Horse Sense for Horses in the 21st Century- If you don't ride them what do you do with them?

Tizzy, a beautiful Appaloosa mare has been retired in my care for a couple of years.
You can usually spot her dappled body on the pasture’s periphery. A seasoned, shy and sentinel member of the herd with a beautiful face that looks at you with one blue and one brown eye.

From the very beginning Tizzy’s owner wanted her to have a job participating in my youth classes, but Tizzy never seemed very interested in joining up. That is until today.

Tizzy began banging her hoof on the metal gate that separated her from the paddock I was readying for the soon to arrive class. Obliging the request, I opened the gate and watched her trot by me, the first one in the paddock.

Several of my regularly scheduled program horses came up a few minutes later to join her.

The last one to step off the youth bus was a 14 year old African American girl named Jaden.
I greeted her beautiful face looking up at me with one blue eye and one brown eye.

Tizzy let out a call from thirty feet away and came racing towards the fence where the young girl stood in amazement. The connection was so apparent; it felt like electricity in the air.

The youth director told me the girl’s mother had been murdered in front of her and she had not spoken a word since that day, almost two years ago. Jaden had been in counseling and participated in this violence prevention group but through it all had remained silent.

Our first exercise was centered on grooming the horses, (which I use as a metaphor for self care). The young woman was paired with Tizzy for the exercise.

As Jaden slowly brushed the horse, Tizzy closed her eyes and then wrapped her necked around the young woman’s shoulders, much like horses do with their young.

Moments later we could hear the young girls muffled sobs. Tizzy stood quietly, gently holding Jaden against her warm body, arms wrapped around the horses neck, her face buried in the Mare’s thick mane.

The activities now complete, I asked everyone to gather in a circle and share their experience of grooming the horses. After several comments by both staff and participants,
I asked if anyone else in the group had reflections before we moved on.

“ I want to say something, the voice stammered” It was Jaden, who hadn’t spoken a word in more than two years. She told the group that while Tizzy was holding her, she had remembered being with her mom at her Grandfathers horse ranch in Mexico.

They were celebrating his birthday and Jaden sang Happy Birthday to him. He had put his arms around her and whispered in her ear…” your voice is a gift from God, promise me you will never lose it.” Until today she had forgotten her promise.
Tizzy she explained softly.. had helped her remember.

I am often asked, if you don’t ride the horses at your ranch, then what do you do with them? Now you know.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Horse Sense for the 21st Century™ Alyssa Aubrey, CEGE Incorporates horses in human development through Equine Guided Education. www.medicinehorseranch.org

Horse Sense and the Power of Forgiveness

I attended a local dinner and awards event last evening and was profoundly moved by one of the speakers.   Jane, a well-regarded chaplain offered her insights into forgiveness, prosperity and healing through a personal story.

Years before she was asked by a doctor to accompany him on patient interviews to determine potential organ donors.  She had willingly accepted, though clearly humbled by the thought of having to choose who would receive life affirming organs and who would not.

THE INTERVIEW OF A LIFETIME

 “ Cross Ross” was as negative as they come.  He complained that while waiting for a heart transplant, his wife was spending all his money, his company was tanking and his children had not once come to visit.  Additionally, the nurses caring for him were stupid.   He demanded a new heart citing the news that three young teens had perished in a car accident a day before and one of their organs would do.  He offered to make a large donation to the hospital to expedite matters and if he didn’t get what he wanted NOW, he offered to make a lot of trouble.

The next interview was a man named Roger. He spoke softly about how much he loved his family, how grateful he was to be in such good care.  He also mourned the loss of the three young teens so tragically murdered by a drunken drive.  He grieved for the surviving parents and offered prayers for their healing.  He had kids of his own and wanted to live so he could see them married and be a granddad.  If he didn’t get a new heart, he accepted that the lord had better plans for him.

Later the doctor inquired who might be the best candidate for a heart transplant?

The chaplain replied she believed Roger deserved it, admitting ‘Cross Ross’ was difficult to have compassion for.  Even so, she found it all to be a very difficult decision to make.

The doctor agreed that Roger should receive the heart transplant, but not for the reasons the chaplain had cited.  A recent medical discovery proclaimed that a patient who was habitually angry produced a sticky, toxic substance in the body that eventually rejected a transplanted organ.  On the other hand, a patient who was at peace with life was a much better candidate for successful transplant.  As the hospital was not in the business of giving out transplants to fail, Roger would receive the heart.

WHAT KEEPS FORGIVENSS FROM FOR GIVING?

What is it that keeps us from letting go of hurt and anger? What keep us from letting in forgiveness?  My own belief is that humans are the only species on the planet that can live from birth to the grave fanning the flames of judgment.

 

If we have been wronged, feel hurt or betrayed we will tell the story to ourselves and others over and over again, each time creating that ‘sticky substance’ around our heart and other vital organs, poisoning our minds, our bodies and our possibilities for freedom.

