How Horses Help People Heal Trauma, Fear, and Emotional Wounds – An Interview with Gina Deleo Martell

What if healing looked less like a therapy office and more like a pasture, a fire, and a horse that chose you?

Gina Martell didn’t set out to become a healer. She set out to survive — an abusive childhood, a difficult divorce, and a career in radio that lasted three decades before she finally picked up her purse and walked away for good. What came next surprised even her. 

In this conversation, Gina shares how horses, Reiki, past life work, and the transformational power of firewalking came together into a healing practice called Firehorse Spirit and Healing. She talks about the women and children she works with, the rescue horses that somehow already know their job, and the moment a medium in Orlando told her to stop shutting her gift down.

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I am so curious about your early experiences with horses because, as we’ll get to in a few minutes, they’ve become such a big part of your life and your work with people. Do you happen to remember your first experience with a horse?

Gina Deleo Martell: I was actually trying to think about that. My mother used to say that I was born whinnying, not crying. And honestly, I think she was pretty accurate because I’ve loved horses for as long as I can remember, even as a very young child.

I’ve often wondered where that connection came from because no one else in my family shared the same passion, relationship, or communication that I seem to have with horses. As I started researching my ancestry—I’m also a Daughter of the American Revolution—I discovered that my maternal grandfather, whom I never knew, was incredibly gifted with horses.

He was the only person in the family who had that connection. He worked in the circus, did a little acting, and was an animal trainer who specialized in horses. He had a natural gift with them. I’m honored to think that he may have passed some of that gift down to me.

Did you grow up on a farm or around horses? How did you actually have access to them? What was it like for you?

Gina Deleo Martell: My first real riding experience came when I was growing up in Miami, Florida. Back then, Miami felt much more laid-back and island-like. It didn’t have all the traffic and busyness it has today.

There was a little pony farm called Dodge City Ponies right off US-1, and my step-grandfather would take me there every weekend. I would constantly beg him, “Take me to the ponies!” They’d put me on little Shetland ponies with saddles that had handles on them, and they’d even strap me in with a seatbelt.

I could have stayed there all day. I never wanted to go home.

Eventually, when I was ten years old, my parents divorced. My dad moved in with my grandfather for a while, and one day he took me out for a drive. We passed a farm where a horse was for sale.

As a child, I was always trying to negotiate with my parents. I’d tell them, “No Christmas presents for the rest of my life—just get me a pony.” I was a serious negotiator.

My dad and grandfather stopped, and they bought me a beautiful black Welsh Paso Fino mare named Black Beauty. I considered changing her name, but she was jet black with a white star on her forehead, so it suited her perfectly.

I didn’t even have a saddle at first. I had to learn to ride bareback, which, honestly, is one of the best ways to learn. My grandfather cared for her while I was in school, and I was absolutely in heaven. Having my own horse was my first real love. It was the coolest thing ever.

That’s a big dream for a lot of people—to have a horse of your own. You were only ten years old. How long did you have her?

Gina Deleo Martell: I had Black Beauty until I was around seventeen or eighteen.

About a month after I got a saddle, I really started teaching myself how to ride. I showed her in competitions, did barrel racing, Western Pleasure, and halter classes. She was incredibly versatile and always wanted to please.

Eventually, my grandfather moved to Ocala and bought three and a half acres of land. He took Beauty with him, so I’d spend summers there riding and helping on the little farm. I’ve always been an outdoor kid. The closer I am to nature, the ground beneath my feet, and the horses around me, the happier I am. There’s truly nowhere else I’d rather be.

That must have been heartbreaking when your grandfather moved away with your horse.

Gina Deleo Martell: It was, but by then Miami was growing quickly, and I was finishing high school, trying to figure out what came next.

There was a little girl down the road who absolutely fell in love with Beauty—that was my nickname for her. My grandfather called me one day and said, “Beauty’s getting older, and this little girl would love to have her. She’d have a wonderful home.”

It still makes me emotional to think about.

But I agreed because I knew she would be loved and cared for. The little girl took wonderful care of her. Beauty eventually passed on, but I know she had a good life.

Not long after that, my other grandparents bought me two more horses—a Quarter Horse and a Tennessee Walker. They were wonderful horses, and I enjoyed many years with them as well.

Then life happened. I got into radio, and a dear friend of mine named Roy started volunteering with rescue horses. One day, he walked into my office and asked, “Do you want to come volunteer with me?”

I immediately said yes.

That experience changed everything. I discovered I had a natural ability to work with rescue horses. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what that ability was, but I know now.

