Forest Acres Retreats and Events

02/26/2026

I grew up on a 100-acre farm (Forest Acres) in Jamestown, New York, where horses weren’t just a hobby…they were heritage.

Left: me at 6 1/2, perched on Jasper, one of our ponies, legs too short for the stirrups. Riding was just something I did most days.

If the horses decided to take off, I had no choice. I had to figure out how to stay on, keep my balance, and roll with it.

Right: me today, celebrating horses that have had rough lives; and helping leaders, healthcare professionals, and high-achievers navigate challenges that show up.

Helping them stay steady and shift gracefully when life suddenly accelerates.

That little girl on a pony taught me an early lesson: sometimes, you have to step up before you’re ready.

Growth doesn’t wait for perfect timing or confidence.

It comes from showing up, holding on, and figuring it out as you go.

➕ What’s one time you had to step up before you were ready… and what did it teach you?

Dena Garfield

02/24/2026

Italy is considering a major shift in how it treats horses.

A new bill in the Italian Parliament would recognize horses, donkeys, and mules as companion animals instead of livestock. If it passes, it could permanently end the slaughter and sale of horse meat in the country.

Horse meat has been part of some regional traditions in Italy. But times are changing. Consumption has dropped over the years. Many people now see horses as companions, not food.

Supporters say this bill reflects modern values and stronger animal protection. It would also require stricter tracking, microchipping, and serious penalties for illegal slaughter. Critics argue it could hurt certain industries and erase cultural traditions.

The law has not passed yet. It is still under debate. But if approved, Italy could take a historic step toward protecting equines nationwide.

For many Americans who see horses as partners, athletes, and family companions, this story hits close to home. The world is watching to see what Italy decides next.

References:

- The Guardian... Horse meat set to be banned in Italy amid draft equine bill
- Indeks Online... Italy to ban horse meat consumption

02/24/2026

This is the kind of cool we like to share with our leaders.

Whether it’s during a restorative movement and mindset session, a leadership development intensive, or a horse connection, there’s progress in the pause.

When asked how she stays steady, triple-gold medalist Eileen Gu shifts her energy.

When she’s skiing, her mind recovers.
When she’s modeling, her body recovers.
When she’s at school, her body recovers.

There’s power in that shift.

02/23/2026

We started in the barn with watercolor paper on the easel, the late afternoon light slipping in through the open doors while the horses shifted softly behind us, hooves settling into shavings and the quiet smell of hay and warm wood filling the space.

The paint came first, and then the torn tissue paper scraps, which quickly became his favorite part. He dabbed and layered and pressed each piece down with total focus, watching the colors blend and gather in their own way, building something that felt entirely his. There was no hurry, no instruction, no attempt to redirect his pace. I simply stood nearby and reminded him, you can take your time here, take as long as you want on your masterpiece.

The barn has a way of holding that kind of permission. Nothing rushes you there. The horses breathe long and deep sighs, the dust hangs in the light, and time feels slower.

When we moved over to the horses, that same energy carried with us. A hand resting on a wet coat, the steady rise and fall of breath under our palms, the quiet adjustment of feet as we stood side by side.

He loved the partner poses too…finding balance together, noticing how small shifts in posture can change everything. Even sitting in the hay wasn’t a concern.

By the end, the barn felt softer somehow, as if the painting and the movement and the simple act of not hurrying had settled into the beams along with us. And like every session, something new unfolded. Not because we expected it, but because we gave it room.

02/18/2026

🔥 Today marks the official start of the Year of the Fire Horse.
In Chinese astrology, the Fire Horse represents unstoppable momentum, courage, independence, and transformation.
Those born under this sign are passionate leaders who refuse to be tamed…not because they’re wild, but because they know their own power.
I’m feeling that energy right now.

This morning, I watched my mare choose a nonverbal client and wrap her neck around him, the same way she’s only done once before, with a woman in deep emotional pain. After that moment of pure connection, he painted. Watercolor on paper. Colors bleeding into each other. Something beautiful enough to frame.

Yesterday, seven young girls stood on a stage after our session and taught yoga poses to their peers. Eight years old and leading with confidence. During our nutrition session, a child tried blueberries for the first time and said “I love them now.”
These aren’t just sessions. They’re moments of transformation.
A horse knowing what a human needs before words are spoken.
A child discovering courage she didn’t know she had.
Another child’s world expanding with a single brave bite.
Already in 2026, we’ve helped find homes for 5 horses. Women have found the courage to leave loveless relationships and dead-end jobs… only to start their own businesses and unlock their natural gifts to share them with the world.
This is what Equine Union International is built on. Not just programs. Not just outcomes.
Beauty. Connection. Impact. Moments that change everything.
And it’s moving beyond just me, beyond just my city. The momentum is building.
But I don’t want to do this alone.
If you’ve been watching…if something in you has been saying “I want to be part of this beauty” ……
This is the year.
Come with me.
Comment FIRE and let’s talk about what role you play in what’s next.

02/05/2026

SUBJECT: Regarding Your Request to Rehome Horses
It has come to my attention that it is common for my friends, colleagues, clients and community to be contacted, very, very regularly (sometimes 3-6 times per month) by other working equine professionals, with the request that "we" absorb horses from their programs due to those horses aging out, being unsound, or deemed unsuited for the training outcomes of someones program. This has become so common it is no longer surprising that "people like us" are seen as caring, empathic and safe homes for overspill of the industry.

