Ariana Strozzi Mazzucchi

Ariana Strozzi Mazzucchi

Ariana is a visionary leader, founder of equine guided education and coaching, award winning writer, artist and land steward. Her entrepreneurial commitment to ‘horses healing humans healing earth’ has led the way in the field of equine therapies. Her unique blend of nature, holistic somatics™ and embodied leadership has changed thousands of lives and is integrated into universities, leadership programs, veterans programs and non profits throughout the world. She founded Leadership, & Horses™ and Intuitive Horsemanship™ in 1989 and Equine Guided Education in 1999.

She grew up training horses and winning champion awards in dressage, jumping, cross country eventing, gymkhana, reining, and working cow horse. She learned through her diverse experience that horses’ primary source of communication is intuitive and deeply sensitive to the energetic essence of their environment.

Ariana graduated from UC Davis with a degree in zoology and animal behavior. She is a well known rancher, sheperd, vintner and supports local food economy and family farms. She is on the Sonoma County Farm Trails Foundation, and is a member of the Sonoma County Farm Bureau, Sonoma County Horse Council and Russian River Winegrowers.

Head Shot of Wesley Smith, marketing director for Casari Ranch

Wesley May Smith

Wesley is Ariana’s eldest daughter and the marketing director for Casari Ranch, home to SkyHorse Academy. She combines creativity and authenticity to shape and manage the ranch’s digital presence. With a deep-rooted connection to the land, rural life, and the SkyHorse community, Wesley brings a thoughtful and grounded perspective to her work, infusing every project with integrity, purpose, and attention to detail.

She oversees social media, website updates, and newsletter creation to keep the Casari Ranch and SkyHorse communities informed, inspired, and connected. Wesley is passionate about sharing the ranch’s story and the Academy’s mission in ways that honor their values and resonate genuinely with the people who support them.

Drawing from her experience as a Level 1 Certified Equine Guided Educator with SkyHorse Academy, Wesley also offers coaching and marketing support to fellow facilitators, helping them share their gifts authentically and with intention.

When she’s not working, Wesley enjoys outdoor adventures with her three boys and stays connected to her rural roots through a love of hands-on living and the slower, intentional rhythm of country life.

  • "Ariana has a deep and spiritual connection with animals and mother nature. She is naturally able to communicate with the spirits of the land, and the animals. With this gift, she has pioneered a field which translates this soul language into transformational heart openings for people."

    Peg Barryhill

  • "Ariana has created a bridge between the animal world and humans that helps create unity on mother earth. She is deeply authentic and walks her talk."

    Beth D

Ariana’s unique approach of blending emotional, somatic and spiritual intelligence with an emphasis on the natural world as a place of healing has helped over six thousand people from all walks of life. Her teachings have been incorporated into numerous leadership institutes and equine therapy programs around the world including Institute for Women’s Leadership, Institute for Generative Leadership, Institute of Noetic Sciences, and Meridian University. Other leadership training programs that incorporate Ariana’s work include U.C. Berkeley Haas School of Business Development, Institute of Noetic Science, Earthrise, New Era Trainings, Newfield Network, PSI Seminars and more. Her corporate clients include Salesforce, Facebook, Visa, Institute for Women’s Leadership, Wells Fargo Bank, Proctor & Gamble, Hewlett-Packard, Agilent, Cisco, Kaiser, Pfizer, Apple Inc, Leadership USA, and more.