Many rescue horses have suffered abuse, starvation, neglect, or abandonment. Thoroughbreds, in particular, often end up discarded once they’re no longer making money.

As I worked with them, I realized I could hear them in a way. It wasn’t literally hearing words, but there was a communication between us. I didn’t even know the term animal communication back then. I could help them begin to trust again. I could show them that not all humans would hurt them, and that gave them a chance to heal and eventually find loving homes.

I did a lot of that work, and I still do.

Today, I volunteer with Save the Horses through a dear friend and mentor. This year alone, I’ve helped place two horses into wonderful homes, which brings me so much joy.

Working with rescue horses also helped me understand something deeper about myself. After my parents divorced, my childhood became very abusive. My mother remarried a violent man, and that experience shaped much of my life.

Looking back, I realize I connected so deeply with these wounded horses because I understood what it felt like to be hurt, frightened, and in need of healing. That connection ultimately influenced not only my work with horses but also the entire direction of my life.

You mentioned that you’ve been in radio for more than thirty years, which is amazing. Somewhere along the way, though, there was a major shift in your life. I hear that story often—everything is moving along normally, and then something happens that changes the direction of your life. Tell me about that shift and when it happened.

Gina Deleo Martell: I’ve been in radio for over thirty years, and radio was very different when I first started. It was true broadcast radio. It was personal. It was your friend in the box. As the industry began to change, there were many things I didn’t particularly like about the direction it was taking.

Ironically, I got into radio kicking and screaming. I never wanted to be on the air. I was terrified of it. They would make me get up and introduce concerts and artists, and I’d think, I can’t do this.

When I finally got my first on-air shift, everything that could go wrong did.

Your very first shift? Everything went wrong? We can’t just skip over that. Tell us what happened.

Gina Deleo Martell: It was horrible.

I was working at Love 94 FM in Miami, a legendary station at the time. We started as a soft rock station and later transitioned into jazz. We had incredible listeners and a wonderful audience.

My program director, who was a bit of a smart aleck, threw me into the studio with an experienced radio host and said, “Learn how all this works.”

If you’ve ever seen a broadcasting console, it looks like it has 500 buttons. In reality, you probably use four of them, but to me, it was completely intimidating. Mechanically, I’m not inclined at all. Even years later, when engineers walked into the studio, I’d tell them, “Everything is working perfectly. Don’t touch anything.”

So there I was on a Saturday. The host before me introduced me on the air and said, “We’ve got a brand-new jock at Love 94. Listen to every word she says.” Then he turned to me and added, “Just remember, it’s like three Orange Bowl stadiums full of people listening to everything you say.”

I had finally calmed myself down, and then he said that.

I wanted to punch him.

He left, and suddenly I was completely alone in the station. No engineers. No salespeople. Nobody.

At that time, we were transitioning from cartridge systems to CD players. We still had these old cartridge machines loaded with songs and commercials. I did my first break, rushed through it because I was so nervous, and then everything started falling apart.

The CD player wouldn’t start.

The cartridge machine wouldn’t work.

I kept pressing buttons, and nothing happened.

Then the building alarm started going off.

I remember thinking, I told them I wasn’t ready for this.

I can’t believe they left you there alone. Was this at night?

Gina Deleo Martell: No, it was during the day, which somehow made it even worse.

I was completely panicked. There was dead air. I didn’t know how many people were listening, but it was a major station, and I was convinced I was ruining everything.

So I picked up my purse and decided I was leaving.

I opened the heavy studio door and thought, That’s it. I told them I wasn’t ready. I quit.

But then I stopped.

And I remember saying to myself, Why can’t I be a quitter? Why can’t I just quit?

I put my purse down.

I went back into the studio, grabbed a cartridge with music from jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour, shoved it into the machine as hard as I could, and kept hitting the start button until it finally worked.

Music came on the air.

I thought, Okay, I have four minutes and nine seconds to figure this out.

And somehow I did.

I survived the entire five-hour shift.

When it was over, I got into my car and felt like I had lost ten pounds from pure fear and anxiety. I had sweated through the entire experience.

By Monday morning, I was convinced they were going to take me off the air.

I walked into my boss’s office and said, “See? I told you I wasn’t ready.”

He looked at me and said, “That was your shift on Saturday?”

I said, “You didn’t listen?”

And he replied, “No. I was playing golf.”

Then he added, “We never listen to a jock’s first show. By the way, you’re on again next Saturday.”

At that moment, I realized he wasn’t going to let me quit.

