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www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com 59
COACHING
In Partnership
With Horses
As herd-bound prey animals, horses have a deep “felt”
sensory awareness of what is happening within them, their
herd-mates, and the external environment, enabling horses
to rapidly detect and react to a predatory threat. We
humans, on the other hand, use our cognitive thinking skills
to rationalize, analyze and verbalize events impacting our
lives--deafening what our gut-feelings, or internal wisdom,
is trying to tell us. Through the horse/human interaction,
horses respond to our stress hormones, emotional and
energetic levels, “feeling” if our thoughts and actions are
congruent, i.e. if we are saying one thing, but believing another.
Our actions and the horse’s reactions provide clear,
concise and rapid feedback, reflecting our emotional state
in the present moment. A coach observing this interaction
can help the client quickly spotlight behaviors, patterns, or
limiting beliefs that are keeping her or him from living their
desired life, allowing the client to immediately practice implementing
what her or his equine partner has expressed.
Oftentimes, a client leaves with a new or different perspective
on the situation(s). All activities are performed on the
ground. The horse has a choice as to what the interaction
with a client will look like, and there are no expectations as
to outcome. The relationship is a triad, with the the coach,
client, and horse acting as equal partners.
Sessions are customized to meet the client’s needs and
are private, confidential, and judgement-free. The first session
is the longest, as we spend time discussing the client’s
needs and expectations, why we work with horses, what to
expect, safety, and other relevant issues. The client spends
time with the horses and then decides which horse will partner
with us. We engage in fun and informative exercises
that prepare them to enter into a round pen or arena with
their horse. The coach observes the interaction between
horse and client, periodically asking questions or interpreting
the horse’s behavior so as to help the client understand
and integrate the horse’s feedback. The client has the
opportunity to practice
new ways of showing
up in order to get a different
response from the
horse. We then debrief
the session, discuss ways
the client can implement
what she or he has learned,
and schedule follow
up sessions, as desired.
Coaching is beneficial in any areas of life a person feels
they need support with, including but not limited to: increasing
confidence, courage and self esteem, navigating
life transitions, improving relationships, managing through
grief or change, creativity enhancement, finding a greater
purpose in her or his life and rediscovering her or his authentic
selves.
Workshops can also be customized for groups of individuals.
Coaching in partnership with horses is also highly beneficial
for corporate leadership development and teambuilding.
The “herd” dynamic is evident in the corporate
hierarchical environment, and working with horses in this
way can illuminate team interaction, leader effectiveness,
and individual strengths, offering insights to a company
seeking to enhance performance or those wishing to
embark on a more enlightened management approach
through collaboration.
Pamela Hunter
/www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com