CLOSED EVENT for HSP Gathering Retreat | HSPs and Horses: Speaking Horse

Welcome to the HSP Gathering Retreats leisure afternoon activity. Please only register if you received this link from Jacquelyn Strickland and you are attending the Gathering at Walker Creek Ranch this June.

For those in the Northern California Area, please see , which is an open community class.

HSPs and Horses (TM): Our Trademarked Curriculum for HSPs
We are pleased to announce that the director Heart and Mind Equine (the home of HSPs and Horses), Alane Freund is inviting us to a Speaking Horse class at a discounted fee. We will carpool to Heart and Mind Equine for a 90 minute class with the horses and facilitated by Alane. (We will have a gentle beginning and ending with time for easy transitions.)

HSPs and HORSES(TM) WORKSHOPS OVERVIEW

You will join four to seven horses, only on the ground (not riding), who are specially trained for this work, plus the facilitator and support staff, a few intrepid HSPs who are called to the work by their big hearts full of love for both HSPs and our rescue horses.

Alane Freund, MS, MA, ICHS, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, certified Equine Specialist, and lifelong horsewoman. She is the creator of HSPs and Horses, has been practicing equine assisted learning and therapy for 25 years, and she will be our primary facilitator.

What is Equine Assisted Learning?

It has two aspects. One is therapeutic, but this workshop is not at all intended to be therapy. The other, what we will use, is Equine Assisted Learning. EAL is an experiential learning approach that uses horses, not as tools, but as active participants that help to facilitate the learning experience for the human participants. In the case of HSPs, we find that by examining equine behavior and how the horses may or may not react to us, we can better understand sensitivity and our strengths and challenges in social situations.

Will I be riding horses? Do I have to have some experience with horses?

The HSPs and Horses format involves individuals and groups working on the ground with horses – not riding.

You do not have to have any experience around horses, but some appreciation of them would help.

You will be in a pen with up to eight of them, so it's best if you aren’t be petrified by them, but you do not even absolutely have to touch them, and you can participate by observing from a distance or with a fence between you and the herd. The focus is on your own observations of them and your experience or the group’s experience interacting with them, at whatever distance feels right to you.

We’ll do some activities and play a bit. It will not be hard.

What is special about the Heart and Mind Equine herd of horses? Our horses are rescue horses who have come to us with a history of not fitting in. As a result of their unique temperaments, they were often mistreated in their pasts. They aren’t horses who just tucked it in and did whatever they were told, even when they were exposed to force or mistreatment. As a result, they were thrown away or neglected. Eventually some of these “square peg” horses came to find a home in Alane’s horse rescue. They are on parallel paths of growth and recovery with all of our clients, staff, and volunteers. Recently, the horse rescue became a nonprofit and 100% of retreat proceeds will go to support the rescue horses.

How do I register?

Let your HSP Gathering host, Jaquelyn Strickland know that you would like to participate. She will add you to the list and collect the funds.

What about refunds?

If, for some reason, we have to cancel the session, you will receive a full refund.

This is important to know: If you have to cancel at the last minute, you will receive a refund only if we are able to fill your spot. Otherwise, with such a small group, we cannot refund your payment as we need a minimum of ten participants in order to hold the class.

Where are the workshops held?

HSPs and Horses: Speaking Horse will be at Heart and Mind Equine (in Petaluma, CA) in the San Francisco Bay Area, just about half an hour drive from Walker Creek Ranch, home of the HSP Gathering.

This is the same setting where we offer individual therapy and coaching sessions with the horses. Please reach out to Alane Freund on her website, alanefreund.com, if you would like to learn more about scheduling a private session with her and the herd before or after the Gathering.

Why horses with HSPs?

Horses come with as many different personalities, attitudes, and sensitivities as HSPs. But because they are prey animals, their acute awareness of everything in their environment keeps them alive. Sensitivity is their greatest asset. They have to be extremely sensitive to each other’s shifting feelings and to everything around them. (Sound familiar?)

HSPs experience their own sensitivity in a new and deeper way by seeing it in another species, where it is a distinct advantage. We might also observe circumstances in which, for horse or human, sensitivity becomes a problem.

Interacting with horses provides the opportunity to gain fresh, honest awareness of our truths. They give us the chance to learn what is profoundly difficult to learn from our human relationships because, unlike most people, horses have no agenda, and they don’t care about our power, position, title, degree, or salary.

