What a Horse Teaches Us about Mindfulness: Equine Therapy

As a babyboomer, I grew up with a beloved TV show, “Mr. Ed”, about a talking horse. As a child, I believed that horses could talk if they really wanted to, thanks to Mr. Ed.

Well…recently I met a “talking” horse named Dill, who taught me a bunch about being vs doing, the art of living in the moment, the tool of Mindfulness.

Thanks to Peggy Norwood Stella, MA of Equessence LLC, a true horse whisperer, I have learned about Mindfulness at a deeper personal level after an interactive equine experience with Dill.

Picture this…an early spring day in the afternoon at a quiet stable with an intuitive appaloosa with deep knowing eyes. The breeze blowing lightly, sounds and smells of the out of doors as nature sings.

Peggy led me in a couple of interactive exercises, one being a Mindfulness walk with Dill.  This walk was about being in the moment, instead of the future or past.  Allowing myself to be in this moment and see where it would take me was just what I needed.  Did Dill talk?  Yes, but not with words, instead with energy, movement, his loving eye contact and curiosity.  This connection was meeting me right where I was as I leaned affectionately into his big strong shoulders. Then I was to decide when we would go forward on a walk, and did, but he did not!  I guess I was not sure enough of my journey, he said to me.  So I moved forward again, this time with more confidence in my step and he moved along with me, then we somehow got in sync with each other, matching each other’s steps.

Something about that in sync movement was very important to me, as I often feel out of sync with all the things that have to get done in my life.  Learning what “being in sync” felt like in my body, mind and spirit has actually given me a “footprint” to find in my daily activities.  Dill taught me when to slow down and when to speed up that day.  I learned to trust him, which somehow helps me to trust myself and God more and more each day, because of the connection now in my brain of how it feels to get in sync and be in sync.  It truly is about being, NOT doing.

Peggy’s background is in Equine Interactive Counseling™,is a Masters level exercise physiologist, as well as a life coach and teacher.  She offers a variety of mindfulness, stress reduction, equine therapy and intuitive exercise programs through Equessence, LLC in Durham, NC.   Peggy and I have also recently collaborated together to develop an interactive group program that includes equine interactive experiences and creativity experiences that center around mindfulness, authenticity, and body awareness. 

Next time, Peggy will be our guest blogger, and will tell you more about her unique horse, Dill, and how he can teach you to live in the moment, reducing stress and increase calmness and relaxation.  She will also be telling you more about other neat stress reduction strategies that she has developed to improve awareness, encourage healthy movement, and manage the constant inner dialogue that distracts us in our daily lives. So for now check out her website at www.equessence.com.

Author: Susan Miller, PhD, LPCS, NCC  | Miller Counseling Services, PC