What is Energy Intelligence?

You may have heard of emotional intelligence and the soft skills required to build great relationships, such as trust, connection and kindness. All of these are crucial in horsemanship, but the next level work is “energy intelligence.”

Simply put, energy intelligence is the awareness of your own energy resources and the ability to influence your energy output in life and work.

As Nikola Tesla said, “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” While emotional intelligence is mostly about relationships and communication, energy intelligence is often about how we each govern ourselves and show up for life.

When you have more energy, you are often clearer and have more motivation, which then creates better relationships and performance. Your energy doesn’t just impact communication, it’s a form of communication.

Applying to Horses

In the horse world, other people assume that you love your equines all the time. Most of us do until we don’t—and then we need a break from mucking, riding, showing, or working with clients as trainers or instructors.

This can be an unspoken issue. Many can suffer in silence because of these expectations that a “horse girl” always wants to live and breathe riding. Yet when you’re exhausted and depleted, your interest can become diminished and—more importantly—your safety as well.

You’ve probably heard stories of people who rode when they shouldn’t have and paid the price in some way. When you’re too tired, it’s a signpost that you need to respect your own energy resources so burnout can be prevented.

It’s the same for your horse. You probably know not to push him, but are still tempted to push yourself—and horses feel this as well.

They can sense and feel your physical state as well as your emotional, mental, and spiritual states. They know and read your energy, but do you? Ultimately, the goal is more connection with your horse, and that comes down to energy intelligence.

Happier and Healthier

Brene Brown says: “I define connection as the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.”

This is true for horses as well, and when they are happier and healthier, they’re more productive and connected. One of the ways you can value them is to adjust your energy when you are with them to be authentic, congruent and joyful. However, it’s much easier to do this when you are rested, clear, and present, which is when you are managing your energy well.

You can also note when your horse exhibits enjoyment and engagement and has a healthy flow of energy in his work and with his herd. Often making adjustments to his basic needs, such as friends, food, water, shelter, and exercise can help him feel safer, more rested, and content. This will improve his energy and leads to him to being a better version of himself, which in turn helps your relationship with him. 

Becoming Aware

Energy intelligence begins with awareness. We all need to take conscious pauses to reflect.

Ideally, you do this each day at some point, whether in meditation or through journaling. It’s also especially important before you enter physical space with your horse.

Some questions you can ask during this reflection are below; you can ask these about both yourself and your horse.

◆ What does it feel like to have energy? When do I have the most or the least?

◆ How do I know when my energy is flowing well? How do I know when it’s stuck?

◆ What gives me energy?

◆ What depletes or drains my energy?

◆ How do I replenish when my energy is gone?

After this reflection, you can list specifics about your gains and drains for you and your horse. Here are some examples.

Gains:

◆ Healthy food

◆ Restful sleep

◆ Enough water throughout the day

◆ Time spent with loved ones

◆ Main love language is met (see the book The Five Love Languages for more)

Drains:

◆ Being interrupted

◆ Fights and disagreement

◆ Lifting too much and over-working

◆ Feeling ignored or not seen

◆ Not being asked permission

Key Takeaway

There is still much more to explore in this space, so I’ve created an energy intelligence assessment tool for horse lovers/equestrians. If you’d like the document, email me through my website and I’d be happy to provide it.

Until then, remember that increasing your fulfillment through energy intelligence will create sustainable success for you and your horse. You can prevent burnout and grow your deep love for these majestic creatures.

This article about energy intelligence appeared in the April 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Energy Intelligence for Equestrians to Prevent Burnout appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Your Brain: A Quick Tour

The human brain is a complex structure that can process enormous amounts of input in a split second. One of the most vital structures is the brain stem.

Take your hand and feel from the top of your head to the base of your skull. There, where the skull joins the neck, is the brain stem. This is the never-sleeping power plant that controls all the automatic processes that keep us alive: breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure, and so on.

In addition to this autonomic system, our brain has the limbic system, which is involved in our emotional and behavioral responses. Two key components of the brain’s limbic system are the hippocampus (associated with memory) and the amygdala (associated with fear). They in turn regulate the parasympathetic (rest and digest) and sympathetic (fight or flight) nervous systems.

Why Does Neuroscience Matter for Equestrians?

As riders, we just want to ride well, maybe compete successfully, stay calm under pressure, and enjoy the journey with our horse. So why should we care about brain anatomy? The answer is simple: Because it affects everything.

“Neuroscience is at the frontier of giving us the evidence and knowledge to understand what our individual brains and bodies need to be healthy and to learn, grow, adapt and change,” says Misha Bechtolsheim, a sports performance and fitness professional based in California. With over two decades of cumulative knowledge of applied neurology, athletic conditioning, injury rehabilitation, and movement anatomy, she has had the opportunity to support a wide range of clients.

The experiences we’ve had during our lifetime shape our “output”—who we are—and how we respond to situations, stimulus and threats (real or perceived).

But equally vital is the quality of inputs to our brain.

“When we can control the quality of information we provide our brain, we help it make quick, safe, reasonable decisions and allow us to continually expand what we’re capable of,” says Bechtolsheim.

On the other hand, poor quality (or unplanned, reactionary) input can decrease confidence, slow reaction times, and lead to injuries, dementia, high blood pressure, muscle stiffness, vertigo and more.

But there’s good news.

“Our brain is highly adaptable,” says Bechtolsheim. “The importance of neuroplasticity, or brain change, can’t be overstated. It means that not only is it is possible to change dysfunctional patterns of thinking and behaving, but we can develop new mindsets, skills, abilities, and emotional patterns, no matter our age or current skills.”

Your Brain: Care & Feeding

To stay healthy and sharp, our brain needs two things: fuel and activation.

Its fuel is glucose and oxygen. In the next section, you’ll learn how breathing can significantly affect your brain and how you feel, both physically and emotionally.

Activation means “use it or lose it.”

“To grow and adapt, we need to challenge our brains enough so that it’s a bit difficult,” says Bechtolsheim. “The key is to have just enough challenge, but not so much that it triggers overwhelm and fear.”

The latter just leads to the brain going into protective mode and shutting down, much like a horse that’s been pushed too far, too fast.

In addition, your brain is constantly scanning the environment for threat and always asking the question, “Is this dangerous?”

