Sovereign Horse – Details, episodes & analysis

Would you believe that there are thoroughbreds in the racing industry who are so well-loved, well-cared for and well-prepared that by the time they arrive at the track to race they look like balanced and developed adult Warmbloods? I certainly didn’t. But my dear friend and colleague Caren Dougall of North of 9 Equine and Canine Bodywork has been working intimately inside the racing industry helping to develop leading-edge training programs filled with sound, happy and healthy racehorses who not only have successful careers but retire sound off the track in body and mind. If your mind is as completely blown as mine was listening to her firsthand experience, you’re not gonna wanna miss this conversation! Caren is someone I deeply respect as both a professional and horsewoman. She is a certified equine and canine bodywork practitioner and instructor as well as a registered veterinary technician. On top of that, she is incredibly well-versed in all things natural and holistic. Her combination of knowledge and embodied wisdom in the space of equine wellness is next level. But the thing I respect the most about her is that she is a fierce advocate for her horse clients, always working with them in a consent-based and deeply compassionate way. So when she told me she was working intimately with racehorses on the track, I was equal parts surprised and intrigued. I am so grateful to Caren for taking the time to give us an honest and eye-opening look into a corner of the horse world that is often demonized as the worst in the industry, as well as hope for what’s possible when you take a horse-first approach to the sport of racing. This one is dedicated to all the incredible thoroughbreds out there. Your hearts are immense and your loyalty is unmatched. We love you! Connect with Caren: https://www.northof9bodywork.ca/ Instagram: @northof9equinecaninebodywork Connect with Angela: Instagram: @equineelevation.com www.equineelevation.com

In this episode I share the story of a time when I didn’t advocate for my Kisses mare when I absolutely should have. I didn’t stand up for her or myself and I had no idea at that time how far and wide the implications of that painful experience would ripple out. A seed was planted in that experience that ended up changing the course of our lives—not just for myself and Kisses, but my entire herd. And while even then I believed that everything happens for a reason, I could have never predicted the strange yet seemingly fated turn of events that helped me forgive myself and heal the harm I’d caused Kisses that day. File this story under: “You can’t make this sh*t up.” (Welcome to my life, especially when it comes to Kisses.) Join us inside our Healing Through Writing workshop  Join the Equine Elementals membership Connect with Angela: Instagram: @equineelevation www.equineelevation.com

We were talking big mare medicine in this episode aptly recorded on International Women’s Day! Join me and equine-partnered life coach, animal communicator and healer, Kate Neligan, as we talk about exploring relational dynamics, especially through the lessons we’ve learned with some of the mares who have had profound impacts in our lives. We navigate the difference between transactional vs relational interactions with horses, and how to enjoy the process and relationship development when we are doing anything together with them. We also chat about what it’s like to work with not just horses but also donkeys and goats in her Equus-partnered coaching business. Plus we receive a special and beautiful message from the beings Kate refers to as the Heaven Herd, a group of horses she works with who have transitioned. And on a super fun note, our recording time was 1 hour and 23 mins. Y’all know I love me some number codes! 

Connect with Kate: www.kateneligan.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/awakeningwithequines

https://www.instagram.com/kateneliganequinecoach/

https://www.youtube.com/user/Kneligan Connect with Angela: www.equineelevation.com Instagram: @equineelevation

In this week’s solo episode, I explore some of the teachings my horses have offered me around the importance of making mistakes with them.  Yep, you read that correctly.  My horses have told me time and time again that there is deep importance in making mistakes for many reasons.  Of course we all know that mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow, but my horses have shared that they are also fertile grounds for building deeply authentic relationships, and cultivating trust with each other and ourselves. And while that is a beautiful offering, before I could get to that place, I had to move through a lot of shadows when it came to accepting the mistakes I’ve made with them.  I had to learn how to deal with the guilt, shame and anger I have felt toward myself and others whom I blamed for their part in the harm done. I also had to figure out how to cope with seeing certain mistakes I made every day as my horses wore the physical scars of them. And then I also had to learn how to be okay making mistakes with clients and find ways to navigate their resolution without berating myself for getting something ‘wrong’ or making a decision that may not have been as beneficial as I originally thought. I have moved through a lot of layers on my journey to embracing my mistakes, so I hope that these honest shares will support you if you have been struggling to embrace yours. Join us for our Embrace Your Mistakes class here. Connect with Angela: www.equineelevation.com Instagram: @equineelevation

