My Journey with Horses.

My journey with horses began as a kid. I would spend every other weekend with my dad in Orange County riding horses, and while he thought it was just another sport -- I knew it was something very different. After my lessons, I would take my horse up on a hill and just sit with him for hours. Often times I’d find my mind wandering, but I felt safe and at peace as I watched him eat the grass at my feet. Something inexplicable was happening to me in those moments, and my mind has only recently began to understand it.

Horses have been used for a long time to heal people with disabilities or vets who struggle with PTSD, but researchers only recently have begun to understand the effects of horses on humans. Researcher Edward J Cumella shares that “evidence has continued to accumulate, more rigorous controlled studies are being conducted, resulting in the emergence of a significant body of literature supporting the therapeutic value of the human-companion animal interaction”. Horses fundamentally ground our state of being, often releasing us from the anxiety, anger, or frustration we may feel in any given moment.

As I entered the later years of high school, volleyball, friends and the excitement around college took me away from the barn. I got swept up in the societal view of success and worked hard to get into a good school and get good grades. After college, I struggled to find a fulfilling job in the recession, but was fortunate enough to land myself at Google. What a dream, right? Sort of.

It was not long before the fear of not being good enough, or getting a bad score on my performance review took over. I worked longer and longer hours to feel good about a day's work, and decided to take on a part-time MBA program while working full-time. One day I woke up and had to admit that my anxiety was crippling. Despite the many blessings in my life, inside I was miserable and felt lost.

So I started working with a life coach, a couples therapist, and a breathwork coach; I took two months off work and read over 20 books to find another way. What helped me the most though was riding. I found a barn nearby and asked if I could ride one day a week. One day a week turned into three days a week, which turned into five days a week, and eventually I bought my own horse. Being around the horses was one of the only things I have found that gets me out of my head and forces me to be present in the moment.

While the process of finding my stride and discovering joy in life is ongoing and not easy, the horses are reliably and patiently supporting me every time I show up. With them, I don’t set limits for myself. I tell myself that if my trainer thinks I can jump higher, then I can. I never thought I would be starting a sport as an adult and competing in horse shows, but in less than a year I won a championship ribbon!
It humbles me to watch how the lessons I have learned from my horses translate into everyday life. My confidence, creativity, productivity and love for myself and those around me has never been higher. I am eternally grateful to my entire team of supporters from my life coach, Sarah Khambatta, to my breathwork coach, Jenna Reiss, my family / friends, and my trainers at the barn -- thank you. It excites me to share that this same team of incredible people is behind Core Connection. We created Core Connection with the hope that others can experience  the benefits we all have from horses. Transformation takes a village, and we are here to support you.