Testimonials

  • “I wanted something more than I was getting from mainstream natural horsemanship and was instantly drawn to how Cassandra talked about working with horses and her relationship with them. I loved the idea of Somatic Riding and learning to get more quiet within myself and pay attention to the energy in me and around me. I learned to listen more effectively and develop a deeper understanding of how to communicate with horses and how that translates to a different way to look at and approach aspects of life. I was very moved by Cassandra. She is a gifted teacher that balances beautifully the art and sustenance of teaching, when to push and when to step back.”

    — Dawn Horwitz-Person, Psychotherapist

  • “With my history of childhood trauma and addiction, I’m an expert at disassociation and escape. Working with Cassandra and Spotted Horse taught me about mutual respect, authenticity, and the power of staying grounded and present in the moment. All this by hanging out with a horse! When we started, I’d barely been around horses at all, ever. Now it’s all I think about! I have returned to the source — recaptured a joy I forgot I had. The experience has been transformational and I’m excited to continue on the path.”

    — Kim Derby

  • “I grew up riding western, surrounded by cowboys and going to the rodeo. I realized that I wanted to learn to work with horses in a different way, rather than the cowboy way of breaking a horse, as it never sat right with me. Working with Cassandra completely changed my outlook and relationship with horses. I can honestly say that I learned more from Cass in a weekend intensive than I had learned in my entire history with horses. Cassandra has a beautiful way of teaching, she is so wise, intuitive and really knows how to hold space for both the human and horse she is working with. I have discovered an amazing and spiritual partnership with horses. It is more fun and exciting than any riding I’ve ever done and I am constantly learning about horses and myself. ”

    — Sam Sumner, Yoga Teacher

  • “I had suffered from severe panic attacks for years. The job I was working on had horses on set and I noticed that when I was around them, I just felt better, less anxiety. I told a friend about this and she recommended I begin working with Cassandra. Cass changed my life. Not only did my panic attacks lessen, they are now almost completely non-existent. The best part about working with The Reflective Horse is that I see the lessons I’ve learned in the work, play out in my day to day life. I am so grateful to Cassandra for these lifelong tools, and also my new lifelong soul obsession with horses.”

    — Beth Behrs, Actress, Activist

  • “In 2014, I interned with The Reflective Horse, and had the chance to study with Cassandra, who mentored me to investigate the ineffable and mysterious bond between horse and human. In a way, trying to explain the unexplainable. Cassandra helped me to see the interconnectedness of personal life stories, energy, and the radical answers horses could bring. She taught me to be patient on the ground and find center and balance before I could even think about riding the horse. I had a chance to see and assist her in her wonderful work with teenagers and recognize the powerful teaching she offers. Since The Reflective Horse and my internship, I never stopped learning about the power of equine interactions and am deeply grateful for Cassandra’s guidance and coaching.”

    — Tessa de Baudinière, Actress, Horse Woman

  • “Cassandra is a passionate leader committed to working with people and horses, helping them to develop positive self-esteem and effective communication skills. She combines her skills as a leader with her deep understanding of horses, offering people an opportunity to grow their self-awareness at the same time as being guided by the horses to a place of deeper connection with themselves, others and with the earth.”

    — Anni Townend, Business Psychologist and Author.

  • “Let me be clear about the fact that I am a city dweller with very few encounters with four-legged creatures taller than me. Being an urbanite, I thought humans took hold of the reins and “drove” horses to destinations. Little did I know that a horse could guide ME to where I wanted to go. This special experience gave me some important insights into my own personal journey. It allowed for the luxury of self reflection”

    — Monica Iannessa, Director of Student Achievement, Palisades Charter High School

  • “I was first drawn to The Reflective Horse by the idea that horse and rider could communicate spirit to spirit rather than by saddle and bit. I had always wanted to ride bareback and bit-less, as well as gain more confidence around horses in general. But after my experience with Cassandra and my horse Bandit, I realized that I had stumbled upon something so much greater. What I walked away with from on my first weekend was a stronger connection to myself, which then allowed me to communicate with these magnificent creatures. As I continued with Cass, I realized that what I was learning in the arena could be applied to every aspect of my life; work, relationships, hopes, desires, etc. And seeing how my relationship with Bandit blossomed was all the validation I needed. l can’t help but smile when I think about it.”

