As you know, I am not a hardcore rider, but instead am one that is seeking better ways to be with Horse and to honor my partnership with my horse when I do choose to ride. My primary riding horse is Diva, a 13 year-old mare that is very generous and calm, yet is not usually the one that will boldly take leadership. Yesterday, she proved me wrong. I loved every moment when we are strong in the lead position picking our way along the trail. But let me back up. It has been a bit of a journey with Diva, as she has had four babies and her body is not of the best … [Read more...]
Blow Your Horse Down
As I sit in the security of my house, I give many thanks for the divine way that I arrived here and the continuing protection my home gives me. Just like the only house that the Big Bad Wolf could not blow down in the fairy tale of the Three Little Pigs, my home is a brick house. These extraordinary winds will not be able to blow down my horses either. My mare, Diva, is standing outside her paddock, facing south into the gale force winds gusting over 75 - 95 miles an hour. Her four hooves are planted and her head hangs low. (Click here, or the image to the left, to … [Read more...]
Hibernate to Find the Seed
Father Winter is now fully upon us and the urge to slow down, reflect or full-on hibernate is hard to avoid. So, why shouldn’t we? We are still in the cycle of winter. Though winter solstice has passed and each day is starting to grow longer, we still don’t feel fully energized just yet. True, we may have experienced moments of great joy and socializing through the celebrations of December, but yet still feel sluggish or low energy here in early January. On these dark, January days, I watch my herd. I often go out and stand with them. For the most part, they are more … [Read more...]
Horses Dancing in Your Head
Most importantly I wish for you to feel much love and ease during the holidays. May you and your loved ones share moments of love and gratitude for all that life has brought you and will bring to you this coming year. Horses Dancing in Your Head The days are getting longer now, albeit not any warmer. The temperatures have been below zero at night for several days now, and when I go out to feed the horses, their eye lashes and nostrils are coated with a cold, harsh frost. I find the cold mornings refreshing and exciting, as I know that, during the day, I will … [Read more...]
First Cold Snow – Feel Alive!
My fingers are already numb and painfully cold after only 10 minutes of being outside. Struggling to get the metal chain unhooked from the gate, I finally resort to removing my gloves. The frozen metal feels angry on my skin, burning my flesh with a sharp sting as my fingers stick to the chain itself. I move quickly in order to get my hands back into my glove and slide the gate open, across the 5 new inches of snow. I can then release my two mares into the field where I have placed piles of green grass hay; the essential fuel for their bodies to stay warm. The horses … [Read more...]
The Dance with Moon – A Ride Beyond Earth
Moon, my master healer Shaman horse, and I danced the other day. It was not an ordinary dance by any means. It was the last day of a yearlong program. Eight individuals that I have grown very fond of had just facilitated their own highly successful one-day programs here at the ranch as part of their graduation process. For their final day we do explore some fun things . . . such as playing with horses. Before we set them off to play with Dublin, one of our newer teachers in the herd, I offered to demonstrate Horse Dancing. … [Read more...]
Celebrate with the Horses and Owls
It is a time to celebrate! I am rejoicing with the hooting owls that hang on the cottonwood limb and my soft and relaxed herd that grazes in the spring grass below them. Life had gifted me, and the world, with eight kind-hearted individuals who are dedicated in bringing Horse Consciousness out into the world. This May the following individuals graduated from The Academy for Coaching with Horses yearlong certification program. I am thrilled to have guided them through the journey and will miss them very much. Please reach out to them through the web for … [Read more...]
The Beauty of Bach Flowers – Keeping Your Herd (and Yourself) Healthy
I came home to a grieving herd. I had been teaching in Arizona when one of my herd members, a beautiful red Mare by the name of Dizzy, had passed away. It was hard to be away when she passed and I was anxious to return back home to be with the rest of the herd. When I arrived home my herd looked worn out. Their eyes were tired and their shoulders hung heavy, each dragging their rear legs along behind them. Of the four, only one wanted any physical touch. My mustang quickly walked away when I reached out. Diva, my mare who was closest to Dizzy moved tiredly away from … [Read more...]
Tribute to Dizzy
At this time there is no good way or right time to share the following news with all of you. I know many of you loved this gal, and I certainly did. Lovely, vibrant, quiet Dizzy peacefully found her way to the horse ancestors on February 6th. She did not suffer. Sienna Hawk found her shortly after her passing. Dizzy was the quiet one, always on the edge, four years ago isolated. When we arrived to this property she came into the paddock one day and as she came up to me I heard: "May I die here." Which I replied "of course but I want you to live here for a long time." … [Read more...]
Watcher, Warrior, Hunter and Waiter – Who are YOU?
