“During my 23-year Policing career, I have witnessed the darkest side of humanity imaginable. After several years of therapy, I was diagnosed with severe PTSD and substance use disorder. For many years, I had been dissociating and muting dark thoughts by abusing alcohol.

I was desperately seeking that one thing that would shake me out of the chaotic nest that I had tucked myself so tightly into. I found myself searching for more. I needed something outside of the confines of antidepressants and talk therapy, something that would crack the impenetrable shield that I had built up for so many years.

I found this and more during my visit to Horse Sense North. It was here that I met a horse named Grace. I could not have imagined that Grace and I would share so many similar physical and mental traumas from our time spent in Policing. We were living parallel lives and It was as if she knew me.

At the start of my experience with Carmen, I was asked what I had hoped to get out of the day. My answer - “I wanted my nervous system to get a beat, for my black heart to open and to learn to stop abandoning myself”.

Grace and Carmen showed me that it IS possible to heal. They taught me how to breathe and how to process and release all the negative energy that bubbles up from anxiety. Most importantly, they showed me how to trust and turn down my intense hypervigilance/head on a swivel dial. “Back to grazing” as they say.

My time on the farm was so impactful that I went back for another visit. I needed to know if Grace was okay and to continue to understand how it was that she was able to recover.

This is what I came away with. If Grace can learn to trust and heal her broken heart, which is 20 times bigger than a human’s, then I can too.

I will never fully be able to make sense of the constellation of things that had to happen in my, Carmen’s, and Grace’s lives for us to be in each other’s presence at Horse Sense North. I am still processing my time at the farm and unpacking everything that Grace taught me. Meeting the horses, working with Carmen, and being on the farm is a game changer for me. Horse Sense North is a magical place that is now a part of my wellness plan.”

“What a delight to have Carmen come train our staff team on the 5 roles of the Master Herder. If you’re feeling a bit stale and need to develop new neural pathways, this is for you! I could see the recognition and connections registering on people’s faces as she presented a very tangible way of considering leadership, how we need all 5 roles and the challenges of each. It was fun, it was interactive, it was truly thought provoking. I would highly recommend Carmen Theobald’s facilitation skills, fresh style, and content to any organization, corporate or non-profit interested in leadership development.”

“Thank you for the recording on self-care. It was excellent. I really appreciate being introduced to a more meaningful, helpful perspective on self-care.”

“Thank you, Carmen, for being such an integral part of our Women in Business speakers series last Thursday.

I am still thinking about and processing your speech. Thank you for that gift. It affected me deeply. You absolutely captivated the room and our hearts. Your openness, vulnerability, wisdom and humour was a perfect way to end the evening.”

“It is very seldom that I recommend non-Indigenous practitioners. It is even less likely that I refer to anyone as an ally. However, in the case of Carmen Theobald and her work at Horse Sense North, I can unreservedly support and elevate her as both an ally and a practitioner of great quality. Her unbridled devotion to learning her place in the complexity of Indigenous/Canadian relationships, her continued journey in elevating Indigenous voices, and in modelling the journey involved in true reconciliation, Carmen lightens my load as an Indigenous Educator tremendously.”

“Carmen and her work at Horse Sense North with the beautiful horse healers, has been incredibly impactful for our team at Mamaway Wiidokdaadwin.

As an Indigenous Interprofessional Primary Health Care Team, we want to ensure that we are working in cultural alignment for ourselves as well as those we serve while also providing high level medical care.

The “Leadership Redefined” training was a breath of fresh air; it was beautiful to see our team come together and learn ways of working as one for “the good of the herd” and honouring the ancestral relationship between Indigenous peoples and the horse kin.

I know it has been life changing for some and is informing the way we work together for the betterment of the community. It’s been amazing how this work has created a foundation that will continue to expand by encouraging us to approach our work with some “horse sense”. We look forward to furthering our relationship with Horse Sense North.”

“We decided to take a different path for leadership training in 2021 for our chefs and managers by asking Carmen to present the “5 Roles of a Master Herder”. The feedback was a success and it perfectly applied to leadership styles in the kitchen and camp management environment. Carmen was very engaging and made all of our attendees feel comfortable to ask questions and contribute to the conversation. The topic applies to business as much as to horse training.”

“When first entering the workshop, I was a little skeptical since I did not see an obvious link between horses and team dynamics. I was very happy to discover very practical and evidence based solutions to common everyday problems we were facing. The facilitator was down to earth, approachable, knowledgeable and caring. Everyone who participated left with some new tools in their tool belt and a new sense of understanding that could translate well on a professional and personal level. I would recommend this workshop to everyone working with other people.”

“I recently attended a 2 day workshop hosted by Carmen Theobald at Horse Sense North. The workshop was focused on leadership, and boundaries. As a Paramedic, I found this to be very insightful and helpful to my practice.

