Fellow Animal Empowerment

11/22/2025

Y'all 🥺🦄

11/07/2025

Girl I am SO tired. So. Tired.

The year is 2025, nearly 2026 mind you, and FEI is deciding open, bleeding wounds on animals are actually totally okay and fine and maybe you'll get a little warning, a little slappity slap on the wrist and 5 seconds in the time-out corner, but that's it!

Congratz! Now while your horse is subjected to physical and emotional pain with no escape (all for your pleasure) they can have blood on their mouths and ribs while you have it on your hands. 🥰❤️

To those who see no issue with competitive horse sports, please reconsider the relationship you have with your horse and grow to be a better person... If you're driven enough in your sport or hobby to bloody someone else, you need help.

Sorry not sorry for the sarcasm, but my GOD the vystopia has been weighing me down lately and this is another massive anchor to add to the mix.

Ps. I still think about the Dujardin situation, among many other scandals though this one is more recent, and feeling so down about the lack of progress in the equestrian world. Boycott FEI.

10/04/2025

We are all so deeply woven together and interconnected; what a shame to see so much division and such a lack of humanity.

New blog post on From the Field - Intersectionality of Horse and Human: Our Projection of Societal and Power Structures in Relationships to Equines (Part 1)

https://fellowanimal.com/blog/f/intersectionality-of-horse-and-human

10/03/2025

This year (understandably) has exhausted me; my hopefulness and optimism challenged. I've felt the urge to continue sharing, educating, advocating, and creating but have felt a loss of words over the tragedies seen across the world.

I've been working on a few politically charged pieces for my blog, here's a blip from a current WIP I've almost finished.

08/09/2025

Next weekend we start our journey. 😌

The equines have been practicing their trailer loading and confinement skills the past month or so and most recently we've honed in on husbandry and life skills to set them up for success when we arrive at our new home. Today they've started ulcer treatments and herbals to support their digestive systems and to maintain a calm, happy emotional state along the way.

I've found myself exploring animism and sometimes incorporating tarot and ritual into my work with my equines. It's been so fun and exciting to explore this alongside my greatest companions. While my partner was away I even took some time under the moonlight to pull some cards and do some training. ✨️

We've been RV living for a bit over a month and the dogs have adapted beautifully. It's been an adjustment for all of us, but we find tiny living to be cozy and appreciate the closeness it brings. The change in our antecedent arrangement also gets us out of the "house" more and it's been nice to be out in nature with my critter crew more and more - I can tell they've enjoyed it too. 😊

I don't believe I've shared yet here, but we have adopted our now ex-client, Winston. This sweet little donk stole my heart with his enthusiastic (loud) braying when I first catch his eye, his gentle, easy nature in training, and his resilience; he's fearful of strangers but so curious and wanting to engage with them. Winston, now Nemo, has been welcomed to our little family with open arms, Wonder especially seems to really enjoy his company. 🙂

I took a trip down to NC with my bestie to visit in July, where we were met with nothing but kindness. A huge thanks to Gen for being a wonderful friend and the endless roadtrip chats. And a huge thanks to Danielle for not only acting as a stellar host and tour guide, but also opening her farm to us and being a big-hearted giver; the world needs more people like you two and I'm so grateful for you. 💓

I fell in love with the mountains, the way they make me feel both small and inferior, yet powerful and connected to something much larger than myself. The longing for a space that feels like home has been all-consuming but I think we've found it here. I felt safe in my self-expression, comfort in becoming more vulnerable and open, and most notably, an overwhelming sense of belonging.

A thanks to my partner as well who took a week out of his time off of work to head down himself to help out on the farm and prep some space for our equine trio. I admire so deeply his hardworking nature and the love he pours into all things he does. His support and the excitement we've shared about this journey have brought us even closer and there's no one else I'd rather do life with. ❤️

And lastly, thank you to for supporting me professionally, providing me with my first ever client-rehome fail, and helping us transport the equines. We are SO grateful for your help and taking so much time out of your busy schedule to help. 🥰

04/25/2025

I think I may have dropped hints about our upcoming move but have yet to say anything formally on any of my business social media/site soooo that announcement comes today! 🎉

Fellow Animal Empowerment (Corbyn and the whole crew) is embarking on a new journey, destination TBD but the farm is sold and moving plans are underway. Currently eyeing up a property in Washington with hopes of landing there; Corbyn's always dreamed of moving west and intuition says "do it!" ✨

This move would provide the critters with more space and a more species-appropriate lifestyle, Corbyn and their partner with a more welcoming community, and a crucial step in our goal to become food-independent and off the grid; we love the planet and all of its critters and want to honor that. (Plus we are so fed-up with 6 month long winters, yuck!)🌻

For now, we have some temporary living options available to us and are putting a heavy focus on trailer loading practice, barn organization, and pasture clean-up, hence the extra inactivity on my end!

Things have slowed down a bit so I'm hoping to have some blog posts to share shortly and finally will be giving my time and energy to my upcoming, revised Equine Essentials course. I will be shifting focus to creating more virtual services and spaces for the time being. 💓🦄

Catch me on Bluesky ( https://bsky.app/profile/fellowanimal.bsky.social ) or on my blog! I am continuing to distance myself from META platforms and will only post here for big updates. 🫶

01/18/2025

When I first started this page it was just a space for me to share and document my journey as an adult jumping back into riding after years away. I was excited to be reconnected with horses and find a community that shared the same love and passion that I do for these marvelous beings. My page, cmp.equestrian eventually evolved into what it is today; still a place for me to share and document my journey with my horses, but also a space to inspire, challenge, and encourage others- my business and passion.

