A Blank Canvas

A mysterious excitement comes with being in a new country and starting from scratch. Yet at the same time, I feel frustrated because I am at the beginning, standing at an intersection and wondering which road to take.

One thing I know is that I want to take this opportunity to travel, see the world, and try new things, and I have to keep reminding myself of that when I consider work and what I want to achieve while I am in Spain.

Another thing I do know is that I want to share the knowledge I have learned over the years about biomechanics, functional movement and healthy posture. I want to help people understand the connection between physical health and nervous system regulation. I challenge people to question and explore more deeply the reasons behind behavioural problems. Encourage people to ask: Is that “dangerous horse” really dangerous, or are they trying to communicate with you in the only way they know how?

I want to help people to see soundness issues, muscle tension, muscle development and joint problems from a different perspective. People all over the world are quick to treat what seems to be “the problem” with joint injections, surgeries, medications, but often what you are treating is secondary. The best way to “fix issues” is to gain the knowledge needed to understand better why these problems are becoming a reality in the first place.

When you better understand how the musculoskeletal system works and what is happening and why, it becomes easier to improve posture and function as a form of prevention.

In Australia, I have invested a lot of time into teaching, learning, growing and building the supportive community of friends and clients that I am so lucky to be surrounded by.

Being in Spain, while exciting, is also very foreign in more ways than one. I don’t speak the language, have the community, clients or a professional reputation in the equine industry.

Part of me is unfazed by this because, in a way, it’s nice just to be me and have the freedom. The other part of me feels frustration because I see horses that need help.

At times, the frustrated part of me sends my brain into overdrive. My thoughts move at a thousand miles a minute as I brainstorm ways to show people a different way and how it can help the horse.

My thoughts: maybe I should set up a training facility; maybe I should compromise on my prices so the owner will let me help that horse; maybe I should try to explain it better; maybe this, maybe that.

Honestly, with most things in my life, this is how my brain works. I could have a heated conversation in my own mind about the pros, cons, what’s right, and what’s wrong without saying a word aloud.

Then I stop myself and ask, “If this was my sister in this situation, what would I tell her?”

Well, that’s easy; I would tell her to value the knowledge she has; people value people who value themselves. I would tell her to stay clear on what she wants and make decisions that align with that.

I would tell her not to force things. If you force things, they'll fall apart. If you let them be, they will fall into place.

And you know what, I’m sure if I asked her, she would give me the same advice. Sometimes you have to take a step back, remove the emotions and look at things from an indifferent perspective to find the answers you are looking for.