Stories

The following stories are real accounts and testimonials from participants, students and friends whose lives have been changed by Equine Facilitated Wellness. 

Shannon’s Story

Taylor was the first instructor to invite me back into the saddle after a fifteen year hiatus, and she has worked patiently with me to regain my seat and expand new skills and perspective on riding. She has a special combination of integrity, expertise, and compassion that make her an exceptional instructor. Watching her demonstrate new Western riding techniques for me while she explains her movements in real time provides me with insights I need to adjust my position and become better attuned to my horse. She goes above and beyond to find opportunities for me to grow in my horsemanship, by matching me with a horse to lease who is suitable for my personal goals; generously scheduling lessons late into the evening to support our busy schedules; collaborating actively with me and my other instructors to give me the most all-encompassing education possible; recommending her favorite resources and personal tips; and advocating for me to take on new responsibilities as a fellow horsewoman and instructor. I can always ask her any question or share any frustration and trust 100% that she will support me patiently to find a solution. 

Not only does Taylor do all of this for me and for so many others, but she also shares her heartfelt gratitude for our time together in a way I have never experienced from any other instructor. Her reflectiveness and appreciation set the tone for her students both on and off our horses, creating a unique sense of community and shared growth which I cherish. I feel so lucky to work with Taylor and I believe that she can accomplish anything she sets her mind to! 

Amber’s Story, Partner - Riding Free Tack

Taylor is an equestrian visionary.  Her professionalism and growth mindset are refreshing and inspiring.  It is clear the kids come first and developing her students’ behavioral and emotional intelligence is as important, and goes hand in hand with developing their horsemanship skills. I am honored to work with her as an industry partner.

Matt’s story

It’s only been a few months since I started horse lessons with Taylor and I already feel a big difference. On one level, there is the actual horsemanship & riding skills that I’ve learned. Amazing. On a much deeper level is the way working with horses feels personally transformative. All of my “stuff” comes up in my horse work - fear, conflict avoidance, doubt, mixed-messages, etc. - and I get immediate feedback on my impact via the horse’s response to me, which is usually the exact opposite of what I want it to be. Then, I get to try a different approach - a fully body experience of, for example, sending clear communication - and get the positive response from the horse that I wanted. It’s positively impacting my professional life and my personal life in ways I could never imagine. The best part of it all is that I actually feel happier and my friends and colleagues are noticing a difference. I can’t encourage you enough to try it out. 

Ceci’s Story

I would say in the time that Ceci has been taking lessons her confidence has grown exponentially! Not just within herself, but also with her relationship to the horses and even her peers. I am first a mom and second an occupational therapist so I am able to identify some of these skills as I am looking for them more pointedly than maybe others might be. However the results can be a benefit anyone can identify. Ceci now has a better understanding of the relationship between her and another living creature 20 x her size in addition to the relationship between her and her own body and how to control it. When my daughter first started in the saddle, remaining completely upright and yet relaxed in her arms in addition to the added skill of posting was very difficult to maintain. She now requires very few reminders for this and has a stronger core and center of gravity which helps in other sports and with her overall posture. Ceci is more centered and focused after lessons (which is great for homework!) and she does not seek as much proprioceptive input afterwards. She is usually very high energy in general but on days she takes lessons I definitely notice a calming effect. She always looks forward to her lessons and Taylor has shown so much dedication and passion for what she does and it offsets onto to all the kids along with her kindness and care these are all part of the reason we love coming to BOK ranch. Taylor and the staff are terrific!

“little” Taylor’s Story

While our 8 year old daughter has always been drawn to horses, the growth she has experienced under Taylor Singmaster’s instruction has been remarkable.  Taylor is not only knowledgeable with respect to technical training, but she is an amazing role model for our daughter in many other aspects.  Taylor exudes confidence, sensitivity, and has taught our daughter that strong focus and hard work are important as you strive to achieve your goals.  We appreciate Taylor’s dedication to all she does for the children she teaches and look forward to hopefully many more years of her instruction for our daughter.

Gryffin’s story

Our son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 4.  We have struggled for years trying to help him find a passion that was physically active and would hold his interest.  About 3 years ago we found a social skills group which used "ground work" around horses to help  support children who have trouble making friends. This was the beginning of our son's passion for horses.  Our son has been taking riding lessons at BOK Ranch with Ashley MacIntyer and that is how we found out about Taylor who also works as a PATH Certified Instructor. Our son now takes lessons with Taylor at both Webb Ranch and as a member of the Stanford Equestrian AEL team.  Working with and riding horses has vastly improved his confidence and given him a sense of calm, focus and purpose.

Becky’s Story

I am rather new to the horse world but feel absolutely blessed to learn from Taylor as both a volunteer and a student. Taylor’s plethora of knowledge and love for all things horses is contagious. She teaches from a viewpoint that our horses are our partners and we must understand and treat them with the respect they deserve, and in return we will grow and learn from them. This collaborative approach also extends to how she interacts with her students, working together in a supportive and compassionate team atmosphere. She is excellent at pairing students with horses that match their strengths and weakness in order to create the perfect partnership to increase learning.

