I’m always looking for new things to do with my herd, but dancing with horses? When I’m not riding, I spend a lot of time at Liberty with my herd, and sometimes I felt like I could be doing more… Over the last few years, I’ve been lucky to befriend and work with JoAnna Mendl Shaw, the Artistic Director of an NYC dance company called The Equus Projects. They dance with horses, at liberty. It looks awesome – and I wanted to do it too!
Out of that desire and my journey into dancing with horses comes my latest offering, a 30-Day Challenge. If you’re not afraid to step outside your comfort zones and try something totally new, try Dancing with Horses. You’ll learn a lot about yourself, I guarantee it. Plus gain confidence, body awareness & flexibility while improving your horses confidence, connection and engagement!
But first: why would I dance with my horse?
As a Somatic Educator
I am fascinated with movement – equine movement, human movement, the way birds flock and flow together through space, the way fluid moves through a body, the way two bodies move together…
As a Dancer who is also an Equestrian
I love to work and play at liberty with my horses. I enjoy watching dancers perform with horses – but I often feel unsatisfied with performances that showcase dancers dancing with a horse, but the horses not really participating in the dance.
As a Horse Trainer
I’m very interested in exploring comfort zones and connection (read more about my method here). When I first met JoAnna Mendl Shaw, Creative Director of the Equus Projects, I got excited about the idea of dancing with my horses. What I discovered when I went out into the arena or field with the intention of dancing instead of “training,” was that my normally buzzing mind came up blank. I had no idea what to do!
Finding myself outside of my comfort zone in a place where ordinarily I feel masterful and expert was surprising and exciting in it’s own way.
Why would being uncomfortable be exciting?
Because it is a signal that I have found myself in a situation where I am about to learn and grow – and I love that!
I think that dance, as an art form, as a non-verbal mode of expression and storytelling, is one of the most beautiful things a human can engage in or perform. I find horses to be the most stunning, most beautiful and most athletic creatures to dance upon the earth.
The idea of bringing these two epic ‘ways of being’ together, and finding a way to participate in a dance with my own horse is exciting. What better way to deepen a connection and build relationship than to invite your horse to dance with you – and for your horse to accept that invitation?
5 Reasons you should try Dancing with your Horse:
- Creativity is HARD – trying something brand-new is a great way to stimulate your brain to grow, to get new ideas, and to spark some extra interest and engagement from your horse.
- Dance is all about non-verbal communication – just like horsemanship! Get some new inspiration and develop your communication skills.
- Body Awareness is KEY to being a good rider – learning to move and think differently is a guaranteed way to increase your body awareness (and fitness, if you like!)
- Quality Time, with a twist! You know you should be spending plenty of non-riding, non-demanding time with your horse if you want to have a great relationship and bond – but just how much hand-grazing, hiking or pasture-napping can you do? Dancing, or even just trying out a few new ideas, is a great way to spice up your quality time and strengthen your bond.
- It’s FUN! Even if you feel totally awkward or silly, dancing is always fun! Fun is good for your health, smiling and laughing boosts your immune system and brightens your day, AND – have you ever noticed how much horses like human laughter?
Beyond the fun though, what I learned from exploring how to dance with my horse is what inspired me to put together the Dancing with Horses Challenge for you. It’s filled with easy, practical lessons that come from the worlds of dance, somatics and horsemanship as they have come together for me in the last couple years.
Don’t let the word ‘dancing’ in the title scare you. The lessons in this challenge are all about building your body awareness and your feel, and new ways to bring that awareness to your horse. That’s the dance.
Click here to LEARN MORE or to enroll in the 30-Day DWH Challenge!
