 Equine-Facilitated
Psychotherapy & Learning EFP/L |
March 2010
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New Workshops
for 2010
Finding Freedom:
HEAL Personal Growth Intensive
Chehalis, WA
April 10-11
HEAL Facilitator Training Program 2010
May 3 - Oct 17
Still accepting applications
MUCH MORE
including
HEAL Open House,
Energy & Grace Workshop,
New additions for fall 2010
Click HERE
for full listing
Private Sessions Available
Contact HEAL for more information
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Happy Spring, HEAL Readers!
In these challenging economic times, isn't it refreshing to understand that there are investments that reliably pay off? The investment of our attention for others is never wasted, and our careful consideration makes it even more valuable.
Currently bringing this lesson home to me is my youngest horse, Tankha. When I slow down enough to connect and consider him, I am being given an opportunity. In this opportunity, the choices I make matter. I want to create collaboration in our play. I want to create caring and a sense of safety, and at the same time challenge him and help him become a proper citizen.
Right here in my own life, I invest my caring in the form of the HEAL Model™ for EFL. The dividends are abundantly clear. Connection done well yields joy. Not done, or done haphazardly, results in losses. When Tankha and I are in brain-synch (mutual feedback) with circuits primed for SEEKING, CARING and PLAY, learning seems to bound ahead. The HEAL Model gives us tools for the reverse as well - times when tension, lack of trust or the need for negotiation arises. My investment pays off in partnerships that sustain, human and horse.
Do you know what a Passioneer is? Find out in this issue! Meet Donna Martino, a 2009 graduate of the HEAL Facilitator Training Program for EFL, who shares a client story in "Soul Work" and sends "Nickers" to our readers. HEAL 2010 Facilitator Training begins in May, and there are still spots left. As always, we bring you the HEAL "Good Reads" List. Each month, we recommend the latest books and articles which illuminate the human-animal bond with all it teaches us about emotion, mind and spirit. This month I review of one of my latest finds, a classic text on equine character by Linda Tellington-Jones now revised and updated.
At last, I am able to release my schedule for England 2010, my 5th return to that lovely land! Be sure to view the entire workshop schedule including a special event of interest to practitioners, Group Dynamics and Process in EFL.
We love to hear from our readers and invite you to write in with viewpoints and questions. Please send them to us at news@humanequinealliance.org.
Deepest Blessings,
Leigh
Leigh Shambo, MSW, LMHC
Human-Equine Alliances for Learning (HEAL)
360.266.0778
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Passioneer™ of the Month 
Vote for Leigh!
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We were thrilled to learn that Leigh has been nominated for the Passioneer™ of the Month award for April. What's a Passioneer™, you ask? According to the mission statement of The Passions and Possibilities Project®, a Passioneer is a bold, talented individual or group who has leaped fully and prosperously into their passions for making the world a better place.
Passioneer™ nomination was based upon the following criteria for Passioneers who: - Have leaped fully into making the world a better place,
- Are living vibrantly and in balance,
- Are committed to supporting others in reaching their highest potential.
Judges from The Passions and Possibilities Project then select the Passioneer of the Month based upon a variety of passioneering qualities. In addition, they have posted a Facebook poll for viewers on their fan page, where our friends and fans can vote for Leigh. This poll will be another factor in our judges' selection criteria, so please visit the page and vote for Leigh! Here's the link: http://bit.ly/PassioneersOnFB
If Leigh is the April winner, her profile will be featured on the The Passions and Possibilities Project® blog's home page throughout April. They will also make a special donation to their featured charity, Soles4Souls Foundation, on Leigh's behalf. Voting continues through the end of March. Please spread the word and help Leigh win!
In the HEAL April Newsletter, we'll let you know how we did.
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Getting in TTouch® with Your HorseHow to Assess and Influence Personality, Potential and Performanceby Linda Tellington-Jones with Sybil TaylorTrafalgar Square Publishing, 2009
Review by Leigh Shambo
Linda Tellington-Jones, one of the most widely revered horsewomen of our age makes yet another important contribution with this updated and expanded version of the 1995 classic. One thing I love about this book is Tellington-Jones' ability to grasp the depth and complexity of horse character. And this book examines many fascinating characters! Linda espouses a view that integrates innate character, conformation and build, life experience, life stage, physical health, diet, pain and job suitability. She asks the human reader to take time to really study horses, to invest attention and to do it with a caring eye. She encourages the horse lover along the road of curiosity and seeking, to learn what we can from the horse and implement innovative solutions that are often grounded in new awarenesses. And finally, Tellington-Jones inspires the reader with stories of 'obstinate' horses and unrecognized genius that miraculously turn around when the horse is placed in a caring and understanding environment.