When you can answer “no” with actions and input that instill trust and engage curiosity, then your brain can become comfortable with increasing levels of challenge over time. Before you know it, you may be able to do things you never thought possible because you allowed your brain to stay safe while it was learning it could do more.

Brain Game No. 1: Breathe

Breath work should be a point of focus for everyone, regardless of your level of performance or what activity or sport you do.

“Breathing well [brings more] oxygen to the brain, which reduces the threat that the brain might be experiencing,” says Bechtolsheim.

Because the brain is always scanning for threats, when you’re breathing better, you’re in a more relaxed state.

“[When] you’re feeling more comfortable and not stressed, your nervous system can relax and you are able to perform with greater mobility, focus and ease,” she explains.

Breath work is effective because the mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide in our bloodstream can change our state of mind.

“Different types of stress can benefit from different ‘mixtures’ to help us feel safe and calm,” adds Bechtolsheim. “For example, prolonged exhales have been shown to induce greater levels of relaxation, improve mood, lower blood pressure, and increase activity in the vagus nerve when compared to longer inhales.”

In addition, breathing affects our physical body.

“Around your diaphragm is the rib cage, which connects to your thoracic spine,” she continues. “The thoracic spine connects to your lumbar [lower back] spine as well as to your neck and shoulders and head. Your lumbar spine also connects to your pelvis, which sits on the saddle.”

Because everything is connected, tightness in your breath can constrict your shoulders, tighten your fingers on the reins, pull your pelvis out of alignment or affect your balance.

“Riding is such a nuanced skill that any small shift or place of tension could mean you’re having one conversation in your head, but your body is telling your horse something completely different,” says Bechtolsheim.

During the day, begin to practice bringing your awareness back to your breath frequently. Is it high and shallow? Deep and low?

To bring your nervous system into a calmer, more regulated state, try the breathing exercises that fit the situation you’re in or the way you’re feeling. If you know certain activities trigger anxiety, breathe consciously before you begin and continue with the breathwork (see below).

Breathwork Exercises

During the day, begin to practice bringing awareness to your breath and increase the quality of your breathing with one of these exercises. For each, repeat the cycle four or five times or for a total of five minutes at a time.

Situation: Anxiety and Nerves

• Inhale: 2 counts
• Hold: 2 counts
• Exhale: 6 counts

Situation: Performance Anxiety

• Inhale: 4 counts
• Hold: 4 counts
• Exhale: 4 counts
• Hold: 4 counts

This is known as box breathing.

Situation: Mind Racing; Getting Ready to Sleep

• Inhale: 4 counts
• Hold: 7 counts
• Exhale: 8 counts

Situation: Confrontation; Being Upset After an Argument

• Inhale deeply
• Exhale deeply with open mouth

Brain Game No. 2: Balance

“Balance is an integral part of fitness and wellness at any age, with any movement, for any sport,” says Bechtolsheim.

It’s no surprise that good balance increases your brain’s feeling of safety and expands your range of abilities into your capable zone (see “Comfort vs. Capable Zones,” pg. 49).

Poor balance, on the other hand, can lead to increased risk of falling, moving without confidence, feeling stiff or getting dizzy. All of these are compounded with riding because the added height when we’re in the saddle increases your brain’s sense of danger because it wants to protect you from falling and injury.

If you want to improve your balance, you have to challenge it—but not provide so much challenge that you can’t succeed, according to Bechtolsheim.

“For this reason, doing balance drills that are too hard and that you can’t do successfully causes stress in the brain and decreases trust in movement.”

As you explore these balance exercises, remember that brain plasticity is driven by novelty and intensity (among other things), so make sure you’re incorporating both.

Balance Exercises

To challenge your balance, stand up and start to explore different positions for your feet, head and eyes, then play with adding speed to these position changes.

Foot Position (from least to most challenging):

• Straight ahead, hip distance apart
• Spread stance, one foot in front of the other. The closer together they are, and the more in-line (like standing on a tightrope), the bigger the challenge.
• Standing on one foot

Head Movement

• Up and down
• Side to side
• Diagonal

Eyes

• Both open
• Both closed
• One eye open

Movement Speed

• Slow
• Medium
• Fast

Layering Challenge

• Put together several aspects at the same time.
• For example, stand with spread stance, close one eye, and move your head.

Remember to have fun with these exercises. Don’t judge yourself or feel that you should somehow be doing better. Just take it slow, breathe, and keep progressing.

Brain Game No. 3: Bounce

If you have a stability ball, you know it’s great for core work and maintaining the good posture you want when you ride. But did you know that bouncing on the ball is an amazing tool for your brain?

“Sitting on the ball and bouncing is great for the lymphatic system, hydrating and stimulating the fascia and providing a low-impact quad workout,” says Bechtolsheim. “It also challenges your visual system and activates your vestibular balance system.”

Start with bouncing and then add auditory and rhythmic training. The combination increases neuroplasticity exponentially.

Here are a few ideas to play with.

• First, sit on the ball and bounce up and down to establish a rhythm.
• Use your hands to tap the side of the ball, then clap them together.
• Vary the rhythm.
• Try alternating sides.
• Do a double clap.
• Time the rhythm both with and against the bounce.
• Create different rhythms and tones.

Remember, the health and brain benefits come from the act of doing the activity, not in the perfection of it.

“Let yourself make ‘mistakes,’ learn from them, grow from them, and just have fun,” says Bechtolsheim.

Not only will you get an awesome quad and cardio workout, but you’ll be creating a lot of plastic change in your brain.

Comfort vs. Capable Zone

You’ve heard of your comfort zone, bud did you know there’s also a “capable zone” and a “threatening zone”?

If you go into the threatening zone, you’re more likely to get injured and be outside your ability level. In comparison, your comfort zone is just that—comfortable.

The problem is that if you stay comfortable, you can’t change, improve or grow. Ironically, the more you stay in your comfort zone, the more threatening and unpredictable everything becomes because you’re not used to anything else.

The key to growing safely and learning is to expand into your capable zone. Here, you can challenge yourself and expand your skill set, tools and experiences. All this makes your brain feel more and more comfortable with trying new things and shifting into problem-solving mode.

