Member Spotlight : Ginny Telego - A Journey of Leadership, Horses and Human Transformation
Ginny Telego: A Journey of Leadership, Horses and Human Transformation
Ginny Telego’s path with Equine Experiential Education Association (E3A) began with a lifelong love of horses and a deep desire to help people grow. Certified by E3A in 2010, Ginny earned her Advanced Certification in 2013 and joined the Master Trainer team in 2016. Her career is a blend of passion, leadership, and the unique power of equine-facilitated learning.
Inspired in the mid-1990s by an article in the NARHA (now PATH International) newsletter, Ginny read about a woman partnering with horses to work with youth—a woman she later discovered was Boo Martin, an E3A certified equine assisted learning practitioner and member of the E3A board. That spark of inspiration set Ginny on a path to explore how horses could help people in more profound, transformative ways.
Ginny’s ideal clients are leaders and teams willing to rethink how they lead—not just to reach goals, but to preserve relationships in the process. She particularly enjoys working with skeptics, those unsure of what a horse could possibly teach them about leadership. “They’re the ones who walk away with the biggest ahas,” she says.
One of Ginny’s most memorable experiences came early in her career. Leading a workshop for a community leadership program, she noticed one participant standing with arms crossed, sunglasses on, and a skeptical attitude. When it was his turn to share his goal, he scoffed, “Well, I don’t know what horses can possibly teach me about leadership.” But by the second activity of the day—aptly named "Leadership in a Box"—that same participant approached her and said, “Now I get it.” He not only engaged fully for the rest of the workshop but later became one of her most enthusiastic supporters. To this day, he can still articulate what he learned from her horses.
Ginny attributes much of her success to the comprehensive nature of the E3A certification process. Unlike other programs she attended, E3A offered hands-on practice, in-the-moment coaching, and a clear, consistent model. “I had attended other equine assisted learning trainings with other organizations and while I got bits and pieces of valuable information, after my first E3A certification, I felt 100% prepared to start doing the work—and I did. Just a month later, I had my first paying client for a full-day workshop,” she recalls.
As a Master Trainer, Ginny found joy in mentoring new facilitators entering the equine assisted learning (EAL) field. Watching participants grow, grasp E3A’s 5 question model, and begin to see horses as teachers has been deeply fulfilling. “It’s such a privilege to be part of their journey. Seeing those light bulbs come on fuels my excitement for the future of this work.”
For Ginny Telego, equine-assisted learning is more than a profession—it’s a calling, a continuous journey of connection, insight, and leadership growth through the wisdom of horses.
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.
Above: Caspian is a former kids' rodeo horse. He is grounded, good-natured, and has an amazing sense of focus. Master trainer Jennifer Kaplan says, "He's just an all-around good guy, and he uses his strengths to benefit the Nevada herd." Want to supercharge your Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) programs? Here's a game-changer: weave CliftonStrengths into your workshop agenda and watch the magic unfold between your participants and their four-hoofed teachers. Here's what CliftonStengths brings to the arena: Custom-Tailored Self-Awareness: CliftonStrengths helps your participants discover what makes them tick—in! With personalized insights, they'll uncover how to create success in their daily lives, both at work and at home. (Think lightbulb moments galore!) Real-Time Horse Feedback (Yes, Really!) : Horses are incredible mirrors. When your participants show up aligned with their strengths, horses respond with clear, honest feedback—no sugar-coating, just truth with a tail swish. It's powerful, and often magical to watch. Confident, Calm Facilitators = Smooth Ride: Let's not forget you! CliftonStrengths gives E3A Coaching Facilitators a confidence boost, helping you feel more grounded and in sync with your co-facilitators, your equine partners, and your participants. Less stress, more flow. So if you're looking to add more spark, depth, and "aha!" moments to your EAL programs, CliftonStrengths is the secret sauce you've been missing. It's time to let strengths lead the way!
At the heart of the Equine Experiential Education Association (E3A) is a network of passionate professionals who use the power of horse-facilitated learning to transform lives and organizations. E3A member Anouk Lorie is a Belgium-born, Canada-based leadership coach whose work beautifully bridges nature, business, human potential, and international borders. From Corporate to Connected Anouk’s path into equine-assisted learning was anything but ordinary. After more than two decades in the corporate and academic worlds, she made a bold shift — not just in profession, but in purpose. “Moving from Belgium to Canada gave me the opportunity to begin again — this time, not just based on what I was good at, but on what I truly loved,” she reflects. That meant stepping away from titles and toward a life rooted in meaning, connection, and contribution. In 2016, she became a certified Equine Facilitated Coach through the Academy for Coaching with Horses. But by 2019, she felt a deeper call — to bring this profound work into the heart of leadership and organizational development. That’s when she found E3A, thanks to a trusted colleague, Pamela Hunter. “The methodology is solid, practical, and absolutely essential if you want to work credibly with the corporate world,” Anouk says. “I now require E3A certification for all members of the Wásábi team — we are four certified practitioners today!” Leadership that Listens Anouk’s clients — and the horses she partners with — thrive on authenticity. At her company, Wásábi Leadership, she works primarily with seasoned leaders and teams ready to move past the buzzwords and into values-aligned, embodied leadership. “These are people willing to reflect, challenge themselves, and lead with intention — not just for their organizations, but for their communities and the planet,” she explains. “We especially love working with leaders humble enough to learn from and with nature.” Her team also devotes time to nonprofit work, partnering with charities that support individuals who’ve experienced difficult life circumstances. “Their courage and connection with the horses are always humbling — and often transformative.” Buck the Horse, and a Breakthrough in Leadership Among the many powerful experiences Anouk has facilitated, one moment stands out. During a session with a group of senior leaders, their lead horse, Buck, refused to cooperate — resisting pressure from dominant personalities and avoiding engagement altogether. “With E3A’s framework, we unpacked what was happening,” she recalls. “There was too much pressure, no real listening, no awareness of their impact — on the horse or each other. Buck became a mirror for their reality: their ‘employee’ was avoiding them, just like in their actual workplace.” Then, something shifted. A quiet leader — often overlooked — approached Buck with nothing but presence. No pressure. No tools. Just grounded calm. Buck responded instantly, walking beside him with ease. “It was breathtaking,” Anouk says. “That moment changed everything — for the team, and for that individual leader. It was a masterclass in trust, leadership, and the power of authentic connection.” The Power of the E3A Process Anouk credits E3A’s certification process — especially the Capstone Arena Experience — as a pivotal part of her development. “You simply can’t learn this work from a book or an online course. You have to live it — with your feet in the arena. E3A helped me bridge my background in organizational development with the non-linear world of horse-facilitated learning in a way that feels credible and alive.” Leadership Lessons that Transcend Borders Anouk has led sessions in Europe and North America, and says the impact of equine-assisted learning is universal. “No matter the country, the moment a person enters the presence of a horse, something shifts. Roles and titles fall away. What remains is raw, honest connection — presence to presence, heart to heart.” Horses, she notes, respond to authenticity, clear boundaries, and emotional agility — the same traits we need as leaders and human beings. “These are universal human needs. Whether someone is a CEO in Switzerland, a young woman in Quebec, a Belgian, Saudi, or American — the transformation is always powerful. Always lasting. Always deeply human.” Want to learn more about Anouk and Wásábi Leadership? Visit www.wasabileadership.com to explore her work.
