Many of us have grown up with a fixed mindset, believing we are talented in an area or not. We often are taught to strive for perfection at all costs. These two elements lead to us giving up on things that could be really good if we focused on progress rather than perfection.

This is the first episode in our Hope and Healing series that we will be publishing over the summer.

In this conversation, Francisco and I talk about wild horses, particularly those being threatened in Canada. We also dive into the power of creativity and how our love for horses has informed our participation in the creative process.

Growing up as a whitewater kayaker, Francisco's life-long love of photography grew to a professional level while documenting his teammates during training and competitions. After suffering an unfortunate accident from dropping down a 60-foot waterfall, Francisco shifted his focus from kayaking to photography. Unwilling to give up the world of sports completely, he has built a career as a professional sports photographer, traveling around the world to work with brands like Nike, Monster Energy, Lululemon, and Gatorade.

Not just the world of sports has informed Francisco’s photography practice. He has a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design and is deeply influenced by his love of the visual arts. With his unique artistic journey coupled with a deep love for horses and western scenes, Francisco decided to go back to his early painting days to create equine art.

This new practice feeds his deep passion for the equine world while being able to continue with his photography career. You will find him often photographing the Alberta Wild horses located an hour away from his home.

Born and raised in Mexico City, you’ll find Francisco in his new home Cochrane, CA. He feels connected to the Western vibe of the city and enjoys collaborating on projects and branching out on adventures whenever possible. He always enjoys returning to his first home, where you can spot him every now and then on the clear blue waters of Mexico’s south coast enjoying a good surfing session with friends.

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/franciscolisci/https://www.instagram.com/franciscolisci.art/

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@franciscolisci

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/franciscolisci

Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/FranciscoLisci?ref=seller-platform-mcnav

Lily pulled me in, wanting to know more about her experience, with the beautiful pictures of her Mustang Echo. I admire her sensitive approach, willingness to learn, and bravery in taking a chance in life. She says a number of beautiful lessons she has learned in her time working with horses and how they have helped her gain confidence in herself.

I really wanted to get this out on the usual Thursday release, but with a birthday and graduation to plan for and the need for sleep, I didn't make it. I'm so glad it is out here now for the world to hear more about how incredible Mustangs are and how they can guide us as we navigate life.

After being a lifelong horse lover and entering the world of horses full-time with her first mare and a second rescue horse, Lily got her first Mustang, Echo, in June of 2023. She takes a soft approach with horses, helping the horses stay as calm and comfortable as possible. Lily manages an 80-acre farm in Tennessee that’s home to around 25 horses mainly consisting of Appaloosas and Quarter Horses. Since getting heavily involved in horses, specifically mustangs, she has been able to work on improving herself in many areas, including how she interacts with others and her own mental and emotional health. She loves sharing her horses with others online and in person, so that more people can experience the positive impact horses have.

Be sure to follow Lily online!

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/elawodimustangs?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

I had reached a lull in podcast guests when I went to bed one night stressing about who else to ask. I had a dream, and though I couldn't remember much about the dream, I clearly remembered the name Heartfelt Horsemanship. I couldn't fully place the name until I looked for it on Instagram. I immediately reached out and was thrilled when Gareth agreed to speak with me.

I don't know why I specifically had this dream, but we had a beautiful conversation and I learned and was reminded of so much about what really matters when we interact with horses. Maybe this conversation is meant for you!

It has been a bit of a challenge followed by a challenge to get this episode released, but it is finally here and I'm so happy to share it with you.

Gareth Mare is a South African horse trainer, who owns and runs Heartfelt Horsemanship. Gareth studied zoology and conservation with a particular interest in animal behavior. After a personal trauma and an incredible interaction with a feral horse, Gareth permanently moved from the corporate world into working with horses and the humans who love them. At that time a zebra foal was placed, by its mother, in his care. Gareth focuses on connection and relaxation in his horsemanship as well as helping people engage in safe interactions with their horses and build relationships both horses and humans can enjoy and benefit from.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HeartfeltHorsemanship Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gareth.mare https://www.facebook.com/HeartfeltPerformanceHorsemanship/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@heartfelthorsemanship Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heartfelt_horsemanship/?hl=en

You don't want to miss this great conversation with Brittany Ference from Great Escape Mustang Collaborative. We talk about challenges we've had with our personal horses, lessons we've learned along the way, and the wealth of resources the Great Escape Mustang Collaborative offers to horse owners.