Key Takeaway: Brain Power For Life

As you’ve discovered, breathing consciously, improving balance and exploring rhythm through play helps your brain learn, grow and trust in your expanding abilities.

Just a few minutes of brain games a day can help you let go of past limitations and reach higher levels in your riding—and possibly improve other areas of your life as well!

This article about equestrian brain games and neuroscience appeared in the March 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Here are a few reasons we do groundwork with our horses; perhaps you can see why personal groundwork could be beneficial for humans as well.

◆ Promotes circulation

◆ Loosens and relaxes stiff or tense muscles

◆ Helps alleviate soreness and decreases the chance of injury

◆ Develops the trust necessary for safe, effective collaboration

◆ Builds a foundation of fitness and confidence

◆ Improves communication between horse and human

◆ Increases focus

◆ Collects the physical body and mind

“Groundwork for the human” is a phrase I coined while working with equestrians on the yoga mat and on the meditation cushion through my Body, Mind, Equine programs. This concept might sound a bit puzzling at first, so let me break down what groundwork for the human looks like.

The yoga mat and the meditation cushion can be great places to practice personal groundwork for the body and mind. Yoga offers an opportunity to focus on overall awareness, body alignment, placement, and orientation—all beneficial skills to have when we’re around or riding horses.

Groundwork for the Human Body

Through yoga, you can work on body mechanics, fine-tuning, focus, discipline, moving through challenges, and observing inner energy and breathing. Treat the mat as a training ground to develop effective, efficient use of your body. As you become more body-aware, these lessons begin to trickle over into your riding and other physical activities.

Often on the mat and in riding, you think you’re aligned or symmetrical, but that’s not always the case. For example, when in a tabletop position on the yoga mat (on hands and knees), it may feel like your weight is placed equally on each hand and knee. But sometimes, upon checking, you look at your knees and they are together, rather than hip-width apart, or when you take a glance at your wrists, they are not aligned under your shoulders as you think they might be.

How this might look in the saddle is that you may think your weight is even in each stirrup, or that your shoulders are relaxed down away from your ears. But upon checking, you notice you are not physically as collected or as aligned as you thought.

When you’re not physically collected, your horse will not be either, as tensions and misalignments in your body can restrict your horse’s movement.

The yoga mat is a great place to learn bodily self-correction. Once this skill is honed on the mat, it begins to naturally translate to self-correction when riding or even in your body language while training or interacting with horses.

Exercise 1: T-Pose Symmetry

◆ While mounted (saddled or bareback), bring your arms to what you think is a T-position with palms facing downward.                                     

◆ Look out at each arm or have someone else look or take a photo to see if your arms are at shoulder height. Notice if your arms are coming directly out from your shoulders, or if they are above or below shoulder height, or if they are lopsided.

◆ If doing this exercise while saddled, it’s also a good opportunity to check and see if your weight is placed evenly in each stirrup.

Note: It’s a good idea to have someone hold your horse so you can solely focus on the exercise.

Pictured above are two riders doing this exercise. One has her arms in an aligned T-pose and the other thinks hers are, but they are not.

This and other simple, similar exercises can be practiced on the yoga mat or while mounted as a form of physical groundwork for the human.

Groundwork for the Human Mind

Then there’s the aspect of mental groundwork. When your mind is all over the place and unfocused, your energy becomes less clear and more fragmented, which of course your horse detects and responds to, often mirroring back distracted or uninterested energy.

Through yoga or meditation practice, you’ll notice when your mind wanders to a thought or to a distraction so that you can gently rein it back in to the breath, the bodily sensations, and the present moment—where life is happening.

Mental groundwork is a most valuable tool for training the “mental muscle,” much like developing your other muscles. Without focus, it can be hard to complete a task, whether at your desk or working with horses—not to mention the excess energy it takes to be scattered.

In deep meditation, you are fully integrated and focused, without attention wavering. Ultimately, you can learn to carry that focus with you beyond the sitting meditation.

Training the body can seem easy compared to training the unfocused “monkey mind” (for more, read “Harness Your Monkey Mind,” pg. 18, Horse Illustrated January/February 2024). The good news is, you can learn to collect your mind through meditation techniques.

One effective method is directing attention to your breath. It’s simple yet powerful, and can be done virtually anywhere.

Exercise 2: Watching and Counting Your Thought Stream

◆ Set a timer for one to five minutes.

◆ Close your eyes.

◆ See your thought stream (the succession of thoughts).

◆ Notice that each individual thought arises, is present, and then disappears.

◆ See if your attention can remain on the succession of thoughts. See each individual thought, one after another.

◆ Count the number of individual thoughts you see in a row.

◆ Attention will move somewhere else. When that occurs, let your attention return to the thought stream and resume counting.

◆ With practice, the count will increase as your ability to direct your attention strengthens.

This is one mental groundwork exercise to gather the mind, improve focus, and help you become more aware of the workings of your mind. This practice also allows you to feel less controlled by your thoughts as you notice how they arise, come, and go while you build your power to observe and direct your mental attention.

Key Takeaway

When your body and mind are integrated—working as a team—your life and your relationship with your horse is enhanced. Personal groundwork helps you show up as more centered and grounded rather than scattered.

Physically and mentally, you become a better companion for your equine partner. I hope that you enjoy and consider this new way of viewing groundwork beyond the horse.

This article about groundwork for the human appeared in the March 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Our sometimes overactive and easily distracted minds can rob us of precious moments and quality time. The good news is that there are tools and techniques to help pump the brakes on that runaway freight train of thoughts and improve the quality of presence with your horse and in your daily life.

What is the Monkey Mind?

In mindfulness practice, we’ve affectionately labeled the busy mind as the “monkey mind.” Though monkeys are quite cute, they tend to be full of constant, exuberant energy, jumping from one thing to the next. When your mind leaps around like a monkey, you can end up feeling unfocused and exhausted.

When dealing with horses, not only can the monkey mind be annoying, but it can also be quite an energy drain as we overthink and overuse it. Sadly, in our ever-faster-moving world with the constant need to multi-task, we’ve trained our minds to dart around from one thing to the next without pause, which fragments our energy. Dwelling on the past or projecting into the future causes us to miss the present moment, which is where life is happening.

