suicide awareness – The Jewels' Angels Foundation, Inc.

INSPIRED BY A HORSE

The first historical knowledge relating to the existence of a horse breed, may have been dating back to over fifty-five million years. However, the more common horse breeds that we know today, goes back to about two million years, known as the Genus Equus.

Domesticating horses wasn’t always difficult, considering that they are prey animals, and although some can be dominating, generally, they are quite submissive animals, allowing them to be reasonably trainable and therefore, able to be domesticated. Horses are highly adaptable, sanctioning them the ability to survive and thrive in unique climates and environments. Since they are social herd animals, following a hierarchy, and pecking order is common amongst the breeds.

Subsequently, it isn’t difficult to see how horses have evolved into the wonderful beings they are today. Over time, they have been utilized for work, war, ceremony, sport, travel, entertainment, and pleasure. Subsequently, throughout history horses have been misunderstood. Their extraordinary strength can be overwhelming. Their loyalty to their owners have enabled them to have been abused. And their commitment to their herd has been unheard. Humans have used horses for their own needs, benefiting their way of life and along the way, we have stopped listening.

This is Jack from Trotting Horse Therapeutic Riding – another wonderful equine therapy organization located in Missoula, Montana (photo credit JME)

This beautiful creature has so much more to offer. We can learn so much from them, especially through their gift of non-verbal communication. Since I started working with horses, I’ve learned so much about their behaviors. One horse that I’ve worked with is Princess, a Shetland Pony. I have learned so much from her. For instance, she is not shy in expressing her limitations when it comes to setting boundaries. I fear as humans, we will allow our boundaries to be trampled over more than they should be, but Princess does not. Brushing and grooming isn’t her favorite activity. She will let you know when she has had enough with a few subtle cues. She may pin her ears back, take a step forward or backward, turn her head towards you, and if you ignore her subtle cues, she may even show her teeth in a non-threatening manner. Working with horses, especially with Princess, teaches us to respect her boundaries, as we should our own.

Horses are great for energy work. Did you know that a horse’s heartbeat will synchronize with your own? They feel your energy, stress, relaxation. They aren’t like cats and dogs when it comes to petting. A horse would prefer you simply “being with them”. Your presence is enough for them. As we spend more time with them, they produce a healing power generated from them, into you. Their heartrate slows down, as well as yours, as you both become one, a peaceful bliss.

As I earlier mentioned, horses have been compared with cats and dogs, although similar in some behaviors, they are not the same. As I previously noted, horses are prey animals whereas cats and dogs are predators. Their instinct is to hunt, attack, and eat meat. Subsequently, horses are a herd species, feeding on grain, hay, and alfalfa for their diet. Consequently, this significant difference has taught horses to be alert, hyper focused, and extremely intelligent. They are very cleaver beings; they are adaptable to learning new things and have the ability to reason. This, with their intact instinct, allows them to quickly read body language from other horses, animals, and humans by sanctioning them to respond to non-verbal cues.

Understanding the complexity surrounding equine behavior is the key to a successful human/horse relationship. It is imperative for us to understand their behavior, especially when working side by side with them. All these reasons are why horses make great therapy partners, both in the physical therapy sector and within the mental health sector. My experience has taught me that horses make splendid therapy companions. Sadly, they have the vulnerability to be traumatized within an abusive environment, since they are not predators, they display acute signs of trauma, consistent with how we, as humans, display certain traumas.

Non-verbal cues are so powerful, teaching us the power of observation, patience, calming our nervous system with a steady breathing, slowing down our heart rate and teaching us to be present. They teach us through subtle cues, as if they are mirroring us or are we mirroring them? Step back and watch, are you stressed? The horse will be stressed. Are you nervous? The horse will display signs of nervousness. Are you relaxed? They horse will start to relax, becoming synched with you. If you walk into the paddock and notice that the horse is unnerved, take a step back, take in a deep breath and evaluate what you are feeling. I bet you will notice that you are a bit stressed and the horse is reacting to you. This is why they are great for horse therapy; they mirror us.

Horses have been misunderstood, mistreated, and unheard by humans, but we can learn a lot about them. By listening to their gentle breath, feeling their heartbeat next to ours, syncing with their breath, just being present, through silence and peace. Throughout time we have misbelieved that we have taught, trained, and handled horses in accordance with our understanding, but have we? It is not more likely that the horse has taught us how to behave around them. By understanding their behaviors will help us to be better teachers and students.

MAY IS MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH

In honor of May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, let’s remember to be kind to others and practice self-care towards ourselves.

Some simple acts of kindness may be offering a compliment, a smile, a simple recognition of someone’s time or efforts, or even a kind thought. Pass it forward when in line at your local coffee shop, restaurant, or any place of business, by offering to pay for the customer in line behind you. Kindness is contagious. Watch and see as your act of kindness passes onto the next person.

When we put out positive energy, it surpasses the ability beyond our circle and flows out into the universe, surrounding others who may later come into direct contact with us, either knowingly or unknowingly. Have you ever noticed that when you are smiling and engaging in eye-contact, others notice this light in you and often will smile back at you? Afterall, we are made up of energy, and that energy is transferred from us to others; subsequently, having a domino effect. We smile at someone, making them feel good inside, and they transfer that energy to the next person, and so on and so on.

Recognizing self-care is also important, not only during the month of May but throughout the year. One way to do this is through diet and exercise. I believe a healthy diet with a regular exercise plan is always a good resource to lift my spirits. Sometimes our mood drops when our bodies are not properly nourished. Regular exercise is known to increase serotonin in the brain, as well as endorphins. These natural occurring chemicals help to boost our energy, enhancing our moods.

The second factor to a healthy diet and exercise is that it has a direct impact on our self-esteem. When we feel good about ourselves, we have a better perspective and attitude about who we are and our lives in general. Some examples of a healthy meal may consist of a balance of nutrients from protein (beans are an excellent source if you are a vegetarian), carbohydrates (brown rice, whole grain, quinoa, edamame), vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products, and lots of water. Exercise can be anything that you love, such as the gym, a brisk walk, swimming, bicycle, yoga, stretching, or Pilates to name a few. I love to do yoga several times a week. During the summer months I get out to the lake on my paddleboard and during the winter months I love to ski with my daughter.

Most importantly, pick something that you enjoy and have fun doing it. This will allow you to continue exercising without thinking of it as a chore. And of course, take a day off from exercise if you are feeling tired and find something that may be more relaxing, but still a positive coping tool, such as reading a book or baking.

So, the next time you are out and about, thinking that your smile, compliment, or positive thought doesn’t make a difference, redirect that thinking process towards a more positive perspective because it does make a difference. This is what we all need during turbulent times – positive energy flowing through ourselves and into the universe, not hate, but pure love and kindness.

If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or ideations there is help. Reach out to someone you trust or contact the suicide 988 Lifeline at https://988lifeline.org/ or texting 988.

You are not alone, and you matter!