Being with Horses

Being with Horses is an approach to the horse/human relationship founded by Sabine & Dan Birmann in Germany. It is not a training method, but a way of life that allows for us to reconnect with our awareness and develop a partnership with our horses founded in freedom, mutual connection, respect and love.

Emily Anderson and Carla Lanphear host several clinics a year at Emily’s ranch in Southwest Montana so that individuals can experience this groundbreaking philosophy in-person.

If you are a horse owner or lover seeking a non-dominant, holistic approach to the horse/human relationship, we invite you to join us for a clinic. See details below.

The Philosophy

Being with Horses is not a training method. Rather, it’s a way of being that guides individuals to reconnect with their present-moment awareness and empathy in service to true partnership. In BwH, we move beyond traditional approaches based in dominating horses and using them for personal gain. Instead, we understand that horses are social animals with unique personalities, emotions and needs - just like us. Thus, in order to form a relationship based on mutual trust and authentic communication, we must learn how to listen to our horses and communicate with them in a way that they can understand - through mutual body language that considers our presence, position, and behavior. 

 

Over time, we will recognize that our horses reflect back to us that which lives within us - grief, anger, and fear, as well as freedom, power, and joy. And as our relationship grows, our horses will show us that they can move when there is movement in us; they can trust us when we become trustworthy; they will follow us when we learn to lead with their best interest in mind; and they can feel free to be themselves when we learn to become accepting and free.

Through Being with Horses we are given the opportunity to journey beyond pressure, perfectionism, ambition and expectations, and allow our horses to guide us back to the present moment, and a life of greater authenticity and connection.

 

Want to learn more about the Being with Horses philosophy? We started a podcast just for you! Listen here.

Clinic Details

2024 Clinics

Dates: June 14-16 & Oct 11-13

Please note: The October clinic will be facilitated by Sabine Birmann herself! This will be a very special opportunity to learn from the Being with Horses founder in person.

Location: Emigrant, Montana

Pricing: $800 for participants bringing a horse, $400 for auditors

Capacity: We have space for 4-5 participants with horses and 6 auditors. Apply via the contact info at the bottom of this page.

Important Details

  • Boarding here at the ranch is provided for each horse participating. We can provide hay for a small additional fee.

  • Auditors will have to chance to observe the entire clinic, ask questions and participate in all person-to-person activities.

Accommodations

If you are joining us from out of town, Airbnb’s on the ranch and in the immediate vicinity are available and we can assist you in finding somewhere that fits your needs. We also have space for several camper vans to be parked on-site for the duration of the clinic. Please note: Cost for lodging is not included.

FAQs

  • We are located in Tom Miner Basin, MT - a truly unique landscape that borders National Forest land and is home to a diverse species of wildlife from bears and wolves to moose, elk, and many others. Tom Miner is a beautiful 1 hour and 10-minute drive from Bozeman and just 25 minutes from the North Entrance to Yellowstone Park.

  • Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport is the closest airport to our ranch.

  • If you are flying in you will need to rent a car to get to and from the ranch during the clinic. Or you can organize to carpool with another member of the group.

  • Healthy, homemade lunch is available for an add on fee. And we can accommodate any dietary restrictions you may have.

  • We highly recommend auditing a clinic to experience the Being with Horses approach in action. It’s an experience that will forever change the way you look at the horse/human relationship regardless of whether you are participating or observing. And auditors will still get to participate in all person-to-person exercises.

  • No! All you need to have is a desire to learn more about how to connect with horses in a non-dominant , compassionate way. Auditors will not interact with the horses, but have the chance to observe and ask questions.

What People Are Saying

  • "I had long been searching for a way of connecting with my mare, Willa, that felt both authentic to me and like it honored and respected her as the sentient being she is. In all my years of working with horses, there seemed to be an expectation of using dominance in our interactions with horses, and that just didn’t sit well with me. Being With Horses is everything I’ve been looking for and more — from learning how to better communicate with and care for Willa, to fully recognizing and helping to heal her trauma, and honestly acknowledging the role I play in this reciprocal relationship. I’m so grateful to Carla and Emily for working together to share this opportunity with us and for creating safe space for a beautiful, heart-centered community of people to form around this important philosophy. Few things are more fulfilling to me than getting the chance to invest in Willa’s well-being, in our friendship, and in being a better person for her.”

    — Melissa

  • “As an auditor of the Being With Horses Clinic, I was amazed by the transformations that took place between horse and handler in just three days. It felt healing for all who were present. The combination of experiences brought by Emily and Carla demonstrated the art of guiding one through a process of deeply seeing and listening to the energy within themselves and their horses, allowing for an opening and connection for mutual growth to occur. In essence, this clinic guides one through an experience that answers what it means to feel whole, connected and in relation with what and who we love.”

    — Justin

  • “With Carla’s guidance, the bond between my horse and me transformed over the course of her clinic. I’ve been a rider and horsewoman my whole life, but the Being With Horses approach has profoundly opened my eyes and my heart to a whole new way of being with and relating to my horse. At the clinic I realized it was what I’d long been searching for. Carla is a thoughtful, patient teacher with a very intuitive sense of both horses and people. She also embodies what she teaches, which goes a long way in setting an example for her students. I look forward to spending many more years learning from and working with Carla.”

    — Louise

 Ready to reserve your spot?

Please email carla.preiss@gmail.com with your details.