North Star Equine Experience

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North Star Equine Experience

Equine-Assisted Coaching for Transformational Change

01/15/2026

There’s something fitting about the Year of the Horse as a backdrop for personal growth.

In many traditions, the horse represents movement, freedom, strength, and momentum. Not the kind that comes from forcing change, but the kind that comes from aligning with what’s already alive inside you and letting it carry you forward.

Personal growth rarely happens all at once. More often, it begins with a quiet awareness that something is ready to move. A habit that no longer fits. A pattern that once protected you but now feels restrictive. A pace that worked for a season but no longer serves you. The horse understands this kind of movement intuitively.

Horses are built to move, but they don’t rush blindly. They respond to clarity, presence, and direction. When those are missing, they hesitate. When they are present, movement becomes natural and powerful.

In equine assisted coaching, we see this reflected again and again. Growth doesn’t come from pushing harder or trying to fix yourself. It comes from noticing where you are braced, where you are holding back, and where you are ready to step forward with intention.

The Year of the Horse invites us to ask different questions.

Where am I being called to move forward?
What would it look like to trust my own momentum?
What becomes possible when awareness leads and action follows?

Personal growth is not about running away from where you’ve been. It’s about orienting toward where you want to go and allowing your nervous system to come along for the journey.

Sometimes, the most powerful movement begins by standing still long enough to listen.

Are you ready to move forward with intention? Are you ready to align your actions and your life with your values? Let’s talk.

12/31/2025

As we step into a new year, we’re reminded that growth begins with the courage to choose something different.

For those seeking personal growth, clarity, and deeper self-connection, the wisdom of the horses offers a powerful path forward. 🐴✨

Thank you for a truly wonderful 2025! We’re grateful for every journey shared and look forward to what’s ahead.

11/11/2025

A Real Life Success Story

This is my littlest little, and he loves his mama. Multiple households is always hard, and some days, this little guy just doesn’t want to leave his mom and go to school. We’ve had all the conversations about responsibility, the difference between have-to’s and want-to’s, consequences and rewards…

Today, none of that was working. He was caught in “I can’t do it.” His breathing was rapid and shallow. He was stuck in a sympathetic state. He was in survival mode.

We had already missed carpool, and were sitting in my car in the school parking lot. I climbed into the back and I started with a quick grounding technique (5-4-3-2-1, drop a message to ask about it), and some deep breathing. Then I started talking about the nervous system and the parasympathetic (rest and restore) versus sympathetic (fight, flight, freeze). I showed him a hand model of the brain and showed him the different parts of the brain, on my hand and on his head. I explained how the prefrontal cortex is the smart, thinking part of our brain. The part that makes sense of everything and is able to think through problems rationally. Then I flipped my fingers up and showed him the limbic system, and told him that was the part of our brain that wants to keep us safe, but can get stuck in feeling scared and isn’t able to think about solutions. I explained that when we “flip our lid” and our limbic system is running the show, the prefrontal cortex is no longer online and we can’t think clearly or find creative solutions. I asked him which he prefers, feeling scared or feeling happy and confident. I think we all know which one he chose.

Then I explained a little about neuroplasticity, by saying we have these little things called neurons in our brains that talk to each other and create pathways, like in the woods. I asked him what happens when we keep walking down the same path in the woods, and he said it gets bigger. That’s right! It gets bigger and clearer until that’s the only path we see. That’s what happens with our thoughts. When we say “I can’t” over and over, we’re making that the only path through the woods. But when we stop and rewrite the message, when we move back into a parasympathetic state, through breathing and grounding, and bring our thinking brain back online, then we can change the message to “I can and here are all the reasons why.” We are creating a new path through the woods. The more we walk down that path, the clearer it becomes. The easier it gets to follow it. And the old path disappears.

He sat and listened. I wasn’t sure if he was absorbing any of it or looking at me like I was crazy. But finally he said, “I want to walk in now.” So we walked into the office together. There were more hugs and a couple more tears, and the counselor met us in the lobby and offered for him to have a few minutes with her before going to class. We exchanged our “love you’s,” and off he went.

Here is where the magic happens… As soon as I got home and checked my email, I had this from the counselor.

“Quinn showed me about the brain-hand model you talked about. We tried some different deep breathing strategies and he said it felt like his lid was closing back down and he was feeling more in control. He was ready to head to class and transitioned well. I told Quinn I'm proud of him for using some strategies to take care of his feelings. I offered to check in later, but he declined. He will tell his teacher if he needs more help today.”

This stuff really works.

11/06/2025

People often say that horses are mirrors, reflecting whatever we bring into the arena. It sounds poetic, but it isn’t quite true.

Horses are not passive reflections of us. They are sentient beings with their own personalities, histories, and preferences. They respond to us immediately and authentically, but always through the lens of their own lived experiences.

This means that two horses can meet the same person, in the same moment, and respond completely differently. Both responses are honest. Both are valid. Each horse is bringing its own nervous system, temperament, and story into the interaction.

That is what makes this work so powerful. Horses offer feedback that is immediate, unfiltered, and rooted in genuine relational connection. They do not edit or soften their reactions. They simply show us what is happening between us in real time.

When we shift from thinking “the horse is mirroring me” to recognizing “the horse is responding to me,” we honor the horse as a partner rather than a tool. We also gain a clearer understanding of the dynamics unfolding in the moment.

And this is where the work becomes transformative. When we become aware of our patterns, we gain the power of choice. When we intentionally choose to respond differently, to show up differently in a way that better serves the connection, we are creating new neural pathways. This is the power of intentional neuroplasticity, and it is at the heart of lasting change.

10/27/2025

What does equine assisted coaching look like? Sometimes it’s quiet presence with the horses. Sometimes it’s sitting just outside the pasture and tapping into something deeper. Sometimes it’s inside the studio. Sometimes it’s group work. The truth is, it’s whatever you need it to be in the moment. Coaching is self-determined and self-actualized by the client. You are in the driver’s seat. Want to see what it’s all about? Visit my website at northstarequinecoach.com or send me a message!

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Louisburg, NC

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http://northstarequinecoach.com/

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