My life has changed a bit since I had back surgery last year. What started as compression on my spine before surgery is now an irreversible spinal cord injury. While there is still plenty that I’m able to do, every so often I lament the few tasks that are no longer possible. Yesterday that task was mowing the lawn.
In the past whenever the grass needed to be mowed, I would hop on the John Deere mower. For the next couple of hours my mind would wander as I made my way through the wildlife habitat. I always mowed at a slow pace so our little wild residents had time to move out of my path. Yesterday, instead of mowing, I could only look at the grass that seemed to be growing right before my eyes.
This seemed like a perfect time for some animal therapy, so I headed to the equine pasture. Edgar was the first to greet me, followed by the other donkeys, Cody and Donqui. Next came Tucker, our horse, in his usual quiet way.
Tucker is always gentle and seemed especially attuned to me at that moment. His eyes were soft as he looked at me and he placed his head close to my face. We stood together taking in each other’s energy. No words, no expectations. The growing grass wasn’t even a fleeting thought.
What Tucker and I shared that afternoon is well documented. Research has shown that simply being near horses can lower cortisol levels and reduce heart rate. Equine-assisted activities have been used in elder care to stimulate memory, reduce agitation, and improve mood in dementia patients. Veterans with PTSD have shown significant improvement through equine-assisted therapy.
The results of these studies are impressive to read. But until you experience these special moments you cannot fully appreciate how majestic and sensitive these animals are.
Wishing you serenity and peace, Jo and Tucker