I am continuing to suspend in-person hypnotherapy sessions
with me in my office. However, phone, and Zoom consultations ARE and WILL
REMAIN AVAILABLE!
(This blog was
originally posted on February 10, 2016)
Photo by Morgen
Stern
Many
years ago, I attended a case conference where Hypnosis Motivation Institute instructor Lisa
Machenberg described how she helped someone to
regard even the negative, inconvenient aspects of car ownership in terms of
being a privilege. Apparently, this individual was
procrastinating about getting new tires for his car because not having a
vehicle for one morning would be inconvenient and expensive. His justification
for not doing anything to facilitate the repair was: “Hey, the car is still
drivable, so what is the rush?”
Ms.
Machenberg said the client eventually became motivated to get the tires changed
when they explored the benefits—independence, convenience, the enjoyment of
driving—and the potential consequences of not taking the car
in. The greatest inspiration for him turned out to be the potential financial
burden of having to pay for additional repairs to the body of his or another
person’s car if a flat or blown-out tire caused a crash. At this point in the
conversation, she said, they discussed how the benefits of car-ownership is as
much a privilege as taking good care of the vehicle is a responsibility. This
message became incorporated in the hypnotic
script she created for his hypnotherapy. It
also so resonated with me in terms of how I feel about owning a horse that I
use it as a kind of mantra to keep persevering in my riding and how I take care
of him, as well as to remind Galahad how much I love and appreciate him.
As
most equestrians (and even non-riders) know, riding and owning a horse is an
expensive investment of time, money and emotion. Depending whom you ask, it can
be a toss-up which one of these resources is most expensive at any one time.
Despite their strength, size and speed, these animals are actually more fragile
in some ways than they seem. For example, the extreme changes in summer-like
temperatures we are experiencing in Southern California pose a greater risk of
colic. (Who else has the barn veterinarian’s phone number on speed dial this
week?) A training mishap can result in a pulled muscle, tendon or ligament for
horse or rider. As the price of hay gets higher every season, finding a good
deal on what we feed our equine partner also becomes more challenging and
frustrating. After a heavy rain we must determine that the footing is good
enough to turn the horse out to play or ride without risk of injuring the
animal. Then there is the herculean effort it will take on our part to clean
the gray gelding up after he enjoys rolling in the fresh mud that it looks like
his original black coat has grown back. And so, the list goes on.
By the
time we’re done riding and have completed all the barn chores at the end of the
day, all we want to do is get in a hot shower or bubble bath and wash the dirt
and stress away. But, wait. The horse still needs to be properly cooled out,
cleaned up and “tucked in” before we can do any of the other stuff. And that is
what I mean by responsibility and privilege of owning a horse.
There
is a common expression around most barns: If you don’t have time to groom, you
don’t have time to ride. When I was a teen-ager, all I wanted to do was get on
a horse and go, go, go; grooming afterward was not something I looked forward
to and, in all honesty, I probable did a barely acceptable job. At that time, I
didn’t have my own horse and there was always someone at the barn who would do
the “dirty work” that students like me didn’t like or want to do. But my
attitude did a complete 180-degree turn when I grew up and got a horse of my
own.
I like
to believe that the more time I spend grooming and hanging out with him or just
watching him play with the other geldings in his herd, are opportunities where
we do the most bonding. This is the time where the responsibility of
horse-ownership truly is a privilege. Yes, riding is great and it is a lot of
fun. The reward and pride I feel for both of us when we finally get those
20-meter circles round and circles is immense. But nothing is
as wonderful, to me, as feeling my horse stretching his neck closer and into
the curry comb while I massage the dust and dirt out of his coat afterward.
There
is nothing like the sound of his teeth crunching on a slice of apple or carrot
when I reward him for working so hard for me during our lesson in the arena.
There is nothing like hearing my trainer praise me and Galahad about our
progress and improved skills after a lesson. There is nothing like how happy
and proud I am when Galahad is able to calmly walk past barking dogs or that
new donkey at a neighbor’s property during one of our trail ride. His calm
demeanor at those moments are testament to his temperament as well as the time
spent working to increase his self-confidence and trust in me when he feels
challenged or threatened. There is nothing like the relief I feel when the
veterinarian gives my horse a clean bill of health, or after Galahad’s hooves
are trimmed. And, yes, there is nothing like the satisfaction I feel each month
when I pay for his board and training, or even when I pay dues to renew his
insurance and breed memberships.
Like
the client described at the beginning of this essay, horse ownership—like car
ownership—is undoubtedly an incredible privilege. Horses bring so much
joy, fun and pleasure to our lives that the time, physical effort and expense
seem inconsequential. Knowing that one of these big (or small), powerful
prey animals will cooperate, trust and even seem to seek our companionship is a
wonderful honor to anyone who has an equine partner in his or her life.
Special Offer:
Hypnotherapy to Release Weight
Hypnosis for weight loss series: $1,250 for 10-week series.
(This is a $250 savings!) The $200 fee for the first session will be included
in this rate only when the package is purchased up
front. Book this package before June 30, 2023, to lock in this price as my
rates will be going up on July 1, 2023.
*May not be combined with any other offer. Not
redeemable for cash.
Sara
R. Fogan, C.Ht. is a certified hypnotherapist based in Southern
California. She graduated with honors from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute in 2005. Sara has been
voted the Best Hypnotherapist in Santa Clarita, California, four years in a row
(2019-2022). For more information about Calminsense Hypnotherapy® and to set up
an appointment, please visit http://www.calminsensehypnotherapy.com/
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2023
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