• Feeling confident that you can pick up on subtle lamenesses, soreness, or unbalanced movement EARLY
  

• Having a proven process for preventing potential soundness issues
  

• Knowing that your training is healthy for your horse - mentally, physically, and emotionally
  

• Having a calm, curious horse that can’t wait for your next training session together
  

• Feeling authentic connection with your horse; an unbreakable bond
  

• Having a support system that aligns with your values and guides you every step of the way
  

intuitive

• You’re painfully aware of the problems with your “old way” of doing things, but may not have new ​skills to replace them

• You can *feel* when your horse is unhappy, but others around you say nothing is wrong
  

• You’re afraid of trying something new and doing it wrong - you don’t want to harm your horse ​accidentally
  

• You’re surrounded by people giving you advice that no longer sits right with you
  

• You worry that you’ll cause pain or distress by riding
  

There is a solution.

A 120-day 1:1 online coaching program that will take you from feeling stuck and​ worried to confidently training you horse for long-term

mental and physical soundness

coach

Hi! I’m

Barbara

culmination

This process is a of my life’s work.

I decided to make a drastic change.

My “lazy” gelding now loves forward movement (with zero whips)

My “explosive” mare is finding emotional regulation and softness

I’ve helped hundreds of clients unwind compensation patterns and build healthy ​movement in their horses - and maintain these improvements with a lifestyle and ​training program designed to support their horse’s individual needs.

Now, I know precisely how to teach intuitive horse owners to create soundness & ​resilience in their own horses -

physically, mentally, and emotionally.

saying

I came to know and work with Barbara unfortunately as a last resort.

I tried and did all the things vets were recommending to me and despite my hardest efforts and ​thousands upon thousands of dollars spent, nothing was working. I knew there had to be more out ​there available than what I was being offered, and there was!

Barbara began working with me and my horse after he was diagnosed and surgically treated for ​kissing spine and multiple lateral left stifle tears including a torn meniscus.

I was at a point where medically we had done everything we could do plus the time off given and I ​was not seeing the improvements that I had hoped for.

In one visit she proved to me that my horse could go sound, we just needed to​ rewire his way of carrying himself that he had become accustomed to from years of ​pain compensation.

I am a professional in my discipline and have been considered such for nearly 20 years. Working ​with Barbara and her approach to therapy in motion has been

completely life changing for me.

My understanding of the horse has been completely changed and actually even simplified; not ​only from a physical standpoint, but an emotional one as well.

It's one of those, "once you see it, you can't unsee it" type of experiences.

The horse that we worked together on went back to full competition, even competing at the ​highest level, where he was only given a "fair" prognosis from his surgeon.

I use her methods now on every single horse that I work with because I believe that it truly helps ​them all to be their best. I am so thankful for our time together, my only regret is not knowing ​about this earlier in life!

-Casey F.

I found Barbara through the world of Facebook.

I was volunteering for a rescue at the time and working with a horse that was the hardest case ​the rescue had ever seen. She was completely untouchable and after 9 months of intensive ​training with pressure and release she still couldn’t and wouldn’t come anywhere near people.

I was a transfer from the dog world to the horse world, so I kept asking about positive ​reinforcement, and no one seemed to know what I was talking about.

Once the old trainer decided she couldn’t do anything else with this horse, I reached out to the ​internet, and that’s where I found Barb.

Not only did she work with Kopper, but she worked with me. She taught ME ​the skills I needed to understand and apply what I already knew about positive ​reinforcement and apply it to horses.

We took a horse that couldn’t and wouldn’t be touched for 18 months into a horse than can

- self halter

- runs across a pasture when her name is called

- approaches strangers

- leads nicely despite restriction previously being her biggest fear

- stands at liberty for the farrier

- loads at liberty into the trailer despite extreme trailer trauma

- and more.

And all it took was the right person.

Barb is the most knowledgeable person I have ever come across in the horse world and she is ​someone that continually works on her education, always striving to better herself.

