Recently, I had the very lucky opportunity to spend some time with Claire Ryall and her horses (and donkey!) of The Healing Herd in Somerset.

Claire is a registered practitioner of Equine Assisted Therapy, and is a very gifted facilitator as well as an experienced counsellor. The land there holds a very special energy, and Claire’s love of the earth and the animals offers a rich, personal and extraordinary experience.

This was my first experience of working with horses in a mindful, spiritual and healing way - and it was simply amazing.

I went in without any particular expectations, and was amazed to discover the exquisite sensitivity of horses and the gifts of healing and connection to the earth that they can offer us.

The horses offer us a mirror for our own current experiences, thoughts and emotions. One moment they can be grazing contentedly, and the next they will be moving, interacting with each other or people, rolling or sneezing!

Each pony, horse and donkey has their own personality and characteristics, so it was also interesting to see which I felt drawn to, which came closer or moved away, and who or what they might be representing.

Claire has such deep knowledge and respectful understanding of equine behaviour and interaction with humans, that she can see patterns and connections, and facilitate the necessary healing movements through touch, movement and breath.

We practiced mindfulness exercises, and connecting with the horses through drumming and walking. This took me on an outer journey which reflected my inner experiences and current life questions. It brought to life my inner world of hopes and fears.

Then Claire taught me some healing touch points on the horses, and I was able to offer the gift of healing to the horses and help them release some of their tension. This created a very sacred space, like a bubble that surrounded us all and the herd. As the horse’s head relaxed and dropped that I was gently touching, the other horses came close to be in the energetic space and they too dropped their heads. We all stood still for what felt like eons, peaceful and dream-like.

Overall, I think that the horses offered me much more than I could possibly give to them - a beautiful space of healing that felt like it went back many generations. I was deeply moved by the process in a way that it touched the farthest corners of my soul - this is the incredible capacity they have to offer us.

They offer us a very deep connection to the earth, a vast and deep sense of understanding, and an extraordinary capacity for empathetic attunement.

The whole experience was deep, powerful, grounding and peaceful. It was beauty in its most magnificent form.

I highly recommend you try it for yourself!

Claire offers both 1-1 and group workshops during the warmer months (April - October), and will hopefully soon be able to offer the chance to stay over in the field adjacent to the ponies.

For more information and to see her upcoming events, visit https://thehealingherd.wordpress.com/