What is Equine Assisted Personal Development?
Horses are incredible animals, living lives full of contrast. They are prey animals so constantly alert to what might be a source of danger, yet they also embody a wonderful sense of peace. They are herd animals yet very grounded in their own strength.
These are all aspects we can learn from, and since they are entirely non-judgmental from the perspective of 'human matters' they can be a very healing presence for people who have experienced stress, trauma or low self-confidence.
Hold your horses! Don’t see the word equine and think ‘this isn’t for me, I have never been near a horse in my life’. It is EXACTLY for you. This is one of the most powerful options on offer at Starlight Cottage, and it was the influence of horses in my own life that made me want to encourage others to find more positivity in theirs. Horses are amazing teachers. As prey animals they are at one level always aware that they could be eaten at any moment. You will see the ‘top horse’ in my herd, Sunny, always checking the water trough for crocodiles before taking a drink. That is his evolutionary heritage. However, horses are also incredibly spiritual animals, who can find perfect peace and are willing to share that learning with us – if we are willing to listen.
Horses are very aware of the energy around them. Through interacting with them, you can learn how to balance your own energy and also how to find greater empathy. They can also help you master mindfulness, showing that it is much simpler than many humans make it out to be. Mindfulness is all about awareness and being kind to yourself, and since horses have amazing self-wisdom and compassion they can help humans find it too.
Horses can also help you to:
Leave anxiety behind, feel the stresses of 21st century life slide gently from your shoulders as horses connect you to a simpler age
Accept your vulnerabilities and feel more courageous. Horses have great reserves of inner power, and they are happy to share!
Reconnect with your authentic self - who you really are, rather than who you go round pretending to be
Learn how to communicate much more clearly with others - which is helpful for relationships, friendships and work environments
No knowledge of horses is required, and this is not about equine skills, rather it is about learning how horses interact with the environment around them and how we can learn from that. We run 1:1 and group sessions with a specific horse chosen for you (and often they choose the human they would like to work with!) with a carefully structured approach to allow for maximum insight, healing and personal growth.
“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”
Horses have lots to teach us - this is Mila and Sunny, both of whom bring their unique wisdom to the process.