Tellington-Jones also inspires us, as always, by her observations of what can best be described as the spiritual lives of horses and people who love them. "Most horse owners want nothing more than a 'connected' partnership with their horse, full of trust from both sides," she observes. And, "Horses can feel trust and love and will respond beautifully. Everybody should learn to accept horses as the individual characters that they are."
There are many lessons for people in this book, and not just about horses. This is a book about training yourself to see, with depth and intuition. It is a book about cultivating a compassionate and aware curiosity. It is a book about the practice of loving and understanding as the main path to harmonious relationship in riding and living with horses. Every person who is involved with horses for mental health therapy or recreation should be aware of the interacting aspects of character, life experience and health and how these express in the horse and its behavior.
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Nickers from Donna Martino
2009 HEAL Facilitator Training Program Graduate
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 Donna Martino, founder of the Spirit of Life Inspiration Center is a Certified EFL Facilitator. Spirit of Life features Equine Facilitated Programs designed to help women discover their own gifts, passions, and purpose in life. Programs that will empower them to make their own journey of self discovery through the help of the horses. Donna is also a certified Reiki 2 Practitioner, and a Certified Mediconsult Technician. She uses Reiki and Magnetic Resonance Stimulation to aid in healing both horses and humans.
Read more about Donna at www.SpiritOfLifeLLC.com
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Soul Work with Horses
Who Am I?
by Donna Martino
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Janie stood outside the round pen gazing at the pretty bay mare who was looking back at her quizzically. Who are you? Janie felt that the little mare was asking her this question. Janie answered her silently, "I don't know, but I'm going to find out."
That was exactly how I felt a few short years ago. I didn't know who I was. I didn't know what I was passionate about, what my life purpose was. It was through my personal work in EFL with some amazing teachers, both human and equine, that finally brought me the answers to those questions. And put me on a path that has shown me my life work, my true passion: the work of Equine Facilitated Learning.
The horses are inspiring, and in working with them I hope to help other people find that inspiration in their own lives. Horses have a unique ability to mirror our emotions, beliefs, and thought patterns which might be buried so deeply in our subconscious that we do not even recognize them. The horses help us bring these things to the surface so we can learn from them and move forward. They help us to achieve emotional agility by being models for us to follow. They live very much in "the now". When we resonate with qualities we see in them, we come to realize that these qualities exist in us.
Janie, mentioned above, met Angel, a beautiful Arabian mare. She felt sadness when she first saw Angel. Could the sadness have come from not knowing her authentic self? Her first impression of Angel was that she was gentle and sweet. Janie said to the mare, "I know you. We have met before." In a way she was right. She was recognizing traits in Angel that were also true about herself. To Angel she said, "You are beautiful and smart".
It is always easy to see positive qualities in others, but difficult to say to oneself, "You are beautiful and smart." Most people spend years with an inner critic ruling their lives. The false self that says things like, "You can't do that; Who do you think you are; What will people say; You're not smart enough, rich enough, attractive enough...etc." And we accept that. But the horses don't. They will not cooperate with the false self. This is one of the ways they help us find and identify our authentic self.
Once we discover our true and authentic self we can then learn to accept and love who we are. This is a big step to developing outstanding relationships.
Later in a reflective round pen session with Angel, Janie's impression of Angel was that she had a beautiful spirit, a sense of joy and freedom and excitement for life. She sensed that Angel was playful and fun. Janie said to me, "I want that for myself." She felt emotions coming up that been held down for years. Janie had told me that she always had a fear of not being liked for her real self. And yet, she did not even know her true self. In that reflective session with Angel she began to feel a sense of acceptance. And again she began to resonate with qualities she saw in Angel that were qualities of her authentic self.
She finally recognized this when she said to me that her "true self was coming to the surface. That has only come from the work with the horses."
So before, Julie had a fear of not being liked for her true self. After working with the horses she said, "It's kind of exciting to find out who I am."
 This is why I love this work so much. Because EFL is a journey of discovery, inspiration, and transformation of the soul.
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All content is (c) 2009 Leigh Shambo unless otherwise noted. Thank you
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