Horse Play and Big News from HEAL

Have you ever noticed that being around a group of grumpy people can have an effect on you, maybe even make you feel grumpy, too? On the other hand, when you're feeling a little blue, do you find yourself smiling at the sight of another creature authentically expressing a moment of pure joy? Maybe you even feel happier in that moment?

Shaka & Ann

If my horse, Shaka, has been cooped up for a day, there is a predictable routine for him when I turn him out. First, he will barely get through the gate before he drops to the ground to roll and have a good scratch. From there, he jumps up and runs in random patterns with his head and tail held high, kicking and snorting. As I watch him race around in response to some invisible energy that drives him to express himself, I can't help but smile, even laugh out loud. I can feel his exuberance in my own body, and find I am inspired to join him in his joyous dance.

Early in my experience with horses, well into my adulthood, I found that their presence affected my mood. Sometimes my spirits would be lifted. Other times I could find myself in tears without any real explanation, yet found the tears provided a needed release in the moment. Other times, horses seemed to behave unpredictably, and in retrospect, I know that's because I was behaving in a way that confused them - inauthentic, perhaps not even present in the moment. As I've spent more time with horses and with people doing healing work with horses, I've learned that my experience is far from unique.

There is a phenomenon that occurs when beings experience each other. Each of us has an effect on those around us, whether we are aware of it or not, and regardless of the species. Learning to behave in ways congruent with our emotions, and learning to sense those around us, understanding the effect we have on each other is part of the work of EFP/L, and what horses can teach us so clearly.

As humans, many of us are either taught or conditioned to hide our true emotions, masking them with the appearance of other more acceptable emotions, hiding sadness or fear under a smile, for instance. This may go unnoticed by those with the same conditioning, but will often cause unexplained uneasiness. As we become open and awake to these sensations, it can become difficult to discern their source.

In her book, Riding between the Worlds, Linda Kohanov states that "feelings are contagious. They expand outward like sound travelling through the air and affect others in predictable ways - even across species lines." Also according to Linda, "Authentic positive feelings like confidence, peacefulness, and joy are just as contagious as anxiety." That could be why another's pure joy can lift our mood, or another's fear can make us feel unsettled. Linda makes an observation that an individual who feels insecure in a situation can actually "borrow" the confidence of another who is calm and grounded, giving the individual confidence to try something uncomfortable for them. Some horses will offer us this calm in a moment when we need it. Other horses that are more flighty will instantly pick up on our uneasy radiance and will keep their distance. Either way, they offer us invaluable feedback if we are willing and able to listen.