Presence, distraction, and the energy we bring
It’s simple, really.
The horses are only attracted to your energy when you’re authentic and in your body. If you come to them in your head—thinking about the grocery list, the hard conversation, or all the things waiting for you—they often ignore you.
If I go out to catch one and I’m distracted or in a hurry, they leave. Not in a dramatic way. They simply move away, as if they’re waiting for me to actually arrive.
Yet when I go out without an agenda, when I soften and settle into the moment, they often come to me—or willingly go with me. No force. No chasing. True connection.
When Presence Changes Everything
I remember doing a demonstration once with a woman in the round pen. I asked her to simply walk, do math in her head, and notice what happened with the pony she was working with, Patty.
About one-third of the way around the round pen, she suddenly stopped and said, “This takes me back to third grade.”
In that exact moment, Patty walked directly to her.
The shift was immediate. Something had changed.
She moved from her head into something deeper. A memory surfaced. A feeling. A truth she had not expected. Lovingly, Patty met her there.
The horses have a way of knowing when we are truly present. They know when we are hiding in our thoughts, protecting ourselves with busyness, or trying to stay one step ahead of what we are feeling.
They also know when we arrive. Really arrive.
We Bring Our Energy Everywhere
What fascinates me is how often this shows up far away from the barn.
We wonder why people seem distant or disconnected, then walk into a room mentally carrying ten different things. Our eyes are on our phones. Our minds are somewhere else. Our energy scattered in every direction.
People feel energy, too.
You have probably experienced this yourself. Have you ever sat across from someone and known they weren’t really listening? They nodded at the right times, their attention somewhere else entirely.
Then there are those moments when someone sits with you, fully present. No fixing. No rushing. No distraction. You feel seen.
That kind of presence feels rare these days.
As an introvert, I understand the temptation to hide behind a phone. Sometimes it feels easier. A little protection from a world that can feel loud—or even crazy.
I remember sitting in a coffee shop several years ago, working on my computer. I was focused on what I was doing when a man I knew came in. He started talking with me and eventually joined me at my table.
We ended up having a long conversation. One I never intended to have, and before long, my work time was gone.
Looking back, I still wonder what invited him in. Maybe my energy felt open. Maybe I looked approachable. Maybe something as simple as presence made space for connection.
What the Horses Reflect Back
The horses remind me of this over and over again.
They do not care about titles, accomplishments, or how productive we’ve been. They are not impressed by how busy we are. They respond to authenticity.
To congruence.
To what is true underneath the surface.
When we show up distracted, they notice. When we come back into ourselves, they notice that too.
Lovingly.
Without judgment.
Maybe that is one of the greatest gifts horses offer us. In a world that feels rushed, noisy, and disconnected, they remind us to slow down. To come back into our bodies. To notice where we are.
To simply be.
The horses are already waiting.
Curious what the horses might reflect back to you?
Equine Gestalt is not about riding or horse experience. It is about connection, awareness, and discovering what becomes possible when you are fully present. If you’re wondering whether this work might be a fit, schedule a Zoom conversation by clicking the button below.
Every story needs a soundtrack.
This is the one I’ve chosen for this post—sometimes because of the title, sometimes the lyrics, sometimes simply the feeling it stirs in me.
