educating, empowering and enlightening people through the natural interaction with horses
About The Healing Equine Ranch
Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains of California, The Healing Equine Ranch is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit sanctuary founded by Kiki Ebsen. Our mission is to provide lifelong care for a small herd of rescued horses while creating meaningful opportunities for people to learn about horses, themselves, and the power of authentic connection.
Through experiential learning, workshops, and private sessions, we invite participants to slow down, become present, and discover the wisdom horses offer through relationship, curiosity, and mindful interaction.
We respectfully acknowledge the Chumash People, the original stewards of this land for countless generations. We honor their enduring relationship with this place and invite you to learn more about their rich culture and traditions.
Our Mission
To educate, inspire, and empower people through authentic interactions with horses, fostering greater self-awareness, compassion, resilience, and connection.
Our Vision
To create a safe, compassionate, and nonjudgmental environment where horses and humans learn, grow, and thrive together through mutual respect and relationship.
Natural Equine Interactive Growth & Healing™ (NEIGH™) is the signature horse-guided educational methodology at The Healing Equine Ranch.
The NEIGH™ Method brings together the science of how horses think, move, and communicate with mindfulness, expressive arts, and experiential learning to cultivate authentic connection between horses and humans through relationship, curiosity, embodied presence, and rhythm.
At the heart of NEIGH™ is the understanding that meaningful learning happens through authentic relationship. By observing how horses communicate within the herd—through body language, movement, boundaries, cooperation, and social connection—participants gain new insights into communication, emotional regulation, trust, leadership, resilience, and healthy relationships.
Every experience honors horses as sensitive, sentient partners whose natural behaviors and relationships become powerful teachers. Rather than focusing on riding or performance, NEIGH™ invites participants to slow down, become fully present, and discover the wisdom that emerges when humans learn with horses.
Most experiences are ground-based, although limited mounted activities may be incorporated when appropriate. Whether on the ground or in the saddle, the focus remains on authentic relationship, meaningful learning, and personal growth.
About Kiki Ebsen
Horses have been at the heart of Kiki Ebsen's life since the age of three. With more than six decades of experience—including trail riding, regional competition, horse rescue, and mentorship with respected leaders in horsemanship and equine science—her work has always been guided by a deep respect for the intelligence, sensitivity, and wisdom of horses.
Kiki's professional journey has also been shaped by the performing arts. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and enjoyed a career as a recording artist, performer, songwriter, and educator. Her lifelong understanding of rhythm, creativity, collaboration, and embodied expression continues to influence the way she teaches, creating experiences that engage the whole person—mind, body, heart, and imagination.
After founding The Healing Equine Ranch, Kiki collaborated with psychologists and treatment programs supporting equine-assisted psychotherapy and learning. Those experiences, together with years of study in natural horsemanship, expressive arts, yoga philosophy, neuroscience, and trauma-informed practice, inspired her to develop Natural Equine Interactive Growth & Healing™ (NEIGH™).
Today, Kiki continues to expand the NEIGH™ methodology through professional education and graduate studies in Expressive Arts Coaching at the California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). Her work invites people to discover the transformative wisdom of horses while cultivating presence, resilience, authentic relationship, creativity, and lifelong learning.
Education, Certifications & Professional Training
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Music – California Institute of the Arts (CalArts)
Master's Student, Expressive Arts Coaching – California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS)
Natural Lifemanship Institute – Dual Certified Practitioner (NLC-P) and Equine Professional (EP)
Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-500) – Advanced yoga teacher certification with additional training in Yoga of 12-Step Recovery (Y12SR) Leadership and Yoga for Mental Health through Stanford YogaX.
Masterson Method Equine Specialist (MMES) – Certified in equine bodywork techniques supporting equine well-being
In the Media
Learn more about The Healing Equine Ranch and Kiki Ebsen through these articles, interviews, and podcasts.
Los Angeles Times | April 9, 2025
"The Sound Bath Companion at This L.A. 'Healing' Ranch? A Horse, of Course"A feature on The Healing Equine Ranch's series of multimodal restorative experiences, combining immersive sound baths with quiet, undemanding time alongside rescued horses. The article also highlighted the Ranch's community outreach, offering these restorative experiences to individuals and families affected by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires.
Read the article: LA Times
Malibu Times | July 31, 2025
"Two Lives in Harmony: Healing with Horses"A feature profile of Kiki Ebsen's unique journey as both an internationally recognized singer-songwriter and founder of The Healing Equine Ranch. The article highlights the Ranch's rescued horses, the development of Natural Equine Interactive Growth & Healing™ (NEIGH™), and the community's restorative equine experiences and sound baths offered to survivors of the Eaton and Palisades wildfires.
