What if your biggest breakthrough wasn't hiding in another therapy session or self-help book, but waiting for you in the eyes of a 1,200-pound animal who can see right through every story you tell yourself? In this revelatory conversation, certified EQU coach Sue Willoughby introduces us to the transformative world of equine-assisted coaching, where horses become our most honest teachers and mirrors for the parts of ourselves we can't quite see.

Here's what makes horses such powerful catalysts for change: they're prey animals, which means every cell in their body is wired to detect truth. They sense the gap between what you're saying and what you're actually feeling. They'll walk away when you're trying too hard to be liked, push into your space when your boundaries are weak, and come close the moment you finally let go of your agenda.

As Sue explains, "Our bodies hold every experience that we've ever had, that's what the horses are seeing and feeling and becoming part of." This isn't intellectual understanding—it's embodied wisdom that can accomplish in ten minutes what might take months in traditional talk therapy. Amanda shares her own powerful experience of desperately wanting horses to approach her, only to have them ignore her completely until she released all expectation and simply sat down in surrender. Within moments, two horses walked right up to her—a visceral lesson in how neediness repels connection that no amount of reasoning could have taught.

Sue's journey from finding refuge in barns as a child to becoming a master facilitator reveals how horses have always offered us their greatest gift: non-judgmental presence. Whether it's the young person who finally found safety to speak their truth, the executive discovering that authentic leadership looks nothing like corporate performance, or the midlife woman rediscovering who she is beneath decades of playing roles—horses create the space for us to stop performing and start being real. The work extends beyond individual healing into team dynamics, boundary setting, leadership development, and that most precious skill: learning to be fully present in our own lives.

If you've been doing your inner work but feel like something's still not clicking, if you're tired of intellectually understanding your patterns without being able to shift them, or if you're simply curious about what truth a horse might reflect back to you—this episode offers a doorway into a different kind of transformation. Sue leaves us with a profound invitation: "Be the horse. Start being curious about everything. Start looking at the world through beginner's eyes." What might change if you approached your life with that kind of openness? Listen to discover why the arena might be exactly where your next breakthrough is waiting.
How to Get in Touch:

• Website: willoughbycoaching.com
• Email: [email protected]
• Podcast: Midlife Strategies for Badass Women - https://www.midlifebadasswomen.com/

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