This morning is was merely one degree Fahrenheit outside. When I stepped out of my cozy brick house the skin on my face tightened and my lungs gulped as the blast of frosty arctic air struck me. The silence of the morning hung a bit solemnly in the air just above the white field of snow. As I walked in my insulated carhart overalls, hat and gloves, a big barn owl swooped out of the grandfather blue spruce and crossed just three feet above my head. Madame Owl did not fly far away. She perched just 20 feet off the ground and watched Inkie and me as we continued to … [Read more...]
Riding the Wave – Are you ready?
There was a buzz in the air, I could feel it in my body, my belly tightening and releasing, jitters pulsating and sending my heartbeat into rapid pounding. We hadn't even gotten into the boat yet. But on this day, in 1983, as we stood at Lava Falls, deep in the Grand Canyon with the river running over 100,000 cfs, I could barely stay present in my body. A big black rock, usually easy to see on the right side of the river at Lava Falls rapids, was completely underwater. Lava Falls has always been known as a spot for big adventure and big waves, but this was unheard … [Read more...]
Power and Freedom through Vulnerability
Every time I write a blog post, new levels of vulnerability potentially arise within me. This week's blog and video have been sitting on my desktop for over a year. The content personal and revealing of the intimate relationship I have with my herd. I have not felt ready to post it. You would think that after posting blogs for twenty-two years my level of resilience and ability to roll with the comments and feedback would be like steel. This video gave me a run for my money. To test the waters I asked a few select graduates and dear friends to look at the clip. In the … [Read more...]
Baby is All Grown Up!
Ginger is all grown up, or at least she thinks she is. Nearly as tall as Corazon, Ginger continues to grow; her legs getting long with a more elegant look emerging. However, Ginger, aka Twinkle Toes, is still, and always will be, "the baby" to me. (photo: Ginger One Month Young) Ginger stepped into "teaching humans" for the first time during the Mindful Horsemanship clinic here at the ranch. In hand with an experienced horsewoman, Ginger brought her human, Gloria, to the past to remember her childhood when she had a filly of her own. Gloria shared that the training … [Read more...]
A Change of Color
The light cool breeze strokes and folds the golden tops of the drying grass. Patches of soft blue-green sage bushes sprinkled with scatterings of deep golden sunflowers accent and contrast the smooth water-like flow of the grass. Light moisture hangs in the air and the Rocky Mountains feel more like the east coast than the arid climate I am accustomed to. As I ride my sweet Diva along the sun-filled hillside a big bull snake slithers away from the red sandstone rock where it had been gathering warmth. There has been a change and shift, late August has arrived. I … [Read more...]
Cantering into the Sweet Nectar of Life
It was a very wet spring. Daily rains kept the land more than moist, creating slop and mud, deeper than usual and too dangerous to ride or do much at all with the horses. The coming of summer has been slow, but finally, this week it seems to have arrived. Sleeping with the windows open I now hear the birds start up their song around 5:00 am, rousing me from my deep slumber, even when my joints are aching from the labor I had given the land the day before. Each day I begin with the song of species I have not heard before and with those who are my old friends. Laying … [Read more...]
The Dynamics of Connection and Separation
The energy and concept of push and pull, in and out, touch and release, contact and disconnection, and all of the cycles of inner relationship dynamics were streaming through my consciousness before the April EFLC Level One program began. Now with a herd of six, including a barely trained mare with a strong matriarch drive, a once wild stallion with his drive, and four additional and more domesticated herd members, each day I observed their cohesiveness, protection and affection with one another, or sometimes their less affectionate and rather aggressive behavior … [Read more...]
Expand Your Heart and Life with Horse
Last month I was in the deep Southwest enjoying the early budding of spring on the desert floor and low brush of Arizona. One morning, I went out to say hello to the herd. Five glorious athletic equines came cantering down the gentle sloping hill as soon as they saw me near the gate at the bottom. Once started on this journey together, they flowed like a river with momentum and power toward me. My presence filled with grounding energy as I invited them into my space to say hello. Surrounded by a very masculine and stocky paint, a stoic and kind roan gelding, a … [Read more...]
Layla and Vulnerability
These last few months I have been totally immersed in playing with my 11 month old filly, Ginger, and her six year old momma, Layla. I knew when I made the decision to bring a pregnant mare into my herd there would be lots of growth. Boy, was I right. However, I did not realize just how much growth! Decisions create change, change creates growth and new insights open us to more possibilities. I am forever grateful that I brought in this mare. Her baby, Ginger, is proving to be a very intelligent, calm and gentle little filly who has already investigated so much here … [Read more...]
The Gift of Taking Action
For the last five years I had my eye on a training program. Each year it comes to Denver and each year I have found a reason not to attend. Finally, this year, I knew I needed to stop putting it off and that my whole being would benefit from attending the program—even if I did not know exactly what those benefits were ahead of time. Instead of booking the program when it would be here locally, I actually booked the program that was taking place in another state. I instinctively knew that getting away from the demands of my ranch, herd and business would allow me to … [Read more...]
The Emergence of Horse as Guide, Mentor and Spiritual Teacher
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...]
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