Speaking From Your Heart and Horses

In one of my previous blogs I talked about my love and respect for horses. I have loved horses and been an equestrian for almost my entire life. Horses have always been my best friends, my therapists, my teachers and above all my healers. What I have learned from horses I could not have learned from anybody else.

What makes horses and our relationships with them so special? Horses listen to us and communicate with us in a non-verbal way, which is clear, non-judgmental and very powerful. People waste words all the time before they finally get to the root of what they really want to say. Words can be deceiving, distracting and often lead to misunderstandings and confusion.

Words, of course, are necessary in human interaction. One reason is that this would also make anything written redundant, which is unimaginable. Nobody wants to live a life without all the beautiful literature and poetry. We need words – talking, reading and writing. But words that don’t come from the heart are suspicious. Unfortunately there are too many words that have nothing to do with the heart and are instead shot like weapons with the intention to harm another person. Then there are the words that are like the peel of an orange, which cover what we really care about – the sweet and delightful fruit. Using words to shield the essence are the words that make it so difficult for human beings to communicate. We spend time and effort to “peel the orange,” hoping to discover the truth about the other person and his or her message to us. Sometimes we find the truth, but not always, which can be very frustrating and demotivating. Most communication between people consists of peeling away layers until the “real message” or truth is finally disclosed.

Horses communicate in a different way, both with each other and also with us humans. You can hide your true message or your true self under layers, but horses sense when you are not authentic. Horses meet you somatically.  If your message (your words) is not in tune with how you feel, a horse will express doubt and even disbelief. A person can verbally express a purpose and be fully convinced that this is exactly what is wanted. Is the body in tune with what has been thought in the brain? If there is an imbalance between what is thought and what is felt, there are no words that can cover up this conflict and convince a horse of your intention.

Working with horses in my coaching practice has given me the opportunity to experience this first hand. I do powerful exercises with my clients like “leading in hand” where horses reveal what is happening in a person. If the person makes a declaration that is a deeply felt intention, the horse will confirm this declaration, and the horse will also sense when your statement was just a result of a thought process that is not genuinely embodied in the person.

If you want to learn more about where you are right now in your life, for example, starting a new business, changing your life, searching for a new life partner, overcoming a crisis or building your leadership skills, I will work with you and one of my “Equine Guided Educator” (EGE) horses and get closer to your truth.

I am certified as an Equine Guided Educator (CEGE) trained to work with horses as part of the coaching process. Let me know if you are interested in this topic and would like to visit our ranch near Paso Robles for some ‘one-on-one coaching.’ I can promise you a powerful experience with the best trainer in the world: a horse.