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Today you will meet Sue Willoughby. She is an equine coach who helps people rediscover confidence, clarity and personal truth through meaningful interactions with horses.
Today she uses her lifelong connection with horses to help women in midlife reconnect with their bodies, emotions and authentic identity.
Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:
• First, horses communicate at a deep, nonverbal level by syncing to a person’s heartbeat and emotions. That helps individuals recognize what they are truly feeling inside.
• Second, equine coaching often reveals hidden patterns, such as difficulties with boundaries or leadership, because horses naturally respond to the energy and clarity a person projects.
• Third, working with horses brings people out of their heads and into their own bodies, which helps them understand emotions like joy, anxiety and fear in completely different ways.
• Finally, many women in midlife feel stuck in long-held identities, and being present with horses allows them to explore who they are now and who they want to become.
Sue grew up around horses and always felt drawn to their calming energy.
Over the years, she volunteered at therapeutic riding programs, became trained in equine massage, and ultimately earned certifications as an equine coach and master facilitator.
Equine coaching gives Sue tremendous meaning and purpose at this stage of her life.
She said the work continues to deepen her own growth while allowing her to hold space for others as they rediscover their true potential.
Horses generally mirror what is happening inside a person and reveal what words often hide. That process helps people reconnect with their inner wisdom, build confidence, and move forward with more clarity and authenticity.
Sue explained that coaching with horses is not about riding or performance. It is about being fully present in the moment and allowing the horse to guide each person toward the awareness they seek.
For Sue, the most fulfilling part of equine coaching is witnessing the transformation that occurs when someone realizes they already have the answers within them. The horses simply help bring those answers to the surface.
She believes this kind of work is especially meaningful for people in midlife who feel stuck, uncertain or disconnected from their sense of purpose. Horses help them step into courage, curiosity and possibility.
If you would like to connect with Sue, learn more about equine coaching, or follow her journey, you can visit her website at www.willoughbycoaching.com. She is also active on Instagram and LinkedIn as well as through her podcast “Midlife Strategies for Badass Women.”
That’s all for this week’s show. If you’d like to start living a more meaningful life, I encourage you to download our free guide to finding purpose, which is available at www.forwardfrom50.com.
I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
