Monica Clement
Shooting Stars Horsemanship, Owner/Trainer/Director
Equine Behavior Consultant & Rehabilitative Trainer
Wild Mustang & Burro Gentler, Trainer & Home Finder
Heart to Wild Heart, Program Director
Equine-Assisted Master Transformation, Empowerment & Self Care
Life Coach
* Personal Development (almost ANY area in life)
* Life Purpose
* Transformation
* Happiness
* Therapeutic Art
* Self Care
* Forgiveness
* Meditation
* Navigating Life Changes with Peace, Compassion & Intention
Equine Facilitated Learning Practitioner, HERD Institute
BS Business Management, Purdue University
Horses Are Interwoven With My Purpose
Hello. My name is Monica and I have created Heart to Wild Heart to share with you the benefits I have received from being with at-risk horses (and now donkeys, too!) throughout my life, as well as my unique experience, knowledge and skills that come from my life's work with equines and humans to achieve various goals together in order to create safe, willing partnership between horses and humans. I've worked with equines and people of all ages and abilities, from giving beginner riding lessons to teaching people to train or retrain their own horses - sometimes after they had experienced a traumatic event together. My ability to be understanding, caring, patient and persistent, coupled with my belief in our innate ability to change and grow, attracted to me the most difficult horses that multiple professionals had given up on. Those that were abused, neglected, misunderstood or dangerous - and the people that sometimes came with them. I learned early on that I had to teach the horse owners, not just the horses, if they were to have success together. Horses have taught me many of my life lessons and the values that I pass on; they have always been with me through life challenges. They've enhanced my own learning and growth through my pursuit of being a better horsewoman, which is to be a better human. I've been blessed to share the wisdom and spirit of horses with others since I was a young child.
After a childhood full of adversity and the lived adult consequences of it, raising children, many years in the food service industry and a full career in sales and management in the newspaper industry, I finally quit doing what I had to do to take the job of my dreams: Equestrian Program Director at a private boarding school. Getting paid to put teens and horses together for fun, education and personal growth?! If you know me, you know HOW MUCH I enjoyed the work; and how difficult it was for me to be forced to quit to tend to my health. You might be thinking I did have a choice - that I could have pushed myself or made appropriate lifestyle changes and kept working. But since I had already pushed extensively and for far too long, my body had become not only too painful, but literally incapable. I had no more to give physically, emotionally or mentally. Not to others, as I had always found a positive thing, nor to myself. I needed a complete reset and rebuild.
We moved to the White Mountains in 2016 to do just that. My husband is a career Army veteran. He was a soldier in the First Armored Division, which means he experienced years in combat. I mention his career because he had also come to a place in life where he needed to get back to nature, rest, rejuvenate, and start over. So we moved to the White Mountains with our two horses, looking to change our nervous systems... and find an acreage to build our dreams of creating a self-sustaining off grid homestead where we could heal ourselves... and then put people and horses together for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual self-improvement and self-care. We found that acreage in Concho, Arizona, near Snowflake, St. John's, Holbrook and Show Low. We are slowly building Shooting Stars Ranch - a name that comes from a picnic long ago with the kids, and a horse that had a big comet - or shooting star - marking on her face. We came here to slow down; to enjoy this land and our horses; to build a home and an equine learning and growth center that enhances our own wellness and others' wellness, all in the presence of equines... and let's gentle and home some amazing American wild horses and burros while we're at it!
Horses have been a constant gift in my life, here to help me through difficult times and to teach me ways of being that most humans could not. Through my life's dedication to learning about and helping them, they've taught me about God, family, relationships (i.e. trust, communication and safe, meaningful interaction), my Self. They've taught me how to be a good friend, neighbor and community member. They helped me be the best mom I could be. They've given us all so many memories and connections. Horses have supported me throughout my own healing journey including physical injuries, emotional trauma, divorce, death and grief, and my personal journey of healing the lifelong effects of an adverse childhood and chronic stress. Mind, body and spirit, they have been my support, teachers and guides. They are incredible, intelligent sentient beings, able to connect with us on all levels - even from a considerable distance. I am always in gratitude of the Horse!
Some of the benefits I have experienced from being with horses (and now burros, too!) are obvious: Fun, love, companionship; development of my equine training and rescue/rehabilitation knowledge and skills; exercise, stress reduction, emotional support; a deeper understanding of their needs and communication, the way their brain and nervous system work (and therefore my own); and experiencing deep connection. Other benefits are not as obvious: Coherence, regulation and alignment of my body, mind and spirit; improvement of relationships (even ones that have nothing to do with my time spent with horses); improved work productivity; nonjudgmental guidance in life decisions; daily meditation and stress reduction; honesty, safety, friendship, development of emotional regulation and interpersonal skills, encouragement to be my best Me; peace; deeper compassion, understanding and connection to all things. Horses have assisted me in my personal development in so many areas of my life. Being in their presence enhances everything I do, feel and be. I've seen horses do this for countless others as well.
We want to help you enjoy these experiences and benefits from interacting with horses and donkeys. We, the equines and I, want to enhance your journey of learning, personal development and growth. Wherever you are at right now, wherever you want to go. We are here to assist you in accessing and utilizing your own inner wisdom and guidance through the power of being with equines in an intentional, empowering, inclusive and safe environment. Explore this website to learn more about the services I offer and about my amazing co-facilitators.
Feel free to reach out with any questions through the contact form at the bottom of every page. I look forward to discussing your individual, family or group needs with you to come up with a plan that fits; and the equines look forward to offering their masterful, heartfelt assistance on your journey of personal growth. Blessings and love to you!
