First, he ignored me. Then he didn’t.

Let’s face it, being dissed or ignored by a beloved equine is not an experience anyone wishes to experience. Receiving no recognition of your presence from a horse you have cared for and partnered with is truly uncomfortable and disappointing.  And that is how Corazon, a once-wild stallion, responded to me when I last saw him.

Corazon and I have been on a journey of eighteen years since I adopted him. The BLM had labeled him “untrainable” and “unrideable.” He came to me after I introduced myself to Ginger Kathrens. Months later, she and I were at the prison in Colorado, watching the inmate who had trained him work with him. Corazon was then transitioned to me, and we spent eighteen years together.

It had been eight months since I had sent him to his new home. At the new sanctuary, he was returned to his beloved mare, Esperanza, whom I had sent away a year previously. Tough times have fallen on my life,  and I made the hard choice to find them a new home. A home where they could be together as a gelding and mare, and a home where I knew they could roam freely on acreage for a significant portion of the time. Essentially, it is a home close to being as wild as possible.

I arrived on a cold spring day, and Corazon and his herd had been brought off their forty-acre field to the paddocks. As I moved down to the paddock area, I said hello to each horse. When I arrived at Esperanza, she stood with me a bit and offered her neck for stroking.

Then I came to Corazon. He stood unwavering and steel-eyed. He gave no recognition of my presence and finally turned away. I remained open and unattached, so I was not heartbroken by the lack of connection. My heartbreak came when he left my property.

I wondered if they were questioning my presence and what would happen in the future. Were they wondering, “Will I be sent away again?”

As I stood in front of their stalls, I assured them they would not be removed from the property, and I was there to teach in the way we had done for many years. I acknowledged how good and happy they looked and how that would continue. I asked if they might be willing to offer their wisdom to the women coming, as they had done before. Esperanza softly laid her gaze in my direction. Corazon gave me a steely glance.

 I walked the fields at night and kept my distance from Corazon and his herd. Taking pictures and enjoying the views, I gave deep gratitude to the life they now had. The changes I had made were tough on me. I had lived with all of my horses for eighteen years. The work had taken a toll on my body. I made a big move to Southwest Colorado, and the impact of that decision left me drained and physically challenged after an ill-equipped winter of severe snow. I faced the fact that it was time to start downsizing. With that, I needed to release my dream of living on a big farm with many horses. I needed to surrender to a greater wisdom and allow a new life to unfold.

Throughout the weekend, the group and I moved through the program, as much sharing, opening, and learning transpired. The horses always delight me in offering exactly what a person needs (and usually not what they want) during every Coaching with Horses session.

It was the last session that my heart opened with sweet delight.

When Corazon moved to the ranch, I sent him with his favorite pedestal, which was sitting just outside the arena area. I had told Jaime (the woman who runs this ranch) how much Corazon loves the pedestal and that if it were in his living area, he would randomly choose to stand on it to stretch his back.

 We placed the pedestal and a few other obstacle course objects in the arena. Corazon and his herd roamed around the arena at liberty. The group I was working with was given an assignment. They were to bring a mare from the herd (as a group) and move her into a space marked by four poles. 

 Try as they might, they struggled to achieve their “teamwork” goal. Corazon was micromanaging his mares, making it complicated. Then he would come to my side and gently touch his nose on my forearm.

 My entire being softened by his touch. I told him I knew what he wanted.

 We debriefed in a circle. The group was frustrated, and continuing on the same course would not work. Corazon took a small step into the circle to join our discussion.   

I told the group their next assignment was to get Corazon to walk over and stand on the pedestal. Off the group went. Corazon followed the group’s silent gestures and herding techniques, and within minutes, Corazon was up on the pedestal posturing, like the proud stallion from the wild he is.

You would think we would all have celebrated and laughed, and he would come down off the pedestal, and it would be all done. Not so.

Corazon continued to stand on the pedestal for about forty-five minutes.  We took pictures of him as he stood proud like a statue. We took photos of each individual on the pedestal with him. He stood solid and embraced the warm hands on his chest. We took pictures of the group as he towered over them. We stood in the sand surrounding him. He stood with pride. We sat in the sand and processed as he continued his posture of strength with his black mane blowing in the wind. 

THIS was his gift to all of us, and especially to me.  I always felt so lit up and filled with joy when I stood on the pedestal with him.  Standing in his power gave me joy and power.

He and I both have a few more gray hairs than before. And now, I truly know Corazon will never forget me, and he will never leave my heart.

Corazon de la Montana – (Spanish for Heart of the Mountain)

I experienced his gesture as an enormous recognition of his time with me helping others in the Coaching with Horses programs. Corazon stood on his pedestal for a long time, allowing us to find the gift in his presence, power, and stature.

Personally, Corazon gave me a deep offering and recognition . . .
“I see you,”
“I remember you,”
and “I thank you.”

Sometimes, we make the hardest choices and actions when we put our beloved horses first. 

Corazon is happy with his herd. He roams the parries in peace with his five-strong herd and is content and proud.

What is your journey with horses?
May I guide or teach you a new way to be with horses?
Are you ready for a soul connection and partnership like no other?