Meet Carla & Emily
Carla Preiss
My journey in Being with Horses began back in 2015, when my horse Frankie stepped into my life, fulfilling my lifelong dream of having a horse of my own. Having grown up around horses in both Germany and the U.S., I initially trained in dressage, and later competed in three-day eventing. But throughout that time I felt conflicted, because while my teachers seemingly knew what was right, I felt like I was just forcing the horse to submit to my agenda, which in truth was often selfish and senseless, and was causing both of us a lot of pain and stress.
What originally drew me to horses was their strength, beauty, and embodiment of freedom. I dreamt of having a true relationship with a horse where I didn’t need harsh and restrictive tools to force them to comply, and where we could both be free while truly enjoying our time together. So I began searching for other approaches to being in relationship with horses, and came across a video depicting the journey of a girl and her horse after she discovered the Being with Horses philosophy. Her horse started out with the stressed and shut down expression I had become so familiar with, but then his expression shifted to where he was just beaming with energy and pride. I thought to myself: “This is it! This is what I want!”
I attended my first intensive with Sabine and Dan in 2016, and thus began the “great unlearning.” It became clear that Frankie and I both carried trauma and conditioned survival patterns from our time in traditional training that were preventing us from building a true connection. But with the guidance of Sabine’s books, as well as yearly intensives and internships in Germany and the US, we were eventually able to heal and form a deep connection - the kind I had always dreamed of. Now, we dance and play, and when he carries me on his back he is so proud and motivated. He always communicates very clearly with me, and I can truly say that we love each other, and deeply cherish our time together.
When people noticed this change between Frankie and I and asked for guidance with their own horses, I started facilitating private sessions and intensives. In 2019 I organized an Intro Clinic with Sabine and Dan here in the U.S., which is where I met Emily and her horse Soldier. Since then, Emily and I have bonded over our passion for this work, and continue to collaborate in sharing the Being with Horses philosophy with horse-people all over the U.S. through clinics, individual intensives, and our Horse Time Podcast.
In addition to teaching Being with Horses, Carla works as a licensed psychotherapist in private practice, where she supports clients through trauma recovery, identity exploration, and building a life that supports and affirms their unique neurotype. She holds degrees in Ecopsychology and Counseling Psychology, and is trained in Trauma Treatment for CPTSD, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Neurodiversity-Affirming Care.
Emily Anderson
As a lifelong horsewoman, I’ve explored many forms of horsemanship - both traditional and alternative. But when I first encountered Being with Horses, I knew I had found something special.
In September of 2019, I trailered my horse Soldier over 1500 miles so I could attend the first Being with Horses clinic held in the US. Fun fact: I had never actually trailered a horse before, but I made the bold decision to go because I had a feeling the experience would change everything, and it did.
At the clinic, I finally got to see what horses are really saying about their training and experiences with humans. With Sabine’s guidance, I learned how to become aware of horses’ complex emotions and respond with understanding. I experienced the depth of Soldier’s trauma from his abusive past, which was incredibly hard, but now I could see a path forward to healing. Watch a snippet of our journey here. I also got to witness the beautiful bond between Carla and her horse Frankie, who was so clearly happy to be with his owner. Rearing with her in play and excitement. Freely lunging and inviting her on his back with eyes full of pride. This was the horse/human connection I had always dreamed of.
Since that time, I have dedicated myself to Being with Horses and walking this path with my herd. I started my young mare Arya with this approach (pictured above) and we are now riding through the mountains, moving cows bareback and bit-less, and the companionship I feel with her is unlike anything I have ever experienced with a horse. I traveled to Sabine and Dan’s farm in Germany, where I participated in an intensive and got the chance to work with one of their fiery stallions - a gift I will never forget. And since 2022 Carla and I have been hosting clinics at my family ranch here in Montana. With Sabine’s blessing, we are so excited to be the first official teachers of Being with Horses here in the USA.
If you are curious to learn more about my journey to this work and how I am putting it into practice, Carla and I have shared many stories and insights on our podcast Horse Time, so I invite you to tune in. And please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions about how you can get started with Being with Horses. It is our honor to share this revolutionary work with the horse world and support owners with the tools to build authentic and joyful partnerships with their four-legged loves.
In addition to teaching Being with Horses, Emily is the founder of Embodying Wild, a coaching platform that provides mentorship and community to women embarking on the vital journey of reconnecting to and empowering their feminine energy. Emily is trained in a diverse blend of modalities including Spiritual Psychology, Equine Guided Empowerment®, Family Systems Constellations and Astrology.