a crazy idea
Equest was founded in December 2008, but it started its life long before then. Long before I knew about the potential of horses to change our lives, or understood that they are remarkable creatures capable of bringing out the best in all of us.
The pieces of the jigsaw fell into place for me over decades. Working in industry supporting organisational development and change, training as a Body Psychotherapist, working as an Embodied Leadership Coach. But it was when my horse started telling me things I didn’t want to know about myself, and I embarked on an intensive learning process about horse behaviour and psychology in America, that the idea of Equest was born.
If horses could change my life, I thought, why would they not be able to change yours?
The idea came to me while I was sat in a meadow, alongside my (loaned) horse, Coop, 7,700 feet high in the Colorado mountains. I was reflecting on how much I had learned from horses since I had been ready to listen, and on how this learning was dramatically changing not just my way of being a leader, and of doing business, but changing my whole way of being in the world.
Soon I would be going back to the UK from this adventure (you can read more about it in my book The Spell of the Horse) to pick up where I had left off, running delivering leadership development programmes in the UK and Europe, in classrooms, supported by the “usual” tools, techniques and theories.
But a light was burning bright for me, an excitement was building. Why would I go back to doing that, when I could help people to learn so much more and so much faster, if I got them to work with horses? Why wouldn’t I do it? Fear – that would be the only thing that would stop me. But with my horse, that summer in 2008, I had learned not to be afraid anymore. Not to be afraid of risk, nor of failing or looking stupid. But most of all I had found courage to be myself. I had learned that if I believed in myself, with passion and purpose I could be truly successful, a magnificent leader, in whatever I chose to do.
And that, when it comes down to it, is what Equest is all about. That is Our Mission. To help each and every person who comes to work with us, whatever the context, to recognise their fears and let them go. To find strength in vulnerability and thus reveal their passion and purpose.
Pam Billinge | Owner & founder Equest Limited
The pieces of the jigsaw fell into place for me over decades. Working in industry supporting organisational development and change, training as a Body Psychotherapist, working as an Embodied Leadership Coach. But it was when my horse started telling me things I didn’t want to know about myself, and I embarked on an intensive learning process about horse behaviour and psychology in America, that the idea of Equest was born.
If horses could change my life, I thought, why would they not be able to change yours?
The idea came to me while I was sat in a meadow, alongside my (loaned) horse, Coop, 7,700 feet high in the Colorado mountains. I was reflecting on how much I had learned from horses since I had been ready to listen, and on how this learning was dramatically changing not just my way of being a leader, and of doing business, but changing my whole way of being in the world.
Soon I would be going back to the UK from this adventure (you can read more about it in my book The Spell of the Horse) to pick up where I had left off, running delivering leadership development programmes in the UK and Europe, in classrooms, supported by the “usual” tools, techniques and theories.
But a light was burning bright for me, an excitement was building. Why would I go back to doing that, when I could help people to learn so much more and so much faster, if I got them to work with horses? Why wouldn’t I do it? Fear – that would be the only thing that would stop me. But with my horse, that summer in 2008, I had learned not to be afraid anymore. Not to be afraid of risk, nor of failing or looking stupid. But most of all I had found courage to be myself. I had learned that if I believed in myself, with passion and purpose I could be truly successful, a magnificent leader, in whatever I chose to do.
And that, when it comes down to it, is what Equest is all about. That is Our Mission. To help each and every person who comes to work with us, whatever the context, to recognise their fears and let them go. To find strength in vulnerability and thus reveal their passion and purpose.
Pam Billinge | Owner & founder Equest Limited
Defining moments. We all have them. They help make us who we are. Determine our place in the world and how we see ourselves. Mine, mostly inspired by horses, took me to Equest. Our purpose is to create defining moments for you, with the help of our horses, to help you be truly who you are.
Pam Billinge, Founder Equest