She wants nothing but the best for her horses and her clients and that is proven every time she ​works with them.

Her case studies speak for themselves and I would truly be lost without her. I owe her so much​ and truly recommend nobody more.

-Kelsey R.

I highly recommend learning from Barbara because she truly cares about you and your horse.

After I rescued my thoroughbred, Romeo, I thought our riding days were limited due to frequent ​bouts of lameness from EPM. We were told he would most likely never be able to do anything more ​than a trot.

Romeo went from walking with a severe hitch to a beautiful canter thanks to Barbara!

She not only addresses the problems with your horse but helps you as a rider as well. Barbara truly ​makes you feel one with your horse.

She never rushes through to get you your end result.

She takes her time and makes sure the foundation is there and builds until you are ​exactly where you wanted to be, so that end result lasts.

If you are looking for a horse PT, she’s the best!

-Ally G.

I recently adopted a rescue horse named Luna. Dr. Parks was recommended to me by our trainer at ​the rescue. I am fairly new to horsemanship, and I knew that I needed to be trained just as much as ​my horse. (Probably more.)

Dr. Parks is an expert when it comes to R+ training and PT, but just as importantly she is an ​excellent teacher and mentor.

It’s one thing to find someone who is an expert at what they do. It’s another thing to find someone ​that can teach. Dr. Parks is that unicorn.

She is extremely approachable and is there as much for the student as the horse.

She is an excellent communicator and she was sure to discuss goals and expectations at the start of ​our journey.

In the short time Luna has been staying with Dr. Parks, she has lost her hay belly, developed her ​muscles, elevated her topline, and even grown an impressive mane.

Every time I see Luna she looks noticeably better.

As a physical therapist, Dr. Parks knows exactly what Luna needs to thrive and transform into a ​ridable horse. In addition, since arriving Luna’s happiness is palpable.

She is clearly living her best life.

Luna has taken to clicker training extremely well. Her confidence is greatly improved and she has ​become more sure-footed.

We are working on her balance and cues and she and I are becoming a team.

I know I have Dr. Parks and Positive Reinforcement to thank for everything.

I highly recommend Dr. Parks to anyone looking to boost their horse’s well-being and skillset. Most ​importantly, she will do so in a way that will help to improve the relationship you have with your ​equine.

-Dana N.

My experience working with Dr. Parks ​was that she was honest and upfront ​about what she saw in my horses. It’s ​hard to find someone who can be ​truthful and genuine in the horse ​industry. She gave me specific ​exercises for each individual horse. ​She is a true gem.

Highly recommend!

I was hesitant to ask for Barbara’s help because ​our 30 year old OTTB has many health issues and ​we are just grateful he’s with us, I didn’t want to ​expect anything over the top or push him.

However, after following Barbara’s many posts, I ​figured I would regret not at least talking to her. ​She quickly responded, listened to his crazy ​medical history, and had some suggestions right ​away. She came out to the farm and worked with ​us, which was super helpful and she answered all ​of our questions thoughtfully.

After doing the exercises for ~4 weeks, our ​primary goal - standing for the farrier and picking ​hooves- was met. Our farrier and vet noticed a ​difference and were super pleased with his ​improvement!

The exercises and modifications took about five ​minutes about five times a week, making them ​easy to do on a routine basis. Barbara followed ​along with his progress and has continued to ​answer our questions.

We couldn’t ask for more!

-Melodye L.

Barbara was a huge help to my horse, ​Winslow. Prior to calling Barbara, we ​had seen the vet; Winslow had ​injections, treatment for ulcers and ​EPM. While those things helped, ​Winslow was still struggling. Barbara's ​series of exercises made a huge ​difference to Winslow and he's back ​to feeling good and showing!

-Byrd N.

-Holly M.

• Know precisely what subtle discomfort AND total soundness looks like in your horse?

• Feel confident in your training plan by having the exact, step-by-step formula for ​optimizing horse health & resilience?

