Being with horses…
is a philosophy founded by Sabine & Dan Birmann in Germany. It is not a training method, but a way of life that allows us to reconnect with our awareness and empathy, and thus offering a completely new perspective on the relationship between humans and horses.
In Being with horses…we move beyond traditional approaches based in dominating horses and