For the Love of Horses
by Carol Marriott

You took me to adventure and to love. We two have shared great joy and great sorrow. And now I stand at the gate of the paddock watching you run in an ecstasy of freedom, knowing you will return to stand quietly, loyally, beside me.—Pam Brown, Author

The horses are calling. A powerful transformation is taking place all over the globe. Our way of being with horses is evolving to higher ground and the horses are leading the way. This is profoundly evident by a Google of phrases such as equine-assisted learning (EAL/EAP), spirit of horses, healing with horses, way of the horse, One with the Herd, the Tao of Equus, and Path of the Horse, which are just a few examples resulting in a vast array of websites and articles linking to this powerful and emerging way of being with horses. Amongst these sites are thousands of heart-felt testimonials from people who have been deeply moved and inspired through experiencing horses in this way.

Horses symbolize a magical balance of peace, power, beauty, and grace. Merely the sight of a horse galloping playfully across an open field or grazing peacefully in a pasture is enthralling. We are captivated by their power and elegance, and respectful or downright intimidated by their immense size. As long as we have inhabited the earth, humans have treasured horses for their exquisite beauty and have profited from their generosity of spirit, strength, versatility, and power.

A reawakened "horse whisperer" approach to training and relating to horses is rapidly gaining ground. For people with a love and passion for horses, this movement is deeply welcome. It is no longer acceptable to "break" a horse. Words commonly heard these days are "relationship, natural horsemanship, trust, understanding, harmony, communication, lead, allow, partnership". The "old" ways of training horses through dominance, fear, control, and force are falling away and being replaced all over the world with relationship, respect, and understanding.

In addition, horses are enriching our lives through their ability to bring us joyfully into the present moment and provide us with opportunities for clarity, understanding, and reflection through activities such as Equine-Assisted Learning/Therapy (EAL & EAP), therapeutic riding, and Hippotherapy. Therapists, counsellors, healers, life coaches, corporate leaders, and spiritual communities around the globe are enthusiastically embracing this magnificent and inspiring movement.

Horses evoke a myriad of emotions within us-playfulness, lightness of spirit, love, calmness, and reverence. They present us with opportunities to connect to the deepest part of our spirit and reconnect to our true selves. If you want to pause, open your heart, uncover incongruent or buried emotions, and recognize your inner gifts, spend time in the presence of a most magnificent spiritual teacher and healer-the horse.

Carol Marriott is a Certified Equine-Assisted Learning facilitator and the "Herd Boss" at Ravenheart Farms Equine-Assisted Learning & Retreat Centre, located near Humboldt, SK. Her background includes a life-long passion for horses, organizational leadership, human resources, management, and program development. Her vision is to inspire people to realize their greatness, connect with their hearts, guide them in discovery of their true nature, and provide a place of healing, play, and spiritual awakening through horse wisdom, creativity, and nature. For more information, additional workshop dates and/or private sessions, and registration call (306) 682-4641, email: ravenheart@yourlink.ca, online www.ravenheartfarms.com, and see the colour display ad on page 37 of the 13.5 March/April issue of the WHOLifE Journal.