About Ashley
Flaura Ashley Nunn has felt a deep connection to horses since childhood—one that has carried her through life. Being in the presence of horses has been a touchstone and sanctuary for her —a place where acceptance, hope, new perspectives, insight and healing are always waiting.
After being a nationally ranked rider in her teenage years, Ashley fulfilled her childhood dream of working alongside horses to foster healing. She began working as a master's 's-level equine-assisted psychotherapist in 2004 and since then, she has facilitated thousands of therapeutic human-equine interactions.
Ashley's trauma-informed collaborative work with horses as healers has allowed her to witness profound healing for so many, including those in recovery from substance abuse, those healing from physical and sexual abuse, children with attachment issues related to adoption, people battling eating disorders, those navigating grief and loss, and people coping with terminal diagnoses such as stage 4 cancer and Alzheimer's Disease, among countless others who have sought healing and transformation through
this unique and integrative approach.
Ashley sees working with horses as an invitation to come home to the present moment, to the breath, and to the quiet wisdom that horses selflessly share with all those who meet them with an open heart.
Ancient Connections
The symbiotic relationship between horses and humans is ancient.
Horses are deeply sensitive and inherently selfless, and they remind us to honor and align to these qualities within ourselves, as well as to our innate inner strength and ability to self-heal.
Their vitality encourages us to live authentically and freely. Horses have supported humans in overcoming obstacles for eons and continue to offer this medicine to those who engage with them with an open and receptive heart. Horses are said to be guardians of and guides to the spirit realm, and meet us "spirit to spirit."
Our private healing location is in the heart of the sacred Mojave Desert. During your equine-assisted healing session, you will feel held in an ultra-private, convenient-to-town location, surrounded by sweeping desert views and native plants, and held in the presence of our co-facilitators, our gifted and highly intuitive equines.
Sessions occur with the humans on the ground, and our horses participate at liberty, meaning they are not haltered or restrained, and are free to choose how or if they'd like to engage in the session.
We recognize our horses as wise healers, and we have witnessed time and time again that they carry vast inherent wisdom and act as intuitive collaborators and co-facilitators to support the highest good during healing sessions.
Ashley Nunn, is a master's level trauma specialist and has worked with horses in therapeutic settings as a means to address trauma, eating disorders, anxiety, attachment disorders, substance abuse and domestic violence
for more than twenty years. Victoria Thompson, our equine specialist, is a lifelong equestrian and is also trained in equine-assisted learning.
Sessions take place at a private, safe location, where our highly trained staff create a container for our clients that, along with the gifts the horses bring, acts as a catalyst for optimal personal growth, self-discovery, and healing.
RESEARCH LINKS
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MOON & MANE
is a monthly intimate gathering weaving the sun set and moon rise with gentle movement, a sound healing and the wisdom of horses as healers. As the sun sets and the night sky covers us, participants are guided into deeper attunement with their bodies, the herd, and the natural rhythms of the desert. Surrounded by sweeping vistas, Joshua Trees, rock formations, and the eneregy of the horses, this is an experience that resets the heart and instills clarity, perspective and vision.
$45 RSVP required
Equine- Assisted Psychotherapy
Equine-assisted psychotherapy is a highly effective experiential approach for treating trauma, addiction, self-esteem challenges, and eating disorders, either as a standalone therapy or in conjunction with traditional treatment. Horses respond authentically to nervous system states, offering immediate, nonverbal feedback that supports regulation, body awareness, and emotional safety—core needs in trauma recovery. This process helps individuals rebuild trust with themselves and others, strengthen boundaries, and develop a grounded sense of self-worth. This work fosters presence, accountability, and attunement to internal cues, supporting healthier relationships with the body, emotions, and control in ways that talk therapy alone often cannot reach.
I offer equine-assisted therapy as adjunct to my Individual Therapy work or as a stand alone.
See more about my experience as a trauma informed clinician here.
Evidence Based Healing
INSIGHT
PERSPECTIVE
HEALING
Equine-assisted therapy offers clients struggling with substance use disorders an opportunity for tremendous insight and healing by tending to the trauma that leads to addictive behaviors. We welcome the opportunity to partner with rehabilitation programs. Through working therapeutically with horses, clients experience deep insights and challenge maladaptive beliefs as they learn to trust themselves.
By responding to nonverbal cues, such as energy, emotion and body language, horses help clients regulate emotion, build trust and reconnect to the present moment in safe and grounded ways. Through interactions with horses, clients gently explore boundaries and begin to experience a sense of safety and insight that allows the release of limiting narratives and stored trauma.
Horses reflect internal states with honesty, sensitivity and immediacy, giving real-time feedback that helps clients recognize behavioral and emotional patterns that may be impacting self-esteem, relationships and personal growth. As clients build trust with their equine collaborator, they often develop confidence, resilience and a deeper sense of their own authentic voice and presence..