
Don’t miss an episode, and access our articles and essays on Substack
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The Herd is Calling is a podcast from My Horse Journey exploring a different way of being with horses — one built on feel, trust, nervous system awareness, and mutual attunement.
Learn more at: myhorsejourney.com
“They Know When You Know”: The Secret Language of Horses & Humans
Before fight, flight, or freeze, horses scan for one thing: Who is paying attention? Attunement—not technique—determines whether your horse sees you as a safe place or just another unpredictable human. In this episode, Warwick Schiller breaks down why presence matters more than pressure, how perception shapes reality, and what horses (and people) are really responding to.
🌿 In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
✅ Why attunement is the missing key—how horses respond to your inner state, not just your techniques.
✅ The invisible language of presence—why horses instantly trust some people and disconnect from others.
✅ How self-awareness rewires everything—from your horsemanship to your relationships and leadership.
✅ What your horse feels before you move—the neuroscience of non-verbal communication and embodied energy.
✅ The universal power of attunement—how deep listening transforms connection with horses, people, and yourself.
✅ The ‘Black Belt’ of Horsemanship—why mastery isn’t about learning more, but about seeing with new eyes.
✅ Horses, trauma, and nervous system regulation—how safety and connection influence everything.
✅ How Warwick’s greatest lessons came from not knowing—the horse that challenged everything he thought he understood.
✅ Why leadership—on the ground or in life—isn’t about control, but about awareness.
✅ The surprising way a small shift in energy can change everything—from a horse that won’t lead to a child struggling with connection.
✅ Why most training methods skip the horse’s first instinct—not fight or flight, but seeking a friend.
✅ The hidden intelligence of horses—could they actually be guiding us toward consciousness?
✅ What it means to ‘balance, not find balance’—the mindset shift that changes everything.
✅ How a single conversation changed a life forever—and the ripple effects of attuned presence.
⏳ Episode Breakdown & Key Moments
[00:00:00] | They Know When You Know—Warwick Schiller on attunement, awareness, and why presence matters more than technique.
[00:01:24] | Meet Warwick Schiller—his story, his journey, and the philosophy that reshaped his approach to horses and life.
[00:03:08] | The one thing that separates great horsemen from the rest (hint: it’s not technique).
[00:07:55] | The ‘Black Belt’ of Horsemanship—why true mastery means relearning from a new perspective.
[00:15:47] | Balancing vs. Balance—Warwick’s game-changing insight on finding harmony in life and horsemanship.
[00:27:40] | The moment that changed everything—how one horse cracked Warwick’s perception wide open.
[00:36:30] | The Mustang that never slept—how attunement alone transformed a bolting horse.
[00:46:00] | The night everything shifted—Warwick’s spontaneous awakening and the conversation that shattered his worldview.
[00:51:00] | Vulnerability, Brene Brown, and the power of self-compassion in horsemanship and life.
[01:02:00] | How Journey On became a global phenomenon—Warwick’s surprising journey into podcasting.
[01:15:00] | The ripple effect—how one conversation changed a life forever.
[01:25:00] | Attuned Horsemanship in action—how one small shift made a horse completely relax for the first time in 10 years.
[01:39:00] | The hidden intelligence of horses—are they actually guiding us toward consciousness?
[01:51:00] | What drives Warwick? A personal story, a calling, and a message he couldn’t ignore.
[02:12:00] | Final reflections—how horsemanship, healing, and leadership all come back to the same truth: they know when you know.
ABOUT WARWICK SCHILLER:
International horse trainer, clinician, and author Warwick Schiller began riding horses on a farm in rural Australia when he was seven years old. Warwick’s modern training philosophy focuses on creating trust and connection between horse and human by emphasizing the importance of the horse’s mental well-being throughout the training process. Having spent most of his life training professional reining horses, he now spends his time solving behavioral issues across disciplines and empowering individuals with the tools and mindsets needed to create their own trusting partnerships with their horses.
