Paula Mallis is the steward of Knowing Ranch in Ojai, California, where she lives alongside her herd with her partner Todd, daughter Madeleine, and son Phoenix.

Paula grew up immersed in the deeply traditional world of horses in North Carolina, an approach that never fully aligned with her. That early awareness stayed with her, and years later, led to her own reclamation.

That transformation began when Paula truly noticed her own horse communicating through his body, that he did not want to be ridden in the traditional way. Rather than override him, she got curious, and started deeply listening.

That choice allowed her horse to have a voice for the first time. It opened a door to course correct and forged the courage to take a new path with horses.

When Paula and her family moved their horses home to Knowing Ranch, she finally found the quiet she needed, away from opinions and methodologies, to hear her own inner voice clearly. That clarity allowed her to deepen her listening, both to her horses and herself.

Paula brings years of experience holding loving, transformational space for people, drawing on her background in spiritual psychology and other healing modalities. Her personal exploration has centered on two paths in particular. She completed The Reflective Horse Mastery Program in 2025, allowing her to facilitate Equine Guided Empowerment experiences. She has also studied, Being With Horses, and has hosted clinics grounded in both of these modalities at Knowing Ranch alongside her daughter Madeleine and the herd, creating real transformational experiences.

Looking ahead, Paula is excited to continue sharing this work more widely in the world, in deep service to others through the connection between horses and humans.