I’ve long called my horses my physical and occupational therapy. Let’s be honest, they are often my emotional/mental health therapy too because of how being around them can really calm and reset my nervous system. I get that. And there are many good professionals doing work with horses in their practices. That’s just not something that I’m set up for here, and not something, with my anxiety, that I can have here. (People coming to my property.)
And yet, I’ve been thinking about how to have horses as part of my spiritual coaching and pastoral counseling work while honoring their consent, their ability to engage, or not, with the work that’s being done, and without using them like props. There are also very real safety concerns, for both the horses and my clients, as well as myself, and just a lot to think about.
My role as a spiritual coach and at times pastoral counselor, means that often I’m hoping people connect with the divine within, with their spiritual nature, and if they believe and work with it, their higher self in whatever form that takes. As a spiritual storyteller, I help people unravel their stories that they’ve internalized, discover which ones are true for them, and which ones aren’t. I help them understand the role story takes in the world around us, because let’s be honest, nearly everything is a story (a construct) when you start peeling back layers, and I hold space, act as a gentle guide, and give direction to those who are seeking in whatever capacity they need.
Horses are grounding. There’s no doubt about that. When I am in the pasture resting my forehead against the forehead of one of my horses (I have a couple who love this) and we just stand there and breathe together, it’s like finding union with nature itself, with a wild, untameable part of myself.
I cannot force the horses to hold this type of space for people they don’t know. I’m not even sure if they’d hold it for my spouse. What I can do is share the wisdom that I’ve gained from the horses, and I can set up my coaching space so that weather permitting, I can be near them while I’m working and they can come and go as they please. This allows me to continue to do virtual work, while sharing the herd and allowing them freedom.
In many way horses are stories. The way they are in our culture, the way we perceive them, what they stand for (often sovereignty and freedom). Their presence can enhance our work with spiritual stories, but only if we give them the kind of space and respect that we need to give ourselves.
