Broken Wing Healed –
Horse Wants to Connect with You

I apologize that I have not been in touch with you for some time. It is certainly not because nothing is happening in my life. It is just the opposite.

For the last two years, I have been deepening, yet again, my spiritual path with horses and all of Mother Earth’s creatures. The journey has not been comfortable, as spirit has chosen to speak to me through my body – and not in a very gentle way.

A year ago, when I was super stressed out, I pushed my body to the tipping point. I had a massive amount of anger move through me as I attempted to manhandle a heavy log. The next day, the expelled anger circled back at me through an interaction. The third day, I could not move my arm, and it was throbbing from the neck down to behind my heart space. There was an unreachable sense of stabbing pain just behind my shoulder blade.

My guides and horse ancestors had found the most effective way to get me to stop and increase my self-care by limiting my physical movement.  The last year has been a journey of healing and exploration of where I have been on my path.

Physical movement is one of my top values in life. I love the feeling of free-flowing movement while interacting with the earth. Activities such as riding horses, riding my bike, hiking, swimming, freestyle dancing, yoga, and skiing always bring me back to my center and give me clarity.

During my healing process, I could not move, and I was full of pain. A full night of sleep became an impossible task, as my “frozen” shoulder would wake me in pain every 20 minutes. I wish I could tell you it was one thing that changed my shoulder, and I was freed up. In all actuality, it was a progression of insights presented to me by spirit through healing sessions with acupuncture, physical therapy, stretching, massage, hands-on healing, herbs, myofascial release, and finally, a chiropractor. I knew I had cleared the last piece when I casually and happily said to my chiropractor while waving goodbye: “Thanks for taking the knife out of my back.” That is what it had felt like for a full year, and energetically I believe that was what it was that I had carried for an entire year. That night I danced like crazy in the privacy of my own home, arms moving freely in all directions!

The result of the one-year journey without any significant horseback riding affected me in many ways. I knew I had other work to do. I began to release all human relationships that did not feel fully in alignment with similar values. I pulled in all of my vital energy to heal my physical and emotional body. I bravely released employees who were no longer serving so I could call forth those who would be excited and proud to be of service to my herd. And lovely new people filled the void. Additionally, to bring myself back to good health, I decreased the number of programs I was offering so I could reset my emotional body, taking great care of me, which I had not done after years of giving myself to my work. Additionally, through this time, my relationship with my herd has gone to an entirely new level, and my daily engagement with them has led me to deeper levels of appreciation and humbleness to be a part of their life.

The herd, having lived a year of freedom with ample time for reflection and grazing, were eager to begin their work this spring. I could feel the “wanting” of engagement from each member of the herd during the very first program.

The last year has had very little to do with “doing.” As you can imagine, if you cannot lift your arm above your shoulder, there is very little you can do with horses (or anything really). I did become highly creative, a self-proclaimed expert at how to feed hay with one hand. The more uplifting moments were deepening my understanding and execution of very subtle forms of communication at liberty. There is no doubt now in my mind that my horses understand every word I offer them.

This spring, as my arm strength came back, I spent five days a week grooming at least three horses a day. Always at liberty, they were free to leave and free to tell me where they preferred to be groomed and to what pressure they desired on their body. I also learned to use my whole body – not just my hands – to come into a flow in grooming. Otherwise, it was clear to me my shoulder would freeze up again. This style of movement would not stress my body and also prevented my ego from focusing on getting the job done. Instead, by using my whole body, knees, ankles, and stomach, I learned how to move and essentially dance through the grooming process – just as I had learned years ago as a massage therapist. Each time I felt more and more like a member of my herd, even if I was missing two legs and a tail. My horses would literally line up, and Corazon, my mustang, would push others away until he felt completely taken care of (which some times took a while).

Daily, I cherish my routine of guiding my horses from a big field where they graze for hours into a stretch land along my driveway, then down the side of my property through the pine trees and to the paddocks in the back acreage where they spend the night. Now, in early June, their coats are fully blown out, and they are shiny and slick, a glorious sight of color and health. Every day I tell each of them, sincerely from my heart, “You are beautiful. You are so healthy. I cherish your presence.” There is no doubt in my mind they hear me. They may not understand precisely the meaning of my words, or maybe they do because when I speak these words, they always place their eye onto me and pull me further into their heart space. Then, in that moment, I am suspended without reference to any sense of time. I feel the energy of their soul and spirit wrap around me, soothing my heart, and gifting me by filling me with that higher vibrational feeling of recognition and deep gratitude.

