Hello. I have been taking a break from the heaviest of things... or so I thought.
My group at the Crime Victims Council formed the first Equine Therapy. We meet once a week and groom horses and work with them on trust issues, hear stories about them and get to know how they react and how they bring out something in us.
This week I learned a horse I was drawn to, is even more like me than I knew! Some of it was obvious. She was a beautiful show horse but given away once her glory was at its end and her owner went to college. She is now the oldest mare there (I am oldest in group...), she is in need of grooming often and she is often tired, has a special diet and just wants to be left alone. I empathize with her often. Now, as we readied for a trail walk (just leading them not riding) she had to be put in her stall and I had to pick another... she is spooked of the woods. Just like me. My trauma was in the woods.
I picked another female horse who I first bonded with, to accompany me and almost thought about sitting this exercise out. She was a fiery young mare. Twinkle in her eyes. Fearless. They situated us in the middle of everyone and we set out... it was getting dark! Double worry. She was trying to get grass as it was dinner, every chance she had. But we did well. I felt nausea and nervy but plodded on and holding the lead and paying attention to her took pressure off my thoughts being so alive and being grounded was easier with that powerful animal aside me. She stopped right in the middle and stared at me as if to say. Stop see. This is ok. She assured me and I am sure sensed my ill ease and was sussing me out. Saying wait.. there's nothing here... can't you see? Amazing really. Never expected how this would really affect me, other than the peace there. Hard to even fully convey.
AND... not just the horses, but we do drumming at the end of every session on djembe drums... source healing rhythms and heart beat rhythms. Brings all the energy together in a good powerful way. Equally amazing. One day we even went into a pasture and did laugh therapy!!!!! Would have never believed I could have laughed! It was the worst week!! I did and it was so good. Weird. Good. All provided free from the Crime Victims Council and a grant this woman wrote to research helping trauma victims!!
I have two more weeks of this and the farm owner said, she doesn't want to just boot us out when it is done. She will work something out that if we wish to stay connected to the horses, that we can come back in a volunteer capacity! : ) Possibly working as aides with autistic children. I would just be happy grooming... it is so therapeutic!
It is so nice to see grant work going somewhere worthwhile. We all agreed how much faster we felt results working in such an environment. Touched more places inside of each of us.
Iam and all you other lucky horse owners or people who can be around them.... give an extra pat. Amazing... well... all animals have this unsaid thing. Don't they? My pup often reads me better than I do. : ) Must admit the highly intuitive equine is quite special.
My group at the Crime Victims Council formed the first Equine Therapy. We meet once a week and groom horses and work with them on trust issues, hear stories about them and get to know how they react and how they bring out something in us.
This week I learned a horse I was drawn to, is even more like me than I knew! Some of it was obvious. She was a beautiful show horse but given away once her glory was at its end and her owner went to college. She is now the oldest mare there (I am oldest in group...), she is in need of grooming often and she is often tired, has a special diet and just wants to be left alone. I empathize with her often. Now, as we readied for a trail walk (just leading them not riding) she had to be put in her stall and I had to pick another... she is spooked of the woods. Just like me. My trauma was in the woods.
I picked another female horse who I first bonded with, to accompany me and almost thought about sitting this exercise out. She was a fiery young mare. Twinkle in her eyes. Fearless. They situated us in the middle of everyone and we set out... it was getting dark! Double worry. She was trying to get grass as it was dinner, every chance she had. But we did well. I felt nausea and nervy but plodded on and holding the lead and paying attention to her took pressure off my thoughts being so alive and being grounded was easier with that powerful animal aside me. She stopped right in the middle and stared at me as if to say. Stop see. This is ok. She assured me and I am sure sensed my ill ease and was sussing me out. Saying wait.. there's nothing here... can't you see? Amazing really. Never expected how this would really affect me, other than the peace there. Hard to even fully convey.
AND... not just the horses, but we do drumming at the end of every session on djembe drums... source healing rhythms and heart beat rhythms. Brings all the energy together in a good powerful way. Equally amazing. One day we even went into a pasture and did laugh therapy!!!!! Would have never believed I could have laughed! It was the worst week!! I did and it was so good. Weird. Good. All provided free from the Crime Victims Council and a grant this woman wrote to research helping trauma victims!!
I have two more weeks of this and the farm owner said, she doesn't want to just boot us out when it is done. She will work something out that if we wish to stay connected to the horses, that we can come back in a volunteer capacity! : ) Possibly working as aides with autistic children. I would just be happy grooming... it is so therapeutic!
It is so nice to see grant work going somewhere worthwhile. We all agreed how much faster we felt results working in such an environment. Touched more places inside of each of us.
Iam and all you other lucky horse owners or people who can be around them.... give an extra pat. Amazing... well... all animals have this unsaid thing. Don't they? My pup often reads me better than I do. : ) Must admit the highly intuitive equine is quite special.
