Joanna Lepiarczyk grew up around horses in a small, family-run riding facility in Europe. Daily life revolved around chores, training, and the kind of slow, steady observation that teaches you to notice what most people miss. She learned early on that horses speak through posture, through their breath, and subtle shifts in energy that reveal how they feel long before they act. Her work now centers on the mental well-being and inner life of the horse. As an Equestrian Canada–certified Competition Coach, she draws on classical horsemanship and a habit of watching first, acting second. Behavior, for her, is information—often pointing to a horse’s physical or emotional state rather than the task in front of him. Over the years, she has added formal study to that foundation, including veterinary thermography, equine orthopedics, conformation, and the psychology of working with horses, with coursework through FEI Campus and veterinary-led programs. These threads come together in her interest in how strain, stress, and emotional load shape a horse’s experience, and how thoughtful training and management can support a sense of ease. Joanna is the creator of social platform @Horses Explained and a regular contributor to equestrian media. Her book, Understanding Horse Depression, brings together lifelong experience, professional practice, and current research to explore how horses navigate stress, shutdown, and resilience. She lives and works in Burnaby, British Columbia.