We are back with a big one. When this episode dropped in as wanting to be explored, I knew I needed to call for backup. So I immediately connected with Dilara to ask if she would be willing to jump into this massive conversation with me, knowing she would be capable of holding the clear lens of detachment and neutrality necessary to genuinely explore this question. So in she came and off we went on the most neutral exploration of the spectrum of ‘rightness’ and ‘wrongness’ we could muster.  And after a lengthy exploration, Dilara flat out asks me if I feel there is anything wrong with the industry, and I give my answer… We would love to hear your answer too, so please come on over to our Instagram @equineelevation and share your insights on the episode post! Connect with Dilara: https://dilarapataudi.com/ Instagram: @divine_nature_of_horses Connect with Angela: https://www.equineelevation.com/ Instagram: @equineelevation

I was invited into the herd to record this week’s episode all about the ever-evolving and dynamic nature of identity and relationships. It is often a common human experience to become attached with certain perceptions of our horses. I have definitely been guilty of applying characteristics, identities and roles onto my horses and holding onto them as truth, even after they have evolved out of those archetypes. This became much more obvious to me as I stepped into my Horse Medicine Leadership training and the ask to stay current with the medicine of my horses was really brought into my awareness. Since the horses moved home, I have caught myself very much not current with who Phantom has become during his six months in the big herd at the last farm where they lived. In some ways even in denial of the ways he has grown and the roles he has stepped into within the herd. Dido also asked me to share some perspective around the value of relationship dynamics changing and evolving and the importance to hold space for those processes to unfold and not protect my human experience of that onto the horses.  We hope that you will enjoy this immersive episode and feel like you are joining us right there in the field! Connect with Angela: Instagram: @equineelevation www.equineelevation.com

This week we are welcoming Brittany Ashworth of Sacred Echos once again and the topic for this episode came through from her very special gelding, Treu. This connection came up when I realized how differently the process of holding horse medicine sessions has been since the horses moved home.  My horses now live in a blended and bonded herd of seven, who collectively have three human guardians. And while they may have different guardians, these horses have very clearly been co-creating as a herd for some time. In this episode, Brittany and I discuss our personal experiences of being asked to step into a blended herd of horse and humans.  We talk about the boundaries and blurred lines we are navigating as individuals and a collective from both horse and human perspective and honouring their asks to the best of our abilities as humans. (Spoiler: The horses have very different ideas of whether or not we should have ‘lines” at all.) We also chat about our experiences of practicing horse medicine with one another’s horses and the gifts and challenges of working with horses who aren’t ours.  And we also spend some time gushing over our beloved horses who make up this dynamic, magical herd! Connect with Brittany: Instagram: @sacredechos www.sacredechos.com Connect with Angela: Instagram: @equineelevation www.equineelevation.com

A short and sweet (for me 😂) episode sharing what the horses have shown me are the guiding energies as we walk into 2024. I’m not going to spoil the surprise by sharing them here––you’ll have to listen to find out what they are!  Wishing everyone a happy year to come! And if the horses are right (and we all know they always are) this is going to be a beauty of a year! Connect with Angela: Instagram: @equineelevation www.equineelevation.com

My first solocast of Season 4! Although I’m never really alone when I record these episodes; the horses are always present.

In this episode, I was guided to speak about how my horses have helped me to surrender to and follow my soul guidance. My horses have truly been my greatest teachers when it comes to learning the difference between the voice of my ego and my Higher Self.

They also taught me the difference between manifesting and conscious co-creation––something that has been probably the most impactful lesson of my entire life.

I share about how my horses’ timelines are interconnected with mine, and how they collapse and transform in tandem with one another, as individuals and as a collective.

I also speak about the importance of not letting my human resist, block and reject soul desires and timelines that are aligned for all of us as a collective. 

This journey of learning how to co-create with my horses has been a wild and fascinating ride! I’m excited to begin sharing what I’ve learned with you and hope that it offers some answers or insights into your own journey alongside the horses in your life.

Connect with Angela: www.equineelevation.com Instagram: @equineelevation

It was such a pleasure to record this expansive conversation with the lovely Dilara Pataudi!

Dilara is a multi-talented and gifted horsewoman, bodyworker, author and host of her own podcast called Being Herd (among many other things).

She and I dove deep into our journeys from a more conventional way of being with horses to the co-creative partnerships we now each have with our respective herds. It was so fascinating to hear the similar ways in which our horses have walked us along our paths and the teachings we have both been given in the process.

We share about our experiences of receiving medicine from our horses and what they have required, and even at times demanded, from us in our self-development. As well as the wild ride that is being in co-creative partnerships with horses who are deeply invested in our growth and evolution as individuals and on a collective level.

This episode was such a treat to create! I truly hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I enjoyed recording it. Connect with Dilara: https://dilarapataudi.com/ Instagram: @dilarapataudi & @divine_nature_of_horses Podcast: Being Herd Podcast  Connect with Angela: www.equineelevation.com Instagram: @equineelevation