Equestrian Author Spotlight: Meet Lauren Woodard

In this 23rd Equestrian Author Spotlight, I talk with fellow Arizonian and equine author Lauren Woodard. Of course, we discuss the best topics on earth — writing, books and horses! In the interview, you'll learn about her book on training a horse to perform "Curbside Service" and why she writes educational horse books. Happy reading!

About Horse Trainer & Author Lauren Woodard

Author Lauren Woodard

Lauren Woodard has trained horses and taught riders for over thirty years. Well versed on various disciplines and breeds, her emphasis is on results. She shares her wisdom, wit, knowledge, and understanding of what makes a horse tick, while applying natural concepts and horse psychology with rider skills and concepts outside the norm. She is the author of Curbside Service, Change the Way You and Your Horse Think About Each Other and also Balky, Balky, I Ain't Goin'. She lives in Scottsdale, Arizona with her small herd of heathens. Her website exceptionalhorsemanship.com offers tons of training info and videos to help your horsemanship.

​Nice to meet you, Lauren! Let's saddle up for the interview.

---

What is your involvement with horses? 

I’ve been teaching horsemanship and training horses for over 40 years. I’ve changed a lot in those years as far as the horse training goes. I specialize in rogues, renegades, spooks and knuckleheads on the horse end and women who want that dream they had as a little girl of their own horse and what that relationship could be and many times, isn’t.

---

What is your favorite horse memory?

When I got “it”! 25 years ago I was sitting on an upright 55 gallon drum with my horse Breeza online watching a bunch of other people with their horses. “It” hit me like a bat and I understood “it” on a cellular level. It’s not the task. Now that familiar remark is understood by many or said by many on an intellectual level. But, will your horse do what you ask, when you ask –NICELY? Two concepts/rules that apply before everything: 1) position, timing and feel. 2) mind, flexion, shift and movement.

---

What would your dream horse be like? 

I have my dream horses. I hope you’ll all go to the About page on my website, exceptionalhorsemanship.com and find out about my most fabulous beasts.

---

Why did you choose to write horse books? 

I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but I thought I’d write fiction – and I still intend to. I have the best opening line for my book. But, in one of the writing courses I took we were required to write quite a few non-fiction pieces and I realized I had quite an affinity for it. The real impetus for me though came about 15 years ago when I read an article in a horse mag by a trainer/author that set my hair on fire. I whipped up a rebuttal in minutes and contacted the mag to see if they would publish it. They would not. But another publication did and then I did about 10 or so more articles for them. 

---

How long have you been an author? 

I started writing stories 30 years ago and published my first book, Curbside Service, which I wrote in 2008 in 2009.  

---

What is your favorite horse book (besides your own of course)? 

Fiction: The Black Stallion and Satan. Non-fiction: One of many: Falling for Fallacies: Misleading Commonplace Notions of Dressage Riding by Jean-Claude Racinet. 

---

What is your favorite motivational quote? 

It’s on my wall in a frame: “I’m going to learn something today and NO ONE is going to stop me.”

---

How many horse-related books have you written? 

Two are finished. I have 4 more half-written currently and a zillion in my mind.

Books by Lauren Woodard

---

What book are you currently reading? 

I’m always reading at least 4 at a time. One fiction, right now “I Am Malala.” And then a horse book, a business book and a self-betterment book.

---

Why do you write?

Because I must.

Image Credit: Dan Dalton

---

Any amusing story about writing your book(s)? 

I was hooked up to two machines, a perpetual motion machine and a ‘cool-eroo’ that kept my completely broken knee at 49 degrees when I decided to take this chapter out of the tome I was working on called “Til I Came to Realize” and make it a book of it’s own.

---

How did you get the idea for the cover of the book? 

​My daughter and I did a lot of shots. I couldn’t walk at the time so all the pictures were taken by me of her and our horses "Curbsiding."

---

---

What do you think makes your book stand out? 

It’s an easy concept that most haven’t ever thought of. It’s fun and so darned convenient while teaching both horse and human stuff they don’t even know they’re learning.

---

Discover more about equine author Lauren Woodard

Website: https://www.exceptionalhorsemanship.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exceptionalhorsemanship/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Lauren-Woodard/

---

What a spur jingling interview!

A BIG thank you to Lauren Woodard for participating in my Equestrian Author Spotlight series. I enjoy these interviews. I learn so much from other authors and appreciate how unique each of our writing journeys are. I love that all the authors featured in this series are linked through our creativity, passion for writing, and love of horses. I think it is so important to support each other. I appreciate the support of a fellow author. Thank you for giving me the gift of your time, Lauren! ​​​#authorsunite

Equine Authors Lauren Woodard (left) & Carly Kade (right)

I had a terrific time meeting fellow equestrian author Lauren Woodard of Exceptional Horsemanship for coffee! We chatted all things horses, writing & riding in Arizona.  We swapped books too! 

---

I LOVE HORSE BOOKS! If you are an author who writes about horses and would like to be spotlighted let me know. I’d be happy to include you, too. Sharing about fellow horse book authors makes my spurs jingle! Visit my contact page to fill out a request: https://www.carlykadecreative.com/contact.html

---

Miss one of my Equestrian Author Spotlights?

No problem! If you're looking for a horse book to fall in love with. Look no further! Here are plenty of spur jingling equine authors to choose from. Just click the images below to discover your next favorite horse book.

Equine Author Interviews 1 - 10

Equine Author Interviews 11 - 20

---

---

---