Lapwai Equine Assisted Program Tribal Paper Article June 201

Join us to learn with the Horses

Lapwai Equine Assisted Program for Life Enrichment

Perhaps you’ve seen the LEAP flyers posted around town, in the newspaper, or you visited our booth at the Women’s Wellness Fair at the Clearwater Casino in May. If you are curious to learn more about this horse program or how you and your family can participate in the Lapwai Equine Assisted Program, read on.

Nimiipuu Health Behavioral Health started LEAP as a way to expand life enrichment services for the community. Our afterschool program began in May with an adolescent girls group. As well as lots of smiles, the comments we have received from participants include, “We love it”, and “Its great to be with the horses again.” Our Equine Assisted groups for Parent/Guardian and younger kids, and a group for young men are planned to start in June.

We practice a variety of activities, starting out with simple observation, understanding non verbal communication, establishing safe and healthy boundaries, then expanding to hands on work with the horses, and supported riding activities. There is an emphasis on enjoying being outside learning from nature, the horses and each other. Expressive arts and creativity are part of this learning model for positive social change.

The program is offered free of charge and transportation will be provided from Nimiipuu Behavioral Health office to the horse location. Our outdoor classroom is in Spalding with the Chief Joseph Foundation Appaloosa horses. LEAP is a compliment to the other great cultural, horsemanship, and riding programs available in the community. Our session’s focus on horse guided human transformation. Opportunities to succeed are created within a positive present moment focused experiential learning model. Our team consists of Counselors, an Equine Facilitated Learning Instructor, the kids, and of course the horses. We create a supportive environment where a therapeutic alliance develops between the all of the participants. Horses are treated as equal partners in the process.

Scientific evidence now confirms the healing effects of being with horses. As well as lowering blood pressure, and reducing stress cortisol hormones, horses help us form strong relationships built on mutual respect and understanding. Being around horses increases feelings of curiosity, optimism, and creativity. They can also help us to be motivated and improve our ability to learn. Healthy communication, emotional expression, and relationship skills are developed through horse heart connections. All of what is learned with the horses is transferrable to the rest of our lives at home, school, and in the community. Close interaction with horses promotes mental, emotional, and relational balance. Participants have the opportunity to develop inner strength, leadership, cooperation, and community-mindedness. Join in the fun.

This article was written by LEAP co-facilitator by Linda Kingsbury, PhD, who is an accredited EponaQuest™ Equine Facilitated Learning Instructor and Equine Specialist for Mental Health and Learning. She is a member of PATH Professional Associated for Therapeutic Horsemanship, Appaloosa Horse Club, and CADCA Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America. 

Listen to the Horse

Listen to the Horse

It’s been a month since we met on a windy winter’s Sunday at A Wild Purple Ranch and Retreat west of Tucson to celebrate the Chinese New Year of the Horse. I extended my stay in Arizona specifically to attend this event organized by Qyuun and Dee from Institute for the Shamanic Arts in Tucson. This sacred space in the desert developed by Artist Nancy Newton created the perfect location for our transformational day.

We began by walking the labyrinth of the land following the stone edged paths. Our hearts drew us to her creative sanctuaries along our way out to the fire pit. Gathering dried bits of desert plants created a deeper connection to the land. I felt one with the women who had gone before me gathering twigs in the past to heat their homes and warm their food, the women of wisdom who had supported my time in the desert over the past few years. I made an offering for each piece of this fuel for our fire of transformation. As the fire was being built, I led a chorus of Brooke Medicine Eagle’s fire song, Grandfather Fire Rising Higher from her CD Gathering:The Sacred Breath.

Corona and Bella were perfect horse companions for our drumming journeys. The sound of their hooves and the drum beats created a stairway to heaven with each breath. This buoyant path allowed me the flexibility to move between heaven and earth. I was given a glimpse of heaven. My path was not to stay there, but to bring the light back to create a vibrant life on earth. With horse as my companion I could do this with courage, confidence, and comfort.

Later in the day we moved to a larger arena where Corona and Bella walked curiously around us as we drummed. They made the rounds with each of us as we sat in the open arena. Being in this circle of love was truly a horse heart connection experience.

