Horse assisted coaching in the Harz mountains

Now the time had come. Our first silent language – horse-assisted manager coaching at the Reit- und Sporthotel Nordmann in Stangerode in the Harz Mountains could begin.

At 10 am, the participants were picked up at the hotel by a jeep which, after a short safari through herds of bison, Highlander and Galloway, brought them to the seminar venue: a small pasture in a slender valley, surrounded by large trees and rolling hills.

The participants were welcomed with coffee and cold drinks. A short introduction to equine coaching followed, and then it went straight to the horse.

The two Haflinger mares Uganda and Urofina, two ladies with very strong self-confidence, as well as the two cold-blood geldings Elliot and Elton, gentle giants, were provided by the Reit- und Sporthotel Nordmann.

First task: leading the horse over several laps around four cones. This helps to get to know the horse and to get in the frame of mind for working with the horse as a feedback giver.

Around 1 pm lunch was brought, delicious bison goulash, a vegetarian dish, and the drinks.

Then it went on to teamwork. The group of six participants steers the horse through a course. This is about mindfulness, letting go, trust and dealing with each other as a team. The horse is a constant mirror of the participants. At around 4 pm, the seminar was concluded with a summary and tasks for everyday life.

A seminar with these conditions, the best weather, and the great nature, is an extraordinary experience.

Stressed and sometimes frustrated faces turned into beaming smiles and great joy after successful work. In our seminars, one experiences an immediate change in using a horse as a mirror.

Without going too much into detail, I can say that it is a unique experience to learn through our horses with all available senses. Our participants experience reflection and self-reflection here with the help of a "seminar leader" who does not divide into right and wrong but teaches through his acting alone. Such an experience, as confirmed to me in numerous feedbacks, has left a deep impression on the seminar participants.

The Spa offer of the Hotel Nordmann proved to be a particularly good preparation for the relaxed work with the horses, according to participants who had arrived the day before.

Next year, on 21.06.2023, our second event will take place in the Harz Mountains. Be part of it!