Meet Ursula

Helping people and horses understand each other.

I’m Ursula James, an Applied Psychologist, horse professional, and the founder of Equiroots.

Originally from the Netherlands, I followed a dream that brought me to California: creating a place where people and horses can grow together through trust, understanding, and connection.

Equiroots is built on a simple belief: when people and horses feel safe, they learn, grow, and build stronger relationships. Whether it's riding lessons, horse training, horse-guided learning, or community experiences, every interaction is designed to help both people and horses thrive.

For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by behavior—not just what people and horses do, but why they do it.

That curiosity shaped my career. I studied Applied Psychology and spent years working with children, families, people facing complex challenges, and in investigative roles in the Netherlands, where understanding behavior, building trust, and staying calm under pressure were part of everyday life.

At the same time, horses were never far away. Over the years, I gained experience in riding, horse training, and relationship-based horsemanship. I also became certified in horse-guided coaching, allowing me to combine my background in psychology with my lifelong passion for horses.

Moving to California gave me the opportunity to bring those two worlds together.

Today, Equiroots combines psychology, horsemanship, and experiential learning to help children, adults, families, and organizations build confidence, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful experiences with horses.

Whether I'm teaching someone to ride, helping a horse overcome challenges, guiding a equine-assistent learning session, or creating meaningful ranch experiences, my goal is always the same: to create an environment where both people and horses feel safe enough to learn, grow, and connect.

I believe every horse has something to teach us, every person deserves to feel seen, and every meaningful partnership begins with trust.

Welcome to Equiroots. I'm glad you're here.