Brittany Ference is the Executive Director of the Great Escape Mustang Collaborative. She has dedicated her career to supporting the unique challenges faced by wild horses as they navigate their domestic journey. She has a strong interest in promoting self-reflective work for humans and offering alternative healing modalities for the horses such as bodywork, cranial sacral, body and emotion code trauma release, animal communication, and energy healing.
Brittany lives off grid in the southern Rocky Mountains of northern New Mexico with her family where her lifestyle re-employs slow living, simplicity, and connection to nature. You can catch her spending time with her family homesteading and in the backcountry horseback riding, fishing, hunting, and foraging. Her personal experiences in the wilderness reinforce her commitment and serve as a constant reminder of the beauty and resilience of Mustangs.
Follow Brittany on Instagram
@britt.ofthewild

Website:

https://www.greatescapemustangs.org/

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/great_escape_mustangs/

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/greatescapemustangs

This was a super fun episode where we talked about a pair of wild Mustangs that first roamed the open land together, before being gathered, seperated, and eventually reuinted. This famous Mustang couple will capture your heart.

Stargazer and Nora, a bonded pair of Onaqui Mountain wild Mustangs, embody the untamed spirit of freedom and resilience in the American West. Their journey, transitioning from the wild to domestic life, sheds light on the challenges faced by wild horses and underscores the transformative impact of compassionate stewardship. Their story not only inspires hope and raises awareness about the issues surrounding wild horses but also illustrates the potential for companionship and partnership in the domestic world.

Stargazer and Nora’s wild love story was captivating from the start. They have been well-documented since birth, with admirers watching Stargazer grow into a striking stallion and witnessing how he came across Nora, his first and only mare. However, their journey took an unexpected turn when they were rounded up by helicopter and separated in the chaos. Following months in a holding facility, they became available for adoption. Against all odds, Stargazer and Nora were adopted together, joyously reuniting at their forever home.

Fall in love with Stargazer and Nora, and consequently, with all wild horses, as they embody the strength and beauty inherent in America’s mustangs. They serve as ambassadors, representing both those still roaming freely and those in need of adoption.

Email:

StargazerandNora@gmail.com

Website:

Stargazer and Nora

Instagram:

Stargazer_and_Nora

Facebook:

StargazerAndNora

TikTok:

Stargazer_And_Nora

Threads:

Stargazer and Nora

Dodo Video:

https://fb.watch/rxmvE1VSz9/?mibextid=w8EBqM

Bonfire Store:

https://www.bonfire.com/store/stargazer-and-noras-store/?utm_source=copy_link&utm_medium=store_page_share&utm_campaign=stargazer-and-noras-store&utm_content=default

I often learn more about my guests as I prepare for podcast episodes. When I contacted Operation Wild Horse, I had no idea I would also get the opportunity to talk to the owner of Mustang dressage champion and Breyer horse model, Padre. Patti has some really incredible accomplishments, but it was clear that the ones dearest to her soul are those in which she has been instrumental in bringing Mustangs into the lives of others to offer solace and healing. Patti Gruber is a lifelong horse person who has ridden and shown multiple breeds including Mustangs in Dressage, Western, and Hunter competition. She brought home her first Mustang in 2006, and her second in 2007 who was the Mustang Padre, that went on to become a dressage champion, breaking barriers for the Mustang breed. He became a Breyer model and was written about in 2 books and multiple magazines. Operation Wild Horse was founded in 2017 and is Padre's legacy combining Patti’s love of horses, specifically Mustangs, and Veterans to honor her grandfathers who both served. She has learned more in her 18 years with Mustangs about how to train and work with horses than she did in her career before they came into her life. Website: https://www.veteransrandr.org/operation-wild-horse Media: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=ZO65Yyf4Flc https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=fgdnF2pMWYc Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/operationwildhorse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/operationwildhorse/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@operationwildhorse

In this episode, Randy and I talk about his work with Mustangs and particularly his time working at the Wild Horse Inmate Program in Florence, AZ. He shares incredible stories of the transformational power of the Mustang horse.

Randy Helm is a certified horse trainer with Lyons Legacy (John and Josh Lyons) and has been training wild horses for over 30 years. He developed the wild horse and burro inmate program for the Arizona State Prison in Florence where he served as supervisor.

The success of his training program for inmates and horses has been featured in local, national and international news and documentaries including ABC, NBC, USA Today, Animal Planet, French National Television, Swiss TV and numerous others.

He has been privileged to conduct clinics and conferences in the Unites States, Canada, France, Denmark and Uruguay

Media Links:

USA Today documentary

https://vimeo.com/171479379

The Economist

https://youtu.be/oCGpftCfG5I

Arizona Republic/Channel 12 story (local)

http://www.patshannahanmultimedia.patshannahan.com/?page_id=430

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/randy.helm.75

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@rlhelm123