Marine

“You are a teacher of mindfulness and assist people in equitherapy. Let’s start with mindfulness—what is it?” I asked her.
“It’s a state of being present—in your thoughts, feelings, and environment. It’s about learning to observe without judgment and embracing the present moment instead of dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.”

“Is there a connection between mindfulness and equitherapy?”
“Yes. Horses are naturally present; they live entirely in the moment. I believe they embody mindfulness.”

“Let’s imagine I’m your patient. We meet at an equestrian facility—what happens next?”
“Our first meeting would be about getting to know each other. I’d usually ask, ‘What’s your intention?’”

“And what’s the most common intention your patients have?”
“Most of them come because they lack confidence.”

“Alright, let’s say my intention is to gain self-confidence. What happens next?”
“The next step is finding a horse to partner with you in therapy. Once you’ve chosen your horse, I’d give you a task. It might involve caring for the horse, guiding it to move in a certain way, riding, or even just walking with it.”

“Is there something you feel is missing in your life?”
“Lately, I’ve been missing having a life partner.”

“Why do you feel you need a partner?”
“I’ve never really thought about it, so I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I want to build a family home, to feel secure.” Her voice trembled, and she began to cry.

I handed her a handkerchief. “Do you feel insecure now?”
“No.”
“Then maybe you don’t need a partner to feel secure.”
“Yes, but sometimes I do.”
“Do you think having a partner would make you feel secure all the time?”
“I’m not sure,” she said with a small smile.

“I don’t want to live my life alone,” she cried again.
“Would it be fair to say that you want a partner to escape aloneness?”
“Maybe… maybe just to soften it.” Her tears slowed.

“May I ask what was on your mind while you were crying?”
“Security,” she said, tears welling up again. “But it’s not sadness. In recent years, I’ve realized how grateful I am for my family. These are tears of gratitude.”