I’ve been an Equine Guided Educator since 2002 and worked with hundreds of people in my programs.  I am convinced that no matter what education, title or station individuals may have arrived to; each becomes their own self-fulfilling prophecy and limiting factor by how they judge themselves and/or others.

Observing and being in the company of horses has been an amazing source of inspiration and healing to my both myself and my clients. 

Horses are so present with each other, each   with its own distinct personality and push into the herd.  They don’t live in their stories, incapable of judging.   If a horse gets into a spat with another horse about something, they squeal, kick; sometimes bite -and then it is over.  Five minutes later they are eating next to one another as if nothing had transpired. By example, horses offer an inspirational and profound example to help humans’ bridge the unforgivable gap.

  When our judge is loose and empowered, ego gives way, energy is constricted and hope disappears from view.  How then do humans open up to the bigger untapped observation field of possibility and hold others and ourselves the way the horse would?

 This re-awakening to ‘Horse Sense’ is the opportunity horses offer to raise our frequency awareness, hone our intuitive muscle, encourage our imaginations and observation practices by opening our hearts.

HORSE SENSE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY- PRACTICES IN FORGIVENESS

-       Forgiveness is FOR GIVING.

-       Make a commitment NOW to forgive those you hold captive in your wounded heart.

-       When we forgive someone else, we free ourselves. We don’t have to forget the hurt or invite our nemesis to tea but we do need to free ourselves from the source of our pain

-       Think about the person you need to forgive, allow yourself to remember a time when you shared something of value.  A time when the conversation flowed, when that person did something wonderful for you.  Let yourself “leap frog” from that time to now.  You are forgiving that person for yourself, to free the chains that bind you to limitation and regret.

-       Bless the experience for it taught you something worthwhile in spite of the hurt. 

-       Let the person and the story go and go forward living life.

By the way ‘Cross Ross’, moved to another hospital and received a heart transplant.  He complained that the staff at the new hospital was more stupid and inept that the previous one.  He died a short while later.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Horse Sense for the 21st Century™ Alyssa Aubrey, CEGE Incorporates horses in human development through Equine Guided Education. www.medicinehorseranch.org

 

 

 

Horse Sense Perspectives for the 21st Century

Last Friday morning I awaited the arrival of three new volunteers, eager to help out at my ranch. I care for 25 horses, many of whom are retired. Having a staff of volunteer help willing to muck, groom and tidy up sounds likes a necessary and handy offer. So why do I have so much resistance to the idea?

I’m a self-confessed, do it myself, “quasi hermit” living with my menagerie often preferring the sound of the wind rather than conversation.

My business coach has been after me for months to change my perspective on this subject and logically embrace that growing a business requires help. Finally, I succumbed.

Why then am I marching around the horse barn uttering the words, “this is exactly why I didn’t want to have to start managing a staff?”

Because today I am also awaiting the arrival of my vet called that morning to put down one of my beloved retirement horses.

EPM, is a devastating neurological disorder that attacks the spinal column. Bruno is presenting all the classic symptoms.

Bruno is 30 something. Winter is coming and my vet, Bruno’s owner and myself feel we cannot put this horse through a painful process of treatments at his age and under these circumstances.

I feel pressure as I think about my new volunteers and picture welcoming them to the ranch with my opening remarks, “Good morning, welcome to your first day at the ranch. We are now going to euthanize a horse.”

I want to say goodbye to my sweet horse in private, without interruption and questions about where the rake is and how to turn off the barn lights.

So I’m mad- I feel tightness in my jaw, a big knot in my stomach and a sour mood-taking root.

Just then I look out into the horse paddock and catch sight of my mare Sage. Sage is pinning her ears and running around with an ugly snake face, baring her teeth and pushing the other horses all over the place.

“Ummm, my energy is in the space”, I thought.

So I stop, re-center myself and ask the question, “what new perspective can I bring forward to produce the outcome I desire today?”

My volunteers arrive, I explain softly and deliberately that living on land and with animals is neither romantic nor sympathetic.

I tell them about Bruno and offer them a chance to leave if it doesn’t feel Ok to stay. They all opt to stay. 

Natalie slips a rose quartz crystal my pocket and offers to brush Bruno before the vet comes. All three women want to go and meet him and upon doing so, offer their prayers and love. Elsie, whose mom has recently past away, delivers profound words of wisdom that reinforces my intuition that it’s Bruno’s time to go. Debra gives me a hug and whispers, “you did so much for him, he is a lucky horse.”

Finally, the vet arrives and confirms what we already know….and we say our final farewell to sweet Bruno.

We stand together, a newly formed herd comprised of wise women.
I feel deep appreciation and trust, feelings that often take me a long time to develop with people.

As the sun sinks, I said goodbye to Nat, Deb and Elsie. I welcomed in a new perspective shaped from a difficult day, inspired by honoring a brilliant and noble horse named Bruno… now running free with his spirit herd.


WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Horse Sense for the 21st Century™ Alyssa Aubrey, CEGE Incorporates horses in human development through Equine Guided Education. www.thecenterforequineguidededucation.com.