Changing Lives With A Horse, (Of Course)!

Episode 26: Does Equine Connection Exceed Expectations?

We were so pumped when we got this video through we just had to share it!  The lovely Meg Lago from the USA sent us this video on her take on the Equine Connection and becoming a facilitator with us.  Tune in to hear her thoughts on the course!

Episode 25: Celebrating Women!

At Equine Connection, we celebrate all women, in all their diversities. We embrace their facets and intersections of faith, race, ethnicity, gender or sexual identity, or disability. We celebrate those who came before us, those who stand beside us now, and those who will come after.
The global theme for International Women’s Day in 2021 is ‘Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World’. COVID-19 has impacted women and girls in profound ways, amplifying the inequalities they face every day. It is fundamental that diverse women’s voices and experiences are central to national and global recovery plans.
We would like to share some wonderful stories of women, just like you and me, who have had come to us and been touched by the power of the horse to find their true selves.
Equine Connection certified facilitators around the world offer workshops, programs and courses designed specifically by women for women to empower them to be the best versions of themselves.

Episode 24: You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know - Do I even want to be an Entrepreneur❓

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know - Do I even want to be an Entrepreneur❓
 
What if I have never been my own boss before?
Are there really any benefits?
Or is it just more stress?
 
Becoming and entrepreneur can be…scary. Especially if you have never run your own business before.
 
But it can also be the best decision you have ever made!
There are tons of positives to being your own boss… one of them is just that… being your own boss! But there are so many other benefits too!
 
Join us to discover how to become a successful entrepreneur and live your dream career!
 
After all, you don’t know what you don’t know until you do know! Right?

Episode 23: What Changed for Flo - An Inspiring Story about Connecting with Horses

This week, Flo Branconnier joins us with an inspiring story about how her life with her horses changed after getting certified and how she no longer owns horses, but instead, has a four-legged family who she always knows has her back - just as she has theirs.  

Episode 4: You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know - Governing Body

What does it mean to have a governing body?
Why is it important?
How is it different than having a membership to an association?
A governing body is huge to not only you, but also to your clients.
How do you know if the certification you are signing up for has integrity and ethics? And how do your future clients know that your organization does?
Join us to hear all about why a governing body is essential to your business and your future working with horses to help change people’s lives!
#IAMALIFECHANGER

Episode 22: How Karen’s life has changed - along with the lives of her horses!

This week, we decided to feature one of our beautiful facilitators, Karen Marley from sunny Florida. Karen is a nurse and has been working her tail off and has joined us to tell us her story about how the pandemic has affected her life, where she is at, and how the horses and EAL are changing her life. 

Episode 21: “Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected”

Have you ever had a ‘crazy’ business idea?
Have you dreamed of combining your passion for horses with your day job? Did the ‘nay-sayers’ say ‘nay’?
Let’s face it, everyone needs life skills! So the potential to create your niche market is only limited by you!
We have had so many people train with us from such diverse backgrounds who have been able to use their existing skill set and know-how
Teaching
Psychology
Agriculture
Horticulture
Naturopathy
Business
Law
Medicine
Wellbeing
Sport
the list goes on...
 
Today, the lovely Jane Hemingway-Mohr will speak with Alecia Green of Urban Connections Life Skills. Alecia is a certified EAL facilitator and horticulturalist. She has cleverly combined her passions and skills to create an amazing team building experience and successfully pitched the idea to a Shark Tank. It’s an inspiring story.
Join us to learn all about how to connect through creativity!
#IAMALIFECHANGER

Episode 3: You Don't Know What You Don't Know - Equine Welfare PART 2

What does horse welfare really mean?
Are there some things about horse welfare that you would like to know?
 
Last week we did a live all about horse welfare and didn’t even scratch the surface!
So this week we are going ahead with PART 2 as there were so many people asking for more info!
Join us on to continue learning about why the welfare of a horse is so important as well as some interesting facts and info that you may not have known before.
After all, you don’t know what you don’t know until you do know! Right?
#IAMALIFECHANGER

Episode 2: You Don't Know What You Don't Know - Equine Welfare PART 1

What does horse welfare really mean?
Are health and welfare the same thing?
If you have joined us before you have heard us talk - a lot - about horse welfare.
But what is it, really? Is it just making sure the hooves are trimmed and they have food? 
Nope.
There is so much more to horse welfare that we can explore to ensure our horses are happy and healthy!
Join us to find out all about why the welfare of a horse is so important as well as some interesting facts and info that you may not have known before. After all, you don’t know what you don’t know until you do know! Right?
#IAMALIFECHANGER

Episode 1: You Don't Know What You Don't Know - INVESTMENT vs. LIABILITY

❓INVESTMENT vs. LIABILITY ❓
What’s the difference between an investment and a liability?
Why do I need to know?
How will this help me in business?
We have all heard “It takes money to make money”, which is true, but is it money that is just going out the window, never to be seen again? Or is it money that is being invested in your business, your goals and your future?
Join us to find out all about the differences between an investment and a liability and make sure you are putting your money in the right category and actually MAKE money!
 