• Have seamless two-way communication using R+ based training?

Let’s get you on your way to becoming

the best thing that ever happened to your horse!

Still on the fence? Let’s get on the phone so I can answer all of your questions and ​ensure that Sound Horse Academy is right for you, or refer you to a better fit!

Some of these are before/after one bodywork session with me, some are before/after several ​months of bodywork and training with me, and some are before/after work by the owners ​themselves.

If the horse has a confirmed diagnosis, I have noted it in the caption.

Otherwise, these are horses with no diagnosis - the owner often felt something was off even though ​the vets, trainers, etc. could not find anything specific in their assessments.

Photos are an imperfect way to show progress - but I will explain a bit here what I’m looking at in ​each photo series. We discuss this assessment process at length in Milestone 2!

You will learn many of the techniques used with these horses in Milestone 3!

This is before/after one bodywork ​session with this mare.

Primary complaint - refusing to pick ​up her feet

Before:

• Camped under stance
  
• Core and thoracic sling inactive
• Tension lines in shoulders/neck
• Steep spinal angle

After:

• Limbs more vertical - better able to ​support body
  
• Core and thoracic sling beginning to ​engage
• Tension lines have smoothed out
• Spine is finding a more neutral ​resting posture
  

This is before/after one bodywork ​session with this gelding.

You will learn many of the techniques ​used with him in this course!

Before:

• Camped under stance
  
• Core and thoracic sling inactive ​resulting in steep spinal angle
• Tension lines in shoulders and hips

After:

• Limbs more vertical - better able to ​support his body
  
• Core and thoracic sling beginning to ​engage, spine is neutral
• Tension lines are smoothing out

This is before/after one ​bodywork session with this ​mare.

Are you seeing a pattern yet?

Still not sure what you’re looking ​at? No worries!

I’ll teach you exactly how to do ​this kind of postural assessment ​in the course!

Training your eye takes time, but ​once you see it -

you can’t unsee it!

This mare has a confirmed ​diagnosis of kissing spines.

This photo series shows before ​and after her first bodywork ​session - and the top photo ​shows 4 days later

4 days of the owner doing daily ​bodywork and exercises herself!

Can you see that back starting to ​lift?

Front legs standing more ​vertical?

She offloads her left hind in all of ​these photos - that will be ​something we start to change ​over the long-term.

pelvic asymmetry?

we can change that, too.

Before and after one session - gelding with ​old pelvic fracture from years prior

Before and after one session - OTTB gelding

3 months of progress - OTTB mare

All done by a student with only virtual ​instruction

5 months of progress

25 year old pony mare

Weight loss was a primary goal for this ​little gal - but gravity was also getting the ​better of her.

In January she stands in spinal extension. ​By May, she has developed the core and ​thoracic sling strength to maintain a ​neutral spine.

See her pattern of keeping left hind out ​behind and right front out in front? That ​will take more time to change.

Right hind is already more vertical in May, ​which tells me we are on the right track!

2 months progress - owner doing 100% of the work ​with virtual support only

This is a fun view over the back that shows us things ​we can’t always see as clearly from other views.

Before: left hip higher than right, left shoulder more ​developed than right, offloading right front leg, neck ​bent right

After: hips more even, shoulders more even, neck ​straight and neutral, equal weightbearing on limbs

(same horse, other side)

17 year old Saddlebred - followed over ​several months of rehabilitation and ​training with me

This horse has a long-standing pattern of ​spinal extension (lordosis), which you can ​see in his December 2022 photo.

In January 2024, he foundered. This ​exacerbated his old patterns while also ​adding some new problems - so he came to ​stay with me.

These photos show his weight loss journey ​and his progress in finding a netural spine, a ​more neutral pelvic position, being able to ​stand square with vertical limbs.

In June, he is still recovering from the ​founder episode, but his posture is already ​improved even compared to 2022!

Let’s

Connect