CONTRIBUTOR BIOS

MARY-JOY JOHNSON Dip-EFPT, Dip-EFHD, Member National Council of Psychotherapists, UKPTS, ESTSS, MSAFE (Accred)

Mary-Joy is the founder of Wildways Therapy. Trained in the IFEEL Method of Equine Facilitated Psychotraumatology, Brainspotting and other protocols, Mary-Joy works in private practice as a Trauma Therapist. She is also a Programme Director for the Dare To Live Trust, delivering Trauma-Informed programs for Adoptive Parents, Foster Carers, Military Veterans, First Responders and Youth Service Professionals. Mary-Joy is passionate about regenerative land management, grazing ecology and creating healthy, sustainable, living systems whether on the land or in human families, organizations and communities where trauma has left its mark. Mary-Joy is based in East Sussex, UK. “Weaving the wild back into our hearts and minds, together we return.”

Wildways Therapy, Psychotherapy & Trauma Treatment Services www.wildwaystherapy.co.uk The Dare To Live Trust , Registered Charity No. 1157442 www.daretolive.org.uk

ELENI ARGY B.A., Harvard University, CBEIP-ED Eleni Argy is a certified Equine Interaction Professional in Education (CBEIP-ED), and the Founder of Sheez Like the Wind Equine Experiences and Equine Experience International, based in Sydney, Australia. With an Honours degree in Humanities from Harvard University, further graduate studies in Social Sciences, and a Diploma in Gestalt Therapy, Eleni specializes in working with youth and families through a successful career in community services, mental health support, and education. Eleni is a certified Clinical HeartMath Practitioner, and a certified Practitioner in Integrative Wellness, a Professional Life Coach, as well as a Master Practitioner in Usui Reiki, and incorporates holistic health and wellbeing practices, as well as Post Traumatic Growth principles, into her work with horses and people. Eleni has devised and facilitated alternative learning programs through countless educational institutions and community organizations worldwide, and has been a lecturer and facilitator in various colleges and universities across the globe. Eleni’s innovative experiential learning programs in Equine Assisted Education, Therapy and Wellbeing support an ever-evolving international community, through a global network of humans connecting in a meaningful way with horses. Sheez Like The Wind Equine Experiences www.sheezlikethewind.com eleni@sheezlikethewind.com

KELLY JONES

Kelly is a certified equine professional with the Natural Lifemanship (NL) Institute. She is passionate about supporting people who are struggling with feeling stuck that affects their relationships and quality of life. Whether in a team with a licensed mental health professional (EAMH) or as life coach and facilitator of restorative retreats (EAL), clients can gain awareness and experience a lifelong transformational shift. She manages her 15acre oasis in the Texas Hill Country as a refuge for those seeking healing and restoration. Kelly purchased Ponderosita Ranch in 1999, home to South Wind Equestrian Center (2004) and Unbridled Connection, Inc. (2019). Kelly received a BBA in Marketing from Texas Tech University. While raising 2 children she taught dressage lessons, boarded horses and directed several equine programs off-site, including Miraval Austin and the Retreat at Balcones Springs. Kelly pursued her certification with NL beginning in 2013 and provided EAL and EAMH at South Wind beginning in 2015. She recently completed Leif Hallberg’s Master Class 2020, furthering her knowledge of equine welfare and behavior in this industry. Kelly has a true passion for both equine welfare and human healing using a holistic approach. Her niche is helping humans discover their authentic self through intentional mindfulness work, teaching others how to nurture their own spirituality with the help of her happy and peaceful herd. This year she published her first book, Unbridled Connection: Soul Discovery Through Nature and Horses. https://bookstore.weeva.com/products/unbridled-connection-soul-discovery-throughnature-horses

KERRI LAKE

Annie, Rango, Lucy and the other horses in the article live with George Brauneis at Eagles And Wild Horses Ranch in Western Colorado, www.facebook.com/george.brauneis. Being with formerly wild horses offers people an unparalleled opportunity to experience authenticity, connection and communication from the inside out. Kerri Lake shares wisdom and guidance for humanity to live closer to the heart. Everything she shares bridges innate consciousness and personal experience. She shares with simplicity and humor how effective healing and effective creation emerge from the same foundation - the absence of judgment. She shares her own journey to help you see that if she can do it, so can you. Kerri is a "hands-on" facilitator, guiding individuals and projects to perpetually greater clarity and heart-inspired action. Her books, "Listen Like A Horse: Relationships Without Dominance" and "Spiritually Gifted" have an international audience that expands beyond the human-animal relationship, inviting people to generate a harmonious relationship within themselves.

You can read more and contact Kerri at: www.kerrilake.com . Article photos credited to: Carter Keegan (Carter can be reached through Eagles & Wild Horses Ranch).

