21/04/2026
Integration - One of the things I love about working with a whole herd is the many, many layers of self we can relate to in the horses.
We are made up of many versions of ourselves that get injured through our lives. Inner child, relationships, true self, physical body, the mind, emotional self, the roles we play.
The horses always know which part needs the focus and bringing to the forefront for healing and acceptance.
It's not always what humans think. You could have someone whose inner child needs the most love, yet it's another part which the horses show up for first - maybe to give inner strength to approach the harder work? Maybe to develop relationship with self to increase the self compassion needed for inner child work. We will never really know, which is fine. We just remain guided and trusting that the horses know.
As a practitioner, I have these "aha" moments working with a client. Where I see the connections and patterns the horses are bringing or representing. I can see which inner human part each horse is representing to which welcomes healing. Seeing what the whole herd represents with an established client, who is on their healing journey, I see as a complex pattern or mirror of inner self.
Sometimes it's the whole herd. Sometimes it's one horse for a long time, then they sit back as another takes its place to look deeply at another inner part. Sometimes it's a combination of 2 or 3. Freja and Morgana - or Freja and Poppy. It might be that Albert works solidly with someone, but one day they have a block which Harry steps in for.
This is why everyone, horses particularly, need free choice and safe space. Over planning sessions becomes rigid and limits possibility.
For the humans - integration of self with love, compassion and care is the aim.
Always grateful to the herd for showing up in the way they do.
Jess ❤️