Meet Natalie
Founder, Owner of Here with the Herd and certified in Equine-Facilitated Learning
Horses have had a profound impact on my life, shaping a journey from participating in human–horse partnership firsthand, to volunteering in therapeutic riding programs and caring for horses at local barns, to ultimately leaving the corporate world to focus on Equine-Facilitated Learning full-time. Over the years, I’ve attended immersive equine-focused programs across the United States informing my perspective on what best supports both equine partners and participants. I intentionally integrate these learnings into my approach to my service offerings, program design, and facilitation.
Human-horse interactions have helped me slow down, see repeating patterns, develop self-confidence, and ultimately improve my relationship with myself and others.
Meet Natalie
Founder of Here with the Herd and certified in Equine-Facilitated Learning
Horses have had a profound impact on my life, shaping a journey from participating in human–horse partnership firsthand, to volunteering in therapeutic riding programs and caring for horses at local barns, to ultimately leaving the corporate world to focus on Equine-Facilitated Learning full-time. Over the years, I’ve attended immersive equine-focused programs across the United States informing my perspective on what best supports both equine partners and participants. I intentionally integrate these learnings into my approach to my service offerings, program design, and facilitation.
Human-horse interactions have helped me slow down, see repeating patterns, develop self-confidence, and ultimately improve my relationship with myself and others.
Vision
Empower people to live healthier lives while educating them about horses and horse welfare
Mission
Facilitate ground-based activities between humans and horses that can help humans improve their relationship with themselves, and with others, while building awareness about horse history, the equine industry, and how to support organizations and initiatives focused on the health, humane treatment, and long-term protection of horses.
Organization & Program Values
Ethical Partnership
Honor of the well-being, boundaries, and dignity of both humans and horses. In other words: mutual respect. All work is grounded in safety, consent, and compassionate, ethical engagement with one another.
Empowerment
This work helps individuals recognize their strengths, build self-trust, and apply insights from the barn to everyday life and relationships, while empowering horses at liberty to participate on their own terms.
Experience-led
True change happens through lived experience paired with reflection and intentional discussion. So, hands-on, embodied learning that allows insight, confidence, and skills to emerge naturally are prioritized.
Presence
Growth begins by slowing down to notice and reflect on the self and environment. Horses model this behavior inviting participants to do the same building awareness of their emotions, energy, and impact.
Authenticity
Horses respond honestly and without judgment. Realness is valued over any perceived performance, creating space for humans to show up as they are and explore who they’re becoming through this work.
Vision
Empower people to live healthier lives while educating them about horses and horse welfare
Mission
Facilitate ground-based activities between humans and horses that can help humans improve their relationships while building awareness about horse history, the equine industry, and how to support organizations and initiatives focused on the health, humane treatment, and long-term protection of horses.
Organization & Program Values
Ethical Partnership
Honor of the well-being, boundaries, and dignity of both humans and horses. In other words: mutual respect. All work is grounded in safety, consent, and compassionate, ethical engagement with one another.
Empowerment
This work helps individuals recognize their strengths, build self-trust, and apply insights from the barn to everyday life and relationships, while empowering horses at liberty to participate on their own terms.
Experience-led
True change happens through lived experience paired with reflection and intentional discussion. So, hands-on, embodied learning that allows insight, confidence, and skills to emerge naturally are prioritized over anything else.
Presence
Growth begins by slowing down to notice and reflect on the self and environment. Horses model this behavior inviting participants to do the same building awareness of their emotions, energy, and impact on the world around them
Authenticity
Horses respond honestly and without judgment. Realness is valued over any perceived performance, creating space for humans to show up as they are and explore who they’re becoming through this work and partnership.
HERD Certification
The HERD Institute® is dedicated to shaping the next generation of Equine-Facilitated Practitioners through training that fosters both professional mastery and personal transformation
The HERD Institute was founded by Dr. Veronica Lac, whose vision emerged from a desire to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive space within the equine industry. Informed by her doctoral research, she developed The HERD Model™–a cultural competence framework that guides the incorporation of horses into human services with sensitivity, intentionality, and respect. The HERD Institute supports its members in continuous learning through deepening the integrity of their personal philosophy, expanding their skills, and broadening their perspectives through meaningful, experiential practice.
HERD Certification
The HERD Institute® is dedicated to shaping the next generation of Equine-Facilitated Practitioners through training that fosters both professional mastery and personal transformation
The HERD Institute was founded by Dr. Veronica Lac, whose vision emerged from a desire to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive space within the equine industry. Informed by her doctoral research, she developed The HERD Model™–a cultural competence framework that guides the incorporation of horses into human services with sensitivity, intentionality, and respect. The HERD Institute supports its members in continuous learning through deepening the integrity of their personal philosophy, expanding their skills, and broadening their perspectives through meaningful, experiential practice.
Prior Experience
Before EFL I worked as a Senior Director, Speaker, Educator, Facilitator, and Community Builder in Human-Centered Product & Service Design
Researched for, designed for, and launched human-centered services for 20 years within a variety of industries
Facilitated collaboration across individuals from a variety of backgrounds and specialties (groups that had never worked together before) in order to align on business decisions
Designed and iterated upon educational curriculums for programs of 30-100 multi-faceted learners at a time
Defined success metrics and feedback processes for 15+ organizations across private, public, and voluntary sectors
Co-founded an award-winning organization, led their event production for 100+ people for 5 years, and have now successfully handed the organization down to new leaders
Spoke at and facilitated tens of events, workshops, and courses in person and remotely on a global scale
Prior Experience
Before EFL I worked as a Senior Director, Speaker, Educator, Facilitator, and Community Builder in Human-Centered Product and Service Design
Researched, designed, and launched human-centered services for 20 years
Facilitated collaboration across individuals from varying background to align on business decisions
Co-founded an award-winning organization that hosted events of 100+ people for 5 years before training a new team to handoff the group to
Designed educational curriculums for programs of 30-100 learners
Spoke at and facilitated tens of events, workshops, and courses
Defined success metrics and feedback programs for 15+ organizations
Let’s Schedule Time to Talk
Have more questions? Ready to start your Equine-Facilitated Learning journey?
Let’s Set a Time to Chat
Have more questions? Ready to start your Equine-Facilitated Learning journey?