Collaborative movement as subtle shifts with Junebug
Playing with little shifts!
Thanks for a fun one :)
I have been loving leaning into consensual dynamics with horses as a means to discovering functional movement.
I preach a lot in my lessons about the horses capacity and how it is likely that pain goes unnoticed and undiagnosed in most horses.
Which leads to one of my most frequently asked questions: "well... if they are in pain, then is it okay to ride? Or do anything with them?"
My answer to that question continues to inform itself into new shapes, but for now it is circling around some ideas that Cedar, @humminghorse_sb ,and @kristyafoley have uncovering for me...
There is a slant of unintentional ableism to that question. Everyone has limits to their capacity, whether it be pain, strength, skill, disability, etc... but that often doesnt mean we cannot experience movement. And it really really really doesnt exclude joyful movement either.
It simply requires collaboration to find out where capacity for movement intersects.
In lessons with Shannon and Kristy, Cedar has been telling me with no uncertainty that she is in pain. But that being allowed expressive emotion and consent around how she uses her body means that we can still move together. We can move together joyfully. Even if that movement is just in our breath.
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So, today, June gave us some playful energy. A shift in the hips and pelvis... a slowing to a quickening... a turn on the haunches and a trot... a deep breath and a stillness...
And i think its safe to say all three of us, student, teacher, and horse, had fun. And left better for it.
If we can slow down and center consensual collaboration... notice that breathing together can embody joyful movement... and that value lives in those breaths...
I think we might discover something really special. Something that feels like authentic connection.
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For riding and horsemanship lessons that embody the values of play, care, and collaboration, check out the website in our bio!
Handpans & Horses in the Gentle Rain <3
Had a glorious visit from Spirit Handpans LLC a few weeks ago!
We played with hand pans, ponies, and.... potentially a horses + handpans event :)
What do yall think about a space that spends some time dropping into the horses space and then we play hand pans in the field with them?
This event would explore collaboration in relationship through creative practice. Think ...
Connection as an artistic medium
Movement and sound as a connective medium
Sweet tender horse energy
Mystical hand pans
Sounds fun to me :)
Let us know in the comments what you would be most excited about for a workshop like this 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻
#transformativehorsemanship #handpans #connection #collaboration #creativity #asheville #candler
Deep Listening for Down Regulation with Junebug
I’ve been feeling inspired by the deep listening that has emerged as a center piece in my programming. To see and hear my students feeling the shifts of energy, playing in and out of cycles of activation, is deeply inspiring.
The more I’ve learned to listen, the more I’ve been able to see how chronically we override the expressions of horses.
When they are quiet, we love to talk over them. We often don’t know we are doing it. Because our side of the conversation is too loud. But we do.
The other side is so beautiful to witness.
Today one student told me how she ends her sessions with her horse by walking in the pasture with her, letting her horse take the reins in the conversation.
Another student told me that being present for June, holding space for her to really let go, is not challenging. It does not bring up impatience around the slowness or not “riding yet.” She said that this is what she came here to do, to show up for what June needs. So, there’s nothing to be frustrated about.
What I hear in both of these moments is that the folks I work with are in the practice of deep listening.
It is powerful to witness. And I feel so grateful to be able to relate and experience this work with clients.
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For horsemanship lessons that remind us how listening is important to authentic relationships… Check out the linktree in my bio to learn more on our website!
When your lesson horse loves her lessons
Penny stuck around for the closing convo. She always seem to be surprised when her time with her person is over... and loves to wait at the gate.
Does it not warm your heart when they are given as much of a choice you can offer... and they choose the relationship youve built together?
Dont get me wrong... a "no" is important. But without nurturing authentic rejections, we often obscure the possibility of authentic acceptance.
So in those moments of yes... it feels like something earned and given, rather than something taken.
And yall... it just hits different.
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For lessons where we often leave our horses in a spot where they are eager to keep spending time with us...
Check out our website through the linktree in our bio.
#transformativehorsemanship #horsemanship #ridinglessons #connection #horselessons #asheville #candler #horses
This sweet video circled around in my phone memories recently. I so very much appreciate this sweet, tender friend of mine 💗
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We are still trying to piece our lives back together post Helene, and every donation (from $5 too $500!) and every share counts. So much.
Check out the GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-transformative-horsemanship-alive-after-helene
#transformativehorsemanship #hurricancehelene #gofundme #horsemanship #horse #horses
horsemanship lessons. centering deep, dignified connections. with an embodied approach to learning.