Another reason for horses: They are powerful, beautiful animals. They carry archetypal meanings for humans, from conquest, brute strength, and even terror, to gentle, loving companionship, and trustworthy partnership. We meet many HSPs who especially appreciate horses at this level. At the same time, horses are social, love to play, and are always completely honest in their reactions and behavior, things HSPs can always learn more about.

Inevitably you will find that you are discovering tools common to both horses and HSPs, including confidence, leadership, boundaries, teamwork, and authenticity. HSPs in our classes report deepening their toolbox for clear communication and patience (especially with themselves).

What will the Speaking Horse class involve?

The group will start with an observation activity, beginning to get to know the horses. Next, we will check in with a group discussion of the personal experiences and observations, focusing on the here and now of the Equine Assisted Learning experience.

We will proceed to an activity with the horses, based on individual and group needs and wishes. Although we will be in discussion throughout the class, and questions are always welcome, there will be an optional Q&A with the facilitator at the end of the class.

Do I have to be physically fit?

Only as fit as you would be for a gentle hike in nature, although we will not hike. That is, you have to be able to walk over uneven and possibly slippery ground.

I see on Alane's website that she also practices equine assisted psychotherapy. Is this workshop a kind of psychotherapy?

Emphatically no! HSPs and Horses places an equal emphasis on learning and leadership, often doing workshops for corporate teams. Although personal issues may come up, this workshop is about exploration, learning, and growth. Please, if you are currently in a crisis, deep into your process in your personal therapy, wanting to withdraw from others right now, or just feeling a little unstable, you should not come. There will be other workshops like this in the future that you might be more ready to attend.

What about Food, Water, Bathrooms?

This is a BYO class. Please bring a snack and water bottle for yourself. This facility of Heart and Mind Equine is at the home of a traditional 150 year old cattle ranch barn. As such, we do not have bathroom facilities. Instead, we usually do a "nature pee" but we also have a rustic pit toilet.

How should I dress?

As you would for a gentle hike: hiking shoes (closed toes a must, but sneakers are fine), long pants for walking in tall grass, clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, and a sun hat. The ground may be uneven or slippery at times. Hiking sticks are available to borrow if you feel better with some support, or you can bring your own. Also, we are unfortunately not wheelchair accessible at this barn, though Heart and Mind Equine does offer wheelchair accessible private sessions at a different location.

What should I bring?

A water bottle and layers of clothing for variations in temperature. If the forecast is for (unlikely) rain, you’ll need a rain jacket and pants, plus waterproof footwear. We will not provide chairs as we are moving around through the class, but you are welcome to bring your own if you like.

What if it rains?

Equine assisted learning is outdoors, in nature. If a light rain is predicted without cold temperatures, we will proceed. Just wear rain gear but leave umbrellas in the car. If the weather is too inclement, we will cancel the class and refund your fees.

Elaine Aron writes about her experience of one of our early HSPs and Horses retreats (a two-day offering with Alane Freund):

Introductions

Here’s my memory of one of our early HSPs and Horses weekends. At 9:15 or so, when the participants arrive, the morning is cool. The corrals are sunny and quiet with six waiting horses. Inside the circle of Douglas fir and Bay trees, where we will talk and have lunch, it is still chilly. But hot tea and sweet treats (including something gluten free) are waiting...read more here

https://www.alanefreund.com/2019/10/02/elaine-aron-phd-on-her-experience-with-hsps-and-horses-july-13-2015/

Consultant, speaker, and psychotherapist, Alane A. Freund, has worked in mental health for three decades. An International Consultant on High Sensitivity (ICHS), Ms. Freund develops and implements programs for highly sensitive people, youth, and clinicians. She holds Masters’ degrees in both clinical psychology and school counseling and is the parent of a highly sensitive young adult.

Ms. Freund’s widely acclaimed , and her Are You Highly Sensitive YouTube channel have over one million views. She hosts Are You Highly Sensitive an online community with weekly Office Hours for support and community. She also leads small group Sensitivity Circles for Parenting Sensitivity, Sensitive & Anxious Youth, HSProfessionals, HSQs, and Highly Sensitive Women.

Alane offers team building, educational workshops, and retreats online and across the globe, including her trademarked program, HSPs & Horses at Through Heart and Mind Equine, Alane offers team building, educational workshops, and retreats online and across the globe, including her trademarked program, HSPs & Horses. She can be reached for consultation or speaking through her website. She can be reached for consultation or speaking through her website, AlaneFreund.com (Lic. #LMFT36077).

Also check out other Workshops in Petaluma, Trips & Adventurous Activities in Petaluma.