Highlands Gate Wellness Susan Cressy MA, RP, Pro-EFW

"and I whispered to the horse, trust no one in whose eyes you don't see yourself reflected as an equal"
Don Vincenzo Giobbe ca, 1700a.d.

So well said by Sue MacIntosh who is a colleague and Trainer with the Professional Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness

For anyone who thought there was something missing from that last article I agree! I've added another piece that better reflects the value of being open to the contributions of our equines and how this is such an important part of the partnership and 'dance' involved in the EFW process!
You can find the full (updated!) article here: https://healinghooves.ca/please-tell-me-what-to-do/ and/ or just read the new piece below.

As always I love receiving feedback and comments on these articles including areas where they could improve!

Fully acknowledging the risk of mixing too many metaphor I’m going to add one more. When not entered into within the context of healthy relationship you will have an idea, and not a dance. You could read all about how to dance the tango, memorise the steps and practice them in front of a mirror; but the beauty of the dance only arises when you dance with a partner. And for this to be beautiful rather than a mess of stepping on toes and pulling each other in different directions, your dance has to incorporate mutual feel, connection, respect and understanding of the partners. In my experience, one partner following a set of instructions provided by someone outside of the relationship doesn’t allow enough space for us to feel – and sometimes accept or even invite the lead from – the other partner/s or even ourselves. Learning to dance involves lots of practice, making mistakes, learning from them and finding your own way through. In the case of EFW there are several partners involved as you have the equines as well as the clients, and each partnership is going to differ. I explored this through an example many years ago in the article ‘Dancing with Skye’ which I encourage you to read. A key part of EFW for me is understanding my equine partners as intelligent sentient beings who bring so much to this work without ever being told ‘what to do’. Ideas are important, as is the process of continual learning and gaining knowledge. But for this to all become wisdom takes time and, I believe, can only happen within the context of relationship – with yourself, your clients and your equines.

This will all take longer, and very likely create more short term frustration, than providing everyone with a ‘how to’ manual.

But I think the long terms results are worth it.

© Copyright Sue McIntosh, Cremona, 2024

Snow shoeing with these two girls at sunset.

What a great Snow Angel Party! Some of the angels were a little mashed by enthusiastic dogs but they were a part of the celebration. Thank you all for making the day special. Indy (in pink) made 31!!

Save the date! Sunday, February 18th for the Eleventh Snow Angel Making Party at Highlands Gate, 4381 Wolf Grove Road, Lanark, ON between 1:00 and 4:00. Everyone is welcome! Over these past eleven years we have done extensive, non-scientific research on the benefits of making snow angels and I have come to these conclusions:
 If you can get down and, even better, get up after making one, you can be grateful for your good health.
 Making snow angels is a magnificent investment of time that results in endless benefits.
 If you make your angel on the side of a hill, it is easier to get up and you won’t feel as old as you are.
 If you are able to drop down and create an angel when you are out walking with friends, you show vulnerability, courage and a zest for life.
 If your courage has encouraged others to make a snow angel, you are spreading joy and pleasure.
 Making snow angels with others increases the benefits exponentially.
 If you a try different range of motion when creating your impression, you show creativity and curiosity which is good for the soul.
 What I find most delightful, after flailing about, is actually lying very still in the snow and gazing up at whatever the sky has to offer that day and feeling the cold seep into my back and how the earth supports me so fully. I feel connected, grounded, grateful and still.
There will be a campfire, treat table, extra snow shoes to get you around the 85 acres, sliding and a play structure that is made for all ages. I hope to see you here!

Lockie Phillips, founder of Emotional Horsemanship, is coming to Ottawa, Canada for the first time in two weeks! His first stop on his clinic tour will be April 15-16th, for a two-day Emotional Horsemanship clinic (private lessons available on the 17th). Participant and auditor tickets are STILL available for purchase at the link below. If you sign-up before April 1st, you can use discount code EARLYBIRD5 for 5% off at checkout. This clinic is being hosted by Elsie Reford, and should you need any help making arrangements to come or have any questions, please reach out to her via email: [email protected]
This is going to be an intimate, memorable weekend full of learning and connection between horses and humans. Hope to see you there! Info below:

Ottawa, Canada Clinic | Lockie Phillips

Opinion: Veterans Affairs Canada is letting down its clients The federal government's agreement with an outside contractor makes it harder to provide effective trauma-focused treatment in a timely way.

Spring will be here eventually, we can rely on Mother Nature.

Today is the first day of spring, so of course we are revisiting Mary Oliver's iconic poem, "Spring."

Here is an opportunity to learn more about working in the field of Equine Facilitated Wellness through the Professional Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness. The first course, Explorations, is all online starting in April 2023, subsequent trainings are a combination of online and in person taking place at Highlands Gate west of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. You can find out more information here: http://generationfarms.ca or ask me a question.