I'm grateful to every moment I've shared with you all and the community we share through Facebook and Instagram. Through these platforms I've been lucky to connect with many like-minded individuals, from dog trainers to saddle-fitters and therapists to marketing wizards. I've learned and grown so much and owe so many thanks to all of you! I may have found my way to R+ eventually, but the community here lead me to it sooner. Thank you for guiding me toward honoring my softness, seeing it's value.

Softness was never a weakness, it's been my superpower all along.

I am saddened to say goodbye, but Fellow Animal Empowerment will be moving onto spaces that feel safer and where we don't have to wrestle with Zuckerberg just to have our content pop up on your feed. Naturally as a nonbinary & pansexual individual, I am deeply disappointed in recent Meta's decisions, and this is largely why I'm choosing to step away from social media- that said, I deeply value the ability to connect, to share, and to collaborate. Our pages will remain up and open so that we're discoverable still, but they will largely be inactive. Maybe some day we'll be back, but for now we're choosing to step into spaces that honor and welcome others, not spaces that discriminatory and dismissive of mistreatment of other people as well as misinformation (no fact check in a world that deeply undervalues science? ew).

To keep up with Corbyn and the critters, you can check out our blog or sign up for our newsletter. (Also have a bluesky, kinda not into it but maybe it'll grow on me.)

Thanks for all the laughs over goofy horses, for the self-reflection as a trainer, but also an individual, the shared sorrow over lost horses, and excitement over teaching a new skill. 💗🦄

01/18/2025

SCARED HORSES ARE PRETTY HORSES

My friend Katie and I share a love of horses, good discussions, and, as you'll come to learn, photo opportunities.

A while back, my old cattle dog, Fiver, needed to wear a 'cone of shame' after having surgery. Not thinking too much about it, I let Fiver out to come up to the arena with me. Fiver wandered off while I caught my mare Viveza. As you may have guessed by the picture with this post, Fiver wandered back into view just as I was bringing Viveza into the arena.

Viveza, to the best of my knowledge, had never previously seen a dog wearing a bucket collar, and she viewed this new beast as a potential threat. Her sympathetic nervous system, the 'flight or fight' response, was triggered, preparing her body to escape what her brain had just determined to be a potentially dangerous situation:

• adrenaline was released, increasing blood flow and nutrients to her muscles so that she could flee or fight as needed
• her pupils dilated to allow more light to enter her eye, so she could better see the threat
• her heart rate and breathing increased, better allowing for the delivery of energy and oxygen to her body during this encounter
• the unpleasant emotion of fear was triggered, causing her only to be concerned with getting away safely

While we couldn't see the physiological changes occurring inside Viveza's body, we could see changes in her body language. Her muscles became taught, she stood squarely, her neck arched, her head elevated, and her gaze fixed on the dog.

I managed the situation (I had accidentally created) as best as I could, getting Fiver in a building to minimize the chances Viveza suffered either a physical or behavioural injury.

After the metaphoric dust had settled, Katie and I looked at the picture she had snapped right as Viveza saw Fiver. One of us said something we have discussed previously, 'scared horses are pretty horses'. This wasn't meant to minimize the fear Viveza felt, nor do we think frightened horses are prettier than calm horses. Rather, we have talked previously at length about images shared on social media where the person sharing feels the image shows a 'pretty' horse--but all we can see are the signs of stress or fear.

Images of stressed or frightened 'pretty' horses aren't a new, social media phenomenon. Wander around a city, and you’ll see a statue of a long-dead general on a stressed horse. Visit a museum, and view centuries-old artistic depictions of frightened horses. For hundreds of years, people have been desensitized to images of stressed or frightened horses. It's totally normal, and accepted, for stressed horses to be seen as pretty.

When we learn more about horse behaviour and begin to train our eye to recognize signs of fear or stress, such images begin to lose their pretty status. And that's OK.

01/17/2025

A quick reminder: It’s not anyone’s responsibility to soften the blow when confronting tough truths about horse care. Sharing information on welfare issues, like no turn out or using tools like draw reins, isn’t cruel it’s necessary. If you feel personally attacked by these discussions, pause and ask yourself why, instead of blaming the messenger.

Often, these reactions are rooted in guilt. When uncomfortable truths challenge our practices, especially with young horses, it’s easier to get defensive than to face the need for change. But ignoring these issues only harms the horses, particularly as young ones are more vulnerable to poor management practices.

Defensiveness won’t help your horse young or adult. We need to embrace these tough conversations, learn from them, and improve how we care for all horses. Let’s stop silencing welfare discussions and start growing for the betterment of our horses.

01/17/2025

Moving is stressful for horses whether it's to a new guardian, a new barn, a trainer, or a rescue. They are taken away from companions, their home, comfort and safety; when moving they may also experience a change in routines or be handled by new or different people in ways they're not familiar with. While we should value and respect the relationships shared between horses and the comfort they find in familiarity, sometimes moving isn't an option- in these cases, we must work to reduce fear and stress, provide comfort and support, and be a gentle guide and proactive caretaker for them.

To learn more, check out my new blog post! 💗🐴

https://fellowanimal.com/blog/f/preparing-a-horse-to-move

12/21/2024

12/21/2024