Could My Horse Hear My Thoughts?

What if one unexpected moment with your horse challenged everything you thought you knew about connection?

In this episode, I share a personal story involving my beloved Appaloosa, Spotzy, that began as a simple experiment during a quiet ride and quickly became something I never could have anticipated. The experience opened my mind to new possibilities and ultimately influenced the direction of my entire life.

Whether you're passionate about horses, dogs, or the incredible bonds we share with animals, this episode invites you to explore the power of curiosity, deep connection, and keeping your heart open to what might be possible.

Resources:

Grab your FREE video training to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥

Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. ⬅️⬅️⬅️

💥Learn how the Feldenkrais MethodⓇ can help improve your seat, position, and balance on your horse! Free rider videos masterclass: https://www.marydebono.com/rider 💥

All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical, veterinary, or training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or dog are unwell or injured.  Always use caution when interacting with horses and dogs.

About the Host:

Mary Debono is a pioneer in animal and human wellness, blending her expertise as an international clinician, best-selling author, and certified Feldenkrais Method® practitioner. With over three decades of experience, Mary developed Debono Moves, a groundbreaking approach that enhances the performance, well-being, and partnership of animals and their humans.

Mary's innovative approach draws from the Feldenkrais Method®, tailored specifically for horse and dog enthusiasts.  Her methods have helped animals and humans:

• Improve athletic ability and performance
• Enhance confidence and reduce anxiety
• Reduce physical limitations and discomfort
• Deepen the human-animal bond

Mary's flagship online programs, "Move with Your Horse" and "Easier Movement, Happier Dogs," provide animal enthusiasts with an innovative approach that combines the concepts of Feldenkrais® with her signature hands-on work for horses and dogs (Debono Moves). Through this transformative approach, both people and their animal companions discover greater harmony, ease, and connection.

Transcript

I just wanted to share a little story today about something that happened to me quite a number of years ago. But it helped change my world. It actually changed the trajectory of my life. So let me explain. I was riding my horse, Spotsy. He was a leopard Appaloosa, really wonderful horse. We were in a jump arena, and there was a big gazebo in the middle of the arena.

And we were just riding around on a loose rein on the rail and. And I had a thought. What if I just pictured one of the many jumps that were in the arena and just see if somehow Spotsy would go towards it. So I just, like, held that image in my mind, and sure enough, he walked right over to the jump I was picturing and stood next to it.

I was like, wow, I must be doing something, I thought, to influence him unintentionally. So I dropped my reins completely and I crossed my arms and I pictured another jump. And sure enough, he walked over to that jump, stood right by it, okay. I thought, I'm still must be doing something. So I. I remember I dropped my feet out of the stirrups, I closed my eyes and I pictured another jump.

Same effect, right? Same result. He walked over to it, stood next to it. But I kept thinking it was like, so hard for me to believe he was just doing this from my thoughts that I thought I've got must be doing something. So I thought, I'll kind of up the challenge a little bit. And with my eyes closed, I pictured the gazebo, right? This structure that was in the middle of the arena.

And we were on like, one side of the arena at this point, and closed my eyes, I was thinking about the gazebo, and he started walking and he. It felt like he was walking a while, I remember, but I did not open my eyes until he came to a standstill. He came to a standstill, and I got a pretty big shock. I opened my eyes and we were in the gazebo.

He actually went into the structure. Now, for a horse to go in there is surprising enough, but the fact that he did it seems, seemingly from my thoughts, kind of blew my mind. I remember I was actually like a little bit afraid for a moment. And meanwhile, before this, I've had a lot of dreams that were, you could call telepathic or whatever you want to call them, or prophetic maybe.

So all this wasn't completely new to me by any means, but it really opened up the door for me for what is possible and how we can create a bigger life internally. Right? Because at the time I was A well paid computer systems person, you know, working with Wall street firms and all of this stuff. And it was a good job in many ways. People thought like, oh wow, it's fantastic she has this job.

But, you know, it didn't feed my soul. I was good at it, but it didn't feed my soul. And that experience with Spotsy, that was so mind expanding, heart expanding for me, showed me that a level of connection can really increase our communication like that. That experience required me to be deeply connected with my horse, which I was, and to also, and this is really important to allow new possibilities to unfold.

If my mind had been completely shut down to it, that never would have happened. So it's this idea that we can allow new possibilities. We don't know, we don't know what, you know, our intersection, our relationship with animals, you know, can provide us with. And that was a door and that was one of the reasons that really, really got me started on the path of leaving my corporate career and moving cross country.

Yes, of course, with Spozzi and settling in San Diego County, California and taking the Feldenkrais four year training. And from, you know, even before I moved to California, I had given up my corporate career to dedicate my life to working with, with animals and their people. And I, because I wanted to feel that level of connection and I didn't want it just to be an occasional thing. I wanted it to be a deeper part of my life and even my working life.

Yes. And so I talk about this in my book, grow young with your dog, how I had such a deep connection with a brand new client I had. His name was Rocky. This is in chapter two of the book. And it allowed me to really feel what he was feeling and to help him physically on a very, very deep level. So there's all kinds of things that you know, are possible.

I don't know what the, what the borders are, I don't know what's possible. But if I open my mind and my heart especially to new possibilities, I can see what can unfold based on love. And so I, speaking of love, I love helping other people develop a deep connection with their animals as well. So I hope this gives you food for thought. This can be applied to any animal you share your life with and, or even just a new animal that enters into your life.

Like with me, with my clients, sometimes I, you know, I'm seeing them for the first time. Can I, with an open heart and an open mind, develop a level of connection that can fulfill both of us? That can help both of us in body and mind. So again, little food for thought for you and thank you so much for being here. I so appreciate you listening to the podcast and I look forward to talking to you again soon.

Bye for now.