There are many ways to engage with Horse as one’s teacher, muse, spiritual guide or leadership mentor. Every coach and facilitator needs to find a style and approach that best works for them—AND their horse. It is a complex and mysterious unfolding bringing unexpected turns and delights as one’s relationship with their co-facilitator deepens. Remember to ask your horse what he or she wants to do in this type of work. During sessions it is imperative to watch, with our eyes open. Notice closely the subtleties of body movements, eyes, quality of presence and the … [Read more...]
Is Horse Part of Your Vision in Life?
A “Vision” is big. Something that is often unattainable, but keeps us moving forward in creating and expanding. One sets their vision high for this purpose. My vision in life is . . . To create the opportunity for every individual in the world to experience the power of Horse to expand their heart and presence. You know as well I do that the statement above is a BIG vision. I may never reach it but it is worth trying. If every person in the world had this experience then people would treat Horses and each other with Love, Honor and Respect. And then the whole … [Read more...]
Merry Christmas from Kathy Pike
The Ultimate Horse Experience in the Deep Woods and Mountains
When you go to the woods, the deep woods in the mountains, you come back a different person. For many years now I have been dedicated to developing my life’s work. Originally inspired during a river trip on the Tatshenshini River in Alaska I left the wilderness to give back and be of service. Leaving the mountains, rivers and canyons that I once traveled on a regular basis, I studied massage and energy therapy, became a life coach, and stepped into offering programs with horses, writing books, marketing and teaching others. All of which I enjoy, but it pulled me away … [Read more...]
Is This Your Time to Answer the Call of Horse?
The last few notes I have been sending out have been about helping you to see what stops you from being fully on the path with Horse, or really any other endeavor you continue to push aside. This week I want to share a true confession. 14 years ago I sent three of my clients off to do the work with horses. I stayed back, mucking stalls at a non-profit, trying to make my situation (the inability to take the program) “right.” I had no horse and I lived in a one-bedroom very expensive apartment outside of Boulder, Colorado. A horse program without a horse just … [Read more...]
Are You Making the Right Choices for YOU?
The last few months I have talked with several women wanting to come into the EFLC Certification Program. With each call I am filled with joy, tears of recognition, and often sorrow and compassion. Each call presents a different conversation. What are the most common reasons that stop women from investing in their purpose, passion and desire to partner with HORSE? The most common reason, and often it is not even the REAL reason, is money. You may think that it is a lack of money. However, this is actually not the truth. Often it is the inability to nurture and … [Read more...]
Is Horse Calling You?
I remember how I felt when making the decision to enroll in an EFL training program. I was fickle, doubting, worried, nervous and scared. Then, at other times, I would find myself calm, collected, trusting and secure on my path. I knew that it would all work out and that Horse was calling me. I would then step into that energy and trust and allow spirit to support me. This inconsistent, back and forth approach created a sandpaper effect in my life and ultimately kept me stuck in the same place. I would take an action, and then a few weeks later doubt it or sabotage … [Read more...]
Under the Shade Tree
I have been traveling the world for the last ten years sharing the wisdom of horses in the EFLC work. My work has taken me to several continents. People from more countries than I can count have been touched by the wisdom of horses and have brought the philosophies, lodged deeply in their hearts, back to their communities. During each trip there are several noteworthy moments. Many of those are at the round pen with the participants as they are learning from Horse. At each location I also experience my own significant moment with one or more of the horses I meet. … [Read more...]
Jumping Crawdads
My friend walked down to the edge of the river, (before the flood) and noticed the crawdads were jumping out of the river—literally jumping out of the river and up onto the bank. When she told an official about this obscure behavior, he asked her what time it had happened. It was precisely the same time that the big wall of water had released out of the mountains and was on its way to Longmont. Two days later, while people were frantic attempting to save their homes and find higher ground, my friend observed the Koi fish in her pond acting hyper and spastic. … [Read more...]
Moon’s Big Heart
I took Moon up for a mellow ride on Rabbit Mountain last week. Once up the hill we meandered through the meadows sprinkled with late summer flowers and cactus. His savvy hooves moved along the rocky field with grace. His quick glance to the left helped me spot the coyote that sat very still and quiet on a rock not too far away. The coyote watched us intently, never moving, even some time later when we looped back around and crossed along his way again. Every horse offers something different. There is something about moving with a horse, in silence, feeling the sun and … [Read more...]
Oprah Magazine Features an Equus Coach – Hang on for the Ride
Oprah Magazine has featured an article about the beautiful unfolding and unexpected learning that Horses can provide humans. This August issue features Koelle Simpson and her work as an Equus Coach in an article entitled Horse Sense. I am so very excited to see this article as it will only support the horses being seen and experienced as the amazing teachers that they are. Koelle, a life coach, works with Martha Beck who contributes to the Oprah Magazine on a regular basis. Koelle’s roots are based in the Monty Roberts training methods. Her style of work may be a … [Read more...]
To Ride or Not to Ride
I have had a beautiful dirty palomino paint mare for about one year. I bought her when she was lame with high hopes that someday she would be balanced and sound enough to be a nice riding horse. Diva is her name and she is a broodmare. Having babies is what she has always been good at. She is flashy, gorgeous and very level headed. I went against my riding instructor's advisement when I purchased Diva. Later I questioned if it was really intuition that guided me through the purchase or a very strong ego-based agenda to have what I wanted with her. The very first … [Read more...]
A Horse Called Peek-a-Boo
It was a crisp slightly windy day as I drove into the Ap'ljac ranch. My heart was pounding in great anticipation to become more within the heart of the horse. The horses were calm but interested as I headed toward the meeting space for Kathy Pike's "The Dance of Authenticity through the Wisdom of the Horse." I was the first one to arrive on this day that would change my life as I knew it. While walking past one horse in particular, a bay mare of Arabian decent, my heart switched rhythm. I felt a connection as I briefly made contact with her soft brown eyes. When … [Read more...]
Embracing Possibilities…
Dear Friends, My travels to teach and share the EFLC work have recently taken me across the world to Australia to experience their summer, then down to south Texas to experience the spring with blue bonnets and Longhorn cattle. Both adventures were rich with creating connections with the horses, the land, and all of earth’s creatures. Coaching with Horses is growing in recognition throughout the world. It is exciting to see how many people are searching for a deeper understanding of how to honor Horse as teacher, mentor, and guide. The more I travel the more I … [Read more...]
Sweet Surrender
There is a buzz here. It is constant, from the slow rise of the sun to the moment it sinks below the flat wavy hot line of the late day horizon. Not intrusive, yet impossible to ignore, the hum of the cicada rises loudly and falls in waves of silence as the cockatoos, cocoberry and rosella parrots spring forth in their song of vigor and charm, dancing magic through my ears and my senses. There is aliveness in the air and everything simultaneously orchestrates a deep shift within me. These primal sounds in the hot Australia summer have, oddly enough, pulled me back … [Read more...]
A White Winter
Father Winter has made himself known in Colorado. His hello did not include whimsical snowflakes landing gently on my nose. Instead, as I trudged down to feed the horses, I was greeted by icy cold specks of sleet darting horizontally from the north and biting my checks. Corazon, full of impatience, chased Moon through the fields, and both carried on bucking and kicking. Even though I had come down an hour early, their frosty manes and frozen whiskers told me it still was not soon enough. The girls were sporting white iced half-blankets on their backs, nature’s … [Read more...]
Horses, Energy Fields, Aura Photography
This spring during the Level Five EFLC program we explored several layers and realms of consciousness through interacting with Horse. During one experience we set a container for horses to work with the clients at liberty and to come and go as they wished. The intent for the session was to open the chakra channels and begin a process of balancing through the active engagement of tuning. In some Tantric teachings, each chakra has a specific vibration or primordial sound that when repeated can release energy that may be congesting that energy center. We can open up … [Read more...]
Spring: The Time for Growth and Harmony
Great peace has come to me and to the herd. After an expansive year of travel and in opening our glorious facility in Longmont everything has settled. Each herd member is strong and solid and as a group they have formed a tight, cohesive herd. It brings me such joy to see them living in harmony. Yesterday during the Natural Horsemanship for EFLC each one of them offered the client a new nugget or perspective in communication and connection. After a long, cold winter the horses are happily ready to teach. We continue to lead with them, into deeper levels of … [Read more...]
Spring Energy
The 2012 season has started off with a lot of energy. In January we had a group of 13 men in a leadership program here at the ranch. The horses had been on holiday for two months and showed great excitement and curiosity in working with a group of all men. Corazon once again showed his capacity as a teacher when at the end of the day he worked with the entire group of men. It was wildly successful! Following the men's leadership program, we heading to Tucson to kick off this year's EFLC Apprenticeship program. Rita Bledsoe and Mindy Hagens support all of the … [Read more...]
Wishing You Happy Holidays
It is hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner. Would you like your shopping to be easy and be able to give just the right gift? We have an answer for you. Treat your friend (or yourself) to a gift of learning and expansion! One of Coaching with Horses best values continues so grow and expand… The Wild Herd Community and Membership. The Wild Herd membership offers classes and resources for those interested in expanding their consciousness with horses! Currently there are over 35 classes in our library. That is well over 45 hours of … [Read more...]