So I went back to the host who had trained me and said, “Okay, Gary, teach me. I didn’t pay attention before because I never thought I’d actually have to do this.”

And that’s when everything changed.

I fell in love with radio.

Not only did I grow into it, but eventually I became one of the top-rated radio personalities in the tri-county area. It completely surprised me.

No matter what happened, I couldn’t seem to get fired, and I couldn’t seem to get bad ratings. Every time I thought about leaving, something would pull me back.

Looking back, it felt like one of those moments when the universe simply says, This is where you belong right now, and we’re not letting you walk away from it.

Even when I tried, the door just kept opening again.

I finally concluded that God must have wanted me on the air.

After more than thirty years in radio, though, there was a shift for you. What was that shift all about?

Gina Deleo Martell: You mean when I finally picked up my purse and walked out the door?

I had been through a lot by that point. I truly loved the radio station and the people I worked with, but if I’m being honest, they never really paid me what I was worth. There was always this attitude of, “This is what we pay for this position.” But I was bringing in hundreds of thousands of dollars in advertising revenue, making public appearances, and contributing far beyond the job description.

At the same time, I was going through a divorce from my second husband. I was a single mom, and I reached a point where I thought  I needed to do something different.

Three weeks later, one of those moments happened that reminds you how quickly life can change. When one door closes, another opens.

I received a call from the Discovery Channel in Bethesda, Maryland. They had heard some of my work and wanted to offer me a contract. I had an agent at the time, and almost overnight, I went from making so-so money to earning $15,000 a month doing voiceover work.

It was exactly the direction I was meant to go.

I’ve noticed throughout my life that the universe tends to push me when I need it. Sometimes the best thing you can do is stop resisting and see where the path leads.

Not long after that, I attended a Tony Robbins UPW seminar. I spent four days doing deep inner work—firewalking, writing, crying, screaming, processing, and releasing.

By the end of those four days, something had shifted inside me.

A lot of the trauma I had carried since childhood, particularly after my parents’ divorce, finally started coming to the surface and moving through me. And for the first time, I felt a level of certainty I had never experienced before.

I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

I said, I’m going to become a life coach. I’m not going back into radio. I’m going to help people.

What’s interesting is that even while I was on the air, my listeners had always come to me for more than music or entertainment. I had such incredible listeners. On my birthday, the studio would be filled with flowers that they had sent. When I had my twins, they sent birthday gifts for my children every year.

The connection was extraordinary, and I was deeply grateful for it.

But after that seminar, I knew my next chapter was about helping people differently.

So I became a life coach.

That was the real turning point. UPW was the catalyst. Tony’s work had a tremendous impact on me, and I became very involved with the fire team. From there, my awakening just continued to unfold.

But the truth is, the seeds of that awakening had been with me since childhood.

Even as a very young girl, I was aware of things I couldn’t explain. I could sense energy. I could feel spirits. I could pick up on things that existed beyond the physical world.

On my mother’s side of the family, there’s a long line of women who were considered witches, and whenever I sensed something unusual, I could talk to my mother about it. She wouldn’t dismiss it. She would ask questions.

“Where is it?”

“What does it feel like?”

“What do you sense?”

I’ve always been highly empathic. I couldn’t see spirits the way some people describe them in movies like The Sixth Sense, but I could perceive them in my mind’s eye. I could feel their presence. I could often tell whether the energy felt masculine or feminine, sense what it looked like, and understand why it might be there.

As a child, I was extremely sensitive.

But as I got older, I began sensing darker energies in the house, and it frightened me. Eventually, I made a conscious decision to shut everything down.

I didn’t want to see it.

I didn’t want to feel it.

So I closed those abilities off completely.

Life moved on. I got married, had children, got divorced, and focused on building my career.

Then, in my forties, everything changed.

I was visiting my best friend from high school in Orlando when she suggested we see a medium she trusted.

At first, I wasn’t particularly invested in the idea. I had visited mediums occasionally over the years, but nothing serious. Still, I agreed to go.

The medium was from England, and the very first thing he said to me when I sat down was, “Why did you shut everything down?”

I was stunned.

I asked him, “How do you know that?”

He smiled and replied, “What do you think I do for a living?”

Then he said something that stayed with me.

“You can’t do that. You have a purpose. A big purpose. You need to open yourself back up. There’s nothing to be afraid of. You are light, and you’ll understand that more as time goes on.”

Something about his words resonated deeply.

So I took his advice.

I began opening myself up again.

I sat down and started learning how to meditate.

And was this before the Tony Robbins event?