Since publishing his first training video on Youtube in 2011, Warwick has created a vast online community founded on personal growth, positivity, and a shared passion for the wellbeing of horses. In addition to his online video library with over 800 real-time training videos, Warwick has created The Journey On Podcast, which interviews inspirational horse people from all over the world and shares their stories and mindsets.
CHECK OUT ALL THINGS WARWICK BELOW:
website www.warwickschiller.com
Podcast -The Journey On Podcast
Facebook group- Warwick Schiller Attuned Horsemanship
Facebook Page- Warwick Schiller’s Attuned Horsemanship
Youtube channel-@WarwickSchiller
Instagram-warwickschiller
Podcast summit- summit.warwickschiller.com
Subscribe to The Herd is Calling on Substack for behind-the-scenes stories and unique content.
Join the movement exploring the art, science, and wonder of horse-human connections!
Continue the journey
If this way of being with horses speaks to you, you can learn more about our current programs and invitations at My Horse Journey.
Our work is for people who want a relationship with horses built on feel, trust, nervous system awareness, and mutual attunement — not compliance.
Start here:myhorsejourney.com
–Because they know when you know… and they know when you don’t.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myhorsejourney.substack.com
Welcome to ‘The Herd Is Calling’
Don’t miss an episode, and access our articles and essays on Substack
Click THIS LINK TO SUBSCRIBE—it’s easy and totally free.
The Herd is Calling is a podcast from My Horse Journey exploring a different way of being with horses — one built on feel, trust, nervous system awareness, and mutual attunement.
Learn more at: myhorsejourney.com
Dr. Veronica Lac, founder of The HERD Institute, challenges traditional norms in favor of a more inclusive, relational approach—one that prioritizes attunement, adaptability, and social equity in healing with horses.
🎧 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✅ Why the dominant equine therapy model falls short—and what needs to change✅ How cultural competency shapes the horse-human relationship in ways most practitioners overlook✅ The power of language in equine-facilitated work—why words like “using” horses subtly reinforce outdated hierarchies✅ What it truly means to “partner” with horses—moving beyond tools and techniques to a more ethical, embodied approach✅ How belonging, social justice, and equine therapy intersect—and why this conversation is long overdue
⏳ Episode Breakdown
00:00 | Introduction & WelcomeJosh and Victoria introduce Dr. Veronica Lac and set the stage for a deep conversation about equine therapy beyond technique.
01:55 | Veronica's Personal Journey with HorsesDr. Lac shares her early experiences with horses, the cultural significance of equine relationships, and how her background shaped her approach.
08:17 | The Role of Embodiment in Equine TherapyA discussion on how working with horses is deeply embodied and how this principle shapes The HERD Institute’s model.
12:32 | Cultural Competency & Power Dynamics in HorsemanshipDr. Lac breaks down how cultural experiences shape interactions with horses and why traditional training methods often fail to consider these nuances.
21:14 | Moving Beyond Technique: Why Attunement MattersWhy a flexible, attunement-based approach is more effective than rigid exercises in equine therapy.
31:20 | Horses as Partners, Not ToolsChallenging the dominant mindset of "using" horses and shifting toward a true partnership model.
39:18 | Belonging, Social Justice & Equine TherapyHow systemic change in the industry ties into broader conversations about diversity, inclusion, and social justice.
44:51 | Creating Change: The HERD Institute’s VisionHow The HERD Institute is actively working to shift the paradigm of equine-assisted therapy through education and community building.
51:10 | Final Reflections & How to ConnectDr. Lac shares final thoughts and invites listeners to explore The HERD Institute’s programs, books, and resources.
🔥 Final Thoughts & Call to Action
Dr. Veronica Lac doesn’t just challenge the status quo—she offers a roadmap for change. This episode is an invitation to rethink how we engage with horses in therapeutic spaces. Are we truly honoring their agency? Or are we still centering human needs at their expense?