When the mind is all over the place, it can be hard to complete a task, whether at your desk or with horses. In addition to this leading to fatigue, a restless mental state can lead to poor decision-making and could even cause safety issues. It’s in your and your horse’s best interest to make prudent, clear decisions.

Being Present

There’s a lot of talk in horsemanship about collecting your horse, but what about collecting yourself and your thoughts? Since we transmit energy and horses read energy, they often mirror us; when you’re not “present,” neither is your horse. It’s not uncommon for him to become scattered and distracted if you are.

Here’s how this might look on a trail ride: you’re riding your horse and an unrelated, random thought pops into your mind. For example, “What am I going to cook for dinner?”

This takes you completely out of the moment.  Your horse senses this and takes advantage of the opportunity by grabbing a bite of grass, stumbling on a rock, or pinning his ears at the horse next to him.

When you collect your mind, your horse becomes more present as well, and you help him focus his mind and energy too, ultimately making you a better team.

How to Improve Mental Focus

Training the mental muscle is no different than developing other muscles; it takes practice and commitment.

Here are a few practical and easy-to-apply exercises:

1. Become an observer of the mind: Collect your mind, at least somewhat, before meeting up with your horse. You can do this by simply focusing on your breathing for five minutes before going to the barn. This calms your mind. Each time your mind wanders from the breath (and it does!), notice that, and gently direct your mind back to your breath.

2. The count: This simple but beneficial exercise can train your mind to focus on one-pointedness for longer and longer periods.

Close your eyes and slowly count to 10, solely focusing on the number in your mind’s eye (nothing else but that number). Notice—without judgment—how far you get before your mind wanders from the number or a random thought trickles in.

With practice, you’ll be able to get further along before your mind drifts, increasing your ability to focus longer.

3. Use breath and bodily sensations: When you notice yourself coming out of the moment while working with your horse or while riding, tune in to your breathing and your bodily sensations. This helps ground you in the present.

I often say, “Thank the mind for its (many) opinions and come back to the breath and the body!” The breath and the bodily sensations are tools that you always have right in your back pocket that you can use any time you feel scattered.

4. Widen your gaze: We’re often so task-oriented or running on autopilot that we miss what’s happening within us and around us. Simply stand still, look around, and detect all that you can. Notice the details, see the sights, hear the sounds, smell the smells. Getting present is a way to slow down the mental chatter and come into the now.

5. Breathe with your horse: Before jumping right into training or riding, take a moment to breathe with your horse. This gives you both a moment to slow down and set a focused tone.

Place your hand near your horse’s nostrils, on his side, or on his chest, and see if you can sync up your breaths to a slow, steady rhythm. This is calming for both horse and human.

6. Take a mini-meditation: We don’t always have the time or the headspace for a languid meditation session, but a mini-meditation can be just as effective.

Before mounting up or before training, take a moment to be still, come into the present, and deliberately gather your mind and your energy. You and your horse will notice the positive difference this pause makes.

Note: Some of the above exercises can be done again once you’ve mounted up and as you see fit.

Other Suggestions for Harnessing Your Monkey Mind

If the above exercises are helping but you feel you could use even more support, consider the following ideas.

1. Practice when the waters are calm. The more time you hone the skill of mindfulness on the meditation cushion or yoga mat, the more likely your success will be when trying to slow the monkey mind in daily life, which then becomes second nature when you are around or working with horses.

2. Consider working with a coach. We work with coaches to achieve other fitness, training, and life goals, so why not for our mental goals as well? A meditation leader can be a good resource when wanting to learn the skill of gathering or collecting the mind.

3. Use a program specifically designed for equestrians’ mental needs. For this exact reason, I produced a course with HorseClass called “In the Moment.” This series of short, concise visualizations and exercises can easily be downloaded to your device and can help level up your mental game at the barn, in the show ring, or on the trail.

Key Takeaway

Don’t be too hard on yourself. Our mental focus varies on different days and for different reasons, depending on how much rest we’ve had, what we’ve eaten, what else is going on in our lives, et cetera. In many cases, we’ve conditioned the mind to be busy and overloaded.

Remember, unlearning an unfavorable behavior can take longer than learning one, so be gentle with your mind. Not only will you feel better and more focused, but your equine partner will also appreciate you learning to harness that monkey mind!

This article about harnessing your monkey mind and being more mindfully present with your horse appeared in the January/February 2024 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post Harness Your Monkey Mind: Be More Mindfully Present Around Horses appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

“That day combined three things that I enjoy: horses, painting and spending time with my mom,” McKeever recalls.

When they finished decorating Rosie, McKeever saddled up and D’Aniello snapped a photo to document the moment. The picture became a tangible example of something horses bring to McKeever’s life: the ability to live in the present.

Law and Horses

McKeever’s love of horses began at a young age. Inspired by her mom’s love for the animals, she spent her childhood days playing with plastic horses, watching western films and poring over horse-themed books. As she grew up, D’Aniello and McKeever enjoyed guided trail rides together.

“I have always loved horses ever since I can remember,” McKeever says.

Just like her love for horses, McKeever’s interest in the law started early on. D’Aniello recalls her daughter boldly declaring her intent to pursue a career in law at just 8 years old.

“Who was I to discourage that?” D’Aniello says.

Many years later, McKeever completed her undergraduate education and prepared to start law school at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in her hometown of Tucson, Ariz.

Close to that time, D’Aniello was taking riding lessons. She’d purchased a package of lessons but found that due to time constraints, she wasn’t able to finish them. D’Aniello offered the remaining sessions to McKeever, who accepted. That decision led McKeever to something that would help her navigate the next four years of her life: Rosie.

D’Aniello remembers being concerned about the expense a horse would pose to McKeever, but also being supportive of her daughter pursuing a healthy outlet. Regardless of her feelings, D’Aniello saw her daughter was determined to purchase Rosie.

“When Leah makes up her mind, Leah makes up her mind,” she says. “You can’t talk her out of anything.”

McKeever knew keeping Rosie in her life during law school would pose financial challenges, but she couldn’t see herself moving forward any other way. She worked out a plan using her savings to budget for Rosie during school.

“If I have something that I love and something that I’m passionate about, I don’t think of excuses or having to get rid of anything,” McKeever explains. “I try and think of how I’m going to make it work.”

