 Work with us and our horses to deepen connection whether relating remotely or face to face
Communicating remotely has become the way we work and it is also often how we socialise and pursue our leisure interests. Even when the peak of the pandemic crisis appears in our rear-view mirror, the increased levels of remote working will continue in many organisations due to various reasons. Individuals speak of the freedom which being home-based brings, the convenience and the additional time available so spend with the family. Travel time and cost is spared and the roads are quieter. Yet we also talk of ‘screen fatigue’, exhaustion, feelings of isolation and low energy. Without the supercharge of social interaction our screen-based communication can leave us feeling cut off and drained. When we do meet each other in person, we are currently required to keep our distance. Yet we are a social species hardwired to work and play together. How can we support ourselves better and connect deeply with others in spite of the physical space which now separates us? Developing and sustaining the purposeful relationships we need in all aspects of our lives will require a new mindset. In this one day workshop we will learn from our herd of horses how a practice of presence shrinks the distance which separates us and brings us not only into deeper contact with others but also with ourselves. Horses do not need to be close physically in order to connect. Often the most satisfying moments of mutual understanding which I have observed and experienced between human and horse, when heart meets heart, happen across distance. It also helps that horses do not rely on words to express themselves. They seem able to broadcast their emotions and feelings and to understand those of others, by simply being. Developing a practice of presence was never a nicety and as we are buffeted by change and precarity, holding the moment, being still, cultivating calm and letting go of expectations and regrets, are all key to leadership which nurtures well-being and relationship. Join us and our horses, nature’s finest and wisest teachers, to find out how working experientially with them can help. This workshop will be held outdoors and all health protocols required at the time will be observed. A place can be reserved prior to the event and payment will be requested a month prior to it taking place. Places are strictly limited. Venue: Suddene Park Farm, Burbage, Wiltshire SN8 3DP Date: Thursday 23 September 2021 Time: 10.00 am- 4pm Fee: £250 per person. To reserve a place please email pam@equestlimited.co.uk
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 On the eve of Solstice 2020 my menagerie, which until then comprised three horses and two terriers, grew to include a Siamese kitten. Through a small miracle I saw this little ball of cream and black fluff at the forest edge when driving past at dusk. Whether abandoned or lost she was starving and recognised in me the one who would feed her. For the first two weeks, all she did was eat, sleep and ask to be held. Then she would curl in my arms and press her purring little body against me. Whether it was what she needed, or what she sensed I needed, I don’t know. But it was the most magical Christmas present I could have wished for.
The distancing, separation and isolation which the current situation imposes is felt by most of us at a physical, emotional and spiritual level. Humans are creatures who like to touch and be touched. When someone first begins to discover horses the impulse to stroke, pat and be nuzzled by them is intense. But horses, like cats (as I am learning) don’t always want to be touched. They don’t need physical contact, or even nearness, in the same way as we do in order to feel validated or to cement their bond. For a horse, connection goes much deeper than skin and fur. It is something which is made heart to heart, soul to soul, spirit to spirit. Some of the deepest moments of contact which I experience with my herd are often characterised, in fact, by distance rather than proximity. When they look across the field at me, hold me in their soft gaze and something fundamental between us is understood. That we are far from each other is part of the wordless, touchless power of the exchange. I have taken learning and reassurance from this equine lesson as I settle into remote working. I don’t need to be in the same room as those I am coaching, or the same field, or even on the same continent. Like I do with the herd, and they with me, I can connect from afar. I can be present, contactful and bring meaning in spite of the miles. When you bring the contact of presence to your seat and your screen it is felt by those you face. They know that they matter. Presence, whether you are meeting in person or not, is at the core of relationship. Having a practise of presence as we navigate the new channels carved out by the health crisis also helps us to stay connected with ourselves, balancing the alienation of isolation. By being present to those who face you each day you can create a space in which both of you will feel restored. That does not mean, of course, that I don’t regret the temporary absence of my horses in my work. Unfortunately my office is not quite big enough to invite them in. However, I endeavour to bring the clarity, wisdom, grounding and calmness which they exude. And who knows, one day soon, when she is brave enough to leave the barn and enter the house, I and my clients may be joined instead by a small Siamese cat … Contactful coaching is available remotely from the Equest team on request. pam@equestlimited.co.uk. The Contact of Presence - an open workshop exploring the power of presence in face-to-face and remote leadership is scheduled for Thursday 24 September subject to prevailing travel restrictions. Pam’s second book The Spirit of the Horse, More Stories of Life, Love and Leadership will be published on March 16th by Blackbird Books. Available for pre-order from all good online retailers and from bookstores. |
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LOCATION: Suddene Park Farm, Wolfhall Road, Burbage, Marlborough, Wiltshire
Registered address for correspondence only: Equest Limited, 126 High St, Marlborough SN8 1LZ, United Kingdom | Company registration number: 07713922
Registered address for correspondence only: Equest Limited, 126 High St, Marlborough SN8 1LZ, United Kingdom | Company registration number: 07713922
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