Meet Cheryl
Horse-Human relationship coach, Reiki certified, author, blogger, teacher, speaker, and all-around horse professional, Cheryl brings a unique approach and nearly 30 years of professional experience to helping horses and the humans that love them. Through her long and varied career with horses she has trained and shown multiple breeds and disciplines, foaled hundreds of mares over a 15 year career as a horse midwife, worked as an assistant to an equine veterinarian, and in the field of equine assisted therapy and learning.
Author of two award-winning memoirs, "Follow Me, Friend" a true story about her struggle with undiagnosed PTSD and the healing power of the special connection she has with her mare, Farletta, and the sequel "I've Never Been to Me" about her search for purpose and how Farletta showed her the way. Cheryl often speaks to audiences about her experiences with trauma, PTSD, navigating the mental health system, and how trauma impacts the developmental skills in children which affects them into adulthood. She also talks of the remarkable way her work with horses has helped her on her healing journey. Cheryl holds a master's degree in social work from Western Michigan University. She has written training manuals for equine assisted therapy/learning facilitators, and developed/presented CEU courses for social workers on trauma, resiliency and the horse-human connection.
As a Horse-human relationship coach, Cheryl applies her unique skill set to helping humans better understand their horses through non-invasive techniques which may include Reiki, observational and intuitive listening, and other light touch modalities.
Author of two award-winning memoirs, "Follow Me, Friend" a true story about her struggle with undiagnosed PTSD and the healing power of the special connection she has with her mare, Farletta, and the sequel "I've Never Been to Me" about her search for purpose and how Farletta showed her the way. Cheryl often speaks to audiences about her experiences with trauma, PTSD, navigating the mental health system, and how trauma impacts the developmental skills in children which affects them into adulthood. She also talks of the remarkable way her work with horses has helped her on her healing journey. Cheryl holds a master's degree in social work from Western Michigan University. She has written training manuals for equine assisted therapy/learning facilitators, and developed/presented CEU courses for social workers on trauma, resiliency and the horse-human connection.
As a Horse-human relationship coach, Cheryl applies her unique skill set to helping humans better understand their horses through non-invasive techniques which may include Reiki, observational and intuitive listening, and other light touch modalities.
"I believe many horses are holding tension within their bodies from past trauma (physical and emotional). This can be from their own past or even an absorption of the energy coming from the people around them. This tension over time can present as "mysterious" unsoundness, general lack of engagement, listlessness, shutting down (dissociation), anger/aggressiveness, excessive reactivity, anxiety, and other behaviors that often label a horse as difficult or crazy. One of my goals is to help these misunderstood horses reconnect with themselves and the humans who love them."
In her spare time Cheryl enjoys hiking, volunteering at her beloved Kentucky Horse Park, researching her next book, and furthering her studies in equine behavior & communication, equine body work, and energy work (Reiki). She lives in the famed Bluegrass region of Kentucky where from January-May she works as a horse midwife for various thoroughbred farms, and spends the rest of the year writing, speaking, giving book talks, and teaching lectures to college students on foaling and building a successful career in the horse industry.
