In this episode of Taking Back the Reins, Dina Shale is joined by Parvez to explore what it truly takes to build sustainable charities, not-for-profits, and purpose-led organisations—especially when passion is high, but support and structure are stretched.

Parvez shares his journey as a first-generation migrant who spent two decades in global investment banking, working across technology, leadership, delivery, and large-scale transformation. Those years shaped how he thinks about execution, failure, governance, and why having the right people in the right room at the right time matters more than good intentions alone.

Together, Dina and Parvez reflect on:

Moving from commercial success into the charity and not-for-profit sector

The hidden pressures faced by CEOs and charity leaders

Why many charities struggle to become sustainable

The tension between trustees, volunteers, and paid leadership

How commercial thinking can strengthen purpose-led work without losing heart

Why leaders often feel isolated—and where they can find real support

This conversation marks the beginning of an ongoing series where Dina and Parvez will share honest discussions, lived experience, and practical insights to support leaders who are carrying a lot and don’t always know where to turn next.

If you’re leading a charity, not-for-profit, or values-driven organisation—and you’re trying to balance vision, governance, and sustainability—this episode is for you.

In this episode of Taking Back the Reins, host Dina Shale shares a heartfelt update on how the past year has shaped her equine-facilitated learning journey in Lincolnshire. From rebuilding her business after a bold move from Leicestershire to forming inspiring collaborations for 2026, Dina reflects on the growth, challenges, and gratitude that come with following your purpose.

You’ll hear about the success of The Accelerator programme, summer work with the HAF team, exciting new retreats with Moon & Main, and her continued passion for equine therapy, sound healing, and community projects. Dina also gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at upcoming website updates, training opportunities, and collaborations that are helping others build sustainable, heart-led organisations.

Whether you’re an equine facilitator, a business owner, or simply someone who loves stories of resilience and purpose, this episode offers inspiration, insight, and hope for the year ahead.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction – Welcome back and what’s ahead

01:20 Moving from Leicestershire to Lincolnshire: The leap of faith

03:30 Rebuilding and restarting the business from the ground up

05:10 Reflections on The Accelerator and new student journeys

07:00 Highlights from a busy summer with the HAF programme

08:30 Renovation projects, new facilities, and on-site improvements

09:45 Collaborations with Moon & Main and upcoming retreats

10:50 Partnering with coach Parvez Bhatti: Building sustainable charities

13:00 Lessons in community, growth, and starting over

15:00 Upcoming events: retreats, Echo Sound sessions, and more

17:00 Website updates, new booking options, and future plans

18:05 Final reflections – excitement, gratitude, and what’s next

In this episode of Taking Back the Reins, host Dina Shale explores how emotions serve as vital information—guiding us toward what feels right or wrong, when to act, and when to rest.

Through the lens of trauma-informed equine facilitated learning, Dina explains how horses naturally read emotions as cues for survival and connection—and how we, too, can tune into that same emotional intelligence.

Drawing from her experience as a somatic experiencing practitioner, Dina shares how suppressing emotions disconnects us from our inner wisdom, and how reconnecting with our “felt sense” helps us make aligned, confident decisions.

You’ll also hear a powerful personal story where trusting emotional intuition helped her avoid a life-changing mistake—and how emotions, when understood, can become one of our greatest guides.

Whether you’re healing from trauma, working with horses, or simply learning to listen to your body’s messages, this episode will inspire you to see emotions not as weakness, but as wisdom.

00:00 – Introduction and welcome back to Taking Back the Reins

00:25 – Emotions as information: learning to listen to what feelings tell us

01:15 – Why most of us were never taught emotional awareness

02:25 – How horses read emotions through energy and body scanning

04:10 – Fear, anger, sadness: decoding emotional cues for humans

05:00 – Tuning into emotions when working with rescue horses

06:30 – Understanding somatic experiencing and emotional disconnection

07:45 – Story: when listening to emotions prevented a major mistake

10:45 – Trusting your intuition and building confidence in decisions

12:30 – Realizing emotions never lie — they guide us to truth

13:50 – Processing emotions vs. retelling the story of trauma

14:45 – How emotional awareness deepens connection with your horse

15:40 – Big Harry: the horse that taught emotional wisdom

16:10 – Closing reflections: feel, listen, and process—don’t fix or bury emotions

16:45 – Invitation to join the Highway to Healing community

In this episode of Taking Back the Reins, host Dina Shale shares the inspiring journey behind Project Pony and The Accelerator—two groundbreaking equine-facilitated learning programmes designed to help people overcome trauma, stress, and life’s challenges. Discover how a framework born during the pandemic has evolved into a powerful path of healing, transformation, and empowerment—inside what Dina calls her “portal of transformation.”