KASEY THOMPSON

Kasey spent his childhood with horses, but separated from them while receiving his formal education and starting a family. During a time of crisis in his life he reconnected and the equine has been part of his passion and purpose ever since. Professionally, Kasey is a past publisher, coach, and consultant who is currently the director of a 20 person organizational development program servicing over 2,200 professionals. Similarly, he and his wife Jennifer own and operate Equine Evolution offering multiple therapeutic and educational services. These programs have positively impacted thousands of individual lives, families, and organizations, through application of Proven methodologies for human enhancement. Horses, teaching, and writing have captivated Kasey’s attention as he has accumulated over 10,000 lecture hours during the past 19 years. He was also selected as a TEDx speaker and previously published multiple articles on the intricacies of human relationships. One being utilized as university level curriculum to improve teaming in technological development. In 2019 Kasey and Jennifer were invited as board members and equine assisted therapy providers for Ivy Ranch in Provo, Utah, a boys and girls ranch providing leadership and a school suspension alternative for Utah Teens. Educationally, Kasey received a BS in Human Performance Management from Utah State/Weber State and MBA from the University of Phoenix. His certifications include equine specialist, past StrengthFinder Coach, Seven Habits Instructor, Crucial Conversations Instructor, and Arbinger Institute trained coach and instructor. Contact Kasey by visiting www.equineevolution.org All photos in this article are credited to: Hadlee Jo Woodward

PAT HUTCHINSON

Pat is a Certified Advanced FEEL Practitioner. She discovered the world of horses after retiring early from a management position in the Provincial Government. Having experienced the powerful effects of unmanaged, negative stress, Pat became passionate about empowering others to self manage stress in their lives. In the 1990’s, she developed and taught stress management workshops. She then recorded her workshop material so it was accessible to others without needing her to present. Also, knowing the effects nutrition can have on stress, Pat obtained her Bachelor of Applied Science in Nutrition. She practiced as a Nutritional Consultant until retiring early from the government. Pat intuitively and experientially knew there could be more to the horse/human relationship then ever suspected. She developed the knowledge and tools to access the ‘more’. Pat observed the horses’ innate strategies to manage their stress reactions. Seeing this in horses stoked the flames! Horses have a way of being that is so fully in the moment, a skill that normally takes us a lifetime to learn. When living from this place, a deeper emotional vitality, spiritual connection and mental serenity are possible. Horses teach us: self-empowerment, selfknowledge and self-respect through their willing co-operation and collaboration. And horses help us heal. Horse & Human = Power & Presence. Pat can be reached via her FaceBook page or email: pmshanti20@gmail.com

JONATHAN VARKUL

Jonathan is an executive coach and facilitator who specializes in resolving unexpected blocks in organizational strategy, innovation, and performance. His work is an integration of his practical business experience and his experience in exploring our deeper selves. As an x-technology consultant, x-corporate executive and a qualified chartered accountant, Jonathan understands the practical challenges of formulating and executing business strategy, innovating in uncertainty, and leading high performing teams and individuals. As a student of yoga, mindfulness, and the science behind our thought patterns, he deeply understands the dynamics and challenges in resolving blocks and increasing clarity. Jonathan left OPENLANE, a technology company that he helped build, in 2009 to answer a burning question. Can our deeper selves serve a practical purpose in addressing complex business challenges and if so, how? His journey to explore this question led to the creation of his coaching and facilitation practice that helps people access their deeper wisdom to address some of their toughest challenges without the typical time, energy and struggles of “deep personal work”. He was introduced to the deeper power of horses in 2013 when he met his partner, Jenn, www.jenniferschramm.com , a counsellor and certified FEEL facilitator. For further information about Jonathan and his work, you can check out his website at www.jonathanvarkul.com. He loves exploring the world through conversations with others and can be reached via email at jonathan@jonathanvarkul.com .

SAMANTHA THORPE

Sam is Founder & Director of Equi Evolution, an EquineFacilitated Learning & Wellness Center in a quaint New England town, United States. As a teen she struggled with her own emotional health and found peace in the barn. Her empathy and compassion for those longing to find their place in this world are what drove her to launch the Equi Evolution program. She has over 30 years of equine experience, including work in Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Riding; but after completing her Equine-Facilitated Learning (EFL) Certification through The HERD Institute, she has committed herself to focus specifically on mental health and wellness. Her Equine-Facilitated Learning programs are based strongly on the principles of Gestalt Psychology and include a significant focus on Mindfulness and Connection-Centered experiences. In addition to her on-farm programs, Sam has recently launched the first of its kind online Equine-Facilitated Learning course, Finding Emotional Freedom with Horses, which applies the concepts of her hands-on program into an online format. This course has seen great success in sharing the benefits of EFL on a global scale. Sam also provides consulting and mentoring services to those looking to launch their own programs centered around Equine Assisted Activities & Therapies (EAAT) and mentors students and interns interested in learning about this uniquely beautiful industry. Website: https://www.equievolution.org/ Email: wellnesswithhorses@gmail.com