Generation Farms | Generate and Grow Connection Generation Farms offers integrative healing opportunities through wellness programs, horsemanship, nature, and professional training. Please use email as you will hear back more quickly. 2023 Training are available! Go to Training Schedule. With the recent unfortunate cl...

Deborah Marshall has been my Trainer and Mentor in the field of Equine Facilitated Wellness since I began this journey. She is a treasure, a compassionate teacher and a wise voice for the care and welfare of our equine partners.

Healing Horses, Equine Facilitated Wellness with Generation Farms - Coast Connections S06E08 Connecting with equines and nature can be a powerful, transformative experience for humans. Generating and growing connections with horses and donkeys is ve...

So we can understand our equines.

The 24 Behaviors of the Ridden Horse in Pain: Shifting the Paradigm of How We See Lameness I Trailer Watch the trailer now! The full 35 minute documentary free streaming starts September 30, 2022 at www.24HorseBehaviors.org. Special early screening at "The N...

Interesting research regarding how we connect with horses and how they connect with us.

Connecting Hearts: Understanding the Research on the Symbiotic Bond Between Horses and Humans The meaningful bonds that can exist between people and horses have been shared widely across time and culture. Many who have worked closely with horses have ...

So important

💛 shared from: SpoonieStrong

If you are interested in the field of Equine Facilitated Wellness there is an online Explorations course beginning May 12, 2022 with Deborah Marshall of Generation Farms, Trainer with the Professional Association for Equine Facilitated Wellness. It is a great introduction to the field.

To celebrate the life of Thich Nhat Hanh, Emergence Magazine published his Ten Love Letters to the Earth that you can read here https://emergencemagazine.org/essay/ten-love-letters-to-the-earth/?fbclid=IwAR3I6O60ScwkWraAWcnVy5S-z64bIwUKQJNAFCmD-0GaccdgOQyYOMSzpfY

A beautiful documentary on the struggles of addiction called Come Clean. Shown on TVO on January 25, 2022 https://www.tvo.org/video/documentaries/come-clean

I enjoy the newsletter from the Great Good Science Center. They have helpful and uplifting articles that you may enjoy. https://ggsc.berkeley.edu/

A beautiful little film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=ej2c013HcrA&fbclid=IwAR0nhGo5aA89DXTvuaWfyMzURxzSokF7k_5apuw5xlbSsLf6PRjGI2ip7K0

Louis' Shoes | Award-Winning CG Animated Short Film Louis, 8-and-a-half years old, is autistic. He arrives at his new school and is about to introduce himself.A selection of Short of the Week, the web's leadin...

This is a good explanation of the Polyvagal Theory in understanding how we have evolved and respond when we are in safe connection, when we are stressed and when we are shut down. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeokFxnhGQo

Polyvagal Theory Explained Simply We’re getting a little nerdy today and talking about the Polyvagal Theory of stress. This is something that I reference all. the. time! And while it can be c...

There are many useful resources on the Trauma Geek page as well as her website in regards to people on the autism spectrum as well as people with high sensitivity and/or trauma. Here is a interesting article she wrote: https://www.traumageek.com/polyvagal-neurodiversity-blog-project/fawn-the-trauma-response-that-is-easiest-to-miss?fbclid=IwAR0NgyqgIhzYAfxcl02uNy4vTt1M_Qf0gC9nzPwr4_8jAYbwalEtSZQ_W7E

Fawn: The Trauma Response That Is Easiest to Miss — Trauma Geek “Fawn types seek safety by merging with the wishes, needs and demands of others.” - Pete Walker “Fawn is the process of abandoning self for the purpose of attending to the needs of others.” - Dr. Arielle Schwartz  Fawning is taking care of others by suppressing my own emotions, ne

A great article about how one veteran is telling his story and how horses have assisted him on his journey.
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/rwandan-peacekeeper-with-ptsd-says-horse-therapy-saved-his-life

Rwandan peacekeeper with PTSD says horse therapy saved his life “One Foot Over The Edge” tells the story of how Shane Mutlow reclaimed his life and mental health with the help of equine therapy.

One of my favorite poets, Mary Oliver.

And just like that, it's the first day of Autumn!

This is an important story to witness and share.

OFFICIAL RELEASE Official Website & Book Release After 3 yrs of work and dedication to this project, I am proud to announce the official release of my website and ...

Another beautiful poem by Mary Oliver.

This is written by Charlie Chaplin at age 70. He pretty much said it all with this one...
As I began to love myself, I found that anguish and emotional suffering are only warning signs that I was living against my own truth. Today, I know, this is Authenticity.

As I began to love myself, I understood how much it can offend somebody if I try to force my desires on this person, even though I knew the time was not right and the person was not ready for it, and even though this person was me. Today I call this Respect.

As I began to love myself, I stopped craving for a different life, and I could see that everything that surrounded me was inviting me to grow. Today I call this Maturity.

