It all started…

on my first day at H.E.A.R.T.S., formerly known as Horse Sense, meeting Jenny and her herd, I was asked to choose one of the horses and take this horse down an obstacle lane which ended with a goal, getting the horse to shoot the ball into the goal. Before starting this exercise, Jenny asked me to name my goal and the potential obstacles, setting the intention and making it the specific to myself. I instantly felt drawn to Tomahawk, a beautiful paint horse. At the time, I was determined to get Tomahawk and myself down this lane, shooting the goal without using any halters, lead ropes or other props, just communicating on a non-physical level.

Being quite emotional at the time, as I had found a potential dream work place where I was able to learn about exactly what I had been yearning for, I wasn’t able to communicate clearly with the horse, confusing him and not making the progress as I had envisioned in my mind.

After a few attempts, a few more tears and an increasingly confused horse, I remember Tomahawk placing his head on top of the halter which was hanging off the pole. It made me laugh out loud as it completely threw my vision of what I thought it looked like to communicate with a horse- and actually- looking back at it- showed me another level of communication possible when having the right awareness.

The horse himself showed me the way, taking myself out of my preconceived vision of “freely communicating with the horse”, but him showing me: “I don’t know what you want me to do. How about you use the halter and you can show me more clearly?” I took his advice, and guess what? We did it a lot more fluently and easily and” reached our goal”.

On my second day at H.E.A.R.T.S., Jenny invited me to connect to one of her horses called Olli. At the time I had a very romantic view on the way horses and humans communicated and interacted authentically. My view had to be put to the test for me to realise the depth but also the reality of it.

This horse is a beautiful Clydesdale cross and he allowed me to experience freedom riding at a much deeper and profound level. Initially, he was more in control of where we were going and what we were doing. I was not able to cooperate with him in a way of making this experience a mutual journey. He was taking me under trees, almost throwing me off, to just eating yummy fresh grass, or going back towards the stables. After overcoming my frustrations and self-doubt moments, I was eventually able to communicate more clearly to him what I wanting to do, by using the neck rope and a clear intention.

I asked him to just follow my lead for a little while and then he could decide how to finish our time together. He agreed. We were able to trot along the paddock and eventually canter up the hill, I spread my hands out wide, feeling free, connected, in synchronicity.

This moment is strongly embedded in my heart as, even though it sounds very cheesy, it truly felt like him and I had become one, no longer thinking but just feeling our bond and journey together.

When we stopped, I hugged him and thanked him for that special experience. As promised, I handed it over to him, letting him decide where we were going next. We just stood still; he didn’t choose to go anywhere. I closed my eyes and we connected. It hit me then, like a long-instilled knowing that I had forgotten…that even though I might not have the horse experience and knowledge I felt I needed to embark on this journey of Equine Specialist in the Equine Supported Therapy and Development field, … I have the passion and heart, determination and vision to do it anyways. It felt like Olli was saying “You can do this, girl.” Ever since, he has been a big part of my journey, my go-to guy in times of struggles, a friend, my strength and rock when I was too weak to see beyond what was possible, believing in me from day one, encouraging me to now take things to the next level.

These are just two experiences at H.E.A.R.T.S., during my first two days with Jenny and her herd. My journey with H.E.A.R.T.S. since has been inspiring, challenging, heart-opening, more expansive than I could have ever imagined, caring as well as confronting, supporting me along my journey of self-discovery, growing into my full potential. I am forever grateful to Jenny and her herd for believing in me. ©

If someone had told me this is what I was going to be doing in 2020, I don’t think I would have believed them😊.

But guess what - If you can dream it, you can do it!

With love,

Lisa 💜