There is nothing that can replace the deep harmony and oneness that I have felt with my horses when riding. It is an experience that is very hard to put words too. And, with this change in our path, the gift of the “broken wing” (nickname for my shoulder) has been for me to drop into an entirely different understanding, a visceral one, of the depth of being energetically, physically, and spiritually part of a herd. I do not know why or how I have become so lucky to have these beautiful, powerful, four-legged healers stay with me on this earth. It brings tears to my eyes as I write this. My herd is small, but the level of communion we have experienced together is profound. For this opportunity, I am forever grateful and humbled.

The lesson and message from the herd: “When you think you have reached an understanding of who we are we will take you even deeper into our hearts and help you find your way.  All we want for you to experience is harmony.  We are on this path with you.  You are part of the herd.” 

Upcoming In-person Workshops with Kathy Pike

HeartSpace Horse Sanctuary Events, Redmond, Oregon
Sharing Heart Space with Horse

To support a the majestic horses at this Sanctuary all proceeds for all events will go to this beautiful non-profit Sanctuary and their majestic horses.  Wouldn’t you love to learn about this work and support the horses at the same time? Evening lecture with author and teacher Kathy Pike followed by reflective time with the horses.  Second day is a full day of exploration with the horses.  Private sessions may be booked on Friday or Sunday.  Limited space for those so reach out to Kathy to get your spot at: Click Here to Email Kathy

Friday Evening Lecture
You may pay at the door
August 16, 2019 at 6:00 till about 8:00
$15 at the door or send a check
Melanie- 360-692-3611

Sharing Heart Space with Horse – Full Day Equine Exploration
Saturday workshop, August 17, 2019 starts at 10:00 and runs until 4:30, $97
Register Online for this program by Clicking Here 

Private sessions may be booked on Friday or Sunday.  Limited space for those so reach out to Kathy to get your spot at: Click Here to Email Kathy 
HeartSpace Horse Sanctuary, 3867 Northwest Way, Redmond, OR 97756

The Art of Inner Harmony with Horse Retreat
Release Stress and Ignite your True Self through the Way of Horse

This is a four-day residential retreat immersion program focused on engaging with horse consciousness to take you to your next level in your spiritual exploration. Our masterful heard of equine teachers will guide you as you learn the key ways that Horses teach you to bring your stress down and your natural, authentic expression up and out. Limited to 9 attendees.

November 7 – 10, 2019
Arroyo Grande, Central Coast of California (fly into San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara)
Lodging on-site.
Click Here to Read More about this Retreat! 
$1970 Early bird until September 15, 2019 ($2170 Full Tuition)
Click Here to Register  

The 5th Annual Academy for Coaching with Horses Retreat
Horse as Guide: Coming Home to your True Self

Join Kathy Pike and fellow horse-lovers as we gather in community to experience the peaceful and soul-filling wisdom of Horse. This incredible residential retreat takes place over a four-day/three-night period as we work with an insightful herd of wonderful horses that will open your heart and ignite your true essence. This year’s event is limited to twenty attendees.

January 26 – 29, 2020
White Stallion Ranch in Tucson, Arizona
Click Here to Read More about this Retreat! 
$1070 Early bird until September 15, 2019 ($1570 Full Tuition)
Click Here to Register  

EFLC Level One Programs

This program includes the three-day Dance of Authenticity through the Wisdom of Horse workshop, followed by one day off, then the four-day EFLC Level One facilitator training. The EFLC Level One is the first step into the Full Certification program. You may also take this program without being in the Full Certification Program. Tuition includes an in-depth EFLC Level One training manual and hands on time learning with horses.  Limited space to ensure individual attention. This is a hands on, non-riding program taught by ACWH Level One Providers.
Read about the EFLC Level One training by clicking here.

We have two more EFLC Level One Programs this season and I have one spot left in the full yearlong EFLC Certification Program.  Read about the full year program by clicking here.

Attend the upcoming EFLC Level One programs and start the full yearlong program this year or next.

EFLC Level One Training Program
July 18-25, 2019 with Anouk Lorie, Morin-Heights, Province of Quebec, Canada (one hour from Montreal)
Click Here to Register  

EFLC Level One Training Program
August 14-21, 2019 with Jackie Hibbard, Lyons Colorado (fly into Denver)
Click Here to Register