Equine assisted coaching

Horses live in herds. They are flight animals. In times of danger they want to flee as a herd, including the weaker horses. If one horse senses danger, the whole herd will feel it. They also mirror it to one another.

If a human being is around, the horse will also see him or her as part of the herd. It will scan the energy and mirror it back to him or her. Horses live in the here and now and are out for wholeness. Therefore they will mirror back to you the part in you that needs healing the most. That’s why a coaching session with horses leads you to your essence very quickly. Because the horse doesn’t judge, it is much easier to take a look in that mirror. Horses also have a healing power.

The sensitive, mirroring and healing characteristics of horses are therefore extremely powerful in coaching people in their personal development.

Equine assisted coaching is an experience based way of coaching. This creates an impact that is big and far reaching.

Three ways of coaching

There are different ways of coaching with horses. Generally speaking you can divide it into three forms. In all cases you won’t be on the horse. You remain standing. You don’t need to have any experience with horses. In a coaching session the emphasis can be on one of those forms. It can also be a combination of the different forms. If you would like to read clients’ experiences with equine assisted coaching, please take a look at the Testimonials page (link).

Equine assisted coaching based on behaviour

The first way of coaching with horses is based on behaviour. You get an assignment with the horse. By doing the assignment the horse will respond to the way you do this and will mirror your behaviour back to you. This will provide you with insight. You can also practice different behaviour on the spot, so you can see how the horse responds to that and how that makes you feel.

Intra psychic coaching with horses

A second way of coaching with horses is intra psychic. The horse shows what’s going on inside of you and what needs healing the most. During the sessions recent experiences can come up, but perhaps also trauma from long ago. This may be either themes that you are conscious or unconscious about. By paying attention to it with the horses, insights will come up, healing will take place and you will be invited to take action.

Family constellations with horses

The third way of coaching is by displaying the family system in a family constellation. Horses will represent family members. They do this voluntarily and quite naturally. Dynamics in your family system will be shown and changes can take place. Family constellations with horses is experienced by clients as a very pure form of family constellation, as the horses don’t judge. You will find more information about family constellations, here.

The equine assisted coach

As a coach I harmonise as much as possible to the non-judging characteristic of the horses. The form of the coaching session or series of sessions develops by letting evolve whatever wants to be shown. I work from my intuition and from a not-knowing state of mind. By entering the field with an open mind, the coaching can take surprising turns and reach the direction it needs the most.

Next to working with the horses I am also specialized in emotion regulation, bodywork and breathwork. You can find more information about me on the About me page.

Role of the coachee

If you wish to attain a real and permanent change, in any form of coaching, it is important you gain the insights yourself, focus on self healing and take appropriate action. The coach won’t do it for you. That’s why we work in the paddock as a triangular team: the horse, me and most of all you. The more open you are to it and the more active, the greater the effect. In the end it’s your life. You are the one who knows your life the best. If there are some heavy themes, it’s not important to talk about the details. Instead, to be able to connect to your feelings and pay attention to any changes that arise during the coaching will reveal far more to you and help you to come closer to what it is you need to learn.

After the session

Asides from attaining insights and healing during the sessions, you will also gain insights afterwards. Most of the time in the one or two weeks following the session, things will fall into place for you. Often, many things happen during a session. What the horses show can have several meanings, all of which are unique to you. Often you will only realise this later on. It takes time for them to settle.

If you want to know more about equine assisted coaching, read clients’ experiences, you can also contact me for more information or to schedule a coaching session.