Finding the Present

McKeever remembers every minute of her time being claimed during law school. She constantly felt guilty if she wasn’t reading or studying.

“You always have this pressure on you to get a bunch of readings done,” McKeever recalls. “Sometimes the amount of readings are just not plausible to get through.”

To escape school stress, McKeever turned to two of her passions: working out and riding Rosie. The first helped her stay physically healthy but didn’t keep her mind from thoughts of schoolwork. The latter, however, completely captured her attention.

“Going and spending time with Rosie was the only time that I didn’t think about school,” McKeever says.

Riding Rosie forced McKeever’s brain to remain in the present. If her attention drifted, Rosie brought her back to the current moment. The horse would break gait or even shy at an object if she felt McKeever wasn’t focused on her.

“I maintained a good mental health in law school, and I attribute that to having my horse,” says McKeever. (See “Mental Health Benefits of Horses,” below.)

McKeever worked with Rosie four to five times a week throughout law school. In 2017, she successfully graduated from her program.

No Regrets

Several years have passed since McKeever’s time in law school, but the Fourth of July she spent with Rosie and her mother remains seared in her memory.

D’Aniello witnessed how horses impact McKeever first hand, and doesn’t see her daughter ever giving them up.

“For Leah, Rosie is her great escape, and therefore her happy place,” says D’Aniello.

Now a practicing lawyer, McKeever spends her days in the courtroom, seeking justice for the people she represents. Beyond a reasonable doubt, she believes it’s Rosie that helped her get there.

“She helped me through many tough things, law school being one of them, and I’m eternally grateful to her for that,” she says.

If given the chance to do law school again, McKeever wouldn’t hesitate to bring Rosie along for the ride.

“That’s one decision in my life that I’ll never regret.”

This article about Leah McKeever appeared in the September 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Many parallels exist between true yoga and good horsemanship. When I say yoga, I mean the whole of yoga, not just the postures, which is what most people think of when they think about yoga, but yoga principles as well. The parallels are where the yoga mat meets the saddle.

Much of what is taught and practiced in yoga are many of the same philosophies we’d apply to mindful horsemanship: being present, breathing awareness, slowing down, and being balanced, just to name a few.

Yoga is an awareness practice; as we become more aware through yoga, we naturally begin to carry that heightened awareness off the mat and into our time with horses. Additionally, we notice and experience how many yogic principles apply to horsemanship and how many similarities there truly are.

I invite you to review these parallels and take a closer look at the likeness between the two practices. I’m confident you’ll see the connections. While reviewing them, ask yourself the following questions:

Am I practicing this on my yoga mat?
Am I practicing this in my horsemanship?

The Parallels Between Yoga and Horsemanship

Present moment awareness: Life happens in the now. Multi-tasking takes us away from the present. Use breath and bodily sensations as tools to stay harnessed in the here and now.

A training ground for life: Yoga and horsemanship are opportunities to come to know ourselves better by exploring our multi-faceted levels. We observe the way we process, learn, act, react, interact, think, and feel.

Bring consciousness to everything: Pay attention to your body, your breathing, and your energy. Journey through life aware, conscious, and deliberate, experiencing all the moments.

Breathe through challenges: Move with the breath, and not against it. Use the breath as a tool at any time you feel challenged or unfocused—on the mat and in the saddle.

Go beyond the mind: You can often do more than the mind thinks you can.

Energy shifts: Notice when energy shifts and changes within yourself, your horse, and your surroundings.

Move with grace: Bring as much grace as possible into a yoga posture, horsemanship, or any other situation, even when it feels challenging.

Accept: Work from where you are on that mat and with your horsemanship, holding a generous attitude of acceptance.

Stay balanced: Maintain equanimity in all areas of life, not just physically. Balance inner and outer.

Slow down: Don’t exhaust yourself by staying on the fast-paced treadmill of life. Slow down through yoga and when working with or around our equine friends; they will appreciate it.

Know where you are in space and time: Be aware of where the body is in space and time, physically and tangibly—where placement is on the mat and when around horses. Notice positioning, bodily sensations, alignment, distance, spacing, and orientation.

Drop expectations: Release the energy spent on expectations of yourself, others, or life in general. Free up energy for better use, and experience what unfolds.

Observe the mind chatter: Be an observer of the mind chatter but know you don’t always have to buy into it. Listen to your inner voice and discern what is pertinent.

Experience and celebrate: Stop and experience sensations, the release, and energy after a yoga stretch. Stop, experience, and celebrate after an accomplishment with your horse.

Making the Transfer

By practicing authentic yoga on the mat, you will become more in tune with the fact that the teachings apply to both yoga and horsemanship.

Once these silks are honed, they organically transfer off the mat and into our time with horses, as well as into other areas of our lives, helping us to be more aware and skilled humans in all that we do.

Further Reading:
◆ Yoga for Riders
◆ Fit Rider: Yoga Poses for Core Strength

This article about the similarities between yoga and horsemanship appeared in the September 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Once you’ve been rattled, it’s hard to calm down and refocus on why you’re there, sometimes in both the short-term (the day of the show) and the long-term (showing in general).

What Is Causing Your Horse Show Anxiety?

Most horse-show fear falls into two categories: fear of getting hurt and fear of making a fool of yourself. While one may strike you as easier to deal with than the other, fear in any form can be crippling.

No matter where your fear stems from, there are multiple ways you can head off anxiety overload. Preparation is key, both mentally and physically. Here are some ways to be as prepared as possible next time you have an off-farm adventure.

Physical Preparation

1. Create checklists. While you need not carry around a physical sheet of paper (having it on your phone is fine), knowing exactly what you need before the show and confirming that it’s in your trailer can ease a lot of showing anxiety.

Keeping everything in its designated place in the trailer ensures you know exactly what’s missing at a glance. Other things to keep on hand for last-minute questions and clarification include rulebooks, dressage tests, patterns, and courses.

2. Schedule like you’re leaving on vacation. Preparing for vacation can be time-consuming, but the result is always worth it. Plan your show day like you plan a trip, working backward from your ride time. Knowing when you need to be in the ring will allow you to plan when to groom, tack up, get dressed, get on and warm up.

