The Dream Herd
Horses saved my life.
Deep into a heartbreaking infertility journey, nearing the end of a dark tunnel, I had a dream. A herd of horses came thundering through my subconscious. It was a visceral experience. I felt the vibrations of their hooves on the earth in my chest, and the intense heat of their bodies against my skin. I tasted the dust kicked up in the air, and breathed in their steamy breath. I awoke with an urgent knowing; I needed horses back in my life.
Almost 15 years earlier, upon graduating with degrees in Kinesiology, Geography and Education, I left horses behind. I sold my cherished mare and turned my sights towards worldly travels, expedition guiding, outdoor education and working with Indigenous youth. After a childhood and adolescence filled to the brim with horses and competitive riding, the ‘horse chapter’ of my life had closed.
I didn’t understand how deeply horse medicine was woven into my being, or the role it played in maintaining my homeostasis, until my unravelling. I believe I made it as far as I did without horses due to my strong connection to land, my sense of wonder for wild places, and the fact that I had built a career that kept me active, outside.
When the dream herd appeared, I realized, this was a herd from my childhood. A herd of over 100 that lived at the summer camp I had attended each year. They came back to remind me, not of my competitive riding roots, but my horse soul roots….
With my awakening upon me, I reached out for horse connection. Unknowingly, my healing journey began.
At first, I simply stood in their heart spaces and breathed in the smell of them. Soon, I was invited to ride and felt the familiar rocking cadence, like waves in the ocean, a homecoming. I felt my heart begin to piece itself back together.
Within a couple of months, we were pregnant with our long-awaited child. My daughter arrived later that year.
Our greatest challenges can be catalysts for our most significant transformations. To me, this is alchemy.
My personal journey with the healing power of horses, set me on a quest to better understand their role as our guides and powerful teachers, as well as the neuroscience and methodology behind it.
One fact I knew for certain: for me, expansive self-discovery and healing came from sharing sacred spaces with horses.
The embodied wisdom cultivated on my (ongoing!) journey, along with my commitment to upholding a gold standard of education, allows me to hold safe spaces for others to explore the alchemy of horse-human connection.
I invite you to join me.
