Hi I’m Rachel,
An Englishwoman in Austria, surrounded by horses, nature and a never-ending desire to learn something new!
About Me
I’m Rachel Lechner, originally from the UK, but now very much at home in the beautiful Austrian countryside.
Together with my husband Franky, I run a riding school and livery yard, where horses, people and learning are part of everyday life.
I am also a mum to Emily, a former english as a foreign language teacher, a lover of the great outdoors and someone who is rarely far away from a horse, a good book or a proper cup of British tea!
Over the years, my interests have grown in different directions, from outdoor language learning and positive horse training to exploring essential oils and natural wellbeing.
But there’s one thing that connects them all.
I believe some of the best learning happens through real eperiences, curiosity and a connection with nature.
And that’s really what this website is all about.
My Teaching Journey – Learning Beyond the Classroom
Teaching has always been an important part of my life.
I have taught English in Germany and Austria and continue to teach both children and adults one-on-one, and up until recently in an Austrian primary school as a native speaker. Over the years, I have seen how nature-based learning enhances language acquisition, particularly for younger children, and I’m passionate about sharing these benefits.
I fell in love with the Charlotte Mason approach while planning our bilingual journey for Emily, which later inspired The Outdoor Bilingual Learner. If you’d like to learn more about Charlotte Mason’s philosophy, you can explore my curated Pinterest board [here].
Learning should be practical, enjoyable and something we experience, not just read about.
I still love sharing ideas for outdoor learning, bilingual adventures and bringing nature into education.
Horses – A Huge Part of My Everyday Life
Horses aren’t just a hobby for me. They’re part of my everyday life.
Together with Franky, I run Reitstall Römerhütte in Austria, where we work with horses, children and adults.
Over the years and due to Avalon, I’ve become particularly interested in positive reinforcement, clicker training, horse agility and balance exercises.
I love eploring different ways of helping horses learn, move and develop confidence.
And I think the horses themselves are often our best teachers!
My haflinger Avalon is also my partner in a rather ambitious adventure: preparing for an Alpine crossing together, on foot, with him as my pack pony.
You can follow our ourney through Road To The Alps.
For me, working with horses is never just about teaching them something, it’s also listening, observing and being willing to change our own approach.
Because there is always something more to learn
How Essential Oils Became Part of My Journey
As you have read, I’ve always loved nature and finding simple, natural ways of doing things. But essential oils have opened up a whole new world or learning for me.
And as with most things in life, my horses have played a big part in that journey!
I’ve started documenting some of our experiences, including Chessman’s sweet itch journey and our experience with Mellanders.
Some things have been encouraging, others have raised more questions. And that’s exactly why I want to share the journey.
Not because I’ve found some magical solution, but because I believe there’s always something new to learn.
I’m discovering more about the possibilities, limitations and safe use of essential oils around horses, but my curiosity does not stop at the stable door!
I’m also exploring how essential oils can become part of everyday routines for people especially children in learning, from simple DIY projects to scensory experiences.
And with my teaching background, whether in languages or riding, I’m particularly interested in exploring the connection between nature, scent and learning.
So, in many ways I have come full circle.
From learning languages through nature to learning about horses, essential oils and natural wellbeing.
Different subjects, but the same curiosity and love of learning that started it all.
And that’s what I want to share with you.
Real experiences. Honest observations, and hopefully a little inspiration to keep learning along the way.
FREE DOWNLOADS
Let’s take a look at some free bilingual resources!
All resources are either nature or craft based and are there for your child to enjoy language learning
FREE 7 DAY ESSENTIAL OILS FOR HORSES COURSE
Klick on the relevant language link for more information and to register.
