About — Alongside Equine Bodywork

Riding a horse over a cross-country jump in eventing competition

Ever since I can remember, I've loved horses and wanted to ride and have a horse of my own. My dreams came to fruition when I started riding lessons at 9, joining 4-H and then the United States Pony Club.

I earned my USPC HA rating, competed in Hippology at the National 4-H Horse Roundup, and went on to compete my horse, Fax, through Preliminary Eventing while working at local stables in Charlottesville, VA.

Working with a horse in an outdoor arena

Somewhere along the way, I stepped back from the competitive world and found that my drive to work with horses as partners, not just as competitive athletes, had become the bigger priority. That shift sent me looking into scentwork, positive reinforcement and clicker training, which opened up a whole language of equine communication I'd missed in decades of traditional horsemanship.

My bodywork is driven by what I have learned about equine behavior and the science behind how we feel pain. I check in with a horse's body language throughout each session to ensure I create a safe and comfortable environment for them to reconnect with their bodies. Small signals of discomfort mean I slow down or move away. Horses can opt out by moving away, and sometimes that means not working the area that looks most in need, because the horse isn't ready for it yet or wants to start somewhere else.

I still have horses of my own, and I focus on training that lets them move well and pursue what interests them, including scent work, dressage, and trail hiking.

Grace Fowler