Sometimes, with the complexity of modern life, simply taking time out in the natural world is the perfect way to get a new perspective on a problem. And with a horse to help there is a very special, highly memorable dynamic. This is because horses absorb our senses – their size and power is implicit and they demonstrate immediate engagement and response with their surroundings.
This is because horses absorb our senses, allowing unconscious responses to emerge.
Liz Morrison was one of the early explorers of using horses in metaphorical coaching and dynamic constellation approaches. She worked with individuals, management teams, offenders and youth workers to explore new perspectives on situations and coach out solutions together
It requires sensitive coaching using a clean language approach and allowing metaphors to emerge. The facilitator ‘holds the space’ for participants, this enables an authentic connection with the horses in their environment and there are chances to reflect on the complex issues being faced. This approach is also known as experiential learning and it offers a range of creative facilitation techniques that help to engage people with in fresh ways.
People can choose to engage with the horses at a level they feel comfortable with – we create a safe space, and even observing from a distance will bring valuable insights.