The Touch of a Mustang | Horses and Healing Through Nature

Horses Help us Remember Who We Once Were with Justin Dunn | Episode 75

What if the principles you use with horses is the blueprint for transforming your life? In this episode, horseman and author Justin Dunn shares how co‑creating experiences with a horse reveals the truth about our thoughts, habits, and character, and why character ultimately shapes our destiny. We talk about modeling “tension then relax” in everyday events, playing the larger life “game” better instead of fighting it, and learning to enjoy hard things so you can stay present when it matters most. Justin also unpacks the mindset behind his five‑part resonance framework and how a single aligned spark can become a positive wildfire of growth. In this episode, you'll discover: • What makes working with horses so powerful for high performers, those who are struggling and anyone who wants to change their life for the better • Why the way you interact with horses teaches you about life • How horses can create experiences that can't be replicated in therapy or on a screen • How the typical path in life often leads us astray • Why you'll have to go through a violent and destructive process to build anew This episode is for anyone who feels ready for realignment in their life and looking for methods to live life better. Connect with Justin Dunn: Website: https://www.justindunnhorsemanship.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justin.w.dunn/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ JustinDunnMustangHorsemanshipSupport the Podcast: buymeacoffee.com/thetouchofamustangLove the podcast? Leave a review so others seeking healing can find the show!Connect with The Touch of a Mustang: Website: https://thetouchofamustang.org/ Instagram: / thetouchofamustang Facebook: / thetouchofamustang

When Nothing Has Worked Horses Offer Hope with Lynn Thomas & Jen Blanchard | Episode 74

What if the the answers we are searching for come in the form of a horse that forces you to face yourself as you really are? Lynn Thomas is a mental health professional who co-founded Horses for Mental Health, a nonprofit that supports equine-assisted mental health programs across 36 states and 6 countries. Lynn didn't grow up with horses. She grew up in the city and knew nothing about them until she witnessed their transformative power working with at-risk youth 30 years ago. Jen Blanchard is the Head of Marketing for the Equine Division of Zoetis, the world's largest fully dedicated animal health company. Together, they've created the annual Horses for Mental Health Campaign, a nationwide peer-to-peer fundraising initiative that has raised over $2 million to support 200+ programs providing life-changing mental health services through horses. In this episode, Lynn and Jen share why horses succeed where traditional therapy fails, the impact they have seen in individuals who have worked with horses, and why the equine therapy is one of the fastest growing niche's in mental health. In this episode, you'll discover: • Why horses break through emotional walls faster than traditional therapy • What makes horses different from other animals in mental health work • Why you can't fake your emotions around a horse and why that's the gift • How the Horses for Mental Health Campaign supports 130 programs across 36 states and 6 countries • How this work creates a place for rescue horses, Mustangs, and horses in their second careers • Why caring for the caregivers is just as important as caring for the horses and clients This episode is for anyone struggling with mental health who's tried everything else and still feels stuck, and for those who believe in the power of horses to guide healing and how they can become involved in the work.Support the Horses for Mental Health Campaign: Website: https://horsesformentalhealth.org Find a Program Near You: https://horsesformentalhealth.org/campaign Donate, Volunteer, or Become a Fundraising AmbassadorLearn More: Blog: https://www.zoetisequine.com/blog-articles/expanding-the-hoofprint-for-healing Short Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PuXEs_uO14 Stories: https://horsesformentalhealth.org/storiesConnect with Zoetis Equine: Website: https://www.zoetisequine.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoetisequine/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZoetisEquine Follow Horses for Mental Health: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HorsesForMentalHealth Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/horsesformentalhealth/ Support the Podcast: buymeacoffee.com/thetouchofamustang Love the podcast? Leave a review so others seeking healing can find the show! Connect with The Touch of a Mustang: Website: https://thetouchofamustang.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetouchofamustang/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTouchofaMustang

With No Parents to Guide Her She Learned We're Stronger Than We Think with Madison Orlando | Episode 73

