Ritual Equus

08/29/2024

The edge of a field or the line of a fence, pasture into forest… it’s where the known meets the unknown.

August into September… We find ourselves in a liminal time—still hot, yet on the edge of changing seasons.

The heat feels as if it might never end, but every so often you can feel the change in the air.

This balance of hot and cool, dry and humid.

Another way to consider the liminal nature of the this time, is through embracing the cyclical nature of the moon.

This week carries us towards the dark moon, followed promptly by the new.

The end, yet the beginning which continues on and on through each phase of the lunar cycle.

This new moon let’s come together to set the intention of honoring this liminal space where anything is possible.

Through ritual, we can harness the shifting elements around us, letting the wind carry away doubt and making room for new beginnings.

It’s a reminder to stay present, to allow the energy of this season to guide us, and to trust in the process of transformation.

✨ Magic in the Liminal
�🌾 The edge of a field, a fence line—where the known meets the unknown
�🌑 The rising energy of the approaching new moon, a time for introspection
�🌬️ Using the element of air to clear away self-doubt and set new intentions
�🔥 Embracing the lingering heat as fuel for transformation

08/25/2024

Somedays, you need to sit on the ground and cry to the earth, as if the earth herself can hold your sorrow. Somedays, you need to cry while a wise elder mare keeps watch- not because they are our savior, but because they embody the weight of existence in a way that is beyond words.Horses don’t need to save us; they simply are. Their presence in our rituals is a reminder that we are not alone, that we are part of something greater, something ancient and enduring. When we weep in their presence, we are witnessed without judgment, without expectation.In these moments, ritual becomes a shared act of healing—a continuous flow of energyIt’s not about imposing or taking, but about holding space for one another. Each being remains whole, honored, and free.After leaving Tango and Phantom, I enjoyed listening to the .horsemanship podcast ( which everyone should listen to it’s with the lovely ladies of and was an incredible conversation as usual)Lockie said something that brought me back to the pasture crying under Tango-“Conduit not container.”He wasn’t talking about horses, but it so easily could apply.Horses don’t and shouldn’t carry our burdens for us, nor do they need to absorb our pain. Instead, they open space for the energy to move, to flow, allowing us to release what we hold onto so tightly.This is why they are such powerful partners in ritual. They don’t hold our pain; they help us transmute it. They don’t give us answers; they help us find our own.Through their quiet, steadfast presence, horses remind us that healing is not about finding a savior, but about reconnecting with the elements, with our own spirit, and with each other. 🖤

08/21/2024

✨As I re-read this passage from a favorite book, I couldn’t help but reflect on how traditional horsemanship, rooted in control and dominance, mirrors broader societal patterns.

Patriarchal mindsets, capitalism, and societal pressures often push us toward a “power-over” mentality—the illusion that we can control others, including our horses, to feel safe or successful.

But this control is just that—an illusion.

It distances us from the deep, authentic connections we seek with our horses and ourselves.

Regardless of your background or experience within the horse world, it’s important to consider how we can break free from the need to dominate.

True connection isn’t about making a horse do what we want—it’s about listening, sharing space, and growing together in mutual respect.

Let’s celebrate the shift from these outdated ways to a path where both horse and human can thrive.

Not because one holds power over the other, but because we choose to walk this journey as equals, learning and evolving side by side. 🐴💫

🔮 Old “Power-Over” Ways:

Control through dominance and fear

The illusion of control over the horse

Influenced by patriarchal mindsets and societal pressures

Value placed on submission and compliance

Validation from others based on “success” regardless of methods used

✨ New Ethical, Empathetic Ways:

Connection through mutual respect and trust

The horse’s autonomy is honored

Liberated from the need to dominate or control

Value placed on partnership and shared growth

Prioritizing your horses welfare over “success”

✨🔮✨

As we continue on this journey ( and we should ALL be continuing, there shouldn’t be an end goal to growing as an ethical and educated trainer/horse person), let’s welcome those who are new to this way of being with horses and encourage everyone to reflect on how we can continue evolving together.

Ritual as resistance. Community, compassion and empathy as the way through 🖤

Book - Ritual as Remedy by Mara Branscombe

08/14/2024

✨ What is Equine Reiki? ✨

🌟 Energy healing for horses’ physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

🌿 Non-invasive, supporting natural healing, reducing stress, and enhancing balance.

🔮 Clears energetic imbalances, promoting holistic healing.

🐴 Honors the horse’s autonomy—sessions are entirely voluntary.

🔗 The Importance of Co-Regulation

🤝 Synchronizing energies between horse and practitioner.

🌸 Calm, centered awareness invites trust and relaxation.

🧘‍♂️ Collaborative healing—respecting the horse’s boundaries.

🌠 Honoring Autonomy

🦄 Horses guide the session, choosing their level of participation.

🕊️ Empowers them to take an active role in their healing.

⚖️ Congruency in Practice

🔑 Aligning intentions, energy, and actions for authenticity.

🌀 Builds trust, allowing the horse to fully engage in the process.

🌌 Connection to the Divine

🌍 Engaging with the spiritual essence of the horse.

🕯️ Brings a sacred, divine energy into the healing process.

🌹 Why Choose Equine Reiki?

💖 A holistic, compassionate gift for your horse.

✨ Enriches their spirit, deepens connections, and honors the sacred bond.

I am currently refreshing my Reiki certification and extending my practice and certification into an animal led practice.