📚 Grab Veronica’s book: Obviously, I'm Not From Here—Embodying a Sense of Belonging with the Help of Horses, It's Not About The Activity—Thinking Outside The Toolbox In Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy & Learning, & MORE! Get Books Here
📍 Explore The HERD Institute’s groundbreaking work & Resources: herdinstitute.com
Subscribe to The Herd is Calling on Substack for behind-the-scenes stories and unique content.
Join the movement exploring the art, science, and wonder of horse-human connections!
Continue the journey
If this way of being with horses speaks to you, you can learn more about our current programs and invitations at My Horse Journey.
Our work is for people who want a relationship with horses built on feel, trust, nervous system awareness, and mutual attunement — not compliance.
Start here:myhorsejourney.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myhorsejourney.substack.com
TWelcome to ‘The Herd Is Calling’
Don’t miss an episode, and access our articles and essays on Substack
Click THIS LINK TO SUBSCRIBE—it’s easy and totally free.
The Herd is Calling is a podcast from My Horse Journey exploring a different way of being with horses — one built on feel, trust, nervous system awareness, and mutual attunement.
Learn more at: myhorsejourney.com
What if the parts of yourself you’ve buried hold the key to your healing? In this episode, we explore how horses—masters of presence—can reveal our hidden wounds and guide us back to wholeness.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
✅ How the wisdom of horses reveals our unconscious patterns—and helps us heal them.✅ The power of somatic therapy to process trauma—without retelling the story.✅ How to navigate the tension between self-protection and vulnerability with horses.✅ Why groundwork with horses brings up deep relational patterns—and how to move through them.✅ The ripple effect of healing with horses—from personal breakthroughs to collective change.
In this illuminating conversation, LMFT and equine-assisted psychotherapist Cara Gereau invites us into the layered world of somatic healing with horses. She shares how the relational feedback from horses brings forward the parts of us we’ve exiled—the ones shaped by trauma, self-protection, and unmet needs. From her personal journey leaving a high-powered corporate career to becoming a healer, to her somatic techniques with clients, Cara offers a deeply resonant look at what happens when we stop performing and start listening—both to our bodies and the horses beside us.
⏳ Episode Breakdown
00:00 | Introduction and WelcomeThe hosts introduce the guest, Cara, and share the theme of today’s episode—resilience and navigating change.
02:15 | Cara’s Journey into Healing WorkCara opens up about her personal story and how life’s challenges led her to become a healer and coach.
07:42 | Overcoming Burnout: Cara’s Turning PointA raw conversation about burnout and how Cara reclaimed her joy.
12:05 | The Role of Horses in Cara’s Healing PracticeCara explains how equine-assisted experiences transformed her approach to trauma healing.
17:18 | Practical Tips for Coaches and TherapistsCara shares three actionable practices for integrating somatic awareness into client sessions.
22:40 | Facing Fear and Building ConfidenceA powerful dialogue on working with fear, both in life and in equine-assisted sessions.
27:03 | Navigating Loss and Grief in a Healing ProfessionCara reflects on how personal losses shaped her empathy and professional approach.
32:25 | The Power of Community in Healing JourneysWhy support networks are essential for practitioners and clients alike.
38:12 | What’s Next for Cara: Vision and Upcoming ProjectsCara reveals her next steps, including a new program launch.
42:50 | Final Thoughts and Where to ConnectThe hosts and Cara share how listeners can join the conversation and get involved.
🎧 Tune in, join the conversation!
Subscribe to The Herd is Calling on Substack for behind-the-scenes stories and unique content.
Join the movement exploring the art, science, and wonder of horse-human connections!
Continue the journey
If this way of being with horses speaks to you, you can learn more about our current programs and invitations at My Horse Journey.
Our work is for people who want a relationship with horses built on feel, trust, nervous system awareness, and mutual attunement — not compliance.
Start here: myhorsejourney.com
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myhorsejourney.substack.com
🦄 Join the Movement—The Herd Is Calling.