Read the article: Malibu Times
VoyageLA Magazine | June 11, 2019
"Meet Kiki Ebsen of The Healing Equine Ranch"An in-depth interview exploring Kiki Ebsen's journey from accomplished singer-songwriter to founder of The Healing Equine Ranch. The feature shares the story behind the Ranch, the rescue of its horses, and the early development of Natural Equine Interactive Growth & Healing™ (NEIGH™)—an educational approach inspired by natural horsemanship, mindfulness, and authentic horse-human connection.
Read the article: VoyageLA Interview
ShoutOut LA | February 19, 2024
"Meet Kiki Ebsen | Singer, Songwriter, Recording Artist, Performer, Musician, Equine Facilitator and Creator of Natural Equine Interactive Growth & Healing"An in-depth interview exploring Kiki Ebsen's lifelong journey as a musician, educator, and horsewoman. The feature traces the evolution of Natural Equine Interactive Growth & Healing™ (NEIGH™), the founding of The Healing Equine Ranch, and the integration of music, natural horsemanship, yoga philosophy, mindfulness, and experiential learning into a relationship-centered educational approach.
Read the article: ShoutOut LA Interview
CSUN Daily Sundial (Video) | April 17, 2013
"Former CSUN Student Teaches Natural Horsemanship Lessons at Ranch"A video feature introducing Kiki Ebsen and The Healing Equine Ranch's Horse Mornings program. The story explores the foundations of natural horsemanship, mindful horse-human communication, and experiential learning—principles that would later evolve into Natural Equine Interactive Growth & Healing™ (NEIGH™).
Read and watch the feature: CSUN Daily Sundial
ANEW Body Insight Podcast – Part 1 | December 30, 2024
"Healing Through Creativity: Art, Music & Equine Therapy"
A conversation exploring Kiki Ebsen's lifelong journey as a musician, artist, and founder of The Healing Equine Ranch. The episode examines how creativity, music, expressive arts, horses, and nature have shaped her personal philosophy and the development of Natural Equine Interactive Growth & Healing™ (NEIGH™) as an experiential educational approach.
Listen to Part 1:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/healing-through-creativity-art-music-equine-therapy/id1752419424?i=1000681737871ANEW Body Insight Podcast – Part 2 | January 3, 2025
"Healing Harmonies: Exploring Equine Therapy & Resilience"
A deeper discussion of the science and philosophy behind horse-human connection, highlighting natural horsemanship, nervous system regulation, resilience, and the evolution of Natural Equine Interactive Growth & Healing™ (NEIGH™). Kiki also shares how her work as a musician and nonprofit founder continues to inform her educational programs with rescued horses.
Listen to Part 2:
https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/healing-harmonies-exploring-equine-therapy-resilience/id1752419424?i=1000682603206Soluv Magazine | Leadership Issue
"The Wisdom of Horses"A cover story exploring Horse Mornings for Women, one of The Healing Equine Ranch's earliest experiential learning programs. The feature examines how horses teach authentic leadership, communication, self-awareness, and relationship through mindful interaction—foundational principles that would later evolve into Natural Equine Interactive Growth & Healing™ (NEIGH™). The article also shares the Ranch's rescue mission and Kiki Ebsen's philosophy of learning alongside horses with respect, presence, and clarity.
Read the article: https://www.thehealingequineranch.com/media
Awestruck with GloZell | 2018
"A Visit to The Healing Equine Ranch"
Television personality and YouTube creator GloZell Green visits The Healing Equine Ranch for an engaging look at rescued horses, natural horsemanship, and the unique relationship between horses and humans. The episode offers viewers an introduction to Kiki Ebsen's educational philosophy and the experiential learning experiences that would later continue to evolve into Natural Equine Interactive Growth & Healing™ (NEIGH™).
Watch the episode:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2091937521081831The Malibu Times | December 10, 2003
"Foal for Love"
One of the earliest published stories about Kiki Ebsen's work with horses, this feature chronicles the rescue and adoption of PMU foals—including August and Dusty's Blue Rose—and explores her lifelong commitment to horse welfare, natural horsemanship, and compassionate leadership. The article captures the beginnings of a philosophy that would later grow into The Healing Equine Ranch and Natural Equine Interactive Growth & Healing™ (NEIGH™).
Read the article: Foal for Love (The Malibu Times)