Today we’d like to introduce you to Traci Rainbolt and Jerry Watkins.
Traci has owned horses since the age of 16 but has loved them and ridden since she can remember. In her youth she had experience in riding and showing in Western and English Pleasure as well as beginning Dressage. Currently she is more interested in establishing relationships from the ground and in communicating with horses in more respectful and creative ways. She is certified as a Horse Specialist (ES) with EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Assoc.) as well as with HIGH (Horse Inspired Growth and Healing); both of which utilize horses to help people with personal growth and learning/healing sessions as well as for experiential psychotherapy (when co-facilitated with a Mental Health Professional).
Jerry holds a degree in Animal Husbandry and used to rope on his college rodeo team. He recently adopted 2 wild horses whom he credits with being his greatest teachers in Equine Communication. He is a TIP Trainer with the BLM, and as such, can pull horses (which have been rounded up out of the wild) out of their holding facilities to begin their gentling process and help adopt them out. He is well respected in the Horse Hauling industry as being a calm, kind and gentle handler with a knack for getting even difficult to load horses on the trailer….horses he has only just met. Jerry is also certified as a HIGH (Horse Inspired Growth and Healing) Equine Specialist and has worked with groups of Wounded Warriors and others with the horses.
They are believers in Respectful Horsemanship methods of working with horses (and people) which are based in clear, fair communication and mutual respect. They believe there are many ways for horses and humans to interact and to have rewarding experiences with each other and they love sharing their knowledge and ideas of those ways with others. They are always learning and ever evolving the ways they do these things. They are fun loving, hardworking, honest people with a grand love of life. They are out of the box thinkers and team players. They believe that everything and everyone on Earth is interconnected and related and they treat all life with respect and strive to leave a light footprint upon the land.
They are a couple who have both been around horses their entire lives. They both have a recent background in becoming educated on how to gentle wild horses through their friends at Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue, where they volunteer. They have both also volunteered and worked in Malibu at Big Heart Ranch which utilizes horses and other animals in helping those with substance abuse challenges and PTSD (in particular Wounded Warriors). They also got to be involved with Personal Growth and Learning/Healing sessions, as well as Corporate Retreats and Team Building Workshops. They currently own and operate a successful long distance horse hauling business (Pegasus Equine Transport). They will be using their backgrounds in all of these areas to bring their unique programs to Southern CA where they reside with their 5 horses and 3 dogs.
Has it been a smooth road?
Having to be financially responsible for 5-7 horses has been a bit of a struggle. Since we keep our horses like horses…we model our caretaking after the “wild horse model”, which requires enough land to keep them as a herd, and not on a small property in stalls or small turn outs.
We are still struggling to get the word out about what we do. So many people expect to ride when they come to a facility with horses and that is not our focus. Our focus in upon relationship, trust and understanding between horse and human.
OUR MOTTO:
Anyone…regardless of age, physical ability or previous horse experiences…can benefit from a relationship with a horse. Let us help you experience the magic.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with A Horse For Everyone – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We feel we are a unique business in the horse industry.
A HORSE FOR EVERYONE helps people of all ages, regardless of past experience with horses, current physical abilities or financial status, realize they can have a rewarding relationship with a horse NOW. We offer programs with our horses to help you learn in a safe, interactive, communal setting which incorporates your specific needs, desires, challenges and dreams as they pertain to having a relationship with a horse.
Many people think that in order to have a relationship with a horse, or to consider being a horse owner, you must ride the horse, be young and athletic, own a farm or ranch and have a lot of money to invest. We say: Not So. We will help you learn and creatively explore what is right for you and “your” horse.
We teach you to interact with and care for horses as well as how to communicate with them through body language and energy. Experience interacting in ways other than riding. Spend time in nature and with other horse lovers. Explore the many different avenues to either owning, sharing, rescuing, fostering, or caring for other’s horses by offering your unique abilities, which you will discover by working with us.
Horses have numerous gifts to offer humans and throughout history, they have been valued for those gifts in many cultures. In our Western “civilized” culture, horses have been used in many occupations and sports, and it is only now that we are realizing and honoring the far greater gifts they have to offer us.
Horses, (or equines of any breed, including donkeys, mules and ponies) are very intuitive animals with a highly functional, non-verbal language which we can learn to interpret. They are incredibly honest and fair and are amazing at helping us learn more about our true selves. They help us open up and “feel.” They empower us to be more than we are. Horses speak to our God-given aesthetics of freedom and beauty. They accept us into their herd once we earn their trust and look to us to be leaders.
The fields of physical therapy and psychotherapy both utilize, revere and honor the horse for its amazing gifts in helping people achieve physical & mental balance and health, as well as helping to heal emotional traumas. While we ARE NOT offering therapeutic riding or equine psychotherapy sessions at this time…we do offer specialized Equine programs for Corporate Team Building as well as Personal Growth and Learning Classes as well as various Clinics. You are sure to find one that is right for you.
Whether you dream of owning a horse but don’t know how or what that means for you…or whether you simply want to have an active relationship with A horse without ownership, we are here to help.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
We like the year round beautiful weather which is a definite plus when working with horses. We like the diversity of people.
We find the expenses of living here challenging.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ahorseforeveryone.com
- Phone: 310-701-1033
- Email: info@AHorseForEveryone.com
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ahorseforeveryone
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