Facebook:@WellnesswithHorses Instagram:@equievolution

ESTA BERNSTEIN

Esta is the Founder of Saffyre Sanctuary, Inc. a horse rescue in Los Angeles, Esta knew that the horses were "calling" her to write a book and produce a film. However, it was not until a series of events that the subject matter of these works would reveal itself in the most magical way. As the author of Changing Horses the book, and producer of Changing Horses the film, Esta embodies the knowledge of why horses are here, and embraces the teachings of the horses that solidifies the foundation of all she does. Esta is an equine intuitive counselor and nutritional consultant. She grew up in the racing industry and has over 45 years of equine experience. She learned hown to rehabilitate horses when she acquired her own horse, Caleyndar. After years of researching traditional methods to heal him, destiny brought her to racehorse nutritionist, Frank Lampley, whom she studied with for over 20 years. During that time & even after the death of Frank, his supplement company still refers their clients to Esta for consultations. Esta is continuously researching and modifying her equine work as needed. Knowing that they are here as our partners, Esta uses her intuition and guidance from the horses to give them what they actually need, not what humans think they need. She is currently promoting Changing Horses and is available for healing consultations.

Https://estabernstein.com https://saffyresanctuary.org https://changinghorsesthefilm.com All photos in this article are credited to: Robin Constable Hanson

DOROTHY CHIOTTI

Dorothy’s journey with the horses spans a lifetime. It began with riding lessons at age 10, but it wasn’t until a wake-up call in her early 30s forced her to take a serious look at her life that she made the decision to work them. As a result, she quit a career in corporate communications and embarked on an 18-month coaching internship resulting in certification with Equine Canada (1997). After acquiring her first horse at age 43, Dorothy participated in the Train the Trainer program of natural horsemanship trainer Chris Irwin’s and became Bronze certified (2006). She also attended Irwin’s first Equine-Assisted Personal Development (EAPD) workshop that year which formally launched her interest in the profound healing with horses work. In the midst of her deepest personal healing work Dorothy became a certified practitioner of Facilitated Equine Experiential Learning (FEEL) at Horse Spirit Connections (2014) and achieved Advanced status two years later. In 2018, Dorothy presented Self-Awareness and the Quest for Sacred Space for the first time at the FEEL Alumni Conference and recently expanded upon this topic for the online Humans Connecting with Horses Conference (August 2020). She is a prolific writer and frequent contributor to Equine Leadership magazine as well as an award-winning photographer at the Equus Film and Literary Festival (2018). She lives and works with her husband on the family farm in Mono, Ontario.

Contact information: dorothy.chiotti@gmail.com www.eyestoheart.me

GEORGIE McBURNEY BSc, PGCE

Georgie has always had a natural affinity to animals and later in life got an opportunity to set up at Animal Health and Well-Being business. She realized the animal’s connection with the human, meant looking into human health and well-being too.

Georgie studied complementary therapies to support both parties with Reiki, kinesiology, and Essential Oil Therapy. A pony called Jac came into Georgie’s life when she was a foster career, and he influenced Georgie’s decision to become an Equine Facilitated Practitioner and a Spiritual Counsellor. Working with people and horses preceded exploring ‘connection’ and she is now studying a MSc in Consciousness, Transpersonal Psychology and Spirituality with the Alef Trust.

To find out more about Georgie’s work please visit: www.georginamcburney.com

VIVIAN EVANS

Vivian Evans is an equine facilitator and spiritual mentor who began her journey with horses as a child in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was her passion to learn everything she possibly could about the horse and as a teenager harnessed her entrepreneurial spirit training young or problem horses and offering riding lesson, meanwhile developing her passion in the hunter jumper circuit. Later an opportunity to focus primarily on her riding career brought her to Kelowna, British Columbia. Building relationships with horses was always one of Vivian’s primary focuses and soon she realized that she had a natural ability to build relationships and bridge the gap of communication between horses and people. Her current career in Equine Facilitated learning found her and over the past 10 years she has been immersed in sharing the wisdom of the horse. Bringing her many incredible opportunities from observing the wild horses in the mountains of BC to speaking internationally. Beyond her work with horses Vivian is a registered yoga teacher, owns and operates a yoga studio in Kamloops, BC, and is certified Reiki practitioner, for both human and horse. And when not busy at work you will find Vivian spending her free time being inspired by nature alongside her horses and dogs.

You can reach Vivian at: vivian@equine-evolution.ca / www.equine-evolution.ca