How Sitting on a “Dangerous” Horse Helped Me Discover Inner Peace and Courage
Do you ever have one of those moments where you’re doing something scary, but everything inside of you tells you it’s okay—that this is meant to be?
That was exactly what happened last week when I sat up on our big boy, Ollie, for the very first time.
Meeting Ollie
We have been Ollie’s guardian for about a year. He’s a big, sweet boy—but when we first adopted him, he carried the labels of “dangerous,” “unpredictable” and “overly sensitive.” So much so that he was almost euthanized. Just 12 months ago, we couldn’t even pat him without a scared, sometimes explosive, reaction.
So when MaryBeth and I decided to adopt him, we knew it would be a journey. And it has been—not just for Ollie, but for us, too. Horses are incredible mirrors of your inner world. They reflect your anxiety, your fear, and also your peace and groundedness. Ollie has been one of my greatest teachers when it comes to mindfulness, staying relaxed and being present, especially since I had little experience with horses prior to him.
With Ollie, we’ve had to grow as much as he has. What started as a horse that kicked out and didn’t enjoy being touched to becoming an emotional support companion we give deep tissue massages to and love on for hours. He is delighted, curious and a fast learner with his training. And is the first one to run over to the camera for our Healing with Horses guided meditations.
Getting this far has taken patience, practice, and a commitment to honoring his pace instead of forcing him into ours.
Building Trust
For the past few months, we’ve been working with Ollie, slowly building up to the moment when one of us could sit on him. There were times I thought, “I could just jump on his back right now and he’d be fine.”
But my logical brain told me to slow down. To keep taking one step at a time.
A couple of weeks ago, MaryBeth was the first to swing her leg over him, laying gently across his back as her birthday milestone. And last week, it was my turn.
Before we started the session, I did something that has become part of my own preparation for big moments: I used the Emotion Code. I cleared out any trapped emotions in myself, in MaryBeth, and Ollie that could have created anxiety or overwhelm in the moment.
Then it was time.
The Moment of Connection
I started slowly, moving step by step, until finally—I went for it. I sat up on Ollie.
And it just felt right.
I threw my arms up in the air with joy.
Later, MaryBeth told me that wasn’t the smartest move—horses are prey animals and that gesture could have triggered him into thinking a predator was going to attack him.
But at that moment, I wasn’t afraid at all. I wasn’t in my head. I was completely in flow and connected to my inner knowing and Ollie.
Ollie stood steady beneath me. Calm. Strong. Present.
And I felt it too: connected to the universe, to Ollie, to MaryBeth, and most importantly, to myself.
Fear and anxiety were nowhere to be found. It was pure love, connection and a deep knowing inside of me.
What This Means for You
I share this story because I know you’ve had moments like this, too—times when something felt scary but your inner knowing told you it was okay.
Perhaps it was starting a new job, moving to a new city, ending a relationship, or even saying yes to something that pushed you outside your comfort zone.
Deep down, you knew.
But here’s the thing: it’s so easy to override that knowing. To let fear, logic, or old stories convince you to play it safe, stay small, or back away.
Your intuition is divine guidance. It’s your inner compass. And the more you practice listening to it, the stronger it becomes.
The challenge? Most of us are so caught up in stress, busyness, and mental noise that we can’t hear it. We doubt it. We second-guess ourselves.
That’s why building a daily practice to connect with your intuition is so important. It helps you hear your inner wisdom more clearly and make empowered choices from that place.
? DailySpark Practice: Empowered Choices
Here’s a simple practice to try today, straight from one of our DailySpark meditations:
? Click here to listen to Empowered Choices: Affirmations for Healthy Boundaries
This short guided practice helps you:
- Trust your inner wisdom to guide your choices
- Honor your truth by making decisions aligned with your values
- Strengthen your self-respect, one choice at a time
- Speak up and stand tall in your truth
You don’t need hours. You don’t need the perfect environment. Just a spark—a reminder of who you really are and what you’re capable of.
Keep the Momentum Going
That’s exactly what The DailySpark is designed for.
Every morning, you’ll get a 2–3 minute guided practice delivered to your inbox. Small, doable, and consistent—so you can keep connecting with your intuition and living aligned with your values.
Start your day with clarity. Move through your day with confidence. Make empowered choices that reflect who you are.
? Start your 7-day free trial of The DailySpark today.
P.S.
Before I sat on Ollie for the first time, I used the Emotion Code to clear trapped emotions—for myself and even for Ollie. That’s one of the reasons I felt so calm and confident in the moment.
If you have a big moment coming up or you’ve been feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or caught in old patterns. I’d love to support you in releasing what’s weighing you down, so you can feel free and connected.