Gina Deleo Martell: Yes, it was before the Tony Robbins event. But that event really clicked something into place for me. It made me realize that I was heading in the wrong direction and needed to move toward something completely different.

The medium had told me, “You’re going to be working with people, and you need to prepare yourself for that.” Looking back, it felt like a preview of what was coming.

Around that time, I started following teachers like Wayne Dyer and Abraham Hicks. I became interested in spirituality and personal growth and began exploring my intuition more deeply. In a way, I was trying to open my third eye, even though I didn’t fully understand it at the time.

The irony is that, as a child, those abilities had already been opened. I could sense things naturally. I had simply shut them down out of fear.

Over the years, those gifts slowly began reawakening, and once I became a life coach, everything shifted dramatically.

You’ve developed and incorporated a number of different modalities into your work—QHHT, Reiki, and, of course, equine-assisted coaching, which we’ll talk more about in a moment. What inspired you to begin adding all of those different tools to your practice?

Gina Deleo Martell: I started as a traditional life coach. I completed my certification and followed the standard coaching path.

Then my family and I moved to Georgia, and that move reconnected me with something I had deeply missed—my horses.

We bought a small farm, and I adopted two rescue horses from Miami and brought them with me. One day, I was standing in the feed store talking with the manager, someone I knew casually. She was having a difficult day and venting about some challenges in her life. I offered her a little coaching and perspective.

She stopped and said, “Wait a minute. You’re a life coach, and you have horses. You need to become an equine-assisted life coach.”

I remember looking at her and asking, “Is that actually a thing?”

She laughed and said, “Yes!”

So I started researching it.

I explored several programs, but none of them felt quite right until I discovered Pam Kacklemeyer in Wisconsin. I was immediately drawn to her approach. I studied with her, attended an intensive hands-on training, and eventually became certified.

That experience completely changed how I viewed horses.

It taught me to see them as spiritual beings and extraordinary healers. Horses possess an incredible intuition. They know things before we do. Even now, before I walk a client into the arena, I often feel like the horses already know who is coming and what they need help with.

It’s remarkable to witness.

I was happily doing equine coaching when another piece of the puzzle began to emerge. I had several younger female clients—women in their twenties and early thirties—and after our coaching work together, we naturally developed deeper friendships.

At first, I wondered why this kept happening. Then I realized these women were part of my soul family, my spiritual tribe.

We supported one another, healed together, and eventually became a very powerful circle of women. I’m the oldest in the group, but the bond we share is extraordinary.

Many of them were already studying different healing modalities, and I found myself fascinated by what they were doing. I kept thinking, That’s really interesting. I could probably incorporate that into my coaching work as well.

That curiosity led me to Reiki.

I continued my studies all the way through Reiki Master training, working closely with a shaman. The experience was incredibly powerful and deeply connected to the earth, which resonated with me because I’ve always felt grounded in nature.

Everyone seems to have a different story about their Reiki training, but mine was profoundly transformative.

Then one of my friends, Shane, became interested in past-life regression work. I was fascinated by past lives as well, so we decided to take the training together.

Of course, part of the process involves practice, so we spent a lot of time working on each other and developing our skills.

Eventually, I began offering that work professionally too.

What’s been fascinating is discovering how all of these modalities complement one another. They don’t feel separate. They work together seamlessly, supporting the same healing process from different angles.

And now it has expanded even further.

I have one horse, Dodger, who actually does Reiki work with people. The funny thing is, I never taught him how to do it.

Take me through what happens when someone comes to see you in person. I know you work online as well, but if someone comes to Ball Ground, Georgia, what is that experience like? What challenges are they facing, and what happens when they arrive?

Gina Deleo Martell: I tend to specialize in working with women who have experienced trauma, abuse, or difficult childhoods. That work is very personal to me because I watched my mother go through it, and I experienced enough of it myself to understand it firsthand.

I also work with children who are struggling with fear or trauma. Some of the kids I’ve worked with have experienced things like carjackings or other frightening events. Occasionally, I work with couples as well, but my primary focus is on women and children.

When someone reaches out, I always begin with a complimentary 30-minute phone consultation. That gives us an opportunity to determine whether we’re a good fit for each other.

I’m a very spiritual person, and not everyone is comfortable with that approach. I always try to remain neutral, accepting, and nonjudgmental. People are free to believe whatever feels right to them, just as I am free to believe what feels right to me.

Some of the people who come to me have had difficult experiences with organized religion or fear-based teachings that left them feeling disconnected from themselves. I understand that, and I simply create a space where they can explore their healing without judgment.

