Equine coaching
Horses and conversations, what a combination
Picture this: a field, a muddy rural trail, an outdoor and an indoor school. These are the types of locations available for coaching with horses. A picnic table in the field to enjoy a freshly brewed espresso or tea. Simple ingredients that allow for a meaningful meeting in nature, close to horses and ponies. Leaving the luxury of our comfortable chair behind us, we jointly investigate what brings you to seek coaching. Which goals and desires apply or would be worth our attention during the limited number of sessions we spend together in presence of the horses. In equine coaching you are invited to actively identify and share your desired purpose and goal for the trajectory.
Whether you experience difficulties at work or in a relationship, or whether you are simply curious about the potential impact of our guidance in your exploration of life’s challenges. Guidance which will invite you to express as well as experience. You are invited to be pleasantly surprised by the impact of horses. Our three Shetland pony’s Jelle, Floortje, and Otje will be happy to participate in our sessions, and you might notice how other horses in the vicinity love to observe in silence from a distance.
“What a great experience to be around Floortje”
The horse as coach
When we are engaged in equine coaching, the psychologist and therapist in me tend to step aside. Sometimes literally, but most clearly as a matter of speech. This is to make room for and to include the natural equine responses to any conversations, emotions or behaviours noticeable during the coaching session. Are we avoiding what needs attention? They’ll let us know in their own way. Do we touch a nerve and lose touch with what’s important? They’ll let us know just by responding in a way they would respond to their herd. Equine coaching makes use of the beautiful connection between horse and coach. The horses identify, the coach helps you to interpret and to act accordingly. Post-bachelor education in horse- and life coaching is offered by the Dutch “Academie voor Paard- en Lifecoaching”, I am currently engaged in their training program.
Ready to run yet caring about the herd
In the animal world, horses are prey and as such have grown used to be very observant and sharp in the detection of potential danger. On the one hand (hoof), their survival is based on trusting their senses. On the other hand they rely heavily on the ‘exchange’ of their observations with their peers. If one horse in a herd pricks up her ears, you will often see all noses opening to smell and all ears to hear if there might be cause to gallop away. It is this combination of flight readiness and care for the herd which offers beautiful interaction options between horse and human. When we invite the horse to be with us in absence of its herd, or in our case: if we take one of our three Shetland ponies from their paddock into the school, the attention of the horse/pony will shift to the new ‘herd’ they find themselves. in. The way each member of this ‘herd’ presents and the way each member, horse or human alike, responds to one another becomes excellent input to our coaching sessions. Potentially drawing parallels to our daily life in our own ‘herds’, like family, work, or even your local sports team.
Goal oriented and time limited
Equine coaching fares well when provided within a clear timeframe and towards an agreed upon goal. Before we start we agree on the number of sessions, and during those sessions we will work towards your envisioned outcome. Clarity upfront. Horses or pony’s will be present and are likely to participate either actively or passively. You might take them for a short stroll on a lead or they might be walking freely around the school while we have our conversation. Equine coaching does not include mounting the horse. This is first of all for safety reasons, and for the welfare of our horses. But rest assured, for a meaningful coaching session it is not required to sit on the horse.
