Authenticity & horses

As i am welcoming clients to my business, another well-known horse trainer gets exposed. At the same time, respected international “gurus” appear in places no one expected — their names connected to scandals that shake public trust.

What we see is that the picture that these people paint of themselves to the outside world is false. And we are left with a feeling of ‘nothing is what it seems’. Their teachings, the technique, training or solution offered is a lie. I am not sure if it is the hunger for fame, money or power but people are being misled and they end up being done wrong.

In the equestrian world, we see riders, coaches and self proclaimed horse gurus being uncovered for unsavoury training techniques and abuse towards horses and humans and i wonder if it is a good idea to be part of this weird and wonderful world of horse-human relationships? Because, how do horse people know what and who is real? Who is authentic? Whose intentions come from a good place? And how can I show people interested in my work that I am real and I walk my talk?

'You are what you do, not what you say you will do'
- Carl Gustav Jung

How do I proof that what I have to offer is authentic? How do I show that I am reliable, trustworthy, honest and ethical towards all beings? And I ask these questions without even touching on the topic of AI. What does knowing that everything can be adjusted, beautified, changed and altered do to our trust? I will dive deeper into the topic of AI soon.

I ponder on the challenges of this day and age and how rapidly the world is changing around us and how much i would love for things to be simpler. And isn't it amazing that time and again, I find the simplicity with my horses. The place where I really disconnect is around them. To be fully present, I leave my phone in the car, when I am with my horse my intention is to show up just for them and in the here and now.

When I reflect on what made me start Echo of Pegasus, I know it came from a combination of a deep passion for horse welfare and the challenges life throws at us. I have an intimate understanding of what it is like to live in this whirlwind world AND share your life with horses. At this crossroad, I offer guidance. I believe that when you understand yourself, it changes the relationships with those around you, especially your horses.

So how do I show you that I am authentic, trustworthy and real?

I often refer to my toolbox. This mixed bag contains everything I have experienced, seen, read, studied, learned, been exposed to, been involved in and practised. My toolbox has a plethora of possibilities for different situations that I encounter. With people, with horses, and in Life.

It's funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools - friendships, prayer, conscience, honesty - and said 'do the best you can with these, they will have to do'. And mostly, against all odds, they do. - Anne Lamott

My toolbox contains:

• My experience as an international business executive in hospitality and the world of tech combined with an expat lifestyle of living abroad (and the challenges that brings) give me a deep understanding of the pressures life can bring and the never ending challenge of finding balance and being gentle to yourself and others.

• The guardian responsibilities for two horses, who have lived with me at home and they have been boarded at stables. I have trained and competed horses, rode horses in all sorts of environments, I have hacked out endlessly and started and retired horses. Karachi and Ra'ad are both in their twenties: Karachi is retired, living free and semi-wild (without much human interaction) in a herd on many acres of pasture land. Ra'ad is semi-retired living at a boarding barn with a field buddy and I see him every day. He is my heart-horse.

• I have seen, experienced and studied a variety of horse training methods. What I chose to add to my toolbox was inspired by where I was physically, emotionally and spiritually and always led by the demands, desires, capabilities and clear signals of my horses. I have knowledge of natural horsemanship, straightness training, endurance, dressage and showjumping and have eventually found the Academic Art of Riding as a way of training with horses that suits me and my horses. And I am a barefoot trimmer.

• Reiki showed a holistic and spiritual path and reemphasised the undeniable need to love yourself before you can love others. It has allowed me to connect deeply with other beings on a different level. It has opened different ways of communicating and reiterated the hidden capabilities and power we have to make a difference and that we can connect with life outside the boundaries of space and time.

• Life and the challenges it brings ignited my interest in Jungian Psychology. I felt a desire to understand why people behave the way they do. What makes them do certain things, take certain decisions and act a certain way. I follow an intensive three-year study to deepen my knowledge and understanding.

All of the above is combined in Echo of Pegasus. I can contribute to creating a better world for horses if I can assist their humans to better understand themselves. I do not wish to be anyone's guru or teacher, I offer guidance for you along your path.

I do not offer a method.
I do not promise a quick fix
I do not claim to have the answer

I offer perspective, reflection and guidance.

I speak, guide and coach from lived experiences, and I share insights and offer tools that can help you to navigate life. I am looking to guide thoughtful, self-responsible humans who are willing to look inward. I enjoy working with likeminded people who are open to challenge themselves.

If this resonates with you, you are welcome to step into conversation. Not because I have something you lack. But rather because sometimes we see ourselves more clearly when there is someone alongside us to hold space.

If you would like to meet me and talk about your challenges, you can book a free discovery call.
Email me on hello@echopegasus.com.