From Riding to Life Lessons
How Stacy Gendels Inspires Growth with E3A
Photo caption:
Stacy Gendels and her mare, May. Stacy and May have been partners for 11 years. May has taught Stacy more than horsemanship skills. She has taught her to be present and open to outcome. Stacy is forever grateful to her.
For Stacy Gendels, becoming E3A certified in March 2020 marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter—one that arrived just as the world was shutting down. "I had flown back to Connecticut from rural North Carolina, where the training was, and my family was already in masks," she recalls. "Quite a time to start a new chapter!"
Stacy is no stranger to the transformative power of horses. A PATH instructor for more than a decade, she has spent her life surrounded by horses and always sensed there was more to learn from them than riding alone could offer. That curiosity deepened when she attended an E3A workshop facilitated by her friend and colleague, Carrie Brady, at New Canaan Mounted Troop. "It was fascinating to watch—and even more fun to learn from," she says.
Since then, Stacy has brought E3A's equine experiential learning to an incredibly diverse range of people. During COVID, she facilitated strength-based workshops for healthcare workers, nurses, and community teams providing PPE. She has worked with first responders, 9/11 survivors and their families, families of children with disabilities, staff from mental health facilities, and individuals seeking personal growth. Each group, she shares, has been deeply meaningful—and she is eager to expand into more corporate work.
One workshop memory stands out vividly. While facilitating Leadership in a Box for parents of children with disabilities, the group struggled at first to guide their horse into the box. Once they chose to work together as a herd, however, success came quickly. During the debrief, one parent shared that the experience reminded her she wasn't alone in her journey—there was a team of support she could reach out to. "That moment was powerful," Stacy reflects.
Looking back, Stacy says the E3A certification process itself was just as enriching. She learned not only from master trainers Kathy and Jennifer but also from fellow participants. "I especially loved stepping into the role of participant before moving into facilitation," she says. "E3A provides such a strong, structured curriculum with activities that can truly meet people where they are."
For Stacy, E3A has opened doors to creating meaningful, life-changing experiences for diverse groups—and it all began with the decision to take that first step toward certification.
When Lisa Bowman first experienced the healing power of horses, she knew her life was about to change. What she didn’t realize at the time was just how many other lives those horses would go on to touch through her work. Lisa launched Hope for Hearts Farm in 2013 with a vision to help people grow, heal, and transform through connection with horses. “I personally experienced the healing power of horses and felt led to share that with others,” she says. “Going through E3A’s certification gave me the confidence and tools to assist clients to greater levels of transformation.” She became an E3A Level 1 Certified Practitioner in 2018, followed by Advanced Level 2 certification in Corporate Facilitation in 2021. Empowering Change Through Connection At Hope for Hearts Farm, Lisa offers two main programs: Personal Development and Well-Being for adults and children (ages 8 and up), and Corporate and Leadership Development, including team-building and executive coaching. Her ideal clients are those willing to embrace the feedback the horses provide and dig deep into their own thoughts, feelings, and belief patterns. “Of course, I also love when someone comes in very skeptical of the process and is blown away by the power of the horse/human relationship and the incredible insights they gain from the horses.” Lisa says. Moments That Matter Lisa’s years as a facilitator are filled with powerful moments of breakthrough and transformation—so many, she says, it’s impossible to choose just one favorite. “Seeing the changes in teams and individuals is incredibly rewarding,” she shares. “There’s nothing like hearing someone say, ‘I keep thinking I’ve got it, but every session with the horses knocks my socks off!’ Or a parent telling me that the experience didn’t just help their child, but their whole family—and that it’s leading to generational change.” She’s also witnessed the impact in the corporate world: “When a team tells us after a workshop that they’ll be forever changed, it reinforces just how effective this work really is.” Lessons from the Arena Looking back on her E3A certification journey, Lisa especially treasures her arena training—now known as the Capstone. “Hands-on experience with the horses, activities, fellow facilitators, and Master Trainers was invaluable,” she says. “It was there I learned to truly be open to outcome and trust the process—something that didn’t come naturally for my Type A personality!” That lesson continues to shape her facilitation style today. “It never ceases to amaze me how the horses show up exactly how each person or team needs,” she says. “When we trust our equine partners and stay open, the experience becomes even more impactful.” Through her partnership with E3A and her herd at Hope for Hearts Farm, Lisa Bowman continues to help people connect, reflect, and grow—one transformative session at a time.
After three decades as a K-12 school counselor, Karen Finch was ready for retirement—or so she thought. Just one day later, life presented her with an unexpected opportunity. A local equine-assisted learning facility called to ask if she would consider becoming their therapist. Despite having no prior experience with h
By Starr McAlexander Spirit Song Youth Equestrian Academy Greetings! My name is Ella Grace. I am a registered 21 year old Overo Paint Quarter Horse. My lineage goes back to 5 breed foundation horses, one of which was Three Bars! So how did I end up in an Equine-assisted program at Spirit Song?! I have always been a favorite mount of children and youth and have participated in many western play days and gymkhanas, but the day came when my family outgrew the passion for fun and speed. I was donated to Spirit Song's riding program that better suited my needs. My nature is calm and gentle, therefore, I lend confidence to those who want to learn horsemanship like the young lad pictured here.