As I began to love myself, I understood that at any circumstance, I am in the right place at the right time, and everything happens at the exactly right moment. So I could be calm. Today I call this Self-Confidence.

As I began to love myself, I quit stealing my own time, and I stopped designing huge projects for the future. Today, I only do what brings me joy and happiness, things I love to do and that make my heart cheer, and I do them in my own way and in my own rhythm. Today I call this Simplicity.

As I began to love myself, I freed myself of anything that is no good for my health – food, people, things, situations, and everything that drew me down and away from myself. At first I called this attitude a healthy egoism. Today I know it is Love of Oneself.

As I began to love myself, I quit trying to always be right, and ever since I was wrong less of the time. Today I discovered that is Modesty.

As I began to love myself, I refused to go on living in the past and worrying about the future. Now, I only live for the moment, where everything is happening. Today I live each day, day by day, and I call it Fulfillment.

As I began to love myself, I recognized that my mind can disturb me and it can make me sick. But as I connected it to my heart, my mind became a valuable ally. Today I call this connection Wisdom of the Heart.

We no longer need to fear arguments, confrontations or any kind of problems with ourselves or others.

Even stars collide, and out of their crashing, new worlds are born. Today I know: This is Life!

Who needed this gentle reminder today? 💕

A heart felt post from Kim Walnes.

Thirty Years Later….

I can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that it’s been thirty years since my daughter, Andrea’s (Andy’s) abduction and murder. I am not the only one…many still communicate with me about how much she affected them in her eighteen years of life, as well as others who have developed a closeness with her after her death.
I have so much to be grateful for…I am much closer to Andy now than in the years right after her death. I have but to reach out in my mind and heart, and right away her presence fills me with Love. I can’t begin to find words for how much that comforts me.

Looking back, I realize that it was the indescribable depth of grief and mourning that got in the way of my being able to hear/feel her. Grief is real, and mourning is necessary when we lose one who is beloved. It is something that must be dived into in order to truly get to the other side. When we reach that further shore, what we find is Acceptance.

According to Wikipedia, Acceptance means, “…a person's assent to the reality of a situation; recognizing a process or condition without attempting to change it or protest it.” This is, of course, one of life’s major lessons. It has taken me decades of work in whittling away at old conditioning, old beliefs, old habit patterns of thought and action, along with a huge dollop of Grace throughout the process to reach this further shore.

Horses and the Divine have been my constant guides in this Journey. Horses require us to embrace Acceptance, as well as adaptation, for here is no other way to genuinely hear and partner with them. And through them, we have the opportunity to apply the lessons they teach to the rest of our lives. Horses are masters of Acceptance and adaptation…they model it for us daily. The Gray Goose has been coming into my thoughts and heart recently also. It was 21 years ago last month that he passed.

There was recently a meme on Facebook that said this perfectly…

”Sometimes you have to let go of what you thought it would be like and learn to find joy in the story you are actually living.” Rachel Marie Martin

I concur completely.

Since grief, loss, and disappointment are pretty common in today’s world, I thought I would share some of what I’ve learned in the past 30 years, through multiple losses and traumatic events:

 Everyone grieves at some point.

 Everyone’s process is unique.

 There is absolutely no timetable for grief, loss, and disappointment.

 Clinging to grief, anger, and frustration can act as barriers to connecting beyond this world.

 Meditation is one of the best balms ever.

 No one--absolutely no one--can comfort me the way I or connecting with Andy can.

 Longing for what might have been is not only fruitless, but for me constitutes torture.

 It IS possible to return to Joy.

 Laughter is not a betrayal or a denial of your loss. It is a sign of being in the moment and receiving Goodness from what surrounds you. Seize those moments and treasure them.

 A major loss does NOT have to define you. I had to recognize and release that in myself before I could truly heal.

 Love, Andy constantly reminds me, is part and parcel of everything around us. We just have to pay attention and receive it.

Is it possible to reach back through the decades and bring back the unspeakable pain of that time? Absolutely…it is burned into my soul. However, I do not choose to do so. I much prefer to relate to Andy as she is now…not the18 year old daughter frozen in childhood, but a Divine Presence who has Wisdom far beyond my human understanding, and who brings comfort to this tender heart.

Photo taken by Fred Newman of Andy riding The Gray Goose back to the stables from Show Jumping at the 1984 Rolex. In today's world, she might be looking at a cell phone, but they didn't exist then. Rather, she is in deep communion with Gray, sharing the joy of the day. They were very close, those two, throughout their lives together.

A good explanation of our nervous system. https://www.youtube.com/watch?fbclid=IwAR1MZA9KTGZ8GzGQsqG0F0axW2YrmqwMWCuxkgDJ9yIRBVwBJi_S6TgHcpA&v=uH5JQDAqA8E&feature=youtu.be