Creating Meaningful Partnerships With Horses

Join HHRF and Ciara Bennett on July 29, 2026 at Noon (EST) as Ciara discusses Creating Meaningful Partnerships With Horses : The Unseen Disruptors & Obstacles Of Connection

In the professional horse world, near enemies, true emotions and virtues themselves are treated the same, making it much more challenging to recognize and change the thoughts and behaviors that disrupt connection with our horses. Through intentional effort, we are able to recognize these silent, unseen disruptors of connection and create meaningful, harmonious partnerships with our horses. The goal of this presentation is to illuminate a pathway for bringing our most mindful and enlightened selves into the arena and into our relationship with horses. "It is my intention through these philosophies, woven in with my professional experience in the competitive horse world, to light a path for those who want to experience genuine connection with their horses. I have found that creating partnership with horses through connection and presence is arguably one of the most powerful and necessary components of effective training."

Participants will explore: 1. A compassion and empathy-based framework for creating connection with horses. 2. The unseen obstacles in our way of connection with our horses, based on Buddhist concepts of near enemies. 3. The importance of equanimity and 'highest self horsemanship' in horse-human dynamics.

Ciara Bennett is a lifelong horsewoman, professional horse trainer and bronze medalist in Dressage. She is an Equine Facilitated Learning practitioner certified by the HERD Institute. Ciara created The Horse Immersion Experience which introduces non-horse people to rich learning and growth opportunities with her herd. In addition to her own work, she operates, co-owns, and co-facilitates retreats with her mother (EAP pioneer researcher and scholar A. Matamonasa-Bennett) at Empress Stables and Sanctuary in South-Eastern Wisconsin. Ciara recently presented at EKU Living with Horses conference in March 2025 and is hoping to bridge the gap between research and professional practice of equestrians.