Rachel Parsons - Coach & Horses
EQUINE LEARNING & CONSCIOUS CONNECTION
SUPPORTING PEOPLE & THEIR HORSES TO FIND CONFIDENCE & JOY.
Inspiration + Education + Community
Horses & Humans - Building Levels of Confidence
Most of my human clients have been through hard times, some of this is horse based, and some life based. Either can kick start a period of anxiety and loss of confidence. As mammals, our nervous systems are deeply connected — when we’re stuck, anxious or shut down we feel it in each other.
I also help people to overcome deeper challenges from trauma, violence and chronic burnout. I coach using interventions focused on releasing body trauma, working with the subconscious to reframing old triggers and learning new ways forward.
My four-legged clients are often stuck in their bodies too, and often have PTSD. They show behaviours such as loading, rearing, napping and high stress.
Sometimes I help people start or restart their own horse. And I’ve taught mounting block tricks to help make limb-adapted life easier.
My Approach
I believe in a non-judgemental and calm, pragmatic approach. For horses and people, safety and calm are always the start and from here we have a place to get curious and learn. Whilst we are not horses, we are mammals – and we only learn effectively when we are in a calm mindset.
If you are in crisis, stressed, anxious or having a depressed phase – I’ll help you to find a calm, safe place to get curious about learning new methods, habits and strategies for long term confidence, performance and self leadership.
For horse training work I can come to you. See where I work below.
Rider mindset work is done online. We can get masses done with dynamic and highly effective Neuro Linguistic Programming interventions. These are typically 1-2 hours of talking, working with your inner mind, using metaphor to explore, reframe and practice new ways. Transformation is entirely possible and 100% of my clients say my support has been helpful.
How I can help you
Horses: Call Outs, Clinics & Lessons:
People: Online Private Coaching:
- Crisis management; loading, rearing, bucking, pushyness.
- Solve mounting and handling problems with groundwork that will make your general horsey-life easier too!
- Learn to calibrate equine body language so you can tell what’s going on in your horses head – key for safety!
- Learn Warwick Schiller’s 13 Principles of Training and how to put them in practice – this will “next-level” your training.
- Learn arena tips & tricks to make schooling easier and less stressful. Try fun trick training to beat winter mud (& blues!)
- “Action on Anxiety” A 7 day Crisis Intervention Program. Reprogram Stress. Find Calm & Confidence. Key skills to change your and your horses life.
- Ongoing private weekly sessions – Build a new relationship with Trauma & Triggers – Build news pathway of Harmony.
- Ongoing support Life Coaching sessions
- Expect weekly homework
- Keep momentum with Accountability sessions/messages
- Get ‘On the Go’ support with video reviews & voice notes.
The picture above is the arena at Coetir Bach Farm in West Wales – the home of Joanna Lowes Horse Training.
This pic shows a typical clinic – half is indoor and taught and half is outdoor with a range of horses & training stages; from starters, to problems and everything in between.
P.S yes – we quite often have blow up creatures in the ring too!
Change Frameworks: from crisis to confidence
As a coach I help my horse and human clients learn to learn better ways. We’ll cover these subjects and more – in the best order for you.
01. The big picture
Visioning, Reality, Balance & Time
Where are you now? And where do you want to go? Radical honesty, and a curious mindset are key for progress. By balancing big goals with small frequent actions everyone can build an upwards confidence spiral. I’ll help guide you and support your learning all the way. Let’s talk goal setting too.
02. HORSE TRAINING
"The 13 Principles of Training"
Warwick Schillers book is a hugely important development for global horse training. If you’re serious about horses, learn these universal Principles and transform your horsey-life. I’ll translate these into the everyday and signpost you to brilliant online training (not mine!) to keep you on a safe, happy path.
03.HORSE TRAINING
Practical Skills: Gaps, Tools + Rules
Knowing how horses learn; is vital. Rules like: 3-5x Repetition, the skills of Positive Reinforcement, Disengagement before Engagement, Shaping-Finesse etc… Fill your Skills Toolbox with Foundation, Groundwork & The Basics & Finesse. I’ll help you learn it all so you’re better with horses forever.
04.HORSE TRAInING
Feedback Skills: Calibrate &Adapt
Progress relies on your ability to accurately calibrate what your horse is telling you. If you can’t see trigger stacking, or fight/flight or “shutdown”, you are really vulnerable. Learn how to see, what to do to (both) stay safe physically and mentally. Move from surviving to thriving.
05.Confidence Skills
Confidence Spirals Success Strategies
I’ll teach you the Principles of Building Confidence. Train your brain to move from unsuccessful downward spirals to successful upward spirals. Learn about Brain Patterns: the Practical and Psychological Skills of self-support. I’ll teach you proven Leadership & NeuroScience techniques to pivot & get back on track fast.
