Post on 19-Oct-2021
T H E P A T H O F T H E H O R S E / / I S S U E 1 / / A U T U M N 2 0 1 9
THE PATH NEWS
A MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTORSIt’s difficult to believe it is time for us
again to be writing our Autumn
newsletter. We’ve had such an incredibly
busy time at Path of the Horse over the
last six months or so, that if we didn’t get
this underway, it would be a Winter
edition before we knew it.
We stated in our first newsletter, 12
months ago, that our vision was to
“connect with and assist many more
people from all walks of life” by offering a
method of learning about self and others,
and developing life skills by working with
an equine partner - we are proud to say
that that each and every week, we are
living our vision. We are truly blessed to
witness the improvement in the mental
health of people aged from 6 through to
76 - importantly, the improvement we
see is not our doing, each and every
person is responsible for their own leaps
and bounds, we are just the facilitators!
Our ‘one on one’ client visitation has
increased. In this space our key focus
remains with our veterans and first
responders. Our work with children, and
more often than not their families as
well, has grown beyond our expectations
- most weekends are filled with sessions
that we look forward to and enjoy so
much.
From a ‘group work’ perspective we have
had some terrific experiences which
leave us in awe of how open to the
experience people are willing to be and
the personal honesty that is willingly
shared.
IN THIS ISSUEA message from the Directors
Welcoming you as you are
A message from one of our Veterans
Thank you to our Valued Sponsors
Meet our Horses
Badger
The Art of the Horse
www.pathofthehorse.com.au
MESSAGE CONTINUEDWe regularly look after families referred to us by Legacy
and Soldier On. Last September we had a wonderful
weekend with our friend and supporter Mel Jorgensen
supporting her ‘Laps for Lachy’ Youth Program. During
November we held a pilot program, with four veterans
attending our ‘Horse Wisdom*’ course over a four week
period. This program was funded by the Count Charitable
Foundation and we are so grateful for their continued
support and belief in what we do.
In December, a weekend retreat was enjoyed by a group
from Active RSL, closely followed by family day events for
Soldier On members. Amongst all of that - another very
successful Open Day was held, this time in glorious
sunshine!
In February we hosted a three day ‘Trauma to
Transformation Program’ - attended by 14 clients and
equine therapy practitioners (and we are honest enough
to admit as practitioners we too are clients!) - we actually
have no words that can explain how moving and
inspirational that weekend was. We thank Rob Plisken for
his facilitation work, but more importantly we thank the
attendees for throwing themselves into the weekend,
participating wholeheartedly in all of the activities,
sharing their past and present experiences and future
dreams and goals. Vitally, each and every member of the
group ensured they supported the other every step of the
way throughout the weekend. Such was the success of
this retreat, we are already planning the next one. Please
contact us if you would like to register your interest.
Of course none of the above could have been
accomplished without our beautiful and talented herd. It
seems that each and every one of our herd was brought
into this world to be a healer. We never know what each
horse will bring, who will choose to work with us as co-
facilitators, and what relationships will form between our
clients and our horses. As facilitators our own feelings
and emotions are continually brought to the surface as
we observe what is possible between us, our client and
our horses.
Other than ‘It’s Magic’ it is hard to explain what unfolds at
The Path of the Horse, the only thing we do know is that it
will turn out well.
If you feel you would like to understand more about this
‘Magic’ before making an appointment, we recommend
listening to a recent interview, where Dean talks with
Wayne Schwass via his “Puka Up” podcast. This podcast
can be accessed via
https//:www.podcastone.com/PukaUp
If you are curious, or know someone who would benefit
from the work we do, please visit our website;
www.pathofthehorse.com.au, or call Dean or Karyn. In
the meantime, we’ll go back and do a rain dance, as the
water tanks and the dams are sure getting low following a
very dry Summer season.
