Practicing connection with horses & humans
Growing Edge Equine*imity
All young people deserve to feel unconditionally loved and valued, to grow up with their dignity fully intact, and to have the freedom to discover their passions and determine their own life paths.
At Growing Edge Equine*imity, we believe relationships with young people should be grounded in joy, trust, and a deep mutual respect.
Our Vision
I am a lifelong radical unschooler and natural horsewoman, as well as being a highly sensitive empath. I hold a BA from Goddard College with a concentration in Equine Psychology & Partnership-Based Horse Training, and an MA in Equine-Assisted Learning & Business Design from Prescott College. Both schools are renowned for being rooted in progressive, learner-centered education. My unconventional education and lifestyle have provided me with a deep inner knowing, as well as an understanding of the value of trust and autonomy in the learning process.
These days, I combine my passion for horses with a strong desire to empower adults with the skills necessary to support and guide young people as they grow into thriving and conscientious members of a global community. I believe this requires a reimagining of the traditional adult/youth power paradigm, shifting us towards relationships that are grounded in mutual trust and respect, while cultivating a deep appreciation and responsibility for the world around us.
Hello! My name is Halie Barrick, M.A.
About Us
I am a dedicated life-long learner holding an M.Ed. from UNC Chapel Hill. I am proud to be Halie’s mother, co-facilitator, and a lifelong advocate for peaceful parenting and self-directed learning. My background is in early childhood education and family mental health, and I bring over three decades of lived experience to my work. I am passionate about supporting parents and educators as they deepen and grow their relationships with children.
I nurture my inner social scientist with never-ending research into all things early childhood family mental health, developmental trauma, resilience, and physical- and mental- health & wellbeing.
Nearly 20 years ago, I changed my last name to “Maitri” (meaning “Loving-Kindness”) and “Mudita” (meaning “Universal Joy”) as a pathway forward into living and parenting consciously. My name, as well as the license plate on our pink VW Bug, reminds me daily to “Cre8Joy”!
Welcome! I'm Michelle Maitri-Mudita, M.Ed.
- Vermont State University Early Childhood Educators Institute, July 2025, Keynote Address (Michelle and Halie)
- Vermont State University Early Childhood Educators Institute, July-November 2025, 3 credit undergraduate/graduate course (Michelle and Halie)
- Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO) International Youth Conference, January 2026 (Halie)
- The Unschooling Summit March 20th-22nd 2026 (Halie)
- University of Wisconsin-Stout Early Childhood Education Conference, April 2026 (Michelle and Halie) (Upcoming)
- Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO) Conference, June 11-13th, 2026, Manchester, NH (Halie and Michelle) (Upcoming)
Places we have presented:
Trainings we have attended:
- Harry Whitney 7 day horsemanship clinic 2022, 2023, 2024 (Halie)
- Libby Lyman 3 day horsemanship clinic 2024 (Halie)
- Susan Fay 3 day horsemanship clinic 2024 (Halie)
- Polyvagal Equine Institute (PVEI) 2 day personal and professional development workshop 2023 (Halie and Michelle)
- Eponaquest 4 day leadership training 2024 (Halie and Michelle)
- Natural Lifemanship ongoing classes and webinars 2025, 2026 (Halie)
Growing Edge Equine*imity is an equine-assisted personal and professional development business offering workshops and coaching for parents, educators, and organizations. We are a mother/daughter team who focus on inner healing and growth to support healthy communication and relationship building. Our emphasis is on consent-based and collaborative adult/youth relationships, particularly in support of intrinsically motivated, autonomy preserving, and community engaged Self-Directed Education.
We support parents and educators who feel called to shift from control to connection and embrace a “power with” approach that honors young people’s dignity, freedom, and ownership over their learning. Our work is rooted in peaceful and attachment parenting, unschooling, and Self-Directed Education, and is informed by research in Attachment Theory and Polyvagal Theory. Trauma-informed and restorative practices are deeply integrated into everything we do.
Blending neuroscience with our love for horses, we offer mindful, ground-based activities that create space for reflection, co-regulation, and embodied learning. Each session includes time to integrate your experiences, ask questions, and explore real-life scenarios together.
Our Approach
Come visit us in the woods of Northern Vermont for hands-on, trauma-informed workshops and retreats with our herd of horses and mini donkeys. These gatherings explore:
- reflection and inner healing
~ social emotional learning
- interpersonal neurobiology
- nervous system regulation
- compassionate communication
- conflict resolution
~ leadership and team building
- attachment and peaceful parenting
- unschooling + Self-Directed Education
Whether you're a parent, educator, or community leader, this is space to practice connection—without judgment or forced outcomes.
In-Person Workshops + Retreats
Our Offerings
Are you looking for a like-minded community? Do you have a burning question for someone who has already traveled the path of Self-Directed Education?
Join us for our free monthly virtual chats, 90 minutes of informal space to connect and engage in thoughtful discussions on what it means to truly understand and trust our children, and ourselves!
Find your cozy place with a special mug and your favorite tea!
Free Monthly Communi-Tea Chats
Want to go deeper? We offer personalized coaching for parents and educators. This is a space for reflection, guidance, and resourcing—especially for folks supporting youth who are highly sensitive, empathic, neurodivergent, or who possess a high need for autonomy.
If you are ready to explore a new way of being with children, join us! Together we can untangle big questions and help you stay grounded, while strengthening your relationships with the young people in your life.
Virtual consulting: private or group settings
~Sue, workshop participant, early educator, childcare director.
"Learning that I can direct or affect a horse with my energy has broadened my respect for horses and also visually showed me how my attitude and regulated state affects others. My take-away is life changing”
Kind words from our community
Mounted archery, swords, and a fantasy photographer with a vision! With help from Garnet, Chantilly, and Jack (our endlessly patient horse crew), we embodied Halie’s inner fantasies with a medieval photoshoot in the forest! Stay tuned for more photos—they’re epic.
All photo credits go to Amy Lynn Imaging. If you are in New England, please check out her work. She is incredible! Kind, patient, creative, enthusiastic, and delightful to work with!
Recently things got delightfully weird:
Finding the Fun, a Farm Highlight
Parenting:
- Ross Greene
- Robyn Gobbel
- Alfie Kohn
- Daniel Siegel
- Mona Delahooke
- Attachment Parenting
- La Leche League
- The Consciously Parenting Project
- Beyond Consequences Institute
- The Natural Child Project
- The Evolved Nest
- Alliance for Self-Directed Education (ASDE)
- Alternative Education Resource Organization (AERO)
- John Holt: Growing Without Schooling
- Journal of Unschooling and Alternative Learning (JUAL)
- Edward Deci and Richard Ryan
- The Living Joyfully Network
- Radical Learning
- All books by John Taylor Gatto
Leadership and communication:
Personal healing and growth:
A few of our favorite resources:
