Michelle Higdon

Michelle Higdon
Mentor ~ Senior Instructor ~ Program Lead

Michelle has grown into the heart of Bramblewood Stables—someone whose presence shapes not only individual sessions, but the culture and direction of the farm itself. Over the past years, she has quietly and consistently built spaces where children, families, and adults can arrive as they are and be met with patience, creativity, and genuine care.

With a master’s degree in education and a lifelong devotion to learning, Michelle brings deep pedagogical grounding to everything she leads. Her background as a teacher and school librarian shows up here not as curriculum, but as attunement—an ability to read people and horses clearly, meet them where they are, and guide them forward without rushing or forcing outcomes. What began as a focus on children has naturally expanded into work with participants of all ages, as her steadiness and clarity continue to draw people in.

Michelle is the creative force behind Bramble Buddies Kids’ Club, a monthly offering that has become a cornerstone of the farm. These gatherings reflect her belief that meaningful learning happens through relationship, repetition, and play—whether that learning is about horses, boundaries, confidence, or self-trust.

She also serves as Director of Bramblewood’s Liberty Program, where humans learn to move, communicate, and quite literally dance alongside their horses. This work emphasizes freedom, consent, and mutual awareness, asking both horse and human to stay present, responsive, and honest. Liberty at Bramblewood is not about tricks or spectacle—it is about relationship made visible.

Michelle’s approach to horsemanship begins on the ground. She emphasizes observation, handling, and listening long before anyone considers stepping into the stirrup. She studies and applies equine bodywork principles, including ongoing work with the Masterson Method, supporting horses in ways that help them remain comfortable, expressive, and willing partners.

Beyond the barn, Michelle is the owner of The Stable Shop Co, where she creates custom, hand-crafted gifts that carry the same attention and intention she brings to her teaching. Whether she is shaping a new program, guiding a liberty session, or designing a meaningful keepsake, Michelle’s work is marked by care, clarity, and a deep respect for relationship.