Relationship Episodes

Horse Brain, Human Brain was one of the first books I read when I was trying to understand horses better. So when I had the chance to sit down with its author, Janet Jones, for the podcast, I was pretty excited. Janet is a neuroscientist, horsewoman, and the author of her new book, A Horse's World.…

Today I’m talking with Toni Mattson of Trinity Equestrian Center in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Toni and her team work with horses alongside veterans, first responders, youth, and individuals facing trauma, PTSD, dementia, and oth...

What happens after the horse reacts? In this conversation, I talk with carriage driving trainer Christine Beattie about how driving changes the way we communicate with a horse — and why it can have such a big impact on the relationship. We talk about ground driving, working horses in real-world env…

“Find a dog that’s going to make you happy.” I sit down with Denise Fenzi to talk about choosing the right dog for your real life — not the one you think you should want. We talk about fit, expectations, training, and working...

In this episode of The Empathetic Trainer Podcast , Barbara O’Brien talks with Rachel Windchaser, author and equine rewilding coach. Rachel runs Winchaser Ranch in Spain, where she cares for a rare herd of Spanish Mustangs. T...

Send us a text In this episode of The Empathetic Trainer podcast, host Barbara O’Brien chats with Jessica Gonzalez, a dedicated horse rescuer and author of Equine Empowerment. They discuss how horses help people heal, the power of positive reinforcement training, and the deep bond between horses an…

Have you ever felt a profound connection to something that completely shifted your life's direction? In this episode of the Empathetic Trainer Podcast, we chat with Chris Lombard, a horse trainer and author who found his call...

Ingrid Henry, an equine coach, discusses the importance of trust and consistency in building a strong relationship with horses

New Zealand Horse advocate and author, Julie Smart joins Barbara O'Brien in a conversation not just about training, but about retraining ourselves to listen, to watch, and to feel the subtle cues that horses give us when tryi...