Mary Ann Simonds

Just a girl who loved horses and was able to spend a life learning to better understand them. I grew up in California and showed H/J since I was 5 years old, but branched out into other disciplines. Not satisfied with traditional training methods, I pursued research and my academic degrees in Wildlife Biology studying wild horse ecology and ethology as well as range management at the University of Wyoming. My focus was better understanding "functional social behavior of wild horses", as well as learning the real diets of wild equids on various range sites.

Applying this knowledge into our horse industry I started Equines LTD and the Whole Horse Institute in the early 1980s, brokering sport horses and educating professionals. Lecturing at numerous universities and organizations as well as doing frequent clinics in the US and Europe, I realized that while people found the information interesting very little in the our relationships with horses was changing. I needed to better understand how to change ingrained thinking. Thus, I pursued a graduate degree in Interdisciplinary Consciousness Studies and researched horse-human interactions and healing. During that time I developed an Equestrian Psychology Curriculum and worked in the fields of Eco-Psychology, Eco-tourism, and Eco-linguistics. I was determined to help shift the paradigm that animals were not just creatures to be studied and "looked at", but were interacting with us all the time on different levels. I gave a number of papers at conferences, and wrote numerous articles for various magazines.

Living in the Bay Area of California during the 1980s, I helped push forward Animal and Equine Assisted Therapy activities lobbying to get curriculum developed at colleges and universities, partnering with the Delta Society, the Dolphins Network and other groups interested in the field. I was also researching communication and connection techniques as part of my graduate work. I developed both the O.F.F.E.R. Techniques and the HeartMind Speak programs for training people how to slow down brain waves, open. the heart and "listen" to what other creatures have to "say". I also developed the S.A.I.C.C. Assessment as a way to better assess horses ( and people as it turns out) who need to live with other social creatures. All of these techniques are in the new book "A Horse by Nature".

For twenty five years I had Wisdom Stone Farm in the Pacific NW and conducted trainings in equine behavior, equestrian psychology, consciousness, interspecies and equestrian coaching, and equestrian leadership, as well as nature and horse communication through the Whole Horse Institute and the Institute of Integrated Sciences. During those years I was also teaching around the globe from Japan to Germany as well as having a professional behavior consulting practice primarily in California and Wellington, Fl and donating time to help facilitate groups such as the International Alliance for Animal Therapy and Healing, rescues, 4H groups, and JustWorldInternational.

Determined to make a difference in reducing stress in horses, I researched and developed a line of stress management vibration remedies, tested on wild horses and sport horses alike as well as aromatherapy blends. This led to developing the Natural Vibration line of products including magnetic hoof boots (the first ones,) as well as flower essence remedies for horses. I licensed the brand to Toklate Original who distributed them to tack stores. Eventually I bought the brand back and launched Mystic Horse products with several partners, which sold a larger line of stress management products for animals. At the same time I wrote books on Stress Management and Behavior, but they were translated into German and published as people in the US were not thinking about managing equine stress.

Flash forward to today. I wrote A Horse by Nature in 2019-2020, but it was not published until 2023. Timing is everything and the spotlight is on horse welfare. So much of what is in the book addresses the concerns of today with practical tips. This book outlines so much of what I have learned from horses and delivers it in simple tips, beautiful images, and suggestions for change. The book is an act of love as my royalties go to horse charities.

Today, I I live in Wellington, FL mentor dedicated professionals who are willing to make change in the sport horse world and look for opportunities to educate. I still write, speak, and take on a limited number of clients. I live with my husband of almost 50 years, ride daily, learning something new from horses every day. Join me in making a positive difference for horses and share the knowledge in the book A Horse by Nature. Thank you.