Inside The HERD INSTITUTE: A Conversation With Founder Veronica Lac

Julia Rose, Founder of Bridle & Brand
Aug 30
4 min read

Cover of Equine Business Magazine: two people pet a chestnut horse outdoors, with headline about the Herd Institute.

For generations, horses have been part of our lives through work, sport and companionship. Today, they’re becoming part of a much bigger conversation.

As interest in personal and professional development continues to grow, more people are discovering the impact horses can have on learning, healing and growth.

That shift is creating new opportunities, both inside and outside the horse world. And it’s worth paying attention to. Not only for equine-facilitated practitioners and nonprofits, but for anyone building a business around horses.

Few people have watched this evolution as closely as Dr. Veronica Lac. For more than two decades, Veronica has explored how horses, psychotherapy and education come together to support human development. A leader in Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy and Learning (EFPL), her research and frameworks have helped shape how many professionals approach this work today.

As The HERD Institute celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, I sat down with Veronica to explore the opportunities emerging from this field, and what this growth can mean for you, too.

HOW IT BEGAN

Veronica’s love for horses began early in life. But her career initially led her outside of the horse world. Corporate training. Adult education. Psychotherapy.

At first, those worlds existed separately. But everything changed when Veronica returned to riding after spending years away from the barn.

As she rode, she noticed something interesting. She saw connections between the therapeutic concepts she was studying and what she was experiencing under saddle. It was something many weren’t talking about. So research followed. Then clinical practice. And doctoral writing.

Veronica’s dissertation on the somatic experience of equine-facilitated psychotherapy laid the foundation for what The Human-Equine Relational Development (HERD) Institute is known for today.

Smiling group of adults wave outdoors in front of a red building with barred windows; watermark reads Photo by The HERD Institutee

EXPANDING ACCESS

One standout aspect of The HERD Institute is the diverse community it brings together.

Not just equine professionals. But licensed mental health practitioners. Educators. Coaches. Organizational leaders. All with one shared focus: helping others through meaningful interactions with horses.

In many ways, it’s also a reflection of Veronica’s own background, bringing together perspectives from both inside and outside of the horse world.

The HERD Institute offers two certification programs designed to meet professionals where they are.

Each provides a framework that can be adapted to different businesses, communities and goals.

The Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy (EFP) certification prepares licensed mental health professionals and master’s-level students interested in incorporating horses into clinical practice.

The Equine-Facilitated Learning (EFL) certification supports educators, coaches, trainers and equine professionals who want to expand how they facilitate learning, leadership and personal development.

With more than 500 graduates across 40 states and five countries, participants also become part of a community that supports implementation and continued growth.

Person in green shirt touches a chestnut horse in a barn doorway, with green fields behind and Photo by The HERD Institute watermark.

A GROWING OPPORTUNITY

Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the growth of equine-facilitated services is what it means for the horse industry itself.

Organizations like The HERD Institute are introducing many people to horses who may not have otherwise walked into a barn. Others are rediscovering horses through an entirely new lens.

Graduates, and the people they serve, share an approach to horsemanship rooted in connection, safety and equine welfare. And for many, that’s the start of a much bigger relationship with horses. And a growing passion for the industry.

That’s a strong foundation for the future of the horse world. And as this community continues to grow, so do opportunities for professionals, nonprofits and businesses that share those values.

If you’d like to learn more about The HERD Institute, its educational programs or whether equine-facilitated learning or psychotherapy may be a fit for your organization, visit HerdInstitute.com.

Veronica Lac in a blue polo stands close to a brown horse in a sunny pasture, both facing the camera. — Veronica Lac, PhD. LPC

Veronica Lac, PhD. LPC

Founder & Executive Director

Of The HERD INSTITUTE

Dr. Veronica Lac has 25 years of experience as a corporate trainer and mental health professional providing her with an integrated perspective to equine-facilitated work. Her academic background includes a Masters in Training and Performance Management, a Masters in Gestalt Psychotherapy, and a PhD in Psychology. She is trained in a number of models of equine-facilitated work, including a mentorship in Adventures in Awareness with Barbara Rector, a groundbreaking influence in this field. This has allowed her to combine her theoretical understanding into a relational and embodied approach. Veronica is passionate about bringing a cultural competence framework into the equine-facilitated field.

Veronica was a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist in the United Kingdom, and since moving to the United States in 2011, has gained licensure as a professional counselor. She specializes in working with eating disorders, trauma, and attachment and has developed equine and canine-assisted programs for at-risk adolescents in collaboration with residential treatment centers and eating disorder clinics. She is also a PATH International Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor for clients with cognitive, physical, and emotional disabilities, and a Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health and Learning. Veronica believes that research is the key to supporting equine-facilitated psychotherapy as an evidence-based modality and has multiple publications internationally in peer-reviewed journals. Veronica currently serves on the Board of Trustees for PATH International, and a Governance Committee member, as well as a founding member of their Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Committee. She has served on the Executive Board of numerous professional organizations including American Psychological Association Division 32 (Secretary), University Professors Press (Editor), and The Humanitarian Alliance. She is also a peer-reviewer for The Journal of Humanistic Psychology, and The Humanistic Psychologist.

Veronica is the recipient of the 2022 APA Division 32 Camri Harari Early Career Award from the American Psychological Association. This award recognizes outstanding contributions for innovative applications in the field of Humanistic Psychology.

For more information about The HERD INSTITUTE, visit: https://herdinstitute.com/

Julia Rose, a blond woman holding a western horse halter on her shoulder. — Photo by Henry Johnstone

About Julia Rose

Founder, Bridle & Brand

Julia Rose is an advisor and writer with over six years of experience helping small to midsize businesses grow, without added complexity or drained time.

As the founder of Bridle & Brand, she supports busy equine professionals who are ready for consistent inquiries and opportunities to catch up with the great work they’re already doing.

Her programs focus on clarifying what works, what’s worth avoiding, and following through with practical tools that build on what teams are already doing well. Learn more about Bridle & Brand here: www.BridleandBrand.com