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It’s the official home of:🎙️ The Herd is Calling Podcast✍🏼 The Healing With Horses Compass Newsletter
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👉🏼 Subscribe now—it’s fast, free, and your ticket to a deeper conversation.
🐴 For Coaches & Therapists: We’ve got something special for you:
Download our First Session Template—a simple, trauma-informed framework to build trust and safety from day one, without overwhelming yourself, your clients, or the horses! 100% free, but only for a limited time! Grab it now and set the foundation for impactful equine-assisted sessions.
What happens when life pulls you into the depths of loss, transition, and unexpected change?
You emerge—changed. After 14 months away, we’re finally ready to share why we left, what we learned, and why waiting is no longer an option.
✅ How grief and transformation shape the path forward—even when you don’t choose it
✅ The power of Why Wait?—and how it’s reshaping everything we do
✅ The role of community, not just as support, but as a true coalition of belonging
✅ Why stepping away was the only way to step forward
We thought we’d be gone for a few weeks. Instead, life unraveled, reassembled, and left us with a deeper understanding of what really matters. This episode is about more than where we’ve been—it’s about the universal experience of change, the kind that forces you to pause, reassess, and step back into the world with a new calling.
This isn’t just our story. It’s an invitation—to reflect, to connect, and to move toward what’s calling you…..Why Wait?!
⏳ Episode Breakdown
00:00 | Welcome Back – Our 14-Month JourneyWhy we disappeared, what changed, and why we’re finally back.
00:45 | The Deep Work of Grief & TransitionHow loss, change, and uncertainty shaped our path forward.
01:55 | Expanding Our Vision: Substack & The Healing With Horses CompassWhy we’re moving beyond social media and how you can join us.
05:09 | The Reality of Commuting, Relocation & Life OverhaulHow four hours a day in the car led to a complete lifestyle shift.
08:17 | Returning to Horsemanship: A Transformational Training ExperienceLessons learned from rehabilitating client horses—and ourselves.
12:32 | The MSW Journey: Pursuing Higher Education in Mental HealthWhy Victoria returned to school to deepen her impact in equine-assisted therapy.
17:57 | The Hawaiian Dream That Almost HappenedOur time at Hana Ranch and the opportunity that nearly changed everything.
21:14 | Letting Go: When a Child Leaves HomeThe emotional reality of Jacob’s move and navigating major life transitions.
25:26 | Moving Through Change: The Grief & Growth ParadoxWhy transition isn’t just about loss—but also about expansion.
26:22 | Unexpected Loss & the Weight of GoodbyeThe passing of Pilgrim and Blue—and what it meant for our family.
31:20 | New Paths, New Possibilities: The Power of RebuildingHow we turned obstacles into stepping stones toward something greater.
32:55 | Higher Education, Part Two: The OTD JourneyJosh’s decision to enter an accelerated doctoral program for occupational therapy.
36:40 | A Milestone Moment: James’ College JourneyHow our eldest took a bold step into his future at the University of Oregon.
39:18 | Merging Mental Health & Equine Therapy: A New ApproachHow evidence-based therapeutic techniques integrate with equine-assisted healing.
44:51 | The Ripple Effect of Healing: Why This Work MattersHow one person’s transformation can impact generations to come.
51:10 | The Future of Community & Connection: Why We Can’t WaitThe importance of building coalitions, forging deep relationships, and taking action now.
🎧 Tune in, join the conversation, and step into a new era of healing, connection, and purpose.
🚀 Ready to go deeper? Join us on The Healing with Horses Compass—our new Substack for raw reflections, real conversations, and a community built on belonging.
PS—When You're Ready...
Ready to lead your first equine-assisted healing session? Download our First Session Template—discover how to build rapport, safety, & trust on day one, without overwhelming your client and horses! 100% free, but only for a limited time—Check out a new approach to first sessions, no matter your experience level.Get Your First Session Template Here!
