My horse’s mane absorbed a lot of my tears as a young teen. I always felt better for it. At that time, I didn’t understand but I accepted the comfort without question.
Then Gandalf the Grey came into my life. He’d already lived a full life and he wasn’t that interested in being loved on and brushed. He just wanted to retire and take care of his girlfriend, Madison. One day, in the quiet of the empty arena, I learned what his gift is. He ferreted out where I was hurting and balanced me from the inside out. He is a truly gifted healer.
He’d come to me before and placed his lips on the top of my head and my headache would go away. He’d helped one of our boarders with her stomach pains. But the day I learned how amazing his giving was a change of life for me.
I had been struggling with a growing business and not enough help. I’d taken on Gandalf and Madison on a whim from a friend of a friend. When they arrived, they discovered that she had a neurological ailment that kept her from being ridden, and he was tired of the whole riding business. I was dealing with an unhappy boarder, and the fear of the upcoming confrontation that was brewing was painful for me. And I knew I needed to find a new way to assist people, and struggled with the commitment to two years of school and the costs. I was a mess. Yet, few people even knew there was anything wrong. I am an expert at internalizing my problems and smiling through the process.
Gandalf knew. He placed his big head on my chest and pressed gently against me. He was warm, and he breathed slowly. Something held me there, under his care. Slowly, I began to acknowledge the amount of pain I was holding. Suddenly, it erupted from me in great sobs and unending tears. Through the whole ugly process, Gandalf maintained contact and his slow breathing. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his mane.
I had been taught to control my emotions around horses. I was taught that they would be frightened by fear, anger, and loud noises. All that went out the window as this horse stood steadfastly as I wailed and sobbed. I understood that he wasn’t afraid of my emotions; he was aiding me in healing the pain I was experiencing. My whole world shifted that day.
I cried until I was empty and lighter. I stood with him until I realized that this was the work I was looking for. I made my decision that day to explore Equine Gestalt Coaching. The horse and the coach are working together to assist others to find that peace that I just experienced. I had found a partner and no longer had to carry the load myself. He changed the negative emotional energy into hope and clarity. His gentle, steady way guided me to be the same.
I invite you to pre-order That Zen Farm Where Horses Heal Humans for a deeper understanding of what we do here.
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