 Equine Facilitated Wellness and Taylor has improved my personal life in both emotional to physical aspects. The supportive atmosphere and being able to make a connection with such magnificent creatures have helped to improve my confidence and lower my anxiety levels. Riding with EQ Wellness has also improved my balance, coordination, and flexibility. I would recommend EQ Wellness and Taylor as an instructor to everyone looking for an opportunity to improve themselves and learn how to become the best horsewoman/horsemen possible.

Kiana’s Story

Taylor’s love for horses and horsemanship is infectious. She instills in our daughter the life-serving values of respect and discipline, while our daughter practices horse riding and learns horsemanship skills. Horse riding with Taylor has been both therapeutic and empowering for our daughter.

Gabrielle’s Story

We are so grateful to have Taylor Singmaster in our lives. She has been a remarkable instructor for Gabrielle regarding her horseback riding lessons. Taylor's wisdom combined with her knowledge of horses has helped Gabrielle recognize the strength inside of her. But even more impressive is the connection Gabrielle has to one of her best friends which is a horse named Chase. Taylor has taught Gabrielle  how to talk to Chase. And when my husband Brian and I saw their connection for the first time it truly was a heartfelt gift. Taylor has been a mentor and a true friend, we are so lucky to have her in our lives. She has helped Gabrielle become more confident not just in horseback riding but in other aspects of her life. And when daily life is difficult horseback riding with Taylor calms even the most challenging day.

Amy & Hadley’s Story

I've been a weekly student of Taylor's for 6 months and have fallen
in love with horses!  Taylor has helped me discover that riding is not
only a great form of exercise, but also very therapeutic.  My anxiety
and stress melt away while I ride or even when I brush the horses.  My
daughter and I both take lessons and it has helped us bond over our
mutual interest, and also boosted my daughter's self confidence!  Each
week, she is so excited to talk about the new skills she is mastering
or just to tell me how she likes loping with her new friends.  My
daughter and I both really enjoy our time with Taylor and I commend
her on the ability to work so naturally with both children and adults
alike.

Jessica’s Story

Learning from Taylor, both as a volunteer and as a rider, has been an element that has added a wholeness to my life of which I’d only ever known the opposite. Her sensitivity to the importance of communication, of connection, and of trust are sublime. When I first began working with horses, I was devoid of self-confidence, unable to use my voice or speak much of any truth I held – but being with the horses gave me (and continues to, always) a sense of safety and comfort I had been missing most of my life. I am most at peace and whole when I am hugging a horse with whom I’ve bonded, or working with children who have been through struggles no one deserves to undergo but with the knowledge that I have the chance to make even a tiny difference. Doing and learning from this volunteer work, as well as the magic I see Taylor bring into all these riders’ lives, has made me want to do this work forever. Taylor has taught me to assert myself and stop apologizing, whether it be while leading a horse or while talking to a human, for merely existing - she shows that loving something or someone is not the same thing as submitting to them, that we must show up fully in ourselves in order to show up for others, for our horses and other souls.

Lessons with Taylor, too, are the highlights of my weeks. When I am riding and, under Taylor’s guidance, learn to communicate effectively with the horse so that we become more and more as one, I am free from the heaviness of the lonely thoughts and feeling with which I so often struggle. The ability to lope around on a powerful animal yet have it be out of relationship and learning and trust... is a kind of freedom that I’d never imagined I could feel. Taylor emphasizes the importance of listening and being heard, of loving gently and assertively, of letting go and letting ourselves be fully alive. The way she teaches me to be stronger and more connected in my riding extends to all aspects of life and is illuminated by how beautifully she lives her own “perfectly imperfect” truth. She inspires me to be a better rider and a human who knows her own worth; riding and working with her has saved my life, quite literally, and has given me the drive to do all I can to give this hope to others. I am more grateful for all she is and all she does than words can really say.

Annie’s Story

I have had the benefit of working with Taylor both as a volunteer in therapeutic riding as well as my trainer and both have affected my life greatly! Volunteering with the horses have greatly improved my anxiety and mental health.  Being around a large horse who you trust and who trusts you is nothing short of magical. After a long week of work and personal commitments I look forward to my weekends at the barn, knowing brushing out the horses will calm and center me for the coming week.  The horses just know when you need a little extra love or support. I honestly think I get more out of volunteering than the kids riding, but seeing the children improve, get more confidence and enjoy their ride each week is a highlight.

For my personal riding Taylor is outstanding as well. She has helped me become comfortable on a ton of different types of horses. In a year I've been able to go from barely trotting around the arena more than once to cantering and being able to naturally maneuver my horse through the arena.  I look forward to my time with her and she impresses me each week; she can work with any rider and give them the respect and support they need no matter what their level. She inspires me to not only be a better rider, but a person as well; her dedication to each student is unmatched.