What if the story you've been telling yourself about being broken isn't true? Madison Orlando never knew her father—he died four days before she was born and then her mother went silent. Madison was raised by her grandmother, who couldn't walk. She got pregnant at 15, worked multiple jobs to survive, and spent years believing she was a mistake. But somewhere along the way, Madison discovered something powerful: we're not as fragile as we've been told. Today, Madison is a medical board certified massage therapist, Reiki master teacher, and former national champion in Northern Shaolin Kung Fu. She's trained with Dr. Wayne Dyer, Marianne Williamson, and Tony Robbins, and now helps people heal trauma through energy work and bodywork. As a 2026 Horses For Mental Health Ambassador for Samson's Strength Sustainable Veterans Project, Madison understands that healing doesn't always come from traditional therapy—sometimes it comes from horses, energy work, and learning to trust your own resilience. In this episode, you'll discover:• The difference between guilt (I made a mistake) and shame (I am a mistake)—and why it matters• Why you can't fake frequency (and why horses know when you're pretending to be okay)• How Reiki and horses help your body self-regulate and release stored trauma• What happened when Madison finally showed up as herself in her relationship (and why her husband loved it)• Why real love is liberating, not controlling• How the chakra system connects to your organs, emotions, and trauma patterns• Why forgiveness is for you—not the person who hurt you• How horses create conditions for healing without doing anything at all This episode is for anyone who's been told they're too broken to heal, anyone seeking alternatives or additions to traditional therapy, and anyone who needs permission to believe they're stronger than they think. Support Madison's Horses for Mental Health work: Connect with Madison: Facebook - Madison Massage Alchemist Support the podcast: Make a donation or get exclusive content, guided meditations, monthly Q&As, and more: https://ko-fi.com/thetouchofamustang [https://ko-fi.com/thetouchofamustang] Love the podcast? Leave a review so others on their healing journey can find the show! Connect with The Touch of a Mustang: Website: https://thetouchofamustang.org/ [https://thetouchofamustang.org/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetouchofamustang/ [https://www.instagram.com/thetouchofamustang/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTouchofaMustang [https://www.facebook.com/TheTouchofaMustang] Connect with Madison Orlando: Facebook: Madison Massage Alchemist Horses for Mental Health Campaign: https://horsesformentalhealth.org [https://horsesformentalhealth.org]

Wild Horse Partnerships Built Without Force with Mustang Trainer Michael Sanchez | Episode 72

Most people think training horses requires dominance. Michael Sanchez learned it's more about patience. Michael Sanchez works at a barn in Leeds, Alabama that has gentled hundreds of wild Mustangs. He didn't grow up dreaming of working with horses—he was the maintenance guy, the one picking stalls and fixing fences. But one day he was asked to hold a horse, and that was the start of many more horses to come. Now Michael spends his days teaching wild horses to trust humans, and he's learned that the key to building partnership isn't control—it's knowing the difference between being firm and being aggressive. As a 2026 Horses For Mental Health Ambassador for Samson's Strength Sustainable Veterans Project, Michael has seen firsthand how horses heal when you give them respect instead of force, and how that same approach can transform your own life. In this episode, you'll discover: • What it means to be firm without being aggressive (and why that distinction changes everything) • Why the first time a wild horse picks up its foot is about trust, not obedience • How to know when you're not the right person for a particular horse • Why Mustangs take longer to train than domestic horses—and why rushing the process breaks the partnership • What Michael learned about patience after gentling 300 wild horses • How horses helped him heal after losing his mom (and why his boss told him to just go sit with them) • Why building partnership with horses teaches you how to show up differently in your own life This episode is for anyone who's adopted a Mustang and feels stuck, anyone who wants to train horses without force, and anyone who's learning that the best relationships are built on respect, not control. Support Michael's Horses for Mental Health work: Learn more about Michael's advocacy for equine therapy and Mustangs: ⁠https://horsesformentalhealth.org/campaigns/michael-sanchez/⁠ [https://horsesformentalhealth.org/campaigns/michael-sanchez/] Get your free guide: Download the 5-Minute Emotional Reset: ⁠https://thetouchofamustang.org/get-your-free-reset/⁠ [https://thetouchofamustang.org/get-your-free-reset/] Ready for personalized support? Book a free 30-minute consultation (only 5 spots available per month): ⁠https://calendly.com/thetouchofamustang/free-30-minute-coaching-session⁠ [https://calendly.com/thetouchofamustang/free-30-minute-coaching-session] Deepen your practice: Get the Emotional Mastery Journal - your 6-month guide to emotional awareness and regulation: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Mastery-Journal-Shalyce-Cluff/dp/B0DQXV59SW⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Mastery-Journal-Shalyce-Cluff/dp/B0DQXV59SW] Join the herd: Support the podcast and get exclusive content, guided meditations, monthly Q&As, and more: ⁠https://ko-fi.com/thetouchofamustang⁠ [https://ko-fi.com/thetouchofamustang] Love the podcast?Leave a review so others on their healing journey can find the show! Connect with The Touch of a Mustang: Website: ⁠https://thetouchofamustang.org/ [https://thetouchofamustang.org/] ⁠ [https://thetouchofamustang.org/]Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/thetouchofamustang/⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/thetouchofamustang/] Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/TheTouchofaMustang⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/TheTouchofaMustang] Connect with Michael https://www.facebook.com/michael.sanchez.943673 [https://www.facebook.com/michael.sanchez.943673]