I’m excited to have found a program that allows for the animal to lead rather than just sending energy without them willingly engaging. I’ll either be starting this fall or in January based on the timing of the program.

Once complete I will be extending distance and in-person sessions ✨

Also, the above is a VERY simplified explanation of Reiki and the values I hold around practicing with equines. I will be sharing and expanding more upon things in future posts ✨

Stay tuned 🔮✨

08/10/2024

08/10/2024

08/05/2024

Anyone else from the Saint Louis area attending?! I cannot wait to meet Rachaël and learn from her in-person. Her book Language Signs and Calming Signals of Horses is a must read for anyone that loves horses and seeks to understand them better.

07/31/2024

This perspective that you can only have an opinion on what is stressful and abusive to horses if you are an upper level rider is harmful in many regards.

Would you say that if you’re not an environmental scientists you can’t speak up for protecting the environment? Or if you don’t have children you shouldn’t speak up if you see abuse? Absolutely not!

We should all advocate for a better and more just world. When you learn better, you do better. You do not need to ride at an upper level to advocate for the welfare and betterment in the horse world.

I have a certification in trauma informed horse training and care, with plans to become an equine behaviorist and body worker. My journey to becoming better educated in the equine world will never end.

I am more than happy to share resources for educating people on equine stress and calming signals, horse behavior, how to begin with R+ training and other more ethical ways to manage horses.

Change is coming, and it’s ok to admit you were wrong. We can only work with what we know at the time. There’s no reason to carry shame or guilt. There is a community of equine focused people waiting to welcome you and help you on your journey.

07/29/2024

Ways that trauma-informed training looks different than the traditional approach ⬇️

When working with horses who are extremely reactive due to the way they have been handled in the past, trauma-informed training can be an effective and humane approach.

But because this is an area of horsemanship that is still growing and defining itself, you may not have heard of it or know what it looks like 🐴

Here are a few key characteristics of trauma-informed training:

🔹 We don't punish "misbehavior", we seek to understand it

➡️ Behavior serves a function, and suppressing it with punishment only teaches the horse what NOT to do. It doesn't resolve the underlying need behind the behavior. For horses with trauma, they're already struggling with fear and anxiety - inducing fear is not an ethical approach.

🔹We promote feelings of safety and security

➡️ Before training, we need to ensure the horse's needs for friends, forage, and freedom are met. The horse should feel safe and healthy in their environment and body before we begin to work with them. We can also promote a feeling of safety by having a dependable routine, behaving consistently when we handle the horse, and not using aversive training techniques like punishment and pressure/release

🔹 We use emotionally attuned positive reinforcement training

➡️ When we are teaching the horse, we use reward based learning to ensure the training process is a pleasant experience for them and minimally stressful. But in order to do this, we have to be monitoring the horse's emotions and ensuring they are consenting to and cooperating with the process. We want to avoid asking for too much, and thereby inducing fear. The key here is to go slow and let the horse set the pace!

✨

Trauma-informed training ultimately puts the needs of the horse above our specific goals for them, and allows the horse to have more autonomy. This autonomy helps them become more confident and trusting, as they learn that they can participate in their life and the things that happen rather than be forced to endure them.

Good training and care can bring quiet, unsure horses out of their shell and help explosive horses find peace and calmness 🙌🏼

07/29/2024

Campaigning for Change and Dealing with Deflection Away from Horse Welfare Issues

It can be difficult to keep the topic of horse welfare focused on the actual topic of horse welfare, so here is some help for those of you who want to address some of the welfare issues you are seeing happen at the Olympics but which are being excused or dismissed when you mention them – or have derogatory responses.

You can use whatever parts appeal to you or are suitable for the situation you are commenting on:

We know that some of these riders love their horses, BUT, can you really call it love if it is not built on a solid foundation of awareness and education that entails a full understanding of the impact of their every decision on their horses?

Is it not every rider’s personal responsibility to be able to accurately read their horse's physical, mental and emotional state? Should this responsibility not be one that supersedes any other agenda related to winning?

Why use a flash at all? How tight is too tight for a noseband? Does the bit and bridle really fit? What potential impact is there on the function of the TMJ, the hyoid, the delicate part of the nasal bone, the trigeminal nerve, the facial nerves or the Glossopharyngeal nerve?

Here is a great video from William Micklem and UC Davis on the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3xmXYRQv4o&t=132s

Do riders really understand self carriage and healthy topline development? What does an overdeveloped brachiocephalicus or hamstrings mean? What do healthy gluteal, trapezius or latissimus dorsi muscles look like? How do I know this saddle fits well, am I interpreting my horse's behavior in line with the science of behavior findings? Etc.

For those who are genuinely interested in why welfare advocates are coming out in force to question the level of care these horses really receive, then here are some links to the evidence and research that informs our campaigning:

Submitted to the FEI but ignored: https://horsesandpeople.com.au/full-report-english-horse-welfare-overhaul-for-paris-2024/

The evidence and research behind the 46 Recommendations:
https://concordiaequestrians.org/paris-2024-campaign/

The Final Report from the FEI’s own Equine Ethics and Well being Commission:

https://inside.fei.org/system/files/EEWBC%20Final%20Report%20to%20FEI%20Board_Updated%2014Nov23.pdf

Our belief is that it can only be in EVERYONE’S best interest to take a good long look at what is happening in this industry, and start, instead of making it about the people, start making it about the horses – from their perspective!