Overview

Horses, Heartache and Healing is an intimate, deeply human story written by a woman whose wisdom has been shaped by love, loss, and the quiet teachings of horses. What begins as the rescue of a group of wild-born brumbies becomes a powerful journey into the landscapes of healing, resilience, and personal transformation. In 2005, a small group of horse lovers from Margaret River, Western Australia, learned of a unique mob of heritage brumbies struggling to survive a devastating drought on Earaheedy Station in the state's remote outback. Led by veterinarian Dr Sheila Greenwell, the group undertook two rescue missions that saved nineteen horses from certain death. These brumbies were extraordinary-genetically untouched for more than sixty years and carrying traits long lost in modern bloodlines. After careful assessment, the Waler Horse Society of Australia recognised them as foundational Waler stock, confirming what the rescuers had sensed from the beginning. Among those drawn to the horses was Elizabeth Denniss, a young woman standing at a crossroads-her marriage ending, her life shifting, her heart searching for something steady to hold onto. When she met Earaheedy Sophie, a four-month-old, orphaned filly found starving beside her half-sister Lilly, Elizabeth felt an unmistakable pull. In a leap of faith, she brought Sophie home, unaware that this fragile filly would become her anchor through some of life's most painful seasons. What unfolds is a story of two beings-one human, one horse-learning to trust, survive, and grow together. Sophie became Elizabeth's companion through years of supporting her brother's battle with mental illness and repeated suicide attempts. Elizabeth, in turn, became Sophie's guardian through her own emotional and physical challenges. Their bond, forged through hardship and devotion, became the foundation for a new path: offering others the chance to experience the profound healing available through equine-facilitated learning. Through joy, laughter, heartbreak, and quiet moments of grace, Elizabeth invites readers into the world of horses as teachers, mirrors, and healers. Her story reveals how equine-facilitated learning can open doorways to emotional clarity, nervous system regulation, and deep personal insight for anyone willing to step into the presence of a horse. Horses, Heartache and Healing is more than a memoir-it is a testament to the power of connection, the resilience of the human spirit, and the extraordinary ways horses help us find our way home to ourselves.

Full Product Details

9780992548605

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Reviews

Benjamin Franklin 2016 Award Nominee Judge ""I found this book to be very engrossing. I thought it was fascinating. I certainly learned so much about equine facilitated learning. I eagerly followed the journey of Sophie and Lilly and worried about the author's brother. I went on an emotional journey with both the horses and humans. I was utterly captivated by the beautiful photos and the Australian setting. I will recommend this book to friends.""

Author Information

Elizabeth Woodall (Denniss) is a life coach, equine informed awareness practitioner, and author based in Western Australia. Drawing on lived experience, academic grounding, and more than two decades in leadership and personal development, she supports women navigating change, healing, and self discovery. Elizabeth lives and works from Rainbow Ridge Farm, where her rescued Waler horses play a central role in her equine facilitated learning programs. Horses, Heartache and Healing is her first book.

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