Dean Mighell
Director / Practitioner
Mobile: 0418 354 362
Karyn Jones
Director / Practitioner
Mobile: 0408 584 098
Jane Lincoln
Director
WELCOMING YOU AS YOU AREAt the Path of the Horse, we honour everyone’s feelings
and emotions that may arise during therapy sessions. Our
philosophy is ‘We welcome you as you are’ - we do not
judge, for us, feelings are information. But how does our
philosophy unfold during our therapy sessions as we
work with people and our equine companions? Let us try
to explain……
We are often asked questions along the lines of:
Do horses have feelings?
Do they show emotion?
Are they intelligent?
What is their memory like?
Horses do have the ability to experience feelings such as
fear, anger, sadness and happiness. It is thought however
that they don’t have the ability to express the emotions
that follow those feelings – emotions such as shame,
guilt, embarrassment, respect, satisfaction – these are the
emotions that humans run the gamut of every day.
Humans have the ability to reason why we feel a
particular way - horses experience feelings; but without
reasoning – which no doubt explains their ability to live in
the here and the now.
This doesn’t mean horses are not intelligent. For example,
there are many studies that show the horse as having a
highly effective memory, they are able to recall past
experiences and react or respond to them. Let’s take the
feeling of fear as an example. Being a prey animal, fear is
ingrained, being fearful is what has kept horses alive as a
species for thousands of years - safe from bears,
wolves and sabre tooth tigers! The horse as a species
would not be with us today without possessing the ability
to feel fear. Fear for horses is quickly remembered and
never forgotten, we should never invoke a fear response
when we are with our horses in a therapy or training
situation.
Horses express their fear on a regular basis. Their feeling
of fear is expressed through a physical reaction – maybe
running away, or ‘misbehaving’, (which incidentally is a
human expression describing a horse – it’s more likely to
be a result of us not realising what the horse is
understanding). So if they can feel fear, of course they
can have other feelings. Healthy horses who live in a
safe environment also express feelings towards each
other through demonstrable emotions - joy through
play, curiosity through discovery, and trust through
mutual grooming.
So is there a connection between horses and humans
when it comes to feelings and emotions?
Well, humans are much more complex. But, as we are
two sentient beings we can relate to each other, and
learn from each other. As a species, humans welcome
the good feelings and the emotions that follow, whilst
fighting back those that are too much to handle. It can
be easy for us to get caught in a loop when it comes to
our emotions, and this can cause us to resist them. Over
time though, resisting emotions can cause them to
simmer and intensify - our experiences throughout life
can create a barrier to being able to live in the here and
now. However, if we are willing to learn how to not over
think our feelings, welcome our emotions without
judging them as good or bad, sit with them and
experience them for what they are, we can be more free
and less trapped, more balanced and less uncertain,
more resilient and less helpless. We can disrupt the loop
and change our patterns - we can become more
empowered.
A MESSAGE FROM ONE OF OUR VETERANSI recommend the benefits and effectiveness of the
therapy conducted at Path of the Horse, which has
provided the conduit and tools for practical management
strategies of PTSD-associative symptoms; and
correlatively, a personal enrichment and expansion of life
quality and functioning capabilities.
I have attended weekly equine assisted therapy appoints
for approx. 8 months and my personal improvement is
tangible, real and well beyond what I ever imagined or
expected to be possible.
I would especially recommend Path of the Horse to other
veterans/first responders suffering from PTSD – Dean
Mighell’s unique approach is appropriately enhanced
through his experiential knowledge of military service in
the Army, and the peaceful venue of the property locale
provides the ideal safe and relaxed forum to gently ease
into things.
Lisa
Veteran suffering from PTSD
And this is where the horses step in. Our herd will
welcome you as you are – they are nonverbal,
therefore non judgemental, they respect honesty, and
will just ‘be’ with you while you process any
feelings or emotions that may arise during your time
with them. And this is just the start - horses can
model for you a new way of ‘being’ in the here and now,
but it takes practice. By committing to
spending time at Path of the Horse with the herd,
together with Dean and Karyn you can look
forward to creating a new loop. None of us can can
completely avoid the ups and downs of life, but
we can learn to manage how we process the resulting
feeling and emotions, therefore enabling us to
respond to our challenges rather than react.