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit myhorsejourney.substack.com
🎙️ We have a can't miss podcast up this week for you all! Melissa Jean discusses the healing power of horses through her unique lens of hippotherapy (physical therapy paired with horses). She is an extraordinarily experienced and gifted at her career, and is trailblazing and pioneering new and innovative ways for her industry and beyond!
Join us as we:
🐴 Unravel secrets of healing with horses
🐴 The need for Equine advocacy in Equine Assisted Therapy industries
🐴 Learn how entrainment and attunement unlocks healing energy
🐴 Discover physical benefits of riding horses
🐴 Explore trauma informed care and neurodiversity
🐴 See how Melissa is navigating challenges and creating serious impact in her professional organization and BEYOND!
Learn more about Melissa at her website: https://www.melissajeanpt.com/
And find her on IG: https://www.instagram.com/melissajeanpt/
Learn more about our coaching and community where we teach the Holistic Partnership Method: https://www.myhorsejourney.com/
Decolonizing Horsemanship is the topic of this important podcast episode with Kelsey Dayle John, Ph.D., Diné (Navajo).
It was a great honor and privilege to have Kesley agree to be on our podcast. We had been following her work with horse human relationships and the concept of decolonizing horsemanship for some time, and were thrilled for the opportunity to have this rich discussion with her. In this podcast we discuss her work with interspecies learning, embodiment and relationality around horses, her perspectives on Equine Assisted Services, mustangs, the Navajo worldview, and so much more.
Kelsey's Bio: Kelsey Dayle John is a member of the Navajo Nation. She is an assistant professor at the University of Arizona with a joint appointment in American Indian Studies and Gender and Women’s Studies. She studies equine/human relationships in Native American communities with a focus on the social, cultural, and historical narratives of horse/human relations. She was a 2021 National Academy of Education/Spencer Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow. She completed her Ph.D. and M.S. in Cultural Foundations of Education at Syracuse University. For her dissertation research, she worked in partnership with the Navajo Nation to document horse stories for the development of Navajo-centered education and research. Kelsey is certified in Equine Facilitated Learning through the HERD institute. She is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation and in her spare time, she runs with her dogs and works with her horses.
To learn more about our programs, course, and community go to our website: www.myhorsejourney.com
We are over the moon to welcome back our first ‘Guest Series’ guest, Jacob Holmer! At the time of this writing, he is coming to our Madras OR ranch to facilitate an ‘Equine Assisted Embodiment’ retreat [July 28-30th 2023: https://www.myhorsejourney.com/retreats], and this discussion is previewing the intentions and topics of that retreat.
Jacob explores the powerful intersection of Yoga, Horsemanship, & embodiment with us in this podcast, drawing from his extensive yogic training and time with horses, including currently studying under Dominique and Deborah Barbier at the esteemed Barbier Farms in Healdsburg, CA with assistant trainer Lauren Shultz! (for the non horsey folks, that is a BIG deal!)
Embodiment is a practice that bridges the gap between theory and action, allowing us to integrate teachings into our bodies and daily lives. Through the exploration of the power of embodiment, the intersection of yoga and horsemanship, and the transformative potential they hold, we embark on a journey of awareness, connection, and growth. By embracing authenticity, harnessing energy, shifting perspectives, and cultivating attitudes of playfulness and curiosity, we open ourselves to profound experiences, deeper connections, and the continuous evolution of ourselves and our equine companions.
As we navigate this journey, let us remember that embodiment is not a destination but a lifelong practice—a dance of awareness, presence, and integration. Through the transformative power of embodiment, we tap into the wisdom of our bodies, the harmony of connection, and the beauty of conscious living.
Join us as we embark on this path of exploration with Jacob Holmer, forging deeper connections with ourselves, our equine partners, and the world around us.
Need support for your Journey with horses, our community and coaching programs demystify understanding and connecting with horses, through our unique Holistic Partnership Method, check it out: https://www.myhorsejourney.com/home