Meet Chelse Freeman | Equine Bodywork Practitioner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelse Freeman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelse, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
I’ll be honest—there have been plenty of moments when I felt ready to call it quits. I’ve told my husband more times than I’d like to admit that maybe I should just go get a 9–5 job where the weight of success isn’t 100 percent on my shoulders. But after the tears and frustration pass, I always find myself pressing forward, because I know I couldn’t forgive myself if I walked away from this dream I’ve poured so much into.
This work has my whole heart. I’ve spent countless hours behind the steering wheel traveling to clients, late nights planning, long days in the barn or outside in the Texas sun most of the time, and more energy than I ever thought I had—but I keep going because it matters, to me and to the horses I am able to help. You’ve heard the story about the ice cube right? When you set it on the counter, it looks like nothing is happening. But with each small rise in temperature, change is quietly building, even if you can’t see it yet. Then, suddenly, it reaches its melting point—and everything shifts. That’s how I see this journey. Every effort, every late night, every mile driven is raising the temperature one degree at a time. I don’t always know when the tipping point will come, but I trust that if I keep at it, my ice cube will eventually melt and I’ll reach that next level, whatever that is at the time, and be able to look back so proud of myself and thankful I kept going.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work is rooted in a holistic approach to the horse—mind, body, and spirit. I believe that true wellness and performance come from honoring the interconnectedness of all three, and that you can’t separate one from the other. When I work with a horse, I don’t just see tense muscles that need release or a saddle that doesn’t fit—I see an individual with physical, emotional, and energetic needs that all deserve attention.

In practice, that means I blend together different modalities—massage, myofascial release, acupressure, saddle fitting, as well as my study of biomechanics and background in training—to create a session that’s tailored to that horse in that moment. No two horses are exactly alike, and no two sessions should be either. My goal is always to support the horse in feeling more balanced and comfortable in their own body, and to help them thrive in partnership with their human. I also place a strong emphasis on teaching owners techniques they can use on their own between professional sessions, empowering them to actively care for their horses and strengthen the bond they share.

Getting to where I am today has been a journey of continual learning and growth, always striving to be a little better than I was yesterday. I’ve invested in ongoing education and sought out mentors because the more I understand the horse, the more I can give back to them. It hasn’t always been easy—there have been long days, doubts, and moments that tested my patience—but the lessons have been invaluable. I’ve learned to trust in the quiet progress that adds up over time, and to remember that every step, no matter how small, brings both the horse and myself closer to our best work together.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d start our trip in downtown Cleburne with a coffee from Mug on the Square – it’s the cutest little shop and seriously some of the best coffee I’ve had. From there, we’d head out to Fossil Rim in Glen Rose. Because if hand feeding giraffes is not on your bucket list – it absolutely should be!
After that, we’d make our way up to Fort Worth. The stockyards has this great little museum with so much history of the grounds. Then over to the Will Rogers where there are so many great horse shows and events, including my favorite, the World’s Greatest Horseman in February. And finally, no trip would be complete without a day in Waco, exploring the Silos and Magnolia Market and all the other cool little spots and restaurants in the area!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My husband, Jack, absolutely deserves the shoutout here. He’s been my biggest supporter from the beginning. Even though he didn’t grow up with horses, he’s become just as invested in them as I am—and as any horse person knows, this is a lifestyle, not just a hobby. He spends his free time caring for our own horses right alongside me, and he often tags along to help at clinics, saddle fitting sessions, and more. With the help of my father-in-law, he even built the session area we now have for haul-in clients on our property.
What means the most, though, is that he’s always encouraging me to go after the things that bring me joy. He’s the first to celebrate the good days and the one who helps me keep going through the hard ones. I truly wouldn’t be where I am without his constant love, support, and willingness to jump into this journey with me.

Website: https://www.equineunbound.com

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Image Credits
Sarah Dickey, Bel Amour Farm
Shana Campbell