	“You’ve Got Trail” January Newsletter

A Herd of Two: Whose Leading Who?
by Briana Lorenz-Marrow

In the relationship with a horse, there must always be a leader. Horses are either being a leader or following one. In the wild, the leader is responsible for the health and well-being of the entire herd. As a prey animal, a horse’s survival is dependent on the choices their lead horse makes about when to eat, rest, flee or fight. When we bring horses into our world, they continue to look for that leadership from us. In this way, you and the horse become a Herd of Two™, ideally with you as the leader guiding them through their choices in whatever environment and discipline you engage.

In this horse/human relationship, it is critically important that the human be in the leadership role, not only to maintain safety and well-being for both, but also to attain a goal or reach a destination. Being humans, we make choices not merely based on instinct, as the horse often does without training, but also based on experience and knowledge. It is up to us to establish communication and leadership that is clear, consistent, understandable and natural to the horse. This is essential to create an atmosphere of trust through which we are able to lead the horse, not simply because we hold a position of power over them, but because they trust us fully to guide them.

Whether you are an experienced horse owner or simply an occasional rider, you may have had glimpses of how horses can be incredible mirrors and teachers, reflecting back to us what we are projecting into the world. When we consciously open to their teaching, they provide us with unlimited opportunities for growth by mirroring our “true-self” immediately and non-judgmentally. They become guides to our inner world, teaching us how to be present in the moment, to hold focus and intention, to communicate honestly, and how to be truly aware of everything around us. This leads to tangible benefits in all areas of our lives.

Like the Herd of Two created between a human and a horse, there is also an internal Herd of Two created within each of us: between our “ego-self” and our “Higher-self.” Our “ego-self” is that part of us that constantly looks for danger, focuses on “me,” resists change and growth, and is based on self-preservation. Our “Higher-self” is that part of ourselves that is always connected to both our source of spiritual knowledge and everything around us. It is the truth of who we are and speaks to us through an inner voice, our intuition, and through occurrences in our daily lives.

Our ego-self serves an important purpose, similar to a sentry in a castle staying alert to potential danger. However, while it is sometimes correct, our ego is often based in fear and not always accurate in its observations and judgments. It is important for the sentry to alert the Captain (our Higher-self) to potential dangers, but it is far more empowering when our Higher-self considers the sentry’s input, and then makes decisions based on the whole picture, utilizing one’s prior experience and knowledge. It is critical that our Higher-self be our internal leader making the choices in our lives. Just as we must be the leader in a relationship with a horse, our Higher-self must be the leader in our lives, guiding our decisions and actions. In this way, we create an “embodied” decision-making process by aligning our choices with both our head (thoughts) and our heart (feelings and intuition), which then manifest concretely in our physical world.

Developing embodied decisions is critical to making harmonious choices. Through working with the horse as guide and teacher, we receive immediate and honest feedback about any incongruity between our inner and outer messages. Taking a horse through specific tasks teaches us what we are truly communicating and how our actions either support or defeat our goals. Creating emotional and physical alignment through relaxation, breathing, and present moment focus leads to awareness, learning, and creativity. This awareness allows us to manifest the people, places, and circumstances we desire in every aspect of life.

Working with the horse’s non-verbal expression, we begin to understand that true leadership is less about what we say and more about what we do and how we do it. We develop our ability to fully trust our own decisions and to lead through example by creating a clear connection to our leader within. As with the horse, we create an atmosphere of trust in which we are able to influence others, not because we hold a position of power over them, but because they trust us to lead them. As we learn to trust our own internal leadership, we cultivate the keys to empower those around us. By choosing to accept the challenge of looking honestly at ourselves through the mirror of the horse, we are able to grow and evolve in ways we never expected…changing our lives forever.

About Equus Elemental™

Equus Elemental offers personal development and leadership workshops, trainings and coaching utilizing a unique equine accelerated learning process which provides profound and immediate results in all areas of people’s lives. We combine over 15 years of horse training and horsemanship expertise together with more than 20 years of personal growth and teaching experience. We meld these fundamentals with a keen understanding of equine communication, and the belief that horses are innate spiritual teachers. Using the powerful, subtle and honest guidance of horses in our seminars and workshops accelerates the personal growth process through guided interaction, allowing you to make fast and lasting change.

For more information about our events and workshops, please visit www.equuselemental.com or contact our office at (530) 265.2636.

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