Physically writing it all down lets you have a focused plan and quiets the mental chatter and doubt, according to Jessica Bollinger, a licensed clinical social worker who assists athletes from a variety of disciplines. Consider posting your schedule on your stall so it’s easily accessible. Rushing creates stress and is something you want to avoid.

3. Fuel up on quality foods. While nerves can make eating anything iffy, it’s crucial that you take in enough calories to prep for a long show day. Eat a healthy breakfast and pack nutritious snacks. Avoid sugar, which may give you a brief uptick in energy, but will leave you crashing later. Also ensure you’re hydrated.

“Water gives you a clear mind and focus,” says Bollinger.

4. Practice tapping. Take your dominant hand and tap side-to-side at your sternum with your middle finger and thumb for a few minutes at a time, says Bollinger. This rhythmic pressure on specific acupressure points on the body have been shown to lessen anxiety and reduce stress. This can be done before you get on or while you’re astride—any time you feel your anxiety ramping up.

5. Activate your vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is part of your parasympathetic nervous system, which controls your heart rate, digestion and immune system. Taking a long, deep breath and a long exhale when your heart begins to race activates this nerve and helps slow your heart and respiratory rates.

“Whenever a thought enters [your mind] that triggers your anxiety, take that long, deep breath,” Bollinger says. It will help to calm and relax you.

6. Hang loose. Unfortunately, anxiety causes you to tense your entire body, making it a rigid form that your horse must work against. According to Bollinger, your horse feels everything you feel. Tension can cause you to raise your shoulders, lock your arms and clamp down on your horse’s sides, none of which helps you relax.

One of the easiest ways to loosen up is to let your jaw flop—literally. It may feel strange at first, but you can’t clench your jaw if your teeth aren’t together, so breathe through your mouth and let your chin wag!

Mental Preparation

7. Find your focus. This can tough to do, especially when our brains tend to go into overdrive during a show. It’s important to focus on what you can control; don’t worry about the weather or what you think your horse will spook at or anything else that’s out of your hands.

If you can’t let go of a particular thought (“Is he going to spook at that tent at the end of the ring?”), create a plan to get your horse’s attention back and redirect his energy. Bollinger suggests using positive thoughts and positive visualization (“Inside leg!”).

8. Break it down into bite-sized goals. Though we all want to walk into the show ring and own our course, pattern or class, sometimes you need tangible things to do to feel a sense of accomplishment. But just something might be small doesn’t mean it won’t add up to big results in the end.

Sitting tall, not looking for your lead or riding deep in your corners are all important keys to allowing you to (one day) go in and nail every jump or movement.

9. Visualize. Ride your pattern or course by closing your eyes and taking long, deep breaths, says Bollinger. Add in tapping while you visualize for an added effect.

Though many people visualize watching themselves ride from the sidelines, use the perspective from the back of your horse like you’re actually riding your course or test.

10. Be grateful and positive. Don’t forget how lucky you are to get to show! You get to be outside with your four-legged best friend, surrounded by people you enjoy.

To help remain focused on these things, Bollinger suggests gratitude and positive manifestation journaling. Think about and write down the answers to these prompts either the night before or the morning of the show: “What I am grateful for? How will the day culminate in a positive way?”

Extra Tips for Calming Horse Show Anxiety

11. Be present. This one is tricky, as it’s easy to think ahead (When will we get home?) or behind you and obsess over what went wrong. To remind yourself to stay in the present, focus on something very specific, like rubbing your horse’s ears and feeling how soft his coat is or listening to your horse’s footfalls beneath you.

12. Take some quiet time. It’s OK to take some time for yourself, even if your cheering squad is there to celebrate your time in the ring. A few moments to gather your thoughts, run over your pattern, and pat your horse will help you give it your best shot.

13. Give yourself an escape. This doesn’t mean you don’t try; it means you give yourself an out if things start to go sideways and you can’t correct your course.

This means thinking, “If after 20 minutes of warmup he’s still spooking at everything, I’ll scratch,” instead of, “He’s going to be bad, I know it. I’m not even going to get on.” Once you give yourself permission to leave, you won’t feel as trapped.

This article about how to calm your horse show anxiety and nerves appeared in the June 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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It’s not uncommon for horse owners to become complacent about grooming amidst the many other tasks involved with having horses, especially when combined with finding the time to ride. But a dedicated, mindful equine grooming session can be quite relaxing and yet another way to share space.

I’m an advocate of letting horses be horses, but to be honest, sometimes mine look downright feral as I slack on their grooming. I often find myself doing a quick “cowboy groom,” focusing on just the areas that need direct attention, paying little attention to anything else. The reality as horse owners is sometimes that’s all we have time for.

Often, equestrians can become task-oriented or fixated on the ride, skimming over the true joy of simply being around horses. Mindful grooming is a nice way to connect beyond riding. Your horse will thank you, because after all, who doesn’t love a good spa day and quality time with a friend?

As part of my Body, Mind, Equine retreats, I include a mindful equine grooming segment. This session often includes some of the sweetest and most memorable aspects of the program. When I take the time to do this with my horses, I’m reminded of how rich the experience is.

What are the Benefits of Mindful Grooming for You and Your Horse?

◆ Slowing down and an opportunity to practice present-moment awareness.
◆ Spending quality, quiet time with your horse.
◆ Relaxing and soothing both horse and human, lowering stress levels.
◆ Getting hands on your horse to inspect anything that might be missed at a glance, such as tenderness, weight loss/gain, and hoof issues.
◆ An opportunity to observe energy and to be aware of what energy we are bringing to our horsemanship, such as calm, rushed, scattered or centered.
◆ An occasion to bond, build trust and connect.

Benefits for Senior Horses and Non-Riders

Since my horses are now seniors, I find we spend more time doing tranquil, simple activities, such as unhurried grooming sessions, compared to how we spent time during our many years of long, challenging trail rides. As we move through the various seasons of our lives, we find new pathways to partnership.

Maybe you no longer have interest in riding, or you or your horse has an injury, preventing saddle time. Or perhaps your friends are going riding, but you’re having an off day and you’re just not feeling it. In either case, there’s nothing wrong with staying behind and spending time with your horse in another way.

Sometimes, it’s nice to just be with your horse.

