The Magical Power of Horses

Leslie DicksonPosted by Leslie Dickson on February 18th, 2010 | 0 Comments

I am well aware that we at VoicePro® teach our clients to take better care of themselves by dealing with the heavy stress they are constantly under. This stress, which I often say is written into most job descriptions, can subconsciously interfere with the ability to communicate effectively and thus can destroy strong relationships. It is critical to find a way to recharge our batteries, or we will be no good to our jobs and businesses, our families, or ourselves. 

Isn’t it funny how hard it is to take our own advice? For months, I have kept my own “nose to the grindstone” and focused on my business during this challenging time. Little time was allowed for personal “stress management”. Then recently, I was offered the opportunity to visit a dear friend of mine. Yancey is the general manager of the Mountain Sky Guest Ranch in Montana and he invited me to come out and spend a few days on the ranch. The ranch is a magical place, nestled in the midst of about 6000 acres of mountains, where you can hike, ride horses and be overall pampered to your hearts content. So I accepted the offer, waffled back and forth whether this was really the time to do this, and then took the plunge and off I went. 

Mind you, I have interacted with horses about a handful of times throughout my life, so I consider myself a true beginner rider. All I could think about was, oh, the poor horse that was stuck with someone like me, who didn’t have a clue. But let me tell you about my experience with the wonderful creature I was matched up with and how he helped me unwind.

His name is Butte. He is big and strong, with the most knowing eyes I have ever seen. I may be reading a bit into this, but I felt an immediate connection. I was gentle with him and he, in turn, took great care of me. We climbed up the mountains through snow; came down steep, muddy trails; even crossed rivers. I learned to trot and canter, and even lope on this gentle giant. By the end of my trip, Butte and I were in the advanced rider group. Who would have guessed?

Recently, a woman in one of VoicePro’s Executive Presence programs (a horse owner herself) told me “connecting with a horse is such a personal experience, and if it happens it’s not something you’ll quickly forget.” She is right. I am keeping Butte close to me and remembering the peace, sense of accomplishment and pure joy I shared with him. I came home from this trip refreshed, less stressed and ready to face the ongoing challenges of running a business.

Here are some things to consider to minimize the stress in your life:

  • Take a vacation. Even if you don’t leave home, it is important to take a break from work. If you can get away, it’s an even better way to refuel yourself.
  • Interact with horses. You can take riding lessions or volunteer at a stable. You can even sign up for personal coaching with horses. Sue Thomas at M-A-P, LLC, has a wonderful executive and leadership development company that uses horses to connect you with your leadership skills. I have worked with Sue and it is amazing how her horses will help you connect what you are feeling, with what you are saying, and with what you are doing. Have you thought about how this disconnect can impact your employees? I will elaborate more on this in a following post.
  • Join a networking group. You can gain energy and insight by interacting with other business professionals.
  • Get up and move. We’ve all heard it before – exercise will defuse stress and increase your energy. You don’t have to start off training to run a marathon. Just a brisk walk with help by increasing your heart and getting precious oxygen into your body.
  • Laugh. Need I say more?

 

Image by kdriese

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