I shared several circle songs including a new adaptation of my own song “Listen to the Earth” that came through to me in 1994 when I first moved to Idaho. The 2014 version in honor of the horses is:

Listen to the Horse
©Linda Kingsbury

Listen to the Horse
Listen to the Horse
Listen to the Horse
Find your way home.

Follow what she says
Follow what she says
Follow what she says
Bring yourself back home.

Home to the Earth
Home to the Earth
Home to the Earth
Place of your birth.

As you listen to the horse, may your heart expand and your life be filled with joy, success, and a sense of belonging.

Sacred Space + Supportive People + Horses = Shared Success for All

I recently attended a Zen Mind Zen Horse Workshop with author and brain surgeon Dr. Allan Hamilton and his psychotherapist wife Jane at Rancho Bosque in Tuscon, Arizona. One night they gave us the homework to find a personal spiritual principal and to demonstrate that with our horses the next day.

My idea was about the life-sustaining benefits of creating safe places for shared success to occur.  It has been my experience in being with horses that when I acknowledge my own successful moments that I am happy and can notice and support the success of others. I am also able to accept and feel the encouragement from others when I am feeling good myself. Feelings of trust arise and a sense of harmony and belonging develops. Deep healing occurs on a soul level and authentic community is possible. Blending this concept with the present moment step-by-step Zen way of being led to the above simple equation. During the drive in to the ranch that morning I had a vision of how to bring each step of my idea into action with the people and the horses. Here’s how I integrated it in class, on that new moon of November 2013.

Sacred Space can be created simply by breathing deeply and consciously in the present moment. This opens up our senses to the natural world within and around us on a deeper level allowing harmony to be experienced.

 

When I finished grooming Mahto, Dr. Hamilton asked if I would share my presentation first. I said yes, and went to retrieve the items to fulfill my vision. The class gathered in a circle in the arena. I shared the first step of my vision, which was for people to bring their horses into the circle. I arranged the floral batik cloth on the desert floor and set the Tibetan brass bowl on it. Then I went to get Mahto.

 

Jane held Mahto as I stepped to the center of the circle surrounded by horses and horse lovers. I picked up the Tibetan bowl and took a big breath in followed by a grounding exhale. When the timing was right, I struck the bowl with the padded mallet and a comforting resonance vibrated from the singing bowl for all to hear.  Next I thanked the wind and called everyone’s attention to the clouds moving above us. We noticed the temperature of the air, the heat of the sun, and honored the previous night’s rain. We gave thanks to the Catalina Mountains that stood to the north, desert trees, horses, and ancestors who made it all possible.

+ Supportive People. Next, I walked clockwise inside the circle and tapped the bowl in front of each person’s heart. The horses stood quietly, some gently curious receiving the sound vibrations along with their human partners.

 

When light-hearted humans gather and support each other with unconditional acceptance and support for where there are in their lives at the moment, hearts open and minds expand. Everyone strives to be the best they can be starting from where they are. After a spiritual gathering we all go back to the rest of our lives as better people with inspiration to share.

+ Horses. Our big four legged companions are extraordinary teachers and healers at this time on the planet. They help us develop our sensitive, intuitive, and compassionate natures in a grounded way.  They can teach us how to get along in a group, how to set healthy boundaries, and how to relax and enjoy life.

Once the sound sharing walk around the inside of the circle was complete, I remembered the next step in the sequence of my vision.  It was for all of us to walk in a circle with our horses.

As we walked we sang the song:

We are one with the Spirit, We are one with the horse.

We are one with the Spirit, We are one with the horse.

We are one with the Spirit We are one with the horse.

And they’ll know we’re horse people by our love, by our love,

and they’ll know that we’re horse people by our love.

=  Shared Success by All. The heart felt movement of people and horses was profound as if we were resurrecting ancient memories in this circle ceremony. With each step, a feeling of joy and peace filled the arena and was held by the trees and surrounding mountains, as if they were thankful for this great remembering. The procession came to a stop once we were back where we started. Quiet smiles radiated from peoples hearts and faces as the horses calmly stood by.

Gratitude was shared with Dr. and Jane Hamilton by offering a braid of sweet grass from the Coeur d’ Alene Indians in north Idaho. This was all part of the simple ritual that I created to celebrate my spiritual formula in action. By reading this you are all part of the formula too: Sacred Space + Supportive Humans + Horses = Shared Success for All.

 

May your success and joy multiple with each step you take.