06.Confidence Skills
Serious Play & Resilience mindset
What’s your “macro mindset”? Fear or Play? Coming at change and confidence with a “Serious Play” mindset will set you up for adaptation, resiliency & joy. You’ll learn a lighter and less stressful way forward. Consistent practice and reflective learning cycles will help you grow with calm confidence.
07.Confidence Skills
Be Your Captain; Self Improvement
Work on yourself away from your horse. Learn to be the best you in all your relationships to the human and equine species alike. Start by liking and loving you – mindfull, choice-full, actively managing your mindset, bodyset and energy.
08.Integration
Life Skills & Progressing
Horses are our mirrors. So often they reflect our deepest inner selves. Much of this work is about addressing who we are, so we can support our equine friends. I will help become a better, healthier, bolder and more visible you.
Birdy - the crazy horse
The picture above it of Jo and I helping Birdy (“a mad Arab crazy-horse”) . This photo shows the culmination of 6 months of daily training. Birdy couldn’t cope with bilateral eye stimulation (seeing the rider on him with both eyes ). He could see the rider with one eye with his head bent and just about cope, but when he straightened his head and saw the rider from both eyes, he’d bolt and panic. By teaching him to self regulate in his feet, body and mind, and by working through neck bends in a gentle, but highly managed way – this session was a major breakthrough – shortly after this he was riding on the beach, jumping and hacking out. After this long rehab’ Jo was able to rehome him – now he’s successfully and very happily competing at endurance!
About Me
I’m Rachel.
I help people make their dreams (and their unicorns) come true!
Horse Sense
I believe horses are our mirrors. The “hairy psychologist” in our lives! Often humbling and sometimes very difficult, they are often the learning that we so deeply need but that can be hard to confront.
In my early 20’s I lived in the Australia High Country for 6 years; cattle mustering, colt-starting, wild horse catching – and learning new perspectives from old cowboys and progressive cowgirls! A steep learning curve! Back in the UK I collaborated with BHS Fellow, Joanna Day rehabilitating top event horses with “behavioural problems”. The ethics were depressing and I stopped working with horses for 20 years publicly.
People Sense
My human-focused learning journey began in 2002. I started a serious long-term study of the human behaviourial science; Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP). It is the study of how the brain works, how people communicate, and how to create highly effective, fast change interventions. I’ve practiced these methods across business, communities, and private clients for over 20 years.
Clinics & Sharing
My great friend Jo Lowes, worked with Monty Roberts, famously known as The Queen’s “Horse Whisperer” for many years. In 2024, after many interesting career and life experiences, Jo and I began teaching modern horsemanship clinics at her farm in West Wales. Now we blend our shared experiences in horsemanship and coaching to create transformational learning opportunities for people and horses.
In the first year, so far over 300 people have joined us on this learning journey and the project is growing.
We hope you can join us for these dynamic & friendly clinics sometime soon.
I’ve completely “lost” my confidence three times. Each time I had to rebuild it—but with practice, it gets easier and you get better and better at it!
Whilst we are not horses, we are all mammals—and our nervous systems and brain plasticity is remarkably similar.
Moving from stress to confidence is a skill - it can be taught and it can be learnt. The benefits from mastering your mind will flow over into all parts of your life. It's amazing to experience. I love to help people transform their lives, train their unicorn and find their way forwards again.
I teach both the practical horsemanship skills that help people guide their horses, and the techniques that allow horses to self-regulate and find balance in both brain and body.
Key info
Where are you and where do you work?
I’m based in the New Forest Hampshire. I teach in person in the South, South West and South Wales area of the UK.
My online clients need to fit a UK + 3 timezone.
Once a month I travel, via Bristol, to Camarthan, to work with Joanna Lowes and deliver clinics at Coetir Bach in Maesybont. The day before and the day after the clinic I give to teaching 121 clients on the way up and down the M4.
How much do you charge?
Call outs for groundwork, loading, handling, mounting block training, re-schooling, general lessons inc trick training etc are £70 p/hr with a reasonable travel charge added if needed.
Clinics are a really good cost effective option. Days are 10am – 4pm. Half in the large indoor classroom & half in the arena.
Spectate for £60 per day.
Come with your horse for £85.
For a list of clinics at Coetir Bach Farm in West Wales please click here.
Online coaching costs are:
£60 p/hr for general coaching
£75 p/hr for anxiety & stress interventions
7 Day Action on Anxiety Intervention is priced per hour. Circa £700-£800 total.
