The minute I walked into the barn at Reins of Grace Therapeutic Riding Center, I felt the tension of the week leave my shoulders as the familiar scent of hay, horse sweat, and leather danced around my nose. This smell has been a comfort to me ever since my grandfather first introduced me to his racehorse Traipse. Mrs. Savitsky, the occupational therapist and founder of the center, introduced me right away to the horses: Nina, Sadie, and Dundee. Nina was a gentle giant and immediately pushed her nose against my hand in greeting. Horses are extremely intuitive animals and are able to pick up on the emotions of their handlers very easily; I believe that Nina was trying to calm what anxiety I had left. As I bridled and brushed her, I relaxed: this
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There is something about the rawness of equine emotions that I connect so easily with. Their acceptance of everyone around them and their immediate compassion are two traits that I have been able to deepen in myself by reflecting the horses. Their unfettered love has allowed me to experience the world in a more intuitive way. I now appreciate the value in little victories and little joys: the feeling of a warm hug, a favorite scented candle, a pattering spring rain, a clear night sky. There is so much more to living than just existing: it’s about experiencing. I want to experience the world around me, to be a part of something bigger than myself but still appreciate the intricate details. I can connect on a much deeper level with the people around me all because of how the horses taught me through their raw emotions and subtle body language. By training my brain to clue into minute details from the horses, I am more able to make small connections in my Calculus and Chemistry courses while still understanding the broad picture, and I can more easily adjust to new situations. Because of my development of left brain and right brain characteristics, I connect with everything and everyone on a more intuitive level, which is not a benefit I ever imagined would come from volunteering at Reins of
There is something about the rawness of equine emotions that I connect so easily with. Their acceptance of everyone around them and their immediate compassion are two traits that I have been able to deepen in myself by reflecting the horses. Their unfettered love has allowed me to experience the world in a more intuitive way. I now appreciate the value in little victories and little joys: the feeling of a warm hug, a favorite scented candle, a pattering spring rain, a clear night sky. There is so much more to living than just existing: it’s about experiencing. I want to experience the world around me, to be a part of something bigger than myself but still appreciate the intricate details. I can connect on a much deeper level with the people around me all because of how the horses taught me through their raw emotions and subtle body language. By training my brain to clue into minute details from the horses, I am more able to make small connections in my Calculus and Chemistry courses while still understanding the broad picture, and I can more easily adjust to new situations. Because of my development of left brain and right brain characteristics, I connect with everything and everyone on a more intuitive level, which is not a benefit I ever imagined would come from volunteering at Reins of