2015 Quanta - Research and Innovation at Mohawk College

Page 28

A HELPING HORSE: Transforming lives through equine-supported coaching By Tiffany Mayer

Anne Porteous is leading her horses and us into a new way of facilitating personal empowerment and growth.

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Turns out, leading a horse to water may be a bigger coup than getting him to do anything once you arrive.

to do so, and the effects of that can be a profound reminder of the value of clarity.

Just ask Anne Porteous. A rider for most of her life, the Mohawk nursing professor has recently learned how significant it is to simply walk with an equine companion. In fact, it can be life-changing.

“You’re able to lead a 1,000-pound animal. It’s a powerful message for a person: ‘When I’m clear, I can pretty much do anything,’” Porteous says. “It’s very powerful when a horse chooses to stay with you. It’s very dynamic, very powerful for someone who has been abandoned in life or has experienced isolation”.

Unlike other animals — say, a loyal pooch keen to please — horses only stay by one’s side because they choose


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