Woven by Words: The Science and Spirit of Storytelling for Healing and Communion with Horses, is a transformative guide for equestrians seeking deeper, more meaningful connections with horses. Through the art of storytelling and energetic communication, Dr. Fay reveals how stories can inspire hope, foster healing, and create lasting change—not just for people, but for the animals who share our lives. Drawing on decades of hands-on experience, she shares real-life examples that illuminate the profound impact of narrative on training, relationships, healing, and personal growth.

As the first volume in the Energetic Equestrian Book Series, Woven by Words invites readers to explore the world of energetic horsemanship from both scientific and spiritual perspectives. Dr. Fay introduces The DHEEP Way™ (Dual Human-Equine Energy Psychology™), an ever-evolving, multidisciplinary approach to enhancing communication, connection, and performance in both humans and equines. This holistic philosophy offers practical insights and transformative strategies for building stronger bonds with horses—and with ourselves.

Whether you’re an equestrian, a trainer, or simply someone who believes in the power of storytelling, Woven by Words provides inspiration and actionable guidance for anyone seeking to enrich their relationship with horses.

After the launch of Woven by Words: The Science and Spirit of Storytelling for Healing and Communion with Horses, I found myself questioning an important choice. Was the theme of this first book in the Energetic Equestrian series the right one? Would the idea of using storytelling to connect with horses, encourage behavioral shifts, and transform trauma feel like too great a leap for some equestrians?

This uncertainty—the Goldilocks Effect—is a familiar concern for anyone creating educational content, especially when that content challenges long‑held beliefs or introduces innovative approaches. If an idea feels too simple, it’s often dismissed as ineffective. For some, simplicity is mistaken for shallowness, and they move on in search of something more intellectually robust—something that feels like “hotter porridge.”

But satisfying an equestrian’s intellectual appetite is no small task. There is no shortage of “hot porridge” content—complex theories, big words, dense explanations, and technique-heavy methods. The problem is that this kind of material often drives your brain into high Beta activity. As you’ve heard me say many times, when we become mentally overactive do‑ers, our horses become less inclined to listen, connect, or participate. Horses, after all, are not impressed by expansive vocabularies or Olympic-level mental gymnastics. 

What your horse is truly seeking is the “just right” porridge.

Woven by Words is a small book, but it delivers deep, energetic, and emotional nourishment for both you and your horse. While the science behind storytelling is complex, the practice itself is simple, accessible, and profoundly effective. I invite you to experience it for yourself and discover what becomes possible when communication and understanding are woven into your words, intentions, thoughts, and emotions.

Some questions to ponder for the March Zoom discussion are:

Are you skeptical of techniques or approaches that seem too easy?

Conversely, have you given up on pursuing a goal when you realize that achieving the desired result requires self-reflection and a need to change yourself?

What horsemanship methods or techniques have you been attracted to, only to discover they are “not quite right” for you or your horse? What good things or learnings can you take away from the experience?

Have you tried to fit yourself or your horse into someone’s horsemanship program even though your gut or your heart were telling you it was not a good fit?

Join me for the next free subscriber Zoom meeting on March 21, 2026, at 9 a.m. Mountain Time (8:00 am Pacific/10:00 am Central/11:00 am Eastern) to continue this discussion. 

Click on the button to register for the March 21, 2026 Zoom meeting:

If you missed February’s Energetic Equestrian Zoom Discussion, or would like to listen again, here is the link:

If you’re new and would like to read The Energetic Equestrian Digest, which contains several longer, more in-depth articles, here is the link:

(More to be announced when dates/locations are confirmed.)

Contact Lonnie O’Baugh: [email protected]

Contact Barbara Dove: [email protected]

Contact Tara Schnicke: [email protected]

Contact Deanna Sinclair Parker: [email protected]

Contact Liz Juenke: [email protected]

Contact Rosca Horsemanship: [email protected] 

Contact Cindy Togstad:  [email protected]​

Contact Patty Roll: [email protected]  

Dr. Fay,

Today, when at the hitching post, Aspen was breathing so beautifully!  I was so impressed! It's 73 degrees today and the horses have been sweating. 

Then, a barn friend offered to give Aspen a little clip to help with the heat. So, I  told him a story about the horse that got his 1st clip and, although it felt different, he actually began to like and he immediately felt cooler and better.

Well, not only did Aspen stand like champ with a slow introduction to the clippers, he kept breathing. His eye got soft and then he yawned 3 times!!!

What a champ! We went across the bridge and I free grazed him. I love ripping up handfuls of grass for him. It's been a perfect day!

My gratitude is beyond language. 

Jeannette and Aspen 

September 2025 marked the official launch of The Energetic Equestrian Digest.

Within the pages of this digital publication, I explore topics from science to energy and spirituality. Each issue will include evidence-based and/or theoretical articles and equine-related stories. In addition, there’ll be a light-hearted editorial column, compliments of Cotton the donkey.

All of the articles in the digest will represent a fusion of science with spirituality, as one without the other gives us an incomplete picture of our human experience. Rest assured, all articles will be AI-free!

I have been an enthusiastic consumer of information for most of my life, with far-ranging interests including horses, the environment, psychology, energy, the brain, and consciousness. While pursuing these interests, I earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Environmental Science, and a Ph.D. in Psychology.

I also have certifications in a number of energy and mental training modalities and techniques. I consider myself quite fluent in the language of energy!

In my former life, I raised Morgan horses and Scottish Highland Cattle on my ranch in western Colorado. I showed many of my horses, achieving local, national, and world championships in various performance-related disciplines.

While working on my Ph.D., I studied the role of early childhood trauma on mental, emotional, and physical health outcomes. My understanding of the effects of trauma is vital to my work with equines. The devastating impact of trauma on our equines is far too common, but also highly preventable if we follow science-based and energetically-aware training methods, such as the ones I teach in my Sacred Spaces work.

Virtual Zoom Session

A private Zoom session is a great opportunity for you and your equine partner to experience the Sacred Space. In a Zoom session, I offer:

The potency of energy is not affected by distance. Many clients comment that the energetic effects are just as strong during a virtual session as during an in-person one.

Sacred Spaces Gathering

Go to the Events page of The Energetic Equestrian to see where I’ll be appearing in-person in the coming months.

Gatherings offer both people and equines an opportunity to experience Sacred Spaces principles and techniques in a safe and supportive environment.

At a Gathering, you’ll learn more about energy, energetic horse training, and how to commune with your equine partner.

Do you have a success story you’d like to share in an upcoming newsletter? Tell us how you’ve successfully used Dr. Fay’s teachings to improve your relationship with your equine(s). Email your submissions to [email protected] for possible inclusion in a future newsletter.

Did a friend forward you this newsletter? Click the link below to subscribe!

Consider joining the Sacred Spaces/Sacred Wisdom Facebook community where we share heartwarming stories, struggles, and victories on our path to becoming our horse’s “once in a lifetime human.”

© 2026 Susan D. Fay Ph.D., LLC. All rights reserved.