About

Who we are

Elisabeth Crabtree MSc, GEP, MIAEB, AISRB  – A Stable Connection

In addition to a long career as a business & management consultant, Elisabeth also spent several years teaching at colleges & universities in the United Kingdom. More recently, Elisabeth has combined her horsemanship with her business experience in order to develop equine-assisted programs. She now offers various programs to individuals & groups, with an emphasis on professional & business development, communication skills and team building – and offers specific programs for veterinary professionals.

A lifelong equestrian, Elisabeth holds a certificate in Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy (GEP) from the Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies (GEIR) and OK Corral Series certification in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP) & Equine Assisted Learning (EAL), together with an MSc in Education & Training and a Certificate in Equine Science. Elisabeth is also certified with PATH International as an Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning and has served on faculty for The HERD Institute.

Elisabeth trained as a Level 2 coach with the International Society of Rider Biomechanics (ISRB) and is a founding member of the International Association of Equestrian Biomechanics (IAEB).

Elisabeth is also a certified Senior Equine First Aid Instructor and an Affiliate of Equi-Health Canada/Equi-First Aid USA, offering a range of first aid and safety classes to horse owners and instructor training for individuals who want to combine their passion for horses with a business opportunity. Elisabeth is also a certified trainer with Canine Health Canada, offering emergency first aid training to dog owners.

Elisabeth is certified as an independent Equine Nutrition Advisor through Legacy Equine Nutrition and, in 2020,  worked with a team of advisors to develop the independent “Principles of Equine Nutrition” class.

Her credentials include:
Official Coach  – International Society of Rider Biomechanics
Founding Member – International Association of Equestrian Biomechanics
SafeSport Certified
Faculty Member – The HERD Institute
Certificate in Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy – Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies, USA
Certificate in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy & Equine Assisted Learning, OK Corral Series
Certification as a Senior Equine First Aid Instructor – Equi-Health International
Affiliate & Instructor-trainer – Equi-Health International
Certified Instructor – Canine Health International
Certified Instructor – Feline Health International
Certified Independent Equine Nutrition Advisor – Legacy Equine Nutrition
Double-certified Equine Kinesiology Tape Practitioner – Equi-Tape & Holistic Animals
Certified Instructor – American Red Cross
Certified Instructor – American Heart Association
Certified Instructor – Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning – PATH International
Equine Science Certificate – University of Guelph, Canada
MSc in Education & Training – Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK
Certificate in Education (Further Education) – University of Huddersfield, UK

Associates

Dr. Veronica Lac, PhD, MSc, MA, LPC (DC), GEP – The HERD Institute

Veronica Lac is a registered psychotherapist with the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), and an Accredited Member of the Gestalt Psychotherapy Training Institute, UK. Since moving to the USA, Veronica has also obtained Professional Membership of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the District of Columbia. Veronica is passionate about working with clients to enable them to reach their full potential, at home and at work. With her background in Training & Development combined with intensive Gestalt Psychotherapy training, Veronica is experienced in one-to-one coaching and group work from both organizational and therapeutic perspectives. Clients range from large corporate businesses to individuals, couples and families. Veronica holds certification from the Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies and is also a PATH International certified instructor. She is the Founder of the HERD (Human Equine Relational Development) Institute, currently based in Orlando, Florida. The HERD offers training for professionals wanting to certify in Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy &/or Equine Facilitated Learning. Veronica’s has written two books on equine-facilitated work – both books are available at Amazon.

• Equine-Facilitated Psychotherapy and Learning: The Human-Equine Relational Development (HERD) Approach
• It’s Not About the Activity: Thinking Outside the Toolbox in Equine- Facilitated Psychotherapy and Learning

Veronica is committed to her continual professional development to ensure a high standard of service to her clients and students. She holds a PhD in Psychology, specializing in Existential, Humanistic and Transpersonal Psychology, and International Psychology.

Her qualifications include:
PhD. in Psychology – Saybrook University, USA
Certificate in Gestalt Equine Psychotherapy – Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies, USA
MA in Gestalt Psychotherapy – University of Birmingham, UK
NLP Practitioner Certificate – INLPTA Accredited
MSc in Training & Performance Management – University of Leicester, UK
Certificate in Training Practice – University of Leicester, UK
PATH International Certified Instructor and Equine Specialist in Mental Health & Learning

Dr. Naomi Crabtree, DVM, BS, MS, DACVS-LA, DACVECC-LA

Originally from the UK, Dr. Crabtree moved to Calgary, Canada at the age of 9, where she grew up with horses on the family acreage. She completed a BSc in Biological Sciences and Psychology at the University of Calgary, prior to completing her DVM at U of C’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (UCVM). Ever in awe of the equine athlete, her professional interests include equine surgery, with a particular interest in soft tissue surgery, lameness, sports medicine and emergency & critical care. During her time at UCVM, she was an active member of the student governing group, earned numerous academic scholarships and was funded as a Merial Scholar for clinical research, investigating fitness in polo ponies and workload assessments in chuckwagon horses. Following a one-year internship at Idaho Equine Hospital, she completed a large animal surgery residency and a Masters degree at Mississippi State University and a large animal emergency & critical care Fellowship at the University of Georgia, becoming both a Diplomate of both the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and the American College of Veterinary Emergency Critical Care (ACVECC). Dr. Crabtree is currently working at the University of Georgia as a Clinical Assistant Professor in large animal surgery and emergency & critical care. Dr. Crabtree serves on the Advisory Board for the Principles of Equine Nutrition class developed by A Stable Connection.

Professional Memberships and Networks
A Stable Connection personnel are members of the following organizations, among others:

International Association of Equestrian Biomechanics (Founding Member)
International Society of Rider Biomechanics
International Society for Equitation Science
SafeSport
PATH International
United States Equestrian Federation
Equestrian Canada
Alberta Equestrian Federation
Working Equitation Canada (WECAN)
USA Working Equitation (USAWE)
The HERD Institute
American Association of Equine Practitioners
American Veterinary Medical Association
American College of Veterinary Surgeons
American College of Veterinary Emergency & Critical Care
Gestalt Equine Institute of the Rockies (GEIR)
Association for the Advancement of Gestalt Therapy (AAGT)
American Psychological Association