How to Practice Mindful Grooming

Mindful grooming can be approached in several ways, depending on personal preference and your setup.

◆ Make the session feel special, much like you would when setting up for any special occasion. Your horse will sense the difference. Maybe it’s playing relaxing music in your barn, or thoughtfully setting out your grooming tools. I like to start and end my session by giving my horse a peppermint.

◆ Sessions can be done in complete silence, which can be a nice break and a counterbalance from all the noise in our lives. Horses live in a nonverbal world; sometimes it’s nice to join them there!

◆ Soft music can also be pleasant. Choose something soothing. I like to play Native American flute music; I find the sounds peaceful and ethereal.

◆ Before greeting your horse, take a few moments to become centered: be still, close your eyes, and breathe deeply, collecting and gathering yourself. Your horse will detect the difference when your energy is centered versus fragmented.

◆ Before grooming, take a moment to breathe with your horse. Stand next to him with grounded feet and place a hand on his chest, side, or near the nostrils, and breathe deeply—see if you can sync up your breathing. Not only does this calm and connect horse and human, but helps us become keenly aware that the same life-force energy flowing through us also flows through our horse (and all living things), interconnecting us on a deeper level.

◆ Begin your grooming regimen in whatever way you like, while staying attentive to what you’re doing. When your mind wanders from your task, notice that you’ve come out of the moment and bring your attention back. Use two tools to stay harnessed in the present: breath and bodily sensations. When you catch yourself mentally drifting, come back to those two things—they’re always there.

Often, we operate on auto pilot, but learning to stay in the present moment is a gift—that’s why it’s called the present.

◆ Pay attention to your horse’s response/body language. Is he showing signs of relaxing and enjoying the experience? Detect if there are specific areas where your horse likes or dislikes grooming, and adjust accordingly.

◆ See how much you can notice. When grooming, pay attention to the subtleties, smells, sounds, sensations and breath. Use this time as a meditative experience—a waking meditation.

◆ If you groom with others in a shared barn or with a riding group, perhaps suggest this as a group activity. Group energy can sometimes enhance the experience for all.

◆ The session can be as long or short as you’d like. It’s not about the quantity of time, but rather the quality of presence.

◆ In closing, thank and appreciate your horse for being part of your life and for being a “creature teacher.” We can learn so much from them by simply being in their company.

I hope you’ll give mindful grooming a try and continue to seek new ways to connect with your horse and the world around you in a deeper way.

Happy grooming! Your horse thanks you.

This article about mindful grooming appeared in the May 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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The start of a new year is the perfect time to reassess our wellness regimens as equestrians, as well as determine how we’d like our horsemanship to look in the new year. It can be easy to buy into the media-driven version of what fitness, wellness, and horsemanship should look like, but it’s important and enriching to create your own experience by listening to your inner voice.

Make Your Equestrian Wellness & Fitness Plan Own

Many things fall under the umbrella of wellness and horsemanship; this looks different for each of us and it transforms as we move into different phases.

It’s natural and wise to modify both as you and your horse change. Gauging and adjusting needs and lifestyle to your current situation is a tool for living well and staying healthy and happy.

As a long-time yogini (woman dedicated to yogic practices and tradition) and horsewoman, I’ve always looked at my horsemanship and wellness as interconnected; the two reflect each other. We can’t expect our horses to be the only ones to stay physically, mentally, and emotionally sound, yet not work on ourselves. We are better for our equines when we are wholly healthy.

As my horses and I have grown older, the ways we partner have changed and so have our wellness practices. What kept me fit at age 20 is different than what I now require in my mid-50s. Long gone are the days of staying up late and eating whatever I wanted; I’ve modified my fitness routine and have also redefined how I spend time with my horses.

Long gone are also the days of arduous backcountry trail rides and pack trips. We’ve modified to short, easy retirement rides and lots of quality time at the barn. Often, we spend languid grooming sessions and omit riding altogether.

Time for Change

Just because we did something for some time does not mean we have to do it forever. A wise person does not cling to what once was; this is an important life lesson if we are to live the flow of grace. Change is the one thing we can count on!

Maybe you used to be a jogger but now walking feels better. Or you may have been a hard-core weight trainer, but currently find yoga more suitable. In your horsemanship, it’s perfectly fine to have once been a competitive eventer, but you’ve discovered that liberty work or another discipline is more fitting.

It’s all about dialing in to inner knowing, becoming clear on what’s in your best interest and for the good of your horse. Often when we don’t, it’s counterproductive; it can be easier to get injured or to injure your horse, or make mistakes based on poor judgment, basing our choices on what we used to do.

It’s important to pay attention when it’s time to modify. Perhaps your horse is showing physical signs of being unable to work in the manner he used to, or you’re both no longer enjoying riding as you once did—it could be that it’s become too physically, mentally, or emotionally challenging. These and other signals can be indicators that an adjustment is in order.

Rather than viewing change as a loss, reframe the idea from something negative into something exciting and interesting, identifying new pathways forward. It can be pleasant, liberating, and empowering to personalize your wellness and your horsemanship.

How to Get Started

◆ Spend some quiet time and honestly reflect on what you want and need to be doing at this time. Analyze if you’re participating in certain types of wellness and/or equestrian activities because you enjoy them and they work for you, or if it’s due to peer pressure or keeping up with the latest trend.

◆ Determine what works for you now. It can be helpful to write a list or journal about how you’d like your wellness regime and your time with horses to look.

◆ Identify practical and proactive steps to achieve your new goals.

◆ Be realistic and don’t set the bar too high or get attached to expectations, but rather move enthusiastically toward your goals with a gracious attitude of acceptance.

◆ Find a support network of others with similar interests.

◆ Take your first steps in this new direction. Begin by researching or dipping a toe into these new waters to see what you think.

Try Something New

Maybe you no longer wish to or are unable to ride but you still enjoy owning horses. Open up to new and fulfilling ways to partner with your horse, such as mindful grooming sessions or in-hand work.

If the season has come that you no longer own horses but still enjoy being around them, you can volunteer at a local rescue or explore the field of equine-assisted therapy.

Maybe you’ve always wanted to try yoga, but you’re not quite ready to jump into an in-person class, so you dabble with some online sessions first.

