Imagine walking through green and vibrant nature, with a 1000 lb horse choosing to follow freely behind you, just because of who you are and the relationship you consciously created. This feeling will change your life.
This kind of self-discovery is experiential, and hard to capture with words – read the descriptions below, read the testimonials, imagine yourself here in the pictures and trust the feelings that come up for you – and get in touch when you’re ready!
1. What is Self-Discovery with Horses (known as Equine Facilitated Experiential Learning)?
We offer “facilitated experiences” where you interact with horses in ways designed to support discovery and reconnection to aspects of yourself through the teachings of the natural world. Experiential learning is what creates sustainable change, rather than just reading or listening to something.
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” ~ Confucius
2. Why Horses?
“Horses are like a band of legendary Zen masters.” ~ Allan Hamilton, MD
We humans often feel like we need more time, an inner voice yelling at me to do more, do better. We have lost touch with simple connection, with our feelings, with the wisdom and guidance of our own hearts.
A horse does not need an inner critic voice. He experiences the simple energy of his state of being without judging or criticising it. As a sensitive prey animal evolved over 60 million years, he has mastered reading intention (what is a safe, positive situation – and what is not), non-verbal communication (what is really going on here and what do I want to convey), to live and work in harmony with his herd (effective relationships), to read the pure energy that is inside himself and all other beings without being distracted by negative thoughts.
Horses are unique individuals, like we are, and will have a very different response to different humans (or horses) as we do. However, they are usually a lot more clear, capable and willing to show their response – they don’t hide how they feel – and are open to adjust their response if something changes.
This is the way they have adapted and survived for so long, by not holding on to the past, being honest about the present, and not attached to the future outcome. And it means that we get honest and clear “feedback” as we interact with them, without judgement as we adapt and practice.
A horse reacts to what’s in my heart, not my head. He reads my body, my biochemical energetic output, my true intention. I get to practice being connected without worrying about why or how we are connected. To become an interconnected “we” rather than a disconnected “I”. To truly understand what mindfulness is and how to practice it.
Strengthening my intuitive, nonverbal powers in this way opens the gateway to my own source of energy and inner resources. To find my own strength, wisdom and peace – just like the horses do.
3. How will it Help Me?
Given that horses see us in the way we really are, not the way we “think” we are or should be, they are unique teachers in helping us get to know ourselves.
Find these feelings:
Tune-up your own presence:
Our nonverbal communication is actually 80-90% of the way we relate to each other – yet often we pay no attention to our own.
[Linda Kohanov, founder of Eponaquest, explains the importance of non-verbal communication] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W-AKPgMK9g
Working with horses we learn to correct or smooth our body language, vocal responses, breathing, tension, eye contact, internal reactions etc. to be really true to who we are and what we feel, and to create powerful connections with others.
Awaken your true self:
Consciousness: your awareness of who you really are, as opposed to the “you” that you believe you are and that you were taught that are.
If I believe myself to be too sensitive then I may try and hide how I’m feeling when I am sad or angry, I may paste a smile on my face and tell people I am “fine.” But they will feel that I am not. We humans do this with each other all the time, we wear a mask in our connections with others. It prevents us from authentic relationships and from really knowing ourselves.
This does not make sense to a horse. He appreciates his feelings as essential information to navigate his environment – to run when scared, play when joyful or rest when peaceful. He is wired to connect, knowing he is stronger together with his herd. He communicates his whole authentic self to others and asks them to do the same. No monkey-mind to distract him from the energy he feels. He trusts himself and is guided by his senses and inner wisdom.
In our self-discovery horse experiences you will receive “feedback” from your horse as you learn to use these skills yourself and become part of the herd. He will let you know, through his response to you, when you are being yourself and when you are stuck in a negative pattern. At times this may feel uncomfortable – and it is an incredible growth opportunity! You get to try different things in your own way and get a visible reaction (as well as your own internal one) from your horse partner when you are being truly your best self.
Create Trust and Be the Leader you want to follow
“People may forget your words, but they will always remember your vibes.”
To create trust with a horse you have to learn to be like a horse – a herd member who is authentic (not pretending to be someone different), congruent (expressing what you really feel), clear and calm (actions match intention), present in the moment (focussed on what you’re doing).
Those who suggest action from this place with positive intentions and clear communication are inspirational leaders and team players.