Whether you’re curious about equine-assisted learning, thinking about becoming a facilitator, or seeking tools to step into your soul’s purpose, this episode offers wisdom, real-life stories, and encouragement to take back the reins of your own life.

In this episode of Taking Back the Reins, Deena welcomes guest Gordon Forsyth, Chair of PACT (Parents and Autistic Children Together), to explore the realities of raising and supporting neurodivergent children. Drawing from two decades of lived experience as a parent and advocate, Gordon shares openly about the challenges families face, the lessons learned through trial and error, and the power of community in finding a way forward.

Together, Deena and Gordon dive into the importance of recognising behavior as communication, shifting away from punishment toward understanding, and building environments—at home, at school, and in the wider community—where children can truly thrive. Their conversation highlights how traditional approaches like talk therapy or rigid systems often fall short, and how somatic, body-based work with horses can unlock deeper awareness and healing that words alone cannot reach.

This is an episode full of honesty, hope, and practical wisdom for parents, educators, and anyone walking alongside neurodivergent children. Whether you’re seeking support, inspiration, or simply a reminder that you are not alone, Gordon’s journey and Deena’s insights will leave you encouraged and empowered to take back the reins in your own story.

After years of study, practice, and perseverance, Dina has completed her three-year journey to become a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner — a milestone that has reshaped both her personal healing and her professional work with horses. In this deeply personal episode, she opens up about the struggles and setbacks along the way, the determination to keep rebuilding, and the profound sense of purpose that continues to guide her work.

Dina explains how somatic awareness — understanding the body’s language of trauma, regulation, and resilience — has changed her life and the lives of her clients. Through inspiring stories, including powerful breakthroughs from clients who could not reach certain traumas through talk therapy alone, she illustrates why body-centered healing is the “missing piece” in mental health and personal growth.

Listeners will come away with hope, encouragement, and a deeper understanding of how trauma is not a life sentence, but an opportunity to build capacity, reclaim strength, and reconnect with the present moment. Whether you’re curious about equine therapy, exploring somatics, or simply seeking inspiration for your own journey, this episode is a heartfelt reminder that healing is always possible — especially when guided by the wisdom of horses.

In this special episode of Taking Back the Reins, Dina welcomes Mel Malcolm, a devoted listener who traveled all the way from New Zealand to connect in person. Mel opens up about her journey — from growing up on a farm, facing life challenges, and experiencing a mental health crisis, to discovering the healing power of horses. Her story is both deeply personal and universally inspiring, showing how equine therapy can help us reconnect with ourselves, release trauma, and rediscover joy.

Together, Dina and Mel explore the magic of working with horses, the importance of somatic healing, and how animals mirror back to us the lessons we most need to learn. Mel also shares her dreams for the future, her passion for wild horses, and her vision of helping others through equine-facilitated learning.

Whether you’re curious about equine therapy, seeking inspiration for your own healing journey, or simply love hearing transformational stories, this episode is a beautiful reminder that growth and recovery are always possible — especially when we let horses guide the way.

Did you know that your energy, emotions,

and mindset directly affect your horse? Horses are incredibly sensitive to

our non-verbal cues, heart rate, and emotional state—meaning that how you feel

and think can shape your horse’s behaviour and connection with you.

In this episode, I dive into:

✅ How horses mirror

our energy and emotions

✅ The science

behind Heart Math and how your heart rate influences your horse

✅ Practical

exercises to create a calm, connected, and trusting partnership

✅ Mindset shifts

that transform your relationship with your horse

If you’ve ever felt like your horse reacts

differently when you’re stressed or unsure, this episode is for you! Tune in to

learn how small changes in your mindset can lead to huge breakthroughs

in your horse’s behaviour.

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