The Year of the Herd

“Horses are herd animals, and so are we. Both species survive in groups, keenly attuned to gestures of dominance and submission in play around us. We both bluff, exaggerate, ignore; maintain alliances, betray loyalties, reward courage, seek affection; we annoy one another out of boredom; we mock our betters; we respond to flattery; we punish and humiliate those we can, and with those we can't we cultivate appearances. We try to get along. We know the real thing when we see it”

• Kevin Conley from Stud: Adventures in Breeding

It is hard to admit that I am a herd animal. The Great “I” thinks differently and will tell me that I am separate. But it is also important to remember that we are not horses, and horses are not humans, but we share a common past. They remember. We have forgotten. Now, we treat them mostly as ornaments and recreational toys.

The highlight of 2024 for me was working with Hunter and developing an eight-week equine assisted learning program for teenagers at risk. Thanks to a grant from Essex County Outreach, I was able to work with high school students navigating the emotional storms of life.

On the first day, they were shy, reserved and skeptical. A couple showed up mostly by persuasion from counselors. By the last day, they unanimously agreed that they would all like to continue with more equine programs in the future. One participant is now volunteering on a weekly basis!

The Great “I”, Camron, wants to take credit. In truth, all the credit goes to the Herd, which I am a part of. Hunter is the leader of the Herd. Romeo is his protégé. Pixie is the youngster and still building confidence. Fluff is the old man at age 32 years, and has a hidden side that is slowly emerging. He is eager to learn!

Day one, I made it very clear to all participants that the farm is a safe place for them. It is a sanctuary. They are free to leave all their problems behind. I let them all know to tell the horses how they are feeling. Whisper to them and vocalize it. Of course, the horses already know. That is one of the many gifts of horses – they have a high emotional intelligence. They pick up on our emotions, often before we identify our emotions.

Each session we began with a short check-in with “how are you feeling?” Most students would respond with “I am tired.” By the end of the eight-week program, many students could identify more than one emotion that they were feeling! WOW!

Emotions come and go. Our job as two-leggeds is to observe them and acknowledge them. When we deny or repress them, problems occur. Our health deteriorates. We get sick. We fall into bad situations. Teenagers are a soup of emotions. They are rarely allowed to acknowledged them. Most are told to control them, or worse be more happy.

At the farm, we are allowed to feel and express our emotions WHILE trying to understand what the horses are feeling. It is simple in theory, while difficult in practice.

Let this be the Year of the Herd! We are not separate, and we all experience a range of emotions. Get creative and start identifying your emotions. Come visit a horse.

Camron Adibi is an Equine Human Connection Therapist and a PATH Therapeutic Riding Instructor who holds graduate degrees in education and architecture. He offers equine guided learning for children and adults of all backgrounds and ages, who are facing challenges such as anxiety, depression, trauma, or emotional/social difficulties. He also offers Listening with Horses as an invitation for those who want to experience the power of the herd. He has a mission to improve horse and human interactions through education and storytelling. Oh yeah, and Cam is a sailor with a captain's license.