As one of the original seven founding members of Eponaquest Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning (EFL), Shelley Rosenberg was there at the beginning of understanding the horse + human connection at a more profound, emotional healing level. Shelley recognizes that horses have the capacity to help us look deeply within ourselves, understand emotion as information, and connect with each other in way that feels natural and authentic.

Shelley has been riding since the age of nine. She found sanctuary and safety at the stables and a refuge from her abusive childhood. She tells this story in her first book, My Horses My Healers.

Shelley’s professional career brought her to the United States Olympic Equestrian Team in the late 1970’s. Sadly, she was exposed to the dark underbelly of the competitive horse world, where abusive situations (both equine and human) were common place.  These negative experiences inspired Shelley to become a crusader for horse welfare and to develop a new, supportive way to ride. She has experienced all ends of the spectrum in horse medical care, training, rehabilitation and teaching students in the areas of dressage and western pleasure.

In the early 1990’s while working with Linda Kohanov, Shelley became one of original seven founding members of the Eponaquest model of equine facilitated/experiential learning. At this time her relationship with horses began to evolve in a new and even more profound manner. “Less is more” became her motto. She moved all of the Eponaquest horses out of bits into Dr. Cook’s, bitless bridles. The Eponaquest model of equine facilitated riding and learning builds a mutual relationship between the horse and the rider.