If a client has experienced significant trauma—whether from abusive parents, difficult relationships, or other painful experiences—we usually begin by spending an hour or two together in my office.

One of the first things I guide them through is a process I call “letting go.”

I invite them to close their eyes or wear a blindfold, and I have them work with a pillow. Using techniques I learned through QHHT, along with my training in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), I help them revisit the original memory associated with the pain, fear, humiliation, or anger they’ve been carrying.

I guide them to fully reconnect with the experience—to see it clearly, hear it, feel it, and bring it into conscious awareness.

Then I give them the opportunity to release it.

They can say everything they never got to say. They can express the anger, grief, hurt, or frustration they’ve held inside for years.

The person they’re speaking to may never hear those words, but that’s not the point. The point is creating a safe space for emotional release.

And while they’re doing that, I often feel what they’re feeling. Because I’m highly empathic, I can feel the pain moving through them. Sometimes it affects me so deeply that tears come to my eyes. I’m not crying outwardly, but I can feel the weight of what they’ve carried.

Once we move through that stage, I begin working with the inner child.

A great deal of healing happens there.

That’s usually when I tell clients we’re about to enter territory that may be outside their comfort zone, because I work not only with the mind but with the soul. This is where I may bring in crystals, energy work, or light language—whatever feels appropriate for that individual.

I also frequently sense the presence of spiritual support around them. I often feel what I perceive as angelic energy in the room, and occasionally I sense a deceased loved one, guide, or guardian who seems present to support the healing process.

Then, once that work is complete, we head outside to meet the horses.

I place the client in the pasture with my horses and let the horses choose who they want to work with.

At the moment, my primary partners are Dodger and Blue.

The client simply stands quietly in the pasture while we wait.

What happens next amazes people every time.

One of the horses will walk directly toward that person, while the other horse usually walks away.

People often don’t believe it until they witness it for themselves, but the horses seem to know exactly who they are there to help.

You currently have two horses?

Gina Deleo Martell: Yes, two horses.

Once we’re in the pasture, one horse will clearly choose the client. The other will usually turn around, walk away, and essentially say, “You’re not my person today.”

The horse that stays becomes the partner for that session.

I’ll put a halter on the horse and hand the lead rope to the client. Then I ask them to introduce themselves, spend a few moments petting the horse, and begin building a connection. After that, we move into the arena and start the deeper work.

What’s fascinating is that each horse seems to have its own specialty.

If someone is working through father wounds, masculine energy challenges, or issues related to men, it’s often Blue who steps forward. Blue is my large blue roan Quarter Horse. He’s about sixteen-and-a-half hands tall, weighs around 1,300 pounds, and has a very powerful presence. He especially loves working with boys and young men.

When the work centers around self-love, relationships, emotional healing, or learning to receive love, it’s usually Dodger who chooses the client.

Even though Dodger is technically male, he carries a very gentle, nurturing, feminine energy. He’s incredibly soft and loving, and he naturally gravitates toward that type of healing work.

The amazing thing is that I never trained them to do this.

I simply allowed them to be horses.

Over time, they seemed to understand exactly what their purpose was.

In fact, I once invited a respected animal communicator to speak with them. I didn’t tell her anything beforehand. I simply asked her to connect with the horses and tell me what she perceived.

Both horses independently communicated the same message.

Their purpose, they said, was to help people heal and transform.

I still have those notes written down, and I remember thinking how incredible it was that they seemed so aware of the role they had chosen.

Do you think every horse has that ability, or are some horses naturally more gifted in that area, the same way some people seem to be?

Gina Deleo Martell: I believe every horse has the capacity for this kind of connection.

What often determines whether it develops is how the horse is raised, treated, and invited into a relationship with people.

My horses are rescues, so I spent a great deal of time helping them work through their own fears and rebuilding trust. Much of my approach comes from Native American horsemanship traditions, which I deeply admire. I believe Native American horsemen possess some of the greatest wisdom in understanding horses and building genuine partnerships with them.

Unfortunately, many people only view horses as something to ride. They become little more than four-legged vehicles.

When that happens, people miss the most extraordinary part of the relationship.

A horse can become one of the deepest friendships you will ever experience if you allow yourself to connect with them on that level.

Once we begin working in the arena, I often introduce exercises focused on empowerment, especially for women who have experienced abuse or unhealthy relationships.

I explain how a herd of horses functions.

In a herd, leadership often comes from the mare. She doesn’t control through force. She leads through confidence, presence, and clear energy.