Anyone reading who is often approached like this, and is looking for a way to reply to these applicants, the applicants are very seldom coming from friends or colleagues and are usually from totally unknown persons, and you would like a clear, not-mincing-of-words way to reply in a manner that outlines your ethical stance, holds others to a higher standard, and invites them to resolve an overflow problem in a collaborative manner, I attach below email copy for you to use. Feel free to soften the tone if you feel that's right for you. I have not softened the tone, because I believe it is the responsibility of all horse-work programs to factor in the lifelong care of the majority of horses they take in, and begin to stop treating these animals as disposable.

Dear (name of applicant)

SUBJECT: Regarding Your Request to Rehome Horses

Dear (name of applicant)

Thank you for reaching out. We need to be very clear and upfront: we are not able to take on or re-home horses from your program, particularly those being displaced due to age, illness, or perceived lack of talent or prospect for the training outcomes in your program. Our work is not that of a retirement facility or overflow solution for programs that can no longer accommodate the long-term outcomes of their training and business decisions. Asking private individuals or small operations to absorb this responsibility shifts the burden away from where it ethically belongs and does not reflect respect for the animal as a lifelong commitment.

That said, we do believe strongly that the responsibility for a horse’s full lifespan must be built into any professional training operation, and when this is no longer possible, it is important to examine why. As a constructive alternative, we are willing to offer consulting support to help you to identify the structural reasons your program is struggling to safely accommodate horses long term. This is not rescue work, but professional analysis intended to address root causes rather than symptoms. The outcome of this consulting arm of my work is to maximise the number of safe homes for an industry over populated with horses while under populated with responsible long term stewardship.

Specifically, we can offer:
(1) a program and inventory audit to assess horse intake, throughput, and exit strategies;
(2) a financial and cost-of-care analysis to evaluate whether pricing, volume, or resource allocation is creating unsustainable pressure on your program and business; and
(3) a training and outcome review to examine how expectations around performance, age, and soundness are influencing disposal decisions.

Engaging in this kind of assessment is, in our view, a basic sign of respect for the animals whose labor underpins the industry we love so much and work so hard to uphold. If you wish to pursue this route, you are welcome to let us know. This offer would be a 3-6 week assessment, depending on the outcomes of the assessment and include an actionable plan for you to implement if you so choose to.

Kind regards,
----

02/02/2026

Grand rising!

Today we begin.
For the next 14 days, we're creating simple horse-inspired art together and giving back to support Horse Angels rescue. Penny Parker

No pressure. No perfection.
Kids, beginners, artists, anyone.
Photograph. Paint. Draw. Craft. Sit with the horses or dream of the horses and create something.

If you want to join, just make something horse-inspired and tag me Equine Union!
Let's see what we create together.





Dena Garfield Forest Acres Retreats and Events

01/26/2026

For those interested in the broader ethical equine leadership work we’re building, follow 🤍

01/16/2026

Grateful to be designing a retreat experience for a philanthropic board of women leaders this month.

When people reconnect with why they chose to serve, something meaningful shifts… clarity, engagement, and contribution feels alive again.

Honored to do this work and excited for what’s unfolding.

11/20/2025

One session. One shift. One once-in-a-lifetime experience that changed how she shows up forever.

“This past spring / early summer I had the pleasure of meeting Dena. I had been participating in professional coaching which took a holistic approach that evaluated all facets of my life. One particular focus of my coaching was to evaluate personal challenges, including past experiences, and how it impacted my reactions and responses. Additionally, in my private life, I had just purchased my first horse, Easy. One challenge that was visible through my coaching was that I was having a challenge showing up and being present for my horse in the way that he needed me to be present for him. My professional coach was kind enough to arrange a private session with Dena. Dena and my coach made the 90 minute trip to my location to meet with me and Easy. The biggest take away from our session was finding the ability to ground myself in a way that deepened my connection with Easy. Easy for the most part is an “Easy” - going gelding, however he is a chestnut and is sensitive from time to time. Easy likes to remind me that he indeed is a sentient being with his own opinions and reactions. Prior to my session with my coach and Dena, I struggled with nervousness when Easy acted out of the ordinary, which further escalated the situation. Now, when he acts out of the ordinary, I am able to quiet my energy and respond to his reactions confidently. It is extremely rare that he exhibits unsafe behavior, but when it occurs, I am able to work with him in a way that brings his attention back to me and reestablish a connection that results in safe interactions. My session with Dena was a once in a lifetime experience and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to meet with Dena so now I can better take care of my horse.“

The time I spent with Clarissa and Easy felt effortless, as their bond reflects reciprocal energy, patience and flow. These two simply belong together!

Thanks to .cipolla.12 for arranging our session, and to for sharing her beautiful bond with Easy.

11/07/2025

What if your work day began with sunrise, silence, and 1,200 pounds of calm?

My favorite way to start the day is between two ears — in the stillness of morning, where presence replaces pressure and becomes the rock for the resilience to face anything.

Every session here at Forest Acres, every sunrise, every heartbeat shared with a horse reminds me why Equine Union International exists — to unite professionals, patients, and horses through ethical, science-backed partnership.

Because when we help people regulate, lead, and reconnect with nature, we’re not just improving care — we’re also saving more horses, giving them purpose and a chance to heal alongside us. 🌅🐴

⬇️ Share your favorite way to start the day!

10/27/2025