Finding Connection Within

Finding Connection Within:
My Journey Through Equine-Assisted Healing

by Dr. Danielle Moore, PhD, LBS, LPC, NLT-II

January 22, 2025

In my previous blog, I shared my understanding of connection—the energy that links us to others, transcending words and logic. Finding connection, especially with horses, has the unique power to heal, transform, and awaken parts of ourselves that may have been dormant for years. Today, I want to dive deeper and share a personal story about how finding connection with my own horses—Artax and Quinton—became my greatest teachers in finding connection and reclaiming myself.

“How’s your body feeling?” my trainer asked one day as we worked together. I started to answer with what I thought was expected: a recount of my anxiety, my hyperfocus, my overthinking. I explained how trotting made me anxious, how I knew it was irrational but couldn’t control my body.
 
She interrupted gently, “You’re responding with what you think I want to hear, not how you actually feel.”
 
In that moment, I stopped. I took a deep breath, and for the first time, I truly tuned in to my body. My shoulders ached, as if they were holding up a weight far too heavy to bear. There was a tightness in my chest, constricting my breath and making it feel shallow, as though my body had been bracing for an impact that never came. My jaw was clenched so tightly that it felt like stone, and my legs felt stiff and unyielding, as if they had forgotten how to move freely. I realized that I had been hyperfocused on not letting my anxiety ripple through to the horses. But it had. They reflected it back to me in every hesitant step, every moment of hesitation.
 
That moment marked the beginning of a new journey—one that wasn’t just about learning to work with the horses but about reconnecting with myself.

Artax: Learning to Move Together
 
Artax, a large Amish workhorse, came to me from a life of compliance. He had spent his days following commands without question, but when it came to riding together, everything changed. Artax simply wouldn’t move. His feet felt rooted to the ground, heavy and immovable, as though he had decided this was where his story stopped.
 
At first, I tried everything I knew—using gentle aids, clucking softly, increasing my energy, and leaning into the rhythm of the ask. I had tools from both my personal trainer and my studies with the Natural Lifemanship Institute that I was putting to work! But Artax stood still, his body radiating resistance. I spent countless hours sitting on his broad, unmoving back, my frustration simmering just below the surface. My own body began to mirror his stillness—my legs felt weak and useless, my hands gripping the reins tighter than necessary, my heart pounding with each failed attempt.
 
Over time, I realized this wasn’t about technique or commands—it was about trust. Artax needed me to stop trying to force movement and instead invite connection. I had to show him that this wasn’t about control but about partnership. Slowly, I began to soften my own body. I loosened the grip in my hands, released the tension in my shoulders, and allowed my breath to flow more freely.
 
Artax began to respond. It wasn’t instant or dramatic, but in small, almost imperceptible shifts. A slight lean forward, a softening of his jaw, the tiniest lift of a hoof. We were learning together, one breath, one step at a time. Eventually, we moved—not just physically, but emotionally, as partners navigating the journey side by side.

Quinton: Journeying Through Pain and Resilience
 
Quinton, my heart horse, took me on an entirely different path. Diagnosed with a keratoma that required eight months of stall rest, he faced one challenge after another. When he was later diagnosed as blind, it felt like the final blow.
 
Together, Quinton and I navigated pain, uncertainty, and grief. I remember standing in the stall with him, my hand resting gently on his neck. I could feel the heat radiating from his body, the subtle shifts of his weight as he adjusted to the discomfort. My own body mirrored his tension—tight shoulders, a lump in my throat, a dull ache in my chest as I worried about what the future held for him.
 
There were moments of despair when I questioned whether I was enough for him, whether I could guide him through a world he could no longer see. But Quinton never gave up. He taught me to move slowly, to listen not just with my ears but with my entire body. I learned to feel the rhythm of his breath beneath my hand, to sense the shifts in his energy, and to trust that even in the darkness, we could find our way.
 
Through Quinton, I discovered that connection isn’t just about joy and ease. It’s also about standing together through hardship, holding space for each other’s struggles, and finding strength in shared vulnerability.

Connecting With Myself
 
My work with Artax and Quinton wasn’t just about them—it was about me. For much of my life, I lived disconnected from my own body and emotions. Trauma, ADHD, and anxiety had created walls that separated me from myself. Through my work with these incredible horses, those walls began to crumble.
 
I started noticing my body—the tension that gripped my shoulders, the way my breath became shallow when I was anxious, the heaviness in my legs when I felt stuck. These sensations weren’t just physical; they were messages, clues to the stories my body had been holding for years. My horses mirrored my energy, teaching me to regulate my anxious, high-energy body so that I could connect with them—and with myself.
 
It wasn’t an easy process. There were moments of frustration, grief, and self-doubt. I cried in their presence, feeling the tears hot and heavy as they rolled down my cheeks. I sat in the pasture, feeling the sun on my skin and the grass beneath my hands, letting the earth ground me. Slowly, I learned to sit with my discomfort, to breathe through the tightness in my chest, and to embrace the full spectrum of human emotion.

Connection Beyond Words
 
Horses have a unique ability to meet us where we are, without judgment or expectations. Artax and Quinton didn’t ask me to be perfect. They didn’t demand that I “fix” myself. They simply stood with me, offering their presence and patience as I worked through my own healing.
 
This journey of connection didn’t just deepen my bond with my horses—it transformed how I connect with others. As I learned to listen to my own body and emotions, I found it easier to attune to the needs and feelings of those around me. My relationships, both personal and professional, became richer, more authentic, and more fulfilling.

An Invitation to Your Own Journey
 
If you’ve ever felt lost, disconnected, or stuck in therapies that just don’t seem to work, I invite you to explore equine-assisted therapy. It’s not just about spending time with horses—it’s about discovering parts of yourself that you may have forgotten, suppressed, or never even known existed.
 
Through the guidance of a counselor who has both the education and experience, as well as the personal journey of healing with horses, you’ll find a space where you can reconnect with yourself, your emotions, and the world around you.
 
Horses like Artax and Quinton have a unique gift—they reflect our inner world, helping us see ourselves more clearly. They teach us patience, resilience, and the beauty of connection.
 
Ready to Begin?
 
If you’re ready to explore the transformative power of equine-assisted therapy, let’s take the first step together. It’s a journey of connection, healing, and rediscovery—and it’s one you don’t have to take alone.
 
Connect with us today to learn more.
 
Because healing begins with connection.

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