It was another extraordinary
afternoon in the Rocky Mountains: bright blue skies, puffy white clouds,
and sunlit mountains. Some saddle pals (friends who own horses and ride
together) sat on the warm earth as Anne Salisbury and Greg Meyerhoff
read each horse in our herd of seven. We asked Anne and Greg to work
with our horses because we love them and cherish our interconnection
as members of the animal kingdom. Specifically, we wanted to find out
each horse’s perspective and what each horse was experiencing
physically and emotionally.
What a team Anne and Greg are! One read a horse while the other balanced
energy. Each horse’s perspective was acknowledged individually
and in relation to the herd. Physical and emotional issues were disclosed
and suggestions for what we humans can do were revealed. Spontaneous
questions were asked and answered. We discovered ourselves nodding our
heads in agreement as Anne and Greg shared what they received from each
horse.
A positive shift in the herd’s behavior was observed during the
reading. An example is what the horses did when they learned what it
was like to have their own individual energetic space. Instead of crowding,
they spaced themselves equally in the smaller pasture. Each horse had
its own space, but each was still part of the herd. This new behavior
was observed again later when the herd moved to a larger pasture. They
understood and applied what they learned from Anne and Greg.
The horses are not the only ones who learned. The saddle pals now try
to see each horse in a new light. We try to give each the opportunity
to grow and change. We try to give each the chance to be the horse he
or she is presently. The outcome is we are better partners as we honor
our animal kingdom interconnection. This is the least we can do for
our horses who give and teach us so much.
Anne and Greg, thank you for an extraordinary afternoon. Thanks to Briar
Rose, Cruiser, Poker, RJ, Scarlet, Taylor, and Westy too.
Sara Almond, Ph.D.
Administration and Policy Studies
Northwestern University