“Shannon is moving back to Minnesota!”, her mom told me while we were in the barn with our horses. My first thought was, “wouldn’t it be nice if she brings her horses here? It would be like the old days.” Shannon was my first apprentice, then the first person that ever worked with me. She was here helping me as I set up my lesson program and helped me run the boarding stable, and run the summer camps. I sold her the first foal that was born here, and helped her train him as he grew up. I blinked my eyes and she grew up, moved away, got married, had children, and now she was planning to move back. Of course I wanted her to be here, it’s a dream come true.

She was looking for a house with land so she could keep her horses at home and run her business. She is a licensed counselor and also a certified Eagala practitioner. Eagala stands for Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association. Shannon talked to me a bit about Eagala and it sure sounded interesting. I was drawn to it, and started doing my own research.

Eagala was founded in 1999 and is one of the first programs to develop standards to incorporate horses into mental health treatment programs. What really made me lean in and want to learn more about Eagala is the fact that the horses are not ridden. They are not haltered, they are free to chose to be involved in the process of mental health healing of humans, or they can chose to walk away. The amazing thing is that the horses usually chose to be involved. That, right there, is what amazes me. The horses chose to help us.

Shannon, her husband and her parents continued to search for the perfect spot for them, and they finally found it! Paperwork was signed and all they had to do was sell their home in Virginia. But alas, that fell through and they lost the horse property here. Time was of an essence so Shannon’s parents, Kim and Pete, found a home just three miles from Davenport Stables! I received a phone call from Shannon asking if I had room for her three horses. Of course I said Yes! I will never forget the first time Shannon came out as a boarder. The time fell away I looked up and saw the beginning of Davenport Stables all over again. The memories flooded me, the tears, the love, the heart ache, the learning, the smiles of all the children and adults as they learned to ride, and all the horses we took in, some we kept for the lesson programs, some we sold, and for some, unfortunately we were too late to save and they had to be put down. Having Shannon and her horses here again made my heart full that day.

Soon after she arrived, she and her husband welcomed their third child into the world. She had some downtime due to her maternity leave and we talked about the Eagala model. She explained that the team was made up of three professionals, the counselor, the horses, and the equine specialist. She told me I would make a good equine specialist and asked if I would be interested in being on her team. My first thought was absolutely yes! my second thought was, “am I too old to be starting a new career?”, and then my third and final though was, “how nice would it be to be on a team and not always be the leader?”, that third thought is what hooked me.

I read a book on Eagala, watched videos about the program. Learned that the horses know what they are doing, and found out that as the equine specialist I get to do what I love to do. Watch the horses, feel their thoughts, and tell someone what I see. It felt like I slipped into something special and comfortable as I practiced with Shannon. Several of our boarders and John, my husband, let us practice on them. I loved being in the herd, and watching them help Shannon and the clients see what they needed to see. Listening to Shannon work with our clients made me realize that she is a great counselor, I love watching her work and listening to her help other people. Having the horses be involved made me realize how much God loves us. He brings us animals to help us, they show us where balance is. God made them with the ability to help us get to balance. I can’t fathom how much God loves us to do that for us. The horses and other animals that help with the Eagala programs are truly angels sent from God.

We’re ready to say, “We are here, come and be Filled at our first clinic open to people other than our boarders.” This is a 2 day workshop focusing on realigning your energy, emptying what is not needed, and filling up on what your body, mind, and soul needs. Join us Friday September 5th from 5-7 pm and Saturday, the 6th from 9 am-12 pm. We are taking 10 participants. Please call or text Shannon at (651) 600-7928 for pricing and more information. (Yes this is an announcement, I feel like shouting it from the rooftops!)

This all feels surreal to me, what is happening, but I love it. I love that at the age of 59 I am launching a new career, I love that my new career involves horses, and that we get to help other people heal their mind and soul. I hope to make a difference and am excited to see where God leads us all in this.

Having Shannon be the person who started this process in me makes me realize life does come full circle. She helped me start up Davenport Stables, and now I am with her as she steps out into the world in this new business. I am truly blessed indeed.