Creating Empathetic Riders, An Interview with Katie Boniface

Riding Instructor Interview Series Continues!

Enjoy this interview with Katie Boniface!

Katie Boniface, a passionate horsewoman based in Queensland, Australia. With over 30 years of riding experience and 18 years as an instructor, Katie brings a wealth of knowledge and heart to her work. After a successful run in dressage, show jumping, and eventing at the state level, she shifted her focus from competition to connection. 

Through her riding school, Equestrian Spirit, Katie helps riders build deeper, more meaningful partnerships with their horses—grounded in trust, biomechanics, and mutual respect. Her mission is to guide riders in seeing their horses as equals and companions on a journey of growth and self-discovery.

Here's the free webinar mentioned: https://www.equestrianspirit.com.au/sayyes

From Katie:

"I have been a horse rider for 30 years and a riding instructor for 18 finding my passion as a teacher in a riding school environment. From childhood through to my early 20’s I competed successfully at shows, dressage, show jumping and eventing at state level. Having gotten my trophy and ribbon riding out of me when I was young riding became a spiritual practice for me, developing my connection to my self and others on a deeper level. What occurred to me is that you can't have a meaningful relationship with someone that doesn't want to be with you so I set about looking for ways to get my horse to enjoy being around me. 

At the same time I was also working with a couple of horses with soundness issues. Having being told that a horse would work soundly if you work it correctly I dug into the physiology of horse movement and how we as riders and trainers can best work our horses not only for soundness but also for suppleness, maximum range of movement and dare I say to look like they actually enjoyed being ridden!!

And so triggered a profound reassessment of everything I had ever learnt to date about what it meant to be a horse rider, how I was riding and what my goal was from my training. I discovered the importance of the horses mental, emotional and physical health to not only its performance and success but also to its willingness as a participant in our partnership. And I learnt what it meant to have a true connection with the horse and an open 2 way conversation. 

It is my goal and mission in life to share these values with as many horse riders as I can so we can start to see our beautiful horses as equals, partners and part of our own life's journey to better understand ourselves through better understanding others."

For more info, kindly visit:

https://www.equestrianspirit.com.au/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/katiebonifaceequestrian

IG: https://www.instagram.com/equestrianspiritaustralia/

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Thanks so much for listening!  

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𝙈𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝘼𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨.  

-Beth Lauren Parrish, Certified Hypnotherapist, Riding Instructor, & Creator of 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠®

PS Have you heard the calming meditations for equestrians? Check them out here:  https://www.inspiredridi