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Our Riding Wild Team

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Aniela Gottwald

FOUNDER & FACILITATOR | CALIFORNIA, USA

Aniela Gottwald is the founder of Riding Wild, a 1% For The Planet nonprofit organization that takes women on transformative wilderness expeditions, combining personal and collective healing with intersectional environmentalism. With over 20 years of experience in horsemanship, Aniela is a certified Equine Guided Empowerment facilitator specializing in integrative somatic trauma and attachment therapy. She is currently dedicated to creating spaces where women can reconnect with their bodies, find resilience, and cultivate profound personal growth through the healing power of nature. Aniela’s lifelong connection with horses began in childhood, but it was her solo 1,300-mile backcountry expedition with wild horses she trained herself that deepened her understanding of the mirroring power of these animals in the healing process. Her work with Riding Wild stems from this understanding, offering equine-guided journeys that foster empowerment, personal sovereignty, and a sense of freedom. Through these immersive experiences, Aniela helps women, especially BIPOC and Indigenous communities, reclaim their voices and rediscover their inner strength. Guiding horse-riding expeditions throughout the world, Aniela has created a powerful program that seamlessly integrates tools for nervous system regulation and therapeutic practices into each journey. Her approach is grounded in the belief that individual healing contributes to collective well-being, creating a ripple effect of generational healing and transformation. Riding Wild’s purpose is to make these healing experiences accessible through scholarships, providing safe spaces for adventure, connection, and the discovery of new possibilities. Through her work, Aniela invites women to step into a journey of personal growth and resilience, supported by the essential connection between humans and nature.

Patrice Ringelstein

BOARD MEMBER & FACILITATOR | CALIFORNIA, USA

Patrice Ringelstein holds a Master of Science in Environmental Studies from San Jose State University where she focused on the relationship between water quality and leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) in the San Francisco Bay Estuary. She has over 10 years of experience as an environmental educator and researcher in both the Bay Area and Los Angeles Area, having worked at multiple museums and non-profits during that time. She has also participated in various research projects to analyze toxicity levels and species abundance in the San Francisco Estuary with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Estuary Institute.Currently, she works as a biologist and researcher at Pax Environmental, Inc. in Ojai, California, where she conducts focused special-status species studies, data collection, data analysis, and reporting. In addition to her years of biological fieldwork, her background includes eight years of teaching in the field. Patrice came to Riding Wild through a sponsorship opportunity and embarked on a transformative nine-day journey through the Sierra Nevada. The experience was profoundly impactful, inspiring her to write about it for Patagonia's blog, where she shared her story of growth, connection, and empowerment in nature. Thrilled to now be a part of Riding Wild, Patrice is passionate about contributing to its mission of creating healing and transformative experiences in the wilderness, particularly for BIPOC women. She hopes to inspire the next generation of scientists, researchers, and adventurers dedicated to protecting the planet and its inhabitants.

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Taren Maroun

FACILITATOR | CALIFORNIA, USA

Taren Maroun, a seasoned practitioner in Northern California, specialized in Somatic Trauma and Attachment therapy with a relational focus. Using innovative modalities like Ceremonial Breathwork, Shadow Alchemy, and Equine Guided Somatic Reprogramming, Taren invite individuals into a journey of healing and self-discovery. She is currently in school in pursuit of a MA in Somatic Psychology and Licensure as an LMFT. Taren’s lifelong connection with horses has deeply influenced her healing journey. At 16, training her first wild mustang revealed the mirroring potential and power of horses. This realization fueled Taren’s dedication to exploring the healing potential of horses, eventually leading to the creation of a tailored equine-guided immersion program for survivors of physical and sexual assault. With extensive experience in both 1:1 and group settings, Taren cultivates transformative spaces where individuals are invited to reconnect with their bodies, reclaim their voices, and foster resilience. Through a combination of traditional therapeutic techniques and experiential approaches, often involving horses, Taren’s holistic approach supports clients in processing unresolved trauma and developing healthier relational patterns. She emphasizes the interconnectedness of individual healing, with collective well-being, advocating for personal sovereignty, freedom and empowerment, fostering a ripple effect of healing and authenticity. This comprehensive approach lays the foundation for sustained healing and personal growth, empowering individuals to embark on a journey towards profound transformation and empowerment.

Safia Khider

FACILITATOR & HORSE TRAINER | MARRAKECH, MOROCCO

For as long as Safia can remember, she has had a deep desire to be with horses. Her journey began at the age of 12 when she was disheartened by the dominant approach humans took toward horses in Morocco; even as a child, she felt this was wrong. After working in France, where she was far from horses but eager to understand their world, she dreamed of a new way to connect with them. During this time, she met Anna Twinney, a world-renowned trainer and the head instructor of Monty Roberts for ten years. Anna sponsored Safia to become a certified horse trainer, allowing her to learn and practice this methodology in Colorado. Upon returning to Marrakech, Safia launched a project called CavaliSpirit (where "Cavali" means "horse" in Native American) to give horses a voice, inspire humans to co-create with them compassionately, and empower people to reach their full potential through horse coaching. Her daily aim is to guide her four-legged partners to feel their best physically, mentally, and emotionally. Safia considers herself a lifelong student of horses, driven by a passion for learning and teaching authentic feel. She uses the language of energy to connect with horses, grow from her experiences with them, and share that knowledge with the world around her.

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Heidrun Maria

FACILITATOR | REYJAVIK, ICELAND

Heiðrún María, a gentle force of Icelandic nature who will guide you into the magical ways of unconditional love and grace. Heiðrún specializes in reclaiming connection to the self through the heart working with the spirit of cacao in cacao ceremonies, through sound and energy healings, reconnecting to our true nature with the raw force of Icelandic nature, through wholesome vibrant living and yoga. Heiðrún María is a certified practitioner of The Emotion Code ® and currently studying The Body Code™. Teaching and facilitating healing spaces since 2018. She has traveled the world to study and expand her awareness and knowledge in yoga, qi gong, sound healing, energy healing, ceremonial cacao facilitation and breathwork with respected master teachers and healers in Iceland and Guatemala. Today her focus is in one on one healing sessions, cacao plant medicine ceremonies, homecoming nature retreats and various courses on Coming Home to the Heart. A highly sensitive and passionate being who embodies the freedom to be authentic and connected in harmony and truth.

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Lena Bam

PHOTOGRAPHER | PATAGONIA, CHILE

Lena was born in Siberia, Russia, and never imagined her life would change so drastically, leading her to find her place on the other side of the world. After many years traveling and living in Asia, she discovered her true home in Patagonia. She fell in love with the stunning landscapes, the rich gaucho culture, and the horses galloping freely across the pampa. With her camera in hand, Lena captures moments that feel unique and authentic. While riding horses and experiencing the wind and cold, each image she takes tells the story of her journey, inviting others to connect with these extraordinary moments.

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Lina Giese

PHOTOGRAPHER | REYJAVIK, ICELAND

Carolin is an internationally published and award artist born in Germany, living and working in Iceland as a freelancing photographer. She has lived with animals all her life and has been especially fascinated by horses for as long as she can remember. They have not only been a big part of her daily life but also became one of the biggest sources of inspiration for her work. As a self-taught photographer, she started her own business in 2018, which is now so much more than a job; it’s a place of happiness, her biggest passion, and a life full of amazing stories.

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