Can Every Horse Step Into Equine Guided Facilitation And Learning?

I had a question last week that a woman who is going through my training asked me.

Can every horse do this work?

And here was my response. 

I do believe that every horse who wants to step into holding space for this work can, and the really important thing is that there is a choice and we do consider the needs of our horses.

We also have to create a space of safety for them to step into the work. 

So I believe the bigger thing to look at in relationship to this question is how do we know our horses are open to this work and what space do we create for them to feel safe stepping into it? 

With each retreat that I lead, each program I create, I take into consideration the needs of my herd,  I also pay attention to what kind of work they want to do, and structure it in a way that is supportive of their needs.

Not everyone one of my horses can do every single exercise or wants to, not every single one of my horses wants to engage with everyone.

For example, I have horses that love working with youth and children and some that prefer not to because the energy is not what feels good to them.

I listen to what their needs are when I am creating.

I also create a space of safety for them each time I bring someone to the field, I teach people how to approach them respectfully and be responsible for their own energy.

I do a lot of my experiences at liberty in their field and environment so they can choose how they want to interact.

I let my horses volunteer for exercises and know who can do the more active ones and who would not want to engage that way.

Every single element of how I create and lead is done in partnership with my herd and with their needs in mind. 

When we hold things this way, it gives them the space to feel safe and to trust us in our partnership.

And for those that perhaps do not feel like they want to engage they always have a choice.

So yes our horses can do this work, and some of them will do it but not always be engaged and it is up to us to continue to treat our horses as partners, give them choice and create with them in mind.

It is a sacred responsibility that we have with our horses, to share their medicine and healing, and we need to create the space to do that. 

And when we do magic ensures, everyone is honored and you can palpably feel the space.

There are horses that when they first come to my herd, they need to heal from their trauma and they are given space for it, and once they learn to trust me and witness how I hold the space for them, they are eager to participate, but they are given the time and space they need.

This is an important aspect of this work.

If you have a herd, find what feels honoring to them, have a ritual of how you bring people into the space to build that trust, and lean into what they are seeking from you to feel safe.

Let me know how this lands for you today and anything you wish to know about creating this space.

For a deeper invitation….

I am really excited to share that at the end of this month I am holding a virtual retreat series for my horse peeps, for facilitators that need some support in the confidence of how they lead and create with their herd, to the building of our equine practice, to the discovery fo this path with horses, it will all be included.

It is free to sign up and everything will be recorded.

You can sign up here.

Hope to see some of you with me.

Love a fellow woman who leads with horses,
Hillary