    — Sheena Leigh Graves, Actress

  • "The mentorship I did with Cass completely changed my life. I was at a place where I really needed to deviate away from traditional therapy and so I came organically from her bareback riding program to her personal mentorship program. It was exactly what I needed; in a world of “self help” and unraveling one’s psychological patterns of the past only to write one’s present, Cass’ way of mentorship showed me that a new way was possible, a way to see that this moment was brand new."

    — Olivia Bee, Artist + Agrarian

  • "I attended Cassandra’s Equine Guided Empowerment program and I am very grateful for this experience. At the time that I came across Cassandra, I was seeking to deepen my relationship with horses and myself. As a therapist, I was interested in partnering with horses, but I needed to experience the modality as a client. In addition, I was navigating many life changes and hoping to find wisdom and empowerment through my experience with her herd. The four day experience provided me exactly what I needed. Before traveling to California, I began private mentorship calls with Cassandra. I would talk about my encounters with the horses in my life as well as the experiences I was having on my life journey. Through her deep listening and understanding of horse and human behavior, she was able to help me make sense of what was happening. Even though we met virtually, Cassandra helped me to ground myself in my body and become the observer of my thoughts. When I met Cassandra and her herd, it was a gift to work with them. Each day Cassandra guided me in a grounding exercise, inviting me to open to my experience and surroundings. Like the horses I was becoming one with the present moment. As we observed the horses, I noticed how some would “move others out of the way.” Cassandra helped me see that these horses are naturally able to claim space and honor themselves. They are all in relationship with one another and know how to ask for what they want. This realization was an ‘aha’ moment for me. Self honoring and taking up space rarely felt like an option for me nor did it feel safe. Cassandra helped me experience this by guiding me through somatic practices, first on my own, and then with the horses. This approach allowed me to feel what it is like to claim space. To my surprise, the horses understood my request without retaliation and we continued to deepen our relationship. I am now back on the east coast and continue to practice the grounded presence I learned from the herd. With this deepened capacity to claim space, I have felt more confident to take risks in my career and in my relationships. The horses showed me the truth; it’s ok to be exactly as I am and to ask for what I want."

    — Tracy Sanna, Mental Health Therapist

  • "My experience of The Reflective Horse and Cassandra was truly remarkable. It is hard to put the whole experience into words, as I felt sensations that I have never felt in my life. The energy and presence of the Horses was inspiring. I realized that there is the possibility of living at a Mystical level similar to what you see in Super Hero Movies. The Reflective Horse experience was able to get me out of my mind and into my body. This was a supernatural feeling. I had feelings of euphoria, calm connected presence, inner power, intuition. I have always had a tendency to focus on Doing which left me feeling incomplete. I practiced just Being during my experience, which was challenging but liberating. I learned Grounding Practices to get back into my body when my mind starts getting overactive. I did exercises on claiming my space while honoring others’ space which was empowering. I set an intention that my behaviors and actions will be driven by Love rather than Fear towards the end of my experience. When faced with a difficult decision or going for something that we truly desire our minds have a tendency to cause Fear. Fear can cause us to make a decision that is not in line with our true purpose or can prevent us from going for what we truly want. When we drop into our body and quiet our mind that is when magic happens. That magic is Love! Our intuition allows us to make the right decisions with ease. We go for what we truly want and accept whatever the outcome. I feel like a seed was planted inside me that will one day turn into something incredible! I am hopeful that my words will inspire others to embark on this amazing journey."

    — Nishel Badiani, Entrepreneur

  • "As a child, I enjoyed riding horses, but felt unsatisfied with the experiences I had with them and the models of horsemanship that I grew up under. I knew there must be a different way and felt drawn to what Cassandra offered - relationship versus dominance. My 10 year old son and I spent a weekend with Cassandra and the herd and our eyes were opened to the true beauty of simply being with the horses without expectation. Through observation of the herd, deep listening, and direction from Cassandra, we were able to see the importance of staying grounded in our center, being present and claiming space. I was amazed to discover so many parallels to my life. Above all, watching my son grasp these deep truths in a visceral way, was an incredible gift to me. We walked away changed and feeling confident to step into new relationship with horse and human."

    — Katy Long, Designer, Illustrator, Artist