I feel that this program would help other First Responders by examining their own leadership styles and especially with the use of setting /respecting boundaries. So often we are placed in volatile or chaotic situations, where we need to quickly establish communication and trust. During this course you get to practice the individual personal space field of your self and others. These very simple but effective techniques can be practiced in every day and emergency situations to calm and de-escalte. As a Medic I’m always interested in human nature as well as ways to keep myself safe on calls.

I highly recommend this course for all First Responders!”

“I was feeling depleted in many areas of my life. I felt deep sense of loss of purpose. I was on autopilot “busy doing” . I was taking care of everything except me. This workshop helped me to see what true self care is. It’s not just exercise or healthy food. It’s a holistic routine of managing life thru intention and choice.”

“After 26 years with the OPP, a tightly sealed box of work-related events and investigations erupted like a volcano and left me struggling with PTSD.

Spending time at Horse Sense North has allowed me to work through some of my emotional challenges safely and effectively, and I found it so beneficial that I continue to use it on a daily basis. I wish this workshop was available before I retired from a policing career as there is information here that could have applied to my job.

The most powerful and insightful piece was the 5 roles of the Master Herder – it should be mandatory learning for everyone. Who can’t benefit immensely from learning how to use your power in balanced and healthy ways that are for the good of the “herd”?”

“I started to think the day after your workshop, that I’m not so old. I still have a lot of living and growing to do, after all. I’ve been settled in my comfortable cocoon of my simple life as a retired person, but I have also felt limited by my age and circumstances. I’m thinking now, there are many more ways I can grow, in my spirit, my physical health, and in my relationships, right where I’m planted.
I was really inspired by the optimism, hope and energy of you two, and the other attendees. Thank you so much.”

“It’s been 10 days, and I still catch myself daydreaming of my time spent at Horse Sense North. From the delicious cuisine prepared with love, from foraged and fresh food from the garden, to the rolling field’s and horses grazing, upon arriving, I could feel life before the farm immediately falling into the backgroud.

The space so is welcoming, the farm is beautiful and the scenery was pure bliss. We were greeted with smiles and immediately felt like we belonged.

Carmen Theobald is a lovely facilitator, who’s strong light shined while leading us into our body through a gentle yet powerful Thai Chi practice. Her gentle voice and energy was exactly what I needed, and to this day I still find myself drifting back there with feelings of gratitude and thanks.”

“I was struggling with trusting myself to make the right decision.
I feel more confident in my actions with the horses and myself.”

“Carmen Theobald has motivated me to become a better leader and horseman. I took her “Releasing Anxiety” workshop with the intent of learning breathing techniques to reduce my anxiety. I came away with these new techniques plus an incredible introduction to more advanced boundary setting! These new skills can be used in all aspects of my life - at work and at home. Thank you Carmen!
”

“Thank you Carmen for the amazing talk you provided on emotional intelligence for the staff at North Bay Animal Hospital. The topic was very relevant to our sometimes emotionally charged interactions with clients and our own personal relationships as well. We all now appreciate how valuable it can be to stop and take a minute to reflect on what is at the root of our own discomfort in difficult interactions and respond in a manner that truly reflects the emotions that are involved. We look forward to arranging another session sometime soon!”

“I wasn’t sure what to expect from our workshop. Equine facilitated learning is not something I had heard about before. Once Carmen introduced herself and explained about the concept, I could immediately see how it could be helpful in my work as a nursing teacher. Self-awareness and mindfulness in nursing practice are difficult concepts for students to grasp but Carmen had some great techniques for demonstrating this. I appreciated her fresh approach, welcoming and upbeat attitude. Very interesting workshop!”

“I was struggling with connecting to horses. I learned about my energy and how it affects horses and others. Carmen & Paige, you created something so special. You should really create a certification program! I learned that I am enough and you & the horses helped me with that. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! ”

“I attended Horse Sense North for a workshop, Music of Horsemanship. This is not my first time at Horse Sense North. My heart is always being called back.
There were five people in our group ranging from early 20’s to early 60’s. With such an age gap, you would wonder what we would have in common!
Well we were all searching for a more developed and respectful way to connect with our horses from a place of the heart that would build a better relationship through honouring their being as a whole. We were not sure what to expect and we were not sure how we were going to accomplish this.
The day was filled with learning, growth and non -judgement.
Carmen not only has amazing horse knowledge and continues to put her horses comfort, safety and wellbeing first but she is also a trauma survivor. This combination gives her the ability to understand what I am (we are) going through and to encourage growth and learning in a non-judgemental way. It is my experience that people do not always want to learn in a group setting, it can be scary because you feel vulnerable and uncomfortable. What I found out not only yesterday but with other experiences at Horse Sense North is that you can honestly be transparent without feeling judged. I learned so much from the other participants yesterday and I thank each and every one of them for their support, openness and authenticity.
In order to be in a group setting you must have a safe and trusted environment. Carmen and Paige created this space for us yesterday that not only allowed us to learn but to trust. I thank you both for being so transparent and encouraging our group to be ourselves and have the most amazing experience. Thank you for the support and non-judgement to help me unlearn so I can learn.
I send gratitude to the herd for their teachings, Aquila for the amazing nourishment and the community for the financial support to attend this workshop.”

