We recently connected with Laura Spielman and have shared our conversation below.

Laura, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

I began my journey into the horse world in my later 40’s. I went to a workshop that was an equine based leadership program on the central coast of California. I left there feeling as if I needed to continue the magic that I had felt there and bring it to other people but I had no idea how. I came home and began the search for the perfect place to further my knowledge in the horse rescue world and found Laughing Pony Rescue in Rancho Santa Fe. Again though, I had no idea what this would look like. I began as a volunteer and found my way into the PATH International program as an Equine Specialist for Mental Health and Learning which led me to do their protocol to work with Veterans with PTSD.

In my journey, I also found though that I needed to keep my own mindfulness and that is where I found the perfect combination of mindfulness for myself, and the ability to give back to other people and I became a Masterson Method Equine Specialist and am working on becoming a Masterson Method Certified Practitioner which is integrative bodywork on horses.

Laura, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Equine-assisted services harness the unique bond between humans and horses to promote healing and personal growth. Whether used in therapy (in conjunction with a licensed therapist) or personal development, equine-assisted services highlight the transformative power of the human-animal relationship.

Through activities such as learning to care for horses, groundwork, and mindfulness (either 1:1 or in a group), participants can experience improved emotional well-being, enhanced communication skills, and greater self-confidence. These interactions provide a safe and supportive environment to learn valuable life skills, overcome personal challenges, and foster a deeper connection with ourselves as well as with others.

As a Masterson Method Equine Specialist, certified ESMHL and EAL Facilitator, I am happy to offer many different types of opportunities. One on one Equine-Assisted Learning, Equine Therapy (in conjunction with a licensed therapist), and workshops ranging from corporate team building, youth, personal growth, and much more.

Equine-Assisted Learning (EAL) is an innovative educational approach that leverages the unique interactions between horses and humans to enhance personal growth and skill development. Through structured activities and guided exercises, participants engage with horses to improve communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills in a non-judgmental environment. The presence of horses—who respond authentically to human behavior—helps individuals gain insights into their own emotions and actions, fostering self-awareness and emotional intelligence. By working closely with these animals, learners can overcome personal challenges, build confidence, and develop a deeper understanding of their own strengths and areas for growth. EAL offers a dynamic and experiential way to learn valuable life skills while forming meaningful connections.

Equine Therapy, also known as Equine-Assisted Therapy, is a form of therapy that involves interactions between patients and horses to address physical, emotional, and mental health issues. As certified Equine Specialist for Mental Health and Learning, I am happy to work with a therapist and client offering safety and equine experiences for the client. I also work in conjunction with a local therapist, so if Equine Therapy is something you would like to explore, I can provide a therapist for our work together. Equine Therapy can be a unique and effective complement to traditional therapeutic approaches.

Leadership and Corporate Team Building with horses is a unique approach to leadership development that involves working with horses to develop skills such as communication, trust, and collaboration. Horses are social animals that live in herds and have a natural hierarchy, making them ideal partners for leadership training. Through exercises such as round pen work, group challenges obstacle courses, individuals and groups can learn to communicate effectively with horses, build trust, and work together to overcome challenges. The process of working with horses helps individuals to develop greater self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and empathy, leading to improved interpersonal relationships and leadership skills. Leadership with horses is a hands-on, experiential approach to learning that can be applied to a variety of leadership settings, including business, education, and personal development.

Horses provide immediate feedback, which helps team members to become more self-aware and develop a deeper understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses. Working with horses can also help teams to develop leadership skills, as they learn to lead the horse and work together to accomplish a common goal. Overall, using horses for corporate team building is an engaging and memorable way to develop important skills and improve team dynamics, leading to increased productivity and success in the workplace. The lessons learned from working with horses can help individuals to become more effective leaders and to create positive change in their organizations and communities.

Using horses for youth development is a powerful way to help young people build important life skills, such as responsibility, confidence, and empathy. Horses have a unique ability to provide instant feedback to young people, which helps them to develop self-awareness and emotional regulation. Through activities such as grooming, feeding, and riding, young people can learn to care for and communicate with horses, which can translate into improved communication skills and relationships with people. Working with horses can also help young people to develop a sense of responsibility and self-discipline, as they learn to care for another living being. Additionally, the sense of accomplishment and confidence that comes from successfully working with a horse can be a powerful source of motivation and personal growth for young people. Overall, using horses for youth development can be a transformative and empowering experience that helps young people to develop important life skills and build a strong foundation for their future.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

From the beginning, I have always thought that if I can give someone 10 minutes of peace in their day, that I have done my job. Thus far I have been a success. I feel that I learn more and more each day from every single person that I encounter. Each appointment is tailored to the client and no two clients are the same.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

The biggest lesson when working with animals and humans is to expect the unexpected. This field is not like working with inanimate objects. I have to learn to work with the personality of both the client and my four legged co-worker who weighs 1000 pounds and has his or her own opinions. I have had to learn to expect the unexpected.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.therosieproject.org
• Instagram: therosieprojectsd
• Facebook: The Rosie Project
• Other: therosieprojectsd on TikTok

Image Credits

Megan Ousset Photography
XO Photography