#IAMALIFECHANGER

Episode 17: What is Confidence with Jane and Alice from Australia!

Do we all have it? Is it something learned?
How can we look forward into the year ahead with confidence?
Where do horses fit in when we are talking about confidence?
 
The lovely Jane Hemingway-Mohr and Alice Field are talking about just that! Start looking forward to what opportunities lie ahead in 2021 and discover how working with horses bolsters confidence and helps you find that inner leader within YOU!
 
Join us to hear all about what confidence can do for you - and your horses!

Episode 16: ⭐Start off 2021 right!🎉

Happy 2021!
 
New Years always brings about change - or at least an attempt at change. But this year, we want to start you, and your business, off on the right foot! With a gift!
 
Tune in to listen to us answer questions you have about your business, either one you already have started or one you are planning to start!
 
And join us to get a FREE giveaway to start 2021 off right!

Episode 15: Story time!

We thought it was the kind of day that needed a few heartfelt stories of humans and horses!
Join us to get your fill of stories that will warm your heart! 

Episode 14: What is an Equine Assisted Learning Facilitator?

What is a facilitator anyhow? And what the heck is EAL?  How can we possibly work with horses to help people move forward with their lives? We will let you know just that this episode!
 
A lot of people interested in this type of career want to know what it is that a facilitator actually does. Tune in to find out! 
 
 

Episode 13: What's Right in Business With Ali Cho

2020 has given a lot of twists and turns for all of us in business… and it’s not over yet.😱
Are you wondering;
“How do you start a business during a pandemic?”
“How can I keep moving forward when the world is put on pause?”
 
Today we chat with the Ali Cho from Dreamweaver Equine!
 
After graduating from Barnard College as a history major in ethnicity and race, Ali sought to breathe life into her childhood aspirations of working with, sleeping with, and waking up to horses fantasy.
 
She became a PATH Intl. Certified Riding instructor through Centenary University in 2017, as well as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. Combining her passion for Social-Emotional Learning (reaped from her graduate studies at NYU), Ali is also a certified Equine-Assisted Learning Facilitator, through the Equine Connection, where she is able to offer a life skills curriculum program for ages 8+ as well as empowerment workshops for women and corporate groups.
 
In her free time, Ali likes to get hugs from Elvis the donkey in exchange for scratching his ears as well going trail riding in idyllic Amwell horse country.
Join us to hear all about how Ali is defying the odds and moving forward with her dream!

Episode 12: What's Right in Business With Emily Bertrand

Have you ever wondered;
“How do you keep moving forward when things seem so hard?”
“How do you know if this is the right move for you?”
 
Today we chat with the Lovely Emily Bertrand!
 
Emily has had a passion for horses from a young age. Her mother Dawn always thought it was just a phase, but Emily never seemed to grow out of it! Growing up poor Emily had to learn to work very hard if she wanted to be around horses and ride. She would learn the names of tack from reading catalogues, take out every horse book there was from the local library, and make the most out of every opportunity she got to be around horses or ride. When she was 10 years old she would go to her aunts stable and would do chores and ride as often as she was allowed to. At 12 she started volunteering at a local trail riding stable and by 16 she was helping to run it. From there she went on to groom and ride hunter's and jumpers, teaching riding lessons, riding anything she could and working hard though high school so she could afford to board her first horse which she purchased herself. Eventually she went on to study dressage and competed successfully up to the CCI** in eventing.
In 2007 at 23 years old she started Royale Equestrian Centre, a 25 acre farm located right in the city. With some help from her family, they took the old dilapidated run-down farm and turned it into an equestrian centre that has become a true social enterprise. A farm that is now a staple in her local community that has seen given thousands of people the opportunity to learn about horses and ride. Fast forward 13 years later and she is now starting a second location with her cousin Cody Citzler and long-time clients the Calder Family. The second farm also in a prime suburban spot in Ottawa. The farm has been named the Royale Ranch and is set to open June 2021. Where they will be offering riding lessons, boarding and EAL programs.
Join us to hear all about Emily and her phenomenal feats in the business world through all the craziness that life has to offer! 

Episode 11: What's Right In Business? - With Joyce Gardner

⭐This week on Equine Connection’s “What’s Right?” Series!⭐
 
Boozhoo!!!
 
