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Banner of horse's eyes

As I embark on the next stage of my Gestalt education a student in the Equine Gestalt Coaching MethodĀ® program posted something in our FaceBook group about a talk with a friend. Her friend was discouraging her from following her dream because of her age.

horse in trailer

Reed Man, my childhood friend, looking out of the trailer.

Most of the people in this program are older adults. There are a few rare 30 somethings but they must be pretty special to be accepted.

Many are retired schoolteachers. Many have been in the health care field. Many are looking for a way to work with horses. We all have a passion for helping people and a love for the horses. When combined it becomes a passion for helping the horses share their healing gifts with the world.

Before I found this program, I wasnā€™t aware of the way horses used their healing gifts. I sure knew they had them as I turned to them all through my life. What I didnā€™t know was how powerful they were.

I could tell the horses anything that was on my heart. They didnā€™t judge me. When I was little, we played make believe. As I grew up, I told them about trouble with boys.

Before Mike and I were married I had a horse that grandpa had given me when I was nine years old and he was two years old. By the time I was in high school we had become very competitive in barrel racing and pole bending. I probably could have sold him for quite a profit. But how do you sell your best friend.

When I was in college, I discovered jumping it had been something Iā€™d always dreamed about doing. I asked him to learn with me and he was really pretty good at it. I used to joke that weā€™d be together until one of us died.

horse muzzle

Follow your heart they say… Mine always leads me to the Barn!

The summer before Mike and I were married he got sick. The vets did everything they could over several days, but the time came that they called and said he had neurological damage, there was nothing else they could do for him.

I was devastated. He was my bestie. We had grown up together.

Iā€™ve had many horses since then and Iā€™ve had to make end of life decisions. They are always difficult. But none as difficult as Reed Man.

Itā€™s funny how dreams evolve. When I was little, I dreamed of being a veterinarian. Iā€™m a bit squeamish so that didnā€™t materialize. When I graduated from high school, I was debating whether to go into architecture, psychology, or train horses. I started in architecture, then switched to music, and finally landed in the animal science program before I left K-State.

At that point I worked with a hunter/jumper/dressage trainer. It was while I was there that another trainer told me he was on the road six months out of the year. I decided that I didnā€™t want to raise a family like that, so I again came home.

pole bending

Susan and Reed Man pole bending at the Kansas State High School Rodeo

Mike and I got married and after a few years I went back to school. This time in communications. The communications took me into advertising design and marketing. Then into teaching and back into marketing and advertising.

Then Mike got sick and working full time became increasingly difficult while traveling with him to see doctors and numerous hospital stays. Thatā€™s when I started the EGCM program. And my heart has come full circle back to the horses.

Where does your heart take you? If youā€™d like to explore it with the horses connect with me here.

If I follow my heart, I donā€™t know How Far Iā€™ll Go.

Make a Connection in the comments below.

Onward! It’s Not About You, It’s About the Patient

Susan is a lifelong horsewoman, a Master Equine Gestaltist, an Equine Assisted PlayShop facilitator, a breast cancer survivor, a reluctant caregiver, a photographer, and a metal artist. She has a BA in Communications and works with doctors, caregivers, and patients through the Equine Gestalt Coaching MethodĀ®.