“Working with Carmen has changed my life in ways I never could have imagined! I began by attending one of her introductory sessions, Sentient Communication, because I was intrigued by the work of one of her mentors, Linda Kohanov. I was hooked! Since then, I have attended several more in-depth workshops, from Emotional Agility, to The Art of Difficult Conversations, as well as a follow up series of weekly online sessions designed to consolidate and integrate freshly learned concepts into our daily lives. I am currently engrossed in another online series called Emotional Heroism, developing compassionate, non-predatory leadership in the face of conflict and difficult times. This one dives deep, exercising our vulnerability muscles and developing our abilities to transcend anger, shame and guilt and lead from a place of integrity and compassion for our fellow man. At a time when I was going through bankruptcy, divorce, cancer treatments and the Covid 19 crisis, Carmen’s wisdom gave me the insights and tools I needed to thrive, in spite of it all!”

“Carmen’s willingness to remain deeply present, fluidly yet with solidity, tells of her integrity.

I first met Carmen as a farrier. Beyond the topic of hoof care that day, I didn’t anticipate that her genuine interest in engaging me would heighten my awareness of what it feels like to actually connect with someone.

Since then, I’ve been continually enthralled by the wisdom that Carmen imparts. Her compassion combined with her developed skill set have allowed me insights personally, as well as vicariously while witnessing her sensitive communication with others.”

“As an educator with several years of experience, I am naturally aware of what it takes to lead groups effectively. When I took Carmen’s workshop, I not only experienced a fun and informative day interacting with others, and learning an entirely new way of approaching communication, but I was impressed by how well the event was organised, and the content disseminated to the students: Carmen is truly in her element with Eponaquest. Her natural enthusiasm, compassion and love for horses make her an ideal facilitator. ”

“I would certainly endorse doing Equine Facilitated work with Carmen. I was profoundly affected by the horses and was overwhelmed with what kind of impact they had on me just watching and being around them. Carmen facilitated my experience in a way that helped me understand what was happening and I ended up having a wonderful experience with Snowbird, the horse I got to work with. I wish I lived closer so I could do more sessions!”

“Carmen Theobald is a bit of a renaissance woman: a talented equestrian and farrier who has the people skills to bring horse wisdom to the human world. One of the most gifted presenters and facilitators I’ve ever worked with, Carmen is taking the Eponaquest model of equine-facilitated learning out into the world in her own inimitable way. I am honored to consider her a colleague and a friend.”

“Carmen is a true Master Herder. I had the opportunity to be among the people Carmen taught these vital 5 roles. I found her authenticity and knowledge base on these concepts were unique and extremely relatable as well as actionable for my own personal and professional life. I have a day job as a Macroeconomic Strategist, I do stand-up comedy professionally, and I just got married to the love of my life, so learning these concepts so early in my life is a gigantic blessing. Carmen is absolutely one of the best at teaching and relating these important concepts to people across the board.”

“My daughter and I spent 3 hours with Carmen learning how we communicate non verbally and what this means to our Equine partners. Through self examination, some human to human and human to horse practicing and reflection, Carmen assisted us in understanding messages we send other people as well as our horses. It was a fun and insightful afternoon! Carmen is a natural teacher and a gentle, genuine facilitator. We look forward to what we will be learning in our next session with Horse Sense North!”

“Carmen brings a multi-dimensional wealth of skills, knowledge, and experience to her work with horses and humans. She is highly attuned to all of the horse nuances, and is a gifted, compassionate facilitator in equine facilitated learning. I always look forward to hearing Carmen’s insights and pearls of wisdom!”

“My husband and I had the great, good fortune to do a half-day workshop of EFL with Carmen, at her beautiful farm in Ontario. I have done a lot of personal development but never inspired by the wisdom of horses, nor with a young person so innately talented, insightful and skilled. Working with her horse Grace was exciting and eye-opening. EFL is deep, healing work and Carmen is a facilitator/coach whose innate talent and passion for it taught us a lot about ourselves and the world around us.”

“Carmen has deep knowledge and an intuitive knowing when working with the horses. She will empower you to see what messages the horses are trying to convey.
Whatever you need or are seeking, you are in good hands with Carmen.
Carmen is a wonderful guide to have on your journey!”

“If you have an opportunity to work with Carmen please take it! Carmen exudes a joyful radiance that is contagious. During our equine assisted learning apprenticeship program I worked with and witnessed Carmen teaching and facilitating many people, including myself, with and without the horses. She is a gifted teacher and facilitator, providing a strong supportive presence while bringing beautiful insights to her client’s experiences. Most importantly she creates a safe atmosphere in which her client’s can allow themselves to feel vulnerable and grow. I cannot recommend Carmen enough!! Know you are in the presence of a truly talented coach and guide who will be invaluable to your personal or professional development.”