Why Equine Therapy Works When Other Programs Are Failing Veterans with K9 Equine Alliance Founder David Vieira | Episode 71

What if the therapy program that saved a veteran's life had to close because they couldn't afford a vet bill? David Vieira is an Army Afghanistan veteran and founder of K9 Equine Alliance, a nonprofit that provides financial support to organizations offering service dogs and equine therapy to veterans struggling with PTSD, TBI, and MST. After building the first Afghanistan and Iraq Veterans War Memorial in Connecticut, David realized the unsexy but critical work that needed to be done—keeping therapy programs alive by covering hay bills, vet emergencies, and farrier costs. He created K9 Equine Alliance to cover the costs no one else would, and now supports over 50 partner organizations across 28 states. David travels the country visiting farms, responds to emergency calls on weekends, and operates with 100% volunteer support so every dollar goes directly to the animals. He's also the ghostwriter behind Wyatt Strother, a music project that honors fallen brothers and raises awareness for alternative therapies. In this episode, you'll discover:• Why many equine therapy programs are one emergency vet bill away from closing• How Mustangs specifically give veterans a mission in ways other horses don't• What makes equine therapy and service dog programs more effective than traditional VA treatment for many veterans• Why veterans need community and purpose • What David learned touring the country visiting 50+ partner organizations• How K9 Equine Alliance operates is 100% volunteer-run This episode is for anyone who works with veterans and horses, anyone seeking alternative healing methods, and anyone who wants to support the critical work of keeping therapy programs alive. Connect with David Vieira & K9 Equine Alliance: Website: https://k9equinealliance.org [https://k9equinealliance.org] Heroes Gala (June 13): https://k9equinealliance.org/news-events/event/2026/06/13/2026-heroes-gala-paws-hooves-and-hope/541693 Social Media: Website: www.k9equinealliance.org [http://www.k9equinealliance.org] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560410920660 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veteransk9equinealliance/ YouTube Tour Series:https://www.youtube.com/@VeteransK9EquineAlliance Support Horses for Mental Health Campaign: Samson's Sustainable Veterans Project: https://horsesformentalhealth.org/campaigns/david-vieira/ Campaign: Horses for Mental Health 2026 Get your free guide: Download the 5-Minute Emotional Reset: https://thetouchofamustang.org/get-your-free-reset/ [https://thetouchofamustang.org/get-your-free-reset/] Start your healing journey: Get the Emotional Mastery Journal - your 6-month guide to emotional awareness and regulation: https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Mastery-Journal-Shalyce-Cluff/dp/B0DQXV59SW [https://www.amazon.com/Emotional-Mastery-Journal-Shalyce-Cluff/dp/B0DQXV59SW] Ready for personalized support? Book a free 30-minute consultation (only 5 spots available per month): https://calendly.com/thetouchofamustang/free-30-minute-coaching-session [https://calendly.com/thetouchofamustang/free-30-minute-coaching-session] Support the podcast: https://ko-fi.com/thetouchofamustang [https://ko-fi.com/thetouchofamustang] Love the podcast? Leave a review so others can find the show! Connect with The Touch of a Mustang: Website: https://thetouchofamustang.org/ [https://thetouchofamustang.org/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetouchofamustang/ [https://www.instagram.com/thetouchofamustang/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTouchofaMustang [https://www.facebook.com/TheTouchofaMustang]