About Us
About Talking Horse
Talking Horse is dedicated to providing Equine Assisted Learning programs that promote personal transformation. We work with individuals, families, and organizations to develop life skills, improve communication, and build stronger relationships.
Our programs are designed to be experiential and hands-on, with horses serving as our partners in teaching critical life skills such as trust, respect, honesty, and clear communication.
Betty Ann Balcom – Certified EAL & EAP Facilitator
Betty Ann Balcom is a Certified EAL and EAP Facilitator with over 40 years of horse and natural horsemanship experience. Through Talking Horse, she is sharing the benefits of connecting horses and humans.
Betty Ann's approach is rooted in the understanding that horses are living, breathing creatures that react to our energy, intentions, and movements. They give honest feedback, and because they live in the moment, they reflect back to us what we need to do to create change.
As an independent entrepreneur for over 28 years, having founded and built four businesses, Betty Ann is intimately familiar with the challenges faced by business owners — and brings that real-world perspective to every corporate and entrepreneurial program.
Training & Credentials
- 2004Attended the Natural Horsemanship Summit in Guelph, Ontario, where she discovered the potential and depth of the horse/human relationship and began practicing the principles of natural horsemanship.
- 2012Became a member of the Equine Experiential Learning Association (EELA) and began two years of study with the organization.
- 2012Attended the International Symposium on Healing with Horses / Equine Facilitation in Denver, Colorado — a cross-model workshop for equine facilitators wishing to partner with horses to uplift the lives of humans around the globe.
- 2012–2013Participated in natural horsemanship clinics with Don Holiday and Devanee Cardinal at the Cardinal Ranch in Valmount, British Columbia.
- 2013Traveled to Pennsylvania to complete her Certification in Equine Assisted Learning through the Equine Experiential Learning Association.
- 2013Attended the Emotional Fitness Clinic for Horses and Humans with psychiatrist Dr. Jenny and Linda Parelli, learning how past experience and thoughts affect our sense of wellness and value, and how relationships with humans and horses are limited by these patterns.
- 2013Attained certification in "Turning Crisis Situations into OK" in Chester, NS, through the OK Corral organization with Greg Kersten from Nebraska, founder of E.A.G.A.L.A.
- 2014Participated in Don Holiday's clinic in Nova Scotia.
- 2016Completed a youth-centered internship with Gina Yarrish of Yarcorte Acres in Pennsylvania — a program focused on leadership, self-awareness, and making good choices.
- 2017Took the module "Coming Home Again: Equine Assisted Applications for Veterans and their Families" with Greg Kersten.
Benefits & Outcomes
We will custom-design your experience with activities best suited to meet your objectives.
Corporate & Entrepreneurial Teams
Enhance teamwork and leadership skills, strengthen relationships and collaboration, improve organizational and communications skills, and build a better bottom line.
Youth
Discover a connection with nature, develop life skills such as problem solving, teamwork, communications, respect and patience, improve confidence and build self-esteem through empowering experience.
Healthcare Practitioners
Find a collaborative approach to the needs of your clients and meet your specific objectives in custom programs.
Families
Realize more effective communications, management of stress and chaos, and enhanced harmony in the family dynamic.
In Every Session
Horses and facilitators will clarify goals with challenges, identify strengths and resources to overcome obstacles, and suggest next steps for development. Learning to relate to horses provides the means to acquire better ways of interacting with human beings — participants will find themselves in the present moment, making decisions from the perspective of what is best for them and their "herd".
Our Mission
To provide a safe and respectful environment, where you will discover new ways of enhancing personal and team dynamics in your life.
Our Location
Talking Horse is located in Berwick, Nova Scotia — the "Apple Capital" of the beautiful Annapolis Valley. Our facility provides the perfect environment for our equine assisted learning programs, with a peaceful rural setting that allows participants to fully engage with our horses in a natural, stress-free atmosphere.
From our central location in Berwick, we are easily accessible to participants from communities throughout the Annapolis Valley region.