I gently place my foot in the stirrup and swing my leg over her back; I shift in my seat when suddenly and violently, I'm launched into the air. It took a second to realize what was happening… my mare was bucking, bad!
Three jumps, three horrid bruises and two scared souls.
What happened? Stormi, my mare, had never once offered to buck. I felt blindsided!
I looked into her eyes, and my heart broke; all I could see was fear and apprehension. "Baby girl, what did I do? I don’t know what I did! I'm so sorry." But I could see her trust in me had been broken, and to be fair, my trust in her had morphed into apprehension. "Will we get us back? Will she buck again? What do I do now?"
I knew her heart was hurting, just like mine. Stormi held me responsible for what happened, and as the leader in our partnership, that was fine with me. Seeing her watch me with guarded eyes made me approach attempting repair differently. Soul to soul.
I connected with her energy and started the communication on a spiritual level to address the problem at its source. It was heartbreaking, finding her soul surrounded with trapped emotions and pent-up negative energy, like being stuck in a heavy electrical storm where it feels safest to curl up, hide and internalize the shock and pain.
One by one, storm by storm, the clouds started to part, and the light shone back through her eyes.
But there was more to do. I was next, addressing my own electrical storm haunting my soul. The waves of relief falling to the side, the ability to take full breaths, the softness in my jaw, my shoulders relaxed and a sense of hope for our future yet again.
Things were returning as they should, but also transforming into something even better.
Healing together at a soul level is a highly bonding experience. It creates a safe place to be truly vulnerable, bare souls and allow the other to see all of you. It allows everything that happens after to be easier, smoother and opens the lines of communication and understanding.
After our wreck, it wasn't 20 rides later that we rode together in the mountains at Ya Ha Tinda, where absolute trust was vital.
Soul work for the equine partnership is something I will never take for granted and treasure always, whether that’s helping my own partnerships or helping others with theirs.
It's a beautiful ritual, and I am forever grateful for having a stronger-than-ever relationship with my girl!
I can totally relate!
I tried so hard to connect with Koata but we both struggled with fear, distrust, confusion, outside influences, so many emotions even hate. Not being one to give up and knowing where she came from and seeing/believing there was hope and potential we continue to push forward. We definitely struggle along the way but I do know that she is my girl and I am hers and we will continue to work it out, good, bad and the ugly!