Discovering Inner Peace with Shine Our Light

Meet Levi aka "Mr. Personality", "Class Clown", "Mr. Fidget", "Pocket Pony", a 17 year old gelding who loves to play! To fulfill a dream of having an equine family member for a full cycle of life , I bred my Morgan 'mutt' to a Gypsy Vanner and out popped a 'dairy cow' that has been the joy of my life and sometimes the bane of my existence. His goofiness is what makes him challenging yet so special, an equine partner that brings joy and healing to everyone who meets him! 

Check out his TV Debut - WATCH HERE! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_GAIr7t8bU

A leopard apaloosa, Chief has been with the Circle K Ranch family for over 20 years. As a member of the equine team, he has carried many ranch guests on the beautiful trails through the San Juan National Forest. He has also had the opportunity to partner with many individuals for equine therapy sessions and fun 'play day' adventures with children and adults of all ages. He is a very kind 'old soul', a presence of comfort and safety, a true joy to be around!

"The essential joy of being with horses is that it brings us in contact with the rare elements of grace, beauty, spirit, and freedom." 

A healing bond with a horse can help grow “mutual trust, respect, affection, empathy, unconditional acceptance, confidence, personal success, responsibility, assertiveness, communication skills and self-control” according to an article in the International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology. 

Through this unique method of interacting with horses, we can learn a lot about ourselves and break down self-imposed barriers towards personal growth and healing. Horses can oftentimes help us uncover parts of ourselves we may not have had access to in the past—whether due to trauma or a diagnosed mental illness. 

Outcomes may include improved emotional well-being in those with autism or ADD, PTSD or mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.  

In addition, as we look to horses , we can invite healing and personal growth as it relates to:

• self-esteem / assertiveness  
• behavioral / relational difficulties
• addictions / compulsive behaviors  
• eating disorders
• setting healthy boundaries 
• spirituality and grounding
• mental illness
• mindfulness - mind / body connection
• navigating grief / loss
• and MORE!

"Horses reflect our emotions, while at the same time they seem to know  how to give us exactly what we need to soothe our pain"

People receiving occupational therapy, physical therapy or speech therapy as well as children, adolescents, or adults with learning disabilities may also benefit. In partnering with horses, we can initiate healthy changes in:

•  motor skill functioning
•  focus and behavior 
• breathing practices
• strength and balance
• body awareness 
• problem solving skills 

This list goes on!

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HeartMath OFFERS SCIENTIFIC PROOF

"Recent studies conducted by the Institute of HeartMath provide a clue to explain the bidirectional “healing” that happens when we are near horses. According to researchers, the heart has a larger electromagnetic field and higher level of intelligence than the brain: A magnetometer can measure the heart’s energy field radiating up to 8 to 10 feet around the human body. While this is certainly significant it is perhaps more impressive that the electromagnetic field projected by the horse’s heart is five times larger than the human one (imagine a sphere-shaped field that completely surrounds you). The horse’s electromagnetic field is also stronger than ours and can actually directly influence our own heart rhythm!  Horses are also likely to have what science has identified as a “coherent” heart rhythm (heart rate pattern) which explains why we may “feel better” when we are around them. . . .studies have found that a coherent heart pattern or HRV is a robust measure of well-being and consistent with emotional states of calm and joy–that is, we exhibit such patterns when we feel positive emotions.  A coherent heart pattern is indicative of a system that can recover and adjust to stressful situations very efficiently. Often times, we only need to be in a horses presence to feel a sense of wellness and peace. In fact, research shows that people experience many physiological benefits while interacting with horses, including..."

• lowered blood pressure and heart rate
•  increased levels of beta-endorphins (neurotransmitters that serve as pain suppressors)
•  decreased stress response
• reduced feelings of anger, hostility, tension and anxiety
• improved social functioning
• increased feelings of empowerment, trust, patience and self-efficacy

"Healing is a journey of the soul. Our horses seem to just stand by our side with strength and beauty and speak to our soul."

TO REVIEW A VARIETY OF 'HORSE PLAY!' ACTIVITY OPTIONS OR FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK 'Find Out More!'