Have you ever wondered; 
👉“How do we try something new in the horse world?” 
👉“Can a family business stay alive in today's world?” 
 
🤩Today we chat with the beautiful and inspiring Joyce Gardner!
 
Joyce grew up just outside of Dryden, ON. For those of you who don’t know where that is, it is between Thunder Bay, ON and Winnipeg, MB. Growing up on a small family farm they always had animals around, horses being one of them.
 
As Joyce grew older, she grew out of the horse phase and went onto other things, later to have her daughter get her back into the horse world. For a long time, she had a dream of her daughters and her having some kind of business to help individuals in the area that needed it. 
 
She was sitting on the couch one night on Facebook, as one does, and ads for Equine Connection kept popping up and she was hooked. Joyce did some research into equine assisted learning and decided to take the leap of trying something new.
 
8 years ago, after countless hours on the road between Dryden and eagle river, where the beginning of our herd lived, she purchased an old store and transformed it into a working ranch.  
 
They have 136 acres, 8 teachers from 7 to 27 years of age, 2 dogs and 2 cats.  Joyce and her family are big on upcycling where possible so they moved and refurbished the old garage into a classroom, pounded some posts and peeled some trees for boards for the ring (they have since put up 2x6 boards) and they can now say they look like a true business.
 
Joyce worked with not for profit organizations over the last 25 plus years, which can be very stressful! Working with horses became her mental health outlet and doing it with her family was even more rewarding. Joyce’s oldest daughter is also a facilitator and together they are striving to get the message out about the power of working with horses.  

Episode 10: What's Right In Business? - Alice Field

Have you ever wondered; 
👉 “How can we keep going when things get tough?” 
👉 “How do we think outside the box to keep our business going?” 
 
Today we have yet another phenomenal speaker to let you know what she has done to keep business going!
 
Alice Field is not only a Facilitator and Assistant Instructor, she also has extensive expertise in Corporate Human Resources with a focus on Learning & Development and Leadership. She completed the Equine Connection Inc Facilitator course in June 2017, enabling her to combine her past business experience with her lifelong passion for horses. Shortly after, Alice joined the Leading Edge team as the Director of Business Development. In 2018 she undertook further training to fulfill the role of Assistant Instructor with the Equine Connection Sydney campus. 
 
Working across all our programs, Alice is passionate about ensuring our clients achieve genuine and sustainable growth opportunities through our experiential learning-based curriculum. She brings a wealth of experience in skill development having supported clients through the design and facilitation of programs to build skills such as Leadership, Management, Communication Negotiation and Team Building.
 
Prior to joining the team, Alice was Vice President, Human Resources at the Macquarie Group in New York and Sydney. Throughout her career, she has held a number of HR Business Partner and HR Specialist roles for leading Investment Banks including UBS and Barclays. She started her career in Australia, before spending over 10 years based in the US, UK and Middle East.
 
Alice is an accredited NCAS riding Coach and when not in the office she enjoys riding and spending time with the horses.

Episode 10: What's Right In Business?

➡️ What's right in continuing to run a business these days?
➡️ How did Equine Connection adjust?
➡️ What does the certification look like now?
 
🤩 Join us today to find out all of the changes that Equine Connection has made throughout these crazy times and how the course has changed up a bit to give you more time, more info and more options! ⭐

Episode 9: What's Right in Business? - With Kelly Montford

We have a super special guest! A certified fitness instructor, personal trainer and yoga instructor. 
The amazing Kelly Montford is also a daughter, sister and most importantly a mother, to three humans and two four-leggers.  
She was never athletic in her school years and was always more interested in curling up in the corner with a book or being outside. 
About 18 yrs ago, one of her children began developing health issues and Kelly needed an outlet.  She began running and lifting weights and noticed how my coping capacity increased.  As their lives returned to some sort of normalcy, she continued on with her fitness activities.  She had more clarity, more energy.  Her clothes fit better and she was happy.  She knew this couldn’t just be her, this had to be something that could help others.  
At the same time all of this was happening, She knew she needed a career change. 
Working at a desk inside was becoming less desirable and fulfilling.   
She made the leap, in her mid-thirties, and went back to post-secondary education -  earned her personal training certificate. From there, she has earned her 200-hour yoga training, then her 300 hour as well as group fitness and TRX training.
She was invited shortly thereafter to work with children in her local school district who, for whatever reason, weren’t able to partake in the mainstream physical education program. 
Now, alongside working with all ages and abilities on multiple levels, she has recently become part owner/operator of Strathmore’s Transcend Yoga & Wellness.