05/01/2026
I often find myself yawning during my sessions with Benny, and it's not because I am bored 🥱
Quite the contrary, actually. Benny is one of my favorite horses to work with. He challenges me to think outside the box for ways to engage with him and earn his trust. Benny was pulled from auction last year with some very, very deeply rooted issues which is why he ended up here with me.
What I love most about working with Benny though is that his sessions force me to slowwwwwww down.
Anyone who has worked with horses professionally or even semi professionally knows it is a fast paced environment. Go, go, go on to the next thing all 👏 the 👏 time 👏. There is always more to do, never enough time to do it in, and deadlines are never fair. When you train horses, there is a very fine line between efficiency and effectiveness. But that's a whole different discussion for another time.
Fast paced doesn't fly with Benny. Benny practically lives life in slow motion as he learns to navigate the world without fear. When I work with Benny, he requires me to slow down everything.
My breathing.
My movements.
My mind.
My emotions.
Everything must be slowed down. Benny is incredibly sensitive to a person's energy. If you approach him with any kind of turmoil even in the back of your mind, he can feel it and he will tattle on you right away.
You should always leave your emotions at the gate when you work with horses, but we are all only human. Sometimes the best we can do is hide our emotions under a couple layers. That doesn't cut it with Benny.
Benny requires me to regulate everything about myself in order to have a successful session. I'm sure my fellow trainers can relate to how difficult that can be sometimes.
Benny will reflect everything that I am thinking and feeling. I find myself yawning because his sessions help me to gain total control and awareness of myself and return to stasis--a state of total calm.
If you don't have a Benny in your life, I highly recommend you get one. It's better than therapy (don't tell my therapist I said that 😉)
