Amanda Held

By Amanda Held | Equine Wisdom Institute Every horse moves through distinct seasons of life. There is the season of becoming, when a young horse is developing their sense of self and learning how the world works. And there is the season of healing, when a horse who has experienced stress, instability, or past hardship is rebuilding trust in their environment and in the humans who guide them. These seasons require the highest degree of emotional intelligence and sensitivity from us. They are...

By Amanda Held | Equine Wisdom Institute The Farce of the Present Moment There is a phrase passed around the horse world like gospel. "Horses live only in the present moment. " It is repeated so often that it feels like the truth. It sounds peaceful. It sounds spiritual. It sounds clean and simple. But it is not the whole story. In fact, this belief is quietly shaping how we train, interpret behavior, and even facilitate healing with horses. And this myth is causing real harm by leading...

By Amanda Held | Equine Wisdom Institute When Safety Becomes an Illusion Every facilitator is taught that safety is sacred.  Yet beneath the calm surface of structure and protocol, a quiet truth often hides... our own fear of the unknown. When our desire to keep everyone safe becomes the driving force, we may unknowingly close the door to the very transformation we seek to create. In this reflection, we will explore how over-managing the equine-human experience can harden the healing...