FOR SESSION INFORMATION AND PRICES, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE ATWWW.PATHOFTHEHORSE.COM.AU
CONTINUED....
THANK YOU TO OUR VALUED SPONSORSThe Path of the Horse simply wouldn’t happen without
sponsorship. We would like to thank all our sponsors who
have donated valuable funds. If you have a need for the
following services, please contact our sponsors.
DAYLESFORD RSL
The RSL was founded in 1916 to provide comradeship and
support to Australia’s veterans and their families. The
Daylesford RSL is open Monday to Sunday from 12pm to
7pm.
PITCHER PARTNERS - MELBOURNE
Pitcher Partners are a major Melbourne Accounting,
Advising and Auditor firm providing a broad range of
services across accounting and business advisory,
consulting and wealth management.
COUNT CHARITABLE FOUNDATION (CCF)
Count is one of Australia’s largest networks of
accountant-based professional financial advisers with
almost 300 accounting firms nationwide. Count is
recognised as a leader in the financial planning
community.
MAXCAP GROUP
The MaxCap Group is a market leader in the highly
specialised area of commercial real estate debt and
investment.
TRENTHAM & DISTRICTS COMMUNITY BANK
The Bendigo Bank in Trentham is a great community
asset providing face to face banking services to
individuals, support for small business as well as large
enterprises.
KYNETON DISTRICT TRAIL RIDERS
The Kyneton and District Trail Riders Club meets on the
last Sunday of every month to participate in a fun and
well organised day out. Find KDTRC on Facebook – new
members welcome!
PERPETUAL LIMITED
Across three businesses, Perpetual Investments,
Perpetual Private and Perpetual Corporate Trust,
Perpetual strives to grow clients’ wealth without losing
sight of the most important aspect of investing –
preserving client capital.
TPI VICTORIA INC.
(the Totally & Permanently Incapacitated Ex-Servicemen
& Women's Association of Victoria Inc.) was formed in
1926 and has a long and proud history of providing
Welfare, Advocacy, Benefits, & Concessions along with
supporting its members, their families, dependents and
the broader veteran community over the past 90 years.
As a Registered Charity we always appreciate help with
looking after our horses. It costs approximately $3000 per
annum to take of a horse, with feed and supplements, vet
and dental checks, hoof care, rugs and other equipment.
Sponsoring a horse helps us provide the support to the
people who come to us – we have never turned away
anyone irrespective of their capacity to pay.
The support of our sponsors makes a massive difference.
Our Charity holds Deductible Gift Recipient status.
SPONSOR A HORSEMEET OUR HORSES
Badger Bundy
Grace Jessie
Montana & Belle Ben
Tex Rocky
Trigger George
BADGERBadger is our ‘Master of Calm’. Badger models ‘going to
calm’ like no other, his outbreaths are deep and loud, and
quite often start a symphony effect throughout the herd.
As a person in his company it’s hard not to model his
ways. When at peace his head is down, and his eyes are
soft.
Badger is the leader of the herd, and he looks after his
team of 13 in a firm and fair way. He keeps them off the
fences in times of panic, and brings them all back to living
in the ‘hear and now’ once any perceived danger has
passed.
Badger is also notorious for loving a camera, and always
has his best side on show!
Cruise Bear
In March, we were blessed to host a watercolour
workshop with the wonderfully talented Sandi Lear.
Something a little different for us at Path of the Horse and
we welcomed the weekend with enthusiasm and
creativity.
Our participants engaged with Sandi, creating
masterpieces of watercolour that brought feelings of
happiness and accomplishment.
Sandi volunteered her time and all proceeds from the
event, were donated back to Path of the Horse.
We thank our participants and Sandi, whole heartedly for
such an amazing weekend.
THE ART OF THE HORSE