Learning how to really feel this and build connection with horses, not just talk about it, is a fully immersive and powerful experience.
In a place that supports your growth:
Feeling safe, comfortable and connected is not only desirable but is necessary for human health, learning, relaxation, digestion and fun (our brains are wired that way). With these basic needs met, see what can be revealed or transformed in this multi-sensory, judgement free, experience playground in Costa Rica.
Imagine the horse-herd dynamic as a live, interactive classroom where there is:
- no judgement of me (I get to practice and learn through “mistakes”),
- permission to set boundaries (everyone can feel secure and clear about behaviour),
- acceptance of who I am, whatever I’m feeling (I am truly seen and heard), and
- capacity to feel and respond to subtle changes (supportive positive feedback).
“A healer does not heal you. A healer is someone who holds space for you while you awaken your inner healer, so that you may heal yourself.” ~Maryam Hasnaa
Imagine what you can discover, create and accomplish here!
4. Who is it For?
Anyone! No horse experience is necessary, just curiosity and desire to know more about yourself. If you do have horse experience that’s great too, come and learn about yourself through their eyes.
We offer individual or group self-discovery sessions, planned group retreats, corporate or bespoke individual or group retreats (on request) – and we are open to ideas if you have something in mind, just ask!
5. When Can I Come?
Due to COVID-19, plans are currently on hold but sign up to hear about our upcoming events as soon as we publish them!
6. Other modalities:
Equine Facilitated Sand Play
Sand Play is a cutting edge healing modality, a creative and powerful way to process what lies outside of your conscious thinking mind in a safe, supportive way. With horses to deepen the experience, in an environment designed for nourishment at every level, this is a truly transformative experience.
Read more: https://www.thedandelionlife.com/equine-facilitated-sand-play/
Constellations
Constellations are…a few words and a link to another page.
7. Meet the Herd
Come and meet our herd of horses who live together in the natural jungle!
Experience connection and “vinculo” (Spanish for the unexplained bond between two souls) with these incredible beings and (re)discover your own sense of self in the process.
The mental, physical and emotional health of our horses is extremely important to us. We use a relationship-based approach for interaction and encourage each horse’s individual style and needs. The joy of freely connecting with these sentient beings and the privilege of learning from their non-judgemental, inclusive wisdom is coupled with the responsibility, as their caretakers, to support and nurture them with gratitude for what they do.
This model is directly transferable to human teams!
This experience is ideal to reconnect with oneself, to open oneself to new experiences and step out of the comfort zone.
Astonishing. Exhilarating. Revealing. Transformational. All words that accurately describe my experience in the workshop. In our every day lives, we hope to learn about ourselves in bits and pieces. We try to grow in small ways hoping they’ll add up, eventually, to something bigger, something meaningful. But imagine doing all this in one week.
They say when you open yourself up and step fully into your vulnerability that's when you can truly feel joy. Well, for the first time in my adult life I experienced real full-blown Joy with my horse, and I carried that most amazing feeling back home with me. Now when I am feeling down I can tap into those memories and it brings the feeling of joy right back into my heart..
The environment that was created was such that even for individuals like me who can be fiercely private and tend to fall within the introspective spectrum, there was no pressure to say, do or act in a pre-determined, 'acceptable' way. Each one of us was free to express our unique individualities without any stigma or fear to be ridiculed.
I have done many personal development, team building and leadership exercises in a corporate setting and can honestly say that nothing is a patch on this. Talk about fast-track to self-awareness, clarity and truth - and it was actually fun!
I had no idea what to expect and was not so comfortable talking about feelings but I felt so supported I was able to learn how to make better connections with horses and people. I will make changes in my life following the workshop, especially noticing when I am being myself and being authentic.
The biggest impact for me was seeing my approach to life through the roles of horse herd behavior.
I feel I am taking home more confidence in my usual uncomfortable situations.
I gained a real strength of self. I will take this back home and remember to Stop and breathe! And listen to my heart, not so much head. A conscious, awakening experience.
It was pure soul work every day, and the safest, most supportive environment. The lessons I’ve learned will help me have the confidence and the self-love to create the life I want.
I learnt to trust myself.
I learned how to trust other people, animals and most importantly, myself.
I learned to trust myself in my decision-making.
Astonishingly, the shifts my horse helped make in me have become stronger since I've returned into my life. I can apply his lessons to every question that comes up.