I teach clients how that dynamic works, then invite them to step into the same kind of leadership.

I’ll show them how a mare moves horses within the herd and then ask them to apply those principles with the horse in the arena.

Sometimes the horse immediately responds.

Other times, the horse turns around and challenges them.

The horse is essentially asking, Do you really believe in yourself? Do you trust your own strength?

When that happens, the horse becomes an incredible mirror.

Some clients can step into their power right away. Others aren’t quite there yet.

And that’s perfectly okay.

If they can’t do it during that session, I simply remind them that healing is a process. We’ll continue working together, and we’ll try again.

The horses always seem to know exactly what is needed.

I never have to tell them what role to play.

They simply show up and do the work.

At the end of every session, I encourage clients to spend time integrating what they’ve experienced. We step back into nature, sit quietly, and allow everything to settle.

There’s no rush.

Just stillness.

And that’s usually how they leave—feeling peaceful, grounded, and connected.

These sound like fairly long sessions—three or four hours. Is that accurate?

Gina Deleo Martell: If we’re doing the deep emotional release work, what I call the “letting go” process, then yes, that first session can be several hours long.

Once we’ve completed that foundational work, though, future sessions are much shorter. From that point forward, we typically go directly to the horses and focus on the equine work.

Most of my coaching takes place outdoors—in the pastures, the arena, and in nature. A typical session lasts about an hour, sometimes an hour and a half.

That said, I don’t watch the clock when someone is in the middle of a breakthrough.

If a client is crying, processing something significant, or working through a difficult emotional moment, I’m not going to stop and say, “Time’s up. See you next week.”

I stay until they’ve reached a place where they feel grounded and emotionally safe.

I never want someone to leave a session feeling overwhelmed or emotionally shattered. My goal is to make sure they’re in a good place before they get in the car and drive home.

You mentioned empowerment as one of the core pieces of your work—helping people step into leadership and confidence through their interactions with the horse. What are some of the other ways healing happens simply by being around horses? How does that work?

Gina Deleo Martell: There’s actually scientific research showing that being around horses can help lower blood pressure and calm the nervous system.

Part of that may be connected to the horse’s heart. A horse’s heart is significantly larger than ours, and they tend to carry a very steady, grounded presence. They’re like anchors.

That calm energy can be incredibly healing.

For example, I’ve worked with children who have autism and Asperger’s. One of the first things I’ll do is hand them a brush and invite them to groom the horse.

I’ll hold the horse while they simply spend time brushing.

For many of these children, sensory experiences are very important. The repetitive motion, the softness of the horse’s coat, and the rhythm of brushing can be incredibly soothing and regulating.

The same principle applies to many of the women I work with.

If someone has low self-esteem, struggles with confidence, or has experienced abuse, I’ll often have them begin by grooming the horse as well.

In many ways, showing love and care for the animal reflects showing love and care for themselves.

Something starts to soften internally.

I also work with fear.

When someone tells me they’re afraid of horses, I’ll often begin with a simple exercise.

I’ll say, “Okay, walk behind my horse.”

Immediately, they’ll respond, “No! He might kick me.”

That opens the door to a conversation about understanding horses and learning how they actually think and communicate.

I teach them what’s safe, what isn’t, and how to read the horse’s body language. Then I have them practice.

They walk behind the horse.

Then they do it again.

And again.

Before long, the fear is gone.

At that point, I usually ask, “Okay, now what are you afraid of?”

And often they laugh because they’ve just overcome something that felt impossible a few minutes earlier.

Every client is different, so the work is never the same.

I once worked with a ten-year-old boy whose father had been very abusive. The boy had started bullying other children, resisted helping at home, and struggled with responsibility.

I told his mother, “Drop him off for two hours.”

When he arrived, I handed him a wheelbarrow and a rake and said, “Today you’re cleaning Blue’s stall.”

The goal wasn’t punishment. It was teaching him how to care for another living being.

To my surprise, he loved it.

When he finished, I showed him the clean stall and said, “Let’s see what Blue thinks.”

Blue walked in, and afterward, I let the boy give him treats and play a little game we do where Blue has to find a cookie hidden in someone’s pocket.

The boy absolutely lit up.

That’s really how I work.

There isn’t a strict formula or a fixed set of rules.

I trust my intuition, pay close attention to the person in front of me, and listen to the horses.

More often than not, the horses know exactly what needs to happen.

My job is simply to pay attention and follow their lead.

I know that coaches, healers, and therapists often need time to recharge and release what they’ve absorbed from working closely with clients. Do the horses need that same kind of recovery, or does it happen naturally for them?