Personal Equestrian Fitness & Wellness Plan

Create a three-column list: Body, Mind & Spirit. Under each column, list activities that support how to best care for each aspect of your being, and do at least one from each column every day.

Here’s a sample list:

Taking care of the horse’s body and mind is not so different from taking care of the your own body and mind; it’s all about fine-tuning and adapting. It’s OK to permit yourself to adjust, otherwise you’ll be going against the current. Remember this quote/metaphor: “Ride your horse in the direction he’s going.”

There’s no endgame to personal growth or horsemanship. Here’s to curating your own experience to thrive in the new year!

This article about equestrian wellness and fitness appeared in the January/February 2023 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Tom Mannigel didn’t know much about horses until his wife, Diane, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Thanks to an equine-assisted therapy program offered at a nearby PATH-certified facility (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International), he now knows first-hand that horses can be valuable collaborators when it comes to meeting stress and depression head on, as well as improving the pair’s relationship.

“I’m not really a horse person,” says Mannigel. “I grew up in rural California where everyone had horses, but every time I’d get on ‘em, it was basically a disaster. However, after we took part in the program, things started to get better in our relationship.”

Innovative Programs

The Mannigels took part in the Kids and Horses PATH program in Minden, Nev.

PATH-certified facilities, instructors and other professionals use equine-assisted therapies geared toward individuals who have special needs. Recently, programming at some PATH-certified facilities has diversified to include equine-assisted therapies for veterans and others coping with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Kids and Horses is just one of the PATH- sanctioned facilities that uses a program developed by Connected Horse to help individuals and their caregivers navigate the physical flood of emotions connected to the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

“I was intrigued,” says Cat O’Brien, Kids and Horses program director and a PATH-certified instructor. “I live in a community of retirees, and I believed it would be an asset to our facility.”

According to Connected Horse co-founder Paula Hertel, MSW, combining the two programs has turned out to be a perfect fit.

“There is a mission alignment with many PATH barns and Connected Horse: We believe the horse/human connection provides benefits to both horse and participant,” says Hertel. “We are advocating that Connected Horse is ideal for people with dementia because it doesn’t require traditional verbal communication.”

According to Hertel, the Connected Horse program focuses on mindfulness, emotional and sensory triggers, and understanding. Horses used in the program allow the person diagnosed with dementia and their caregiver all communicate on the same level.

“The horse is really the teacher,” she says.

Benefits for Caregivers

The horses had a profound impact on caregivers as well, as Hertel and co-founder Nancy Schier Anzelmo discovered in their program-connected research.

“Care partners often experience feelings of being overwhelmed, anxious, depressed and frustrated with the situation in which they find themselves,” Schier Anzelmo explains. “The Connected Horse program helps the care partner and the person who has been diagnosed with the grief and depression that comes after an initial diagnosis.”

In fact, those were exactly the emotions that swept over Leticia Metherell when her mother Maria Murguido was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2017.

“I don’t know if you would call it depression, but there was a deep concern of losing my mother and the impacts this [diagnosis] would have on my family,” recalls Metherell. Along with her mother, she took part in the Connected Horse program offered by Kids and Horses in June and July of 2022. “Also, perhaps a selfish part of me thought about my risks of getting Alzheimer’s and what impact her diagnosis would have on my life.”

In order to cope with her own feelings and those her parents were experiencing, Metherell scoured the internet for something that would provide meaningful activities for the pair. She came upon the Kids and Horses program during one of those searches.

“I was skeptical when I first attended the sessions because I didn’t think they were going to make a long-term impact,” she says. “I don’t think I really had a true understanding until I attended the program and experienced it for myself.”

But she discovered that the horses taught the humans important things about communication and connection.

“There definitely is a form of communication happening between people and horses [that is] influenced by our own moods, body posture, attentiveness, and tone of voice,” says Metherell. “The horses also communicate with us via their responses, whether they come to you, walk by your side of their own accord, or allow you to groom them. This is such an important lesson, because as the ability of my mother to communicate reduces as her disease progresses, these lessons help me understand that there will always be a connection there, and that a verbal interaction is not always necessary for it to be a deep and meaningful interaction.”

Physical Benefits for Patients

The PATH/Connected Horse synergy has physical benefits, too, says Tineke Jacobson, a physical therapist, PATH-registered therapist and hippotherapy clinical specialist at the Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center in Orinda, Calif.

Jacobson found the Connected Horse program in 2018 while searching for a program that was using horses to assist in the treatment of dementia.

“There was a growing interest in serving adults in our community when it became apparent that horses have exceptional talents with unmounted activities,” she explains.

The Connected Horse program was a good fit for Xenophon, which already offered equine-assisted physical and occupational programs for children and adults.

Jacobson credits working with horses not only with an ability to emotionally lift people out of a depressed state, but she says that the physical benefits of the interactions between humans and horses are just as profound.

She remembers one person who took part in the Connected Horse program at Xenophon.

“His gait was characterized by slumped-over posture, looking at the ground, short stride length—all signs of decline due to aging, depression and maybe also dementia,” Jacobson recalls. “When he was given the lead rope to walk with the horse, the horse did not respond to his cues of a verbal ‘walk on.’ Only when he straightened up, looked ahead, and made a large, decisive stride after a deep inhale to expressively say ‘walk on,’ did the horse respond and walk with him wherever he wanted to go.”

The Impact of Equine-Assisted Therapy

Whether its impact is physical or emotional, Metherell says that she will never forget what she learned from the horses at a very difficult time in her life and in the lives of her mother, father and other members of their family.

“Working with horses has helped bring me an emotional awareness, which helps deal with stress and feelings of sadness,” says Metherell. “[This helps me] better understand nonverbal communication and find gratitude in my life. It’s also a shared experience that [my mother and I] can both fall back on when times are hard, and reminds us each day of all the things we have to be grateful for.”

Mannigel agrees.

“I really can’t explain it, but [my relationship with my wife] has changed,” he says. “I don’t know if she’s less anxious because I’m less stressed or if I have less stress because she’s less anxious. All I know is that since we [worked] with the horses, our relationship is better.”

This article about equine-assisted therapy helping Alzheimer’s disease patients appeared in the November/December 2022 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post How Equine-Assisted Therapy Can Help Alzheimer’s Disease appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.