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SIDELINESDIGITAL | May 2026
r. Stefanie Mazer, PsyD, PSYPACT,
is a Licensed Psychologist with deep
expertise in both mental health and
the equestrian world. She provides traditional
psychotherapy, sport and performance psychology
for equestrians (in person and virtually), and
Equine Assisted Psychotherapy at her farm in
Loxahatchee, Florida. Her work blends evidence-
based psychological care with a nuanced
understanding of horse sport and
culture, including horse-and-
rider dynamics, parallel
learning between horse
and athlete, and the
pressures faced by
riders, families and
trainers.
Raised in
Maryland, Stefanie’s
connection to horses
began early. Some of her
earliest memories involve
time spent at racetracks with
her father and stopping to greet
roadside horses with her mother. By age
4, she began formal riding lessons at McDonogh
School, where her passion for horses deepened
through a hands-on, immersive barn upbringing
typical of the 1980s. “We did everything ourselves,
no grooms, and braiders only at major shows. I
learned by being present at the barn,” she recalled.
“I was a barn rat, spending as much time as
possible with the horses and in the barn or fields.”
Learning the Equestrian World
At McDonogh School, Stefanie trained under
Street Moore. “He was an exceptional teacher, laid
back, and allowed us autonomy and independence
with guidance,” Stefanie said. “My friends and
I supported each other at shows, fostering a
collaborative and supportive environment and
a shared and meaningful experience of loving
horses, riding and competing year after year.”
Stefanie credits acclaimed trainer Karen Healy
for imparting the riding fundamentals that would
later inform her own teaching. “Karen’s approach
was transformative, equipping me with practical
knowledge to educate others.”
Her riding career continued through college,
and during her senior year she acquired La
Luna, a 4-year-old mare who would
profoundly influence her life.
Shortly after purchase, La
Luna suffered a near-fatal
injury at a horse show.
Despite a poor prognosis,
Stefanie remained
committed to her
recovery. Ultimately, La
Luna made a full return
to health and together they
competed successfully in
multiple divisions.
La Luna’s legacy continues
through her daughter, Big Sky, now
18, and Big Sky’s offspring Sunny, now 5. Big
Sky was born during the second half of Stefanie’s
doctoral program with the intention that she
would one day work with people in a therapeutic
setting. “It has been such a joy and privilege to
share her with people suffering from mental illness
or people who are looking to grow, or improve
their relationship with themselves, or their
relationship with their spouse, or other important
people in their life,” Stefanie said.
After earning her Doctorate in Psychology in
2009, Stefanie pursued parallel careers in mental
health and high-level equestrian training through
Forget Me Not Farm in Wellington, Florida. Her
success as a trainer included being named South
Florida Trainer of the Year in 2014 and developing
multiple USEF Horse of the Year winners, Derby
champions, Pony Finals winners and horses and
riders excelling from leadline through Grand Prix
and U25 divisions. “Many of the horses I have
trained continue to achieve great things with new
teams, as I have stepped back from horse training
to focus more on my career as a psychologist,”
Stefanie said.
A NEW FOCUS
Today, Dr. Mazer practices psychotherapy in
Wellington and offers telehealth services to clients
in 43 states through her Psypact credentials via
MindWise, Inc. She treats anxiety, depression,
relationship concerns and couples’ issues, and
supports competitive equestrians navigating
performance-related challenges. Her services
integrate clinical psychotherapy with sport
psychology interventions.
Clients may engage in traditional office-based
therapy or participate in sessions involving animals,
including Big Sky and a few retired show horses,
miniature horses, donkeys, alpacas, goats and
birds. “Depending on the clients’ needs, we may
incorporate horses or donkeys into sessions. For
couples, activities with the horses can help them
reenact and illuminate relationship dynamics that
they may not be aware of,” Stefanie explained. “For
individuals, horses can provide immediate, honest
feedback, serving as mirrors and live biofeedback
for clients to learn and grow from especially in terms
of nervous system work and autonomic shifts.”
For individuals and couples, working with
horses can reveal relational patterns, promote
nervous system regulation and provide immediate,
nonverbal feedback. Stefanie’s deep understanding
of the equestrian world positions her to address
issues common among competitive riders, such
as performance anxiety, perfectionism, burnout,
confidence disruptions, social comparison,
boundary-setting and relational stress within
barn and family systems. Evidence-based
approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,
mindfulness-based interventions, emotion
regulation and psychodynamic work are adapted
to the realities of equestrian life.
Stefanie finds her greatest fulfillment in
witnessing her clients’ growth and resilience—
especially when it’s alongside Big Sky. She
remains committed to supporting individuals
and couples through her private practice
through her private practice and farm-based
therapeutic work and hopes to offer future
educational opportunities for psychologists
interested in integrating horses into clinically
grounded mental health care.
DR. STEFANIE
MAZER
Licensed Psychologist, Real
Equestrian World Experience
WOMEN IN BUSINESS
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