Gina Deleo Martell: They absolutely need it.

That’s actually one of the ways my Reiki training comes in handy.

I host workshops throughout the year, including women’s empowerment events that I call Boss Mare workshops. I intentionally keep them small—usually six women at a time—so the experience remains intimate and meaningful.

After a full day of working with people, the horses have taken on a lot of energy. At the end of the day, when they’re back in their stalls, or I’m grooming them, I spend time helping them release what they’ve absorbed.

I’ll use techniques similar to EFT tapping and energy work, moving my hands along their meridian lines, spine, and withers to help clear stagnant energy. I also play healing frequencies in the barn.

The horses visibly respond.

They become deeply relaxed. They start yawning, lowering their heads, and releasing tension.

Most people assume a horse yawns because it’s tired, but that’s not necessarily true. In many cases, it’s a form of energetic release. Humans do something similar. Yawning can help reset the nervous system, and horses often use it the same way.

They may yawn repeatedly, paw the ground, or show other signs that they’re letting go of stored energy.

Helping them process that energy is important because otherwise it can manifest as stress or physical discomfort.

I’ve noticed that throughout everything you’ve described, you’ve hardly mentioned riding the horses. Is riding part of the experience, or is it not really necessary?

Gina Deleo Martell: I ride the horses, but my clients generally do not.

My work is primarily groundwork.

Everything I do centers around the energy of the horse, the energy of nature, and the energy of the person. Most of the healing happens with both feet firmly on the ground.

For children, however, there are occasional exceptions.

If a child has had an especially successful session and feels ready, I may let them sit on one of the horses at the end.

They almost always want to.

Sometimes I’ll let them sit on Blue, which is a big deal because he’s such a large horse. I’ll bring over a mounting block, help them climb up, and stand right beside them while holding the horse.

There’s no saddle and no bridle. I simply hold him by the halter.

What’s beautiful is how empowering that experience can be.

Suddenly, a child who arrived feeling afraid or uncertain is sitting bareback on a giant horse, feeling brave, capable, and proud.

Sometimes I’ll even walk Blue around a little while they’re sitting on him.

They leave feeling like they accomplished something extraordinary.

The horses seem to understand exactly what’s happening. They become incredibly gentle around children. They don’t bite, they don’t kick, and they seem to instinctively know when a child needs extra care and patience.

Earlier, you mentioned your work with Tony Robbins and your role on the team that facilitated firewalks. You also said you now incorporate firewalking into your own work. What is the purpose of a firewalk, and what does that experience involve?

Gina Deleo Martell: Firewalking is an ancient practice that has existed in cultures around the world for thousands of years.

For me, the firewalk is really a metaphor for stepping through fear.

Whenever I host one, I invite both current and former clients, as well as friends who enjoy the experience. For new clients, it often becomes an important part of their personal growth journey.

The first reaction is almost always the same.

People say, “Absolutely not. I’m not walking on fire.”

And I smile because that fear is exactly the point.

Technically, you’re not walking through flames. You’re walking across a bed of hot embers. The wood has already burned down, leaving glowing coals behind.

I turn the evening into a full ceremony.

People bring food. Some bring tarot cards, dowsing rods, or other spiritual tools. We gather, connect, and spend time together before moving outside after dark.

We light torches. Shamanic drums begin to play. The rhythm echoes through the night.

Then we build the fire.

There’s no charcoal—just wood.

As the fire burns down, I ask everyone to reflect on a fear, challenge, or life transition they’re facing.

Maybe they’re starting a new job.

Maybe they’re afraid to leave a relationship.

Maybe they’re preparing for marriage.

Maybe they’re trying to break a habit or finally take a step they’ve been avoiding.

Whatever it is, I ask them to write their intention on a piece of wood.

What do you want to release?

What do you want to transform?

What are you ready to step into?

They place that wood into the fire.

The fire consumes it.

When the flames have burned down, we spread the glowing embers into walking lanes.

Then comes the moment of truth.

I stand beside each person and remind them that the first step across those embers represents the first step they need to take in their own life.

The firewalk becomes a physical experience of courage.

It’s not really about the coals.

It’s about discovering that you are capable of moving forward even when fear is standing directly in front of you.

That realization can be incredibly powerful.

For me, it’s usually the vision of what I want that motivates me. It’s thinking about what life will feel like once I’ve created something that doesn’t exist yet. That future possibility is what keeps me moving forward.

Gina Deleo Martell: Exactly.

And even when we have a vision, fears and doubts can still show up along the way. That’s where the firewalk becomes so powerful.

When someone stands at the edge of the fire lane, I guide them into a state of certainty. I encourage them to connect with the belief: I can. I will.

Then I ask them to focus on their intention.

Maybe they want to overcome a fear that’s been holding them back. Maybe they want to move beyond a limiting belief, break an unhealthy pattern, or release a fear of success, which, surprisingly, many people struggle with.

Once they’re clear about what they’re stepping into, I tell them to walk.

I walk alongside them as they move across the embers.

When they reach the other side, we celebrate. We cool their feet, acknowledge what they’ve accomplished, and allow them to take in the experience.

And almost every time, the same thing happens.

They look at me and say, “I want to do it again.”

Some people walk four or five times in one evening, each time carrying a different intention.

That’s why I love firewalking.

It’s a physical metaphor for stepping through fear and moving beyond what has been holding you back. It’s incredibly empowering because once you’ve done something that seemed impossible, you start questioning what other limits might only exist in your mind.

Imagine going back to work on Monday, and someone asks, “What did you do this weekend?”

And you answer, “I walked on fire.”

People think you’re crazy.

But what they don’t understand is that it’s not really about the fire. It’s about discovering a deeper level of trust in yourself.

That’s the transformation.

Much of what we’ve talked about involves working with you in person, but many of our listeners aren’t anywhere near Georgia. How can people work with you remotely?

Gina Deleo Martell: I work with people through Zoom, FaceTime, and other online platforms.

I also host retreats from time to time. Those who want a more immersive experience can fly in for a long weekend. I help arrange accommodations, and we spend time at both my farm and other locations to incorporate experiences such as firewalking and nature-based healing work.

That allows people to fully immerse themselves in the process.

For those who can’t travel, we simply adapt.

I still assign homework. I recommend books, exercises, and sometimes even movies because everyone learns differently. For some people, a film can create a powerful emotional breakthrough.

One thing I always provide is a journal.

Every client receives one, and I encourage them to use it consistently. Journaling becomes an important part of integrating what we work on together.

When we meet online, I get creative.

I might ask someone to go sit under a large tree in their yard, spend time in nature, connect with a beloved pet, or visit a local horse if one is available. They can take their phone with them, and I’ll guide them through the experience remotely.

While online sessions differ from being physically present with the horses, meaningful transformation can still occur.

You’ve written a book titled Horse Stories: The Healing Way Horses Teach Us Healthy Relationships. Tell us about the book. Who is it for?

Gina Deleo Martell: I wrote the book because many people had a difficult time understanding what equine-assisted life coaching actually is.

Most people are familiar with therapeutic riding programs or traditional horse therapy, but what I do is very different.

The book shares my personal story of healing through horses while growing up in an abusive environment. It also includes stories from clients and the challenges they faced, all presented anonymously to protect their privacy.

There are stories about the horses themselves as well.

One of my favorites is Dodger’s story. Dodger is a Morgan horse who was rescued after being abandoned in the Florida Everglades. He was severely emaciated and essentially left to fend for himself.

Every horse has a story.

The book explores those stories while also explaining how equine-assisted coaching works and why these relationships can be so transformative.

I co-authored it with my friend Deborah Johnson, whom I met while studying equine-assisted coaching in Wisconsin. She’s an equine specialist, and we shared a similar passion for helping people heal through relationships with horses.

Ultimately, the book is about healing, connection, and understanding why I do the work I do.

I’m also currently working on a children’s book and developing some audio stories – interactive bedtime audio stories called Close Your Eyes and Dream, and it will be available very soon.

What’s the best place for people to connect with you, follow your work, or schedule a consultation?

Gina Deleo Martell: The easiest place is my website, FireHorseSpiritandHealing.com.

You can also find me on Instagram and Facebook.

If you’d like to reach out directly, you’re welcome to email me as well.

And if you contact me by phone, I always recommend sending a text message first. These days, there’s so much spam and fraud that I don’t answer every unknown call. But if you send me a text and let me know you’re interested in learning more about the work, I’ll absolutely get back to you.

I’m always happy to have a conversation and see whether we’re a good fit.

It’s incredibly heartwarming and beautifully done. Gina, it has been such a pleasure speaking with you. I love your energy, I love your stories, and I’m grateful for the impact you’re making in the world.

Gina Deleo Martell: Thank you so much.

And I have to say, I’m incredibly excited about this magazine. It feels like something the world truly needs right now.

Thank you for creating it and for allowing me to be part of it. It’s been an honor.