As an equine specialist on the Medicine Horse team, I help to hold space for a healing relationship to develop between horse and human, where horses serve as both partner and teacher to clients engaged  in hands-on experiences with them, offering opportunities for reflection, self-awareness, and change that extend far beyond the arena.

My journey with mental health and horses began long before I officially brought the two together. I grew up drawn to the intuitive presence of horses—the way they listen without judgment and reflect what we hold inside. As I pursued my EAGALA training, I realized that the same qualities that helped me heal personally could powerfully support clients in therapy. I found my way to the EAGALA model when I first visited Medicine Horse in 2020. I soon realized that model aligned with my belief in experiential, relationship-driven healing. Horses naturally invite people into the present moment, offering insights that words often cannot.

At Medicine Horse, I weave my professional training with my lifelong connection to horses to create space for growth, insight, and authentic connection.  I am EAGALA certified, practiced to level 4 of Parelli Horsemanship, and actively pursuing continuing education in both models.

I maintain a personal relationship with my own horse as part of my self-care practice—riding, groundwork, natural horsemanship training and simply being together in quiet spaces. This ongoing connection keeps me grounded in my personal life and in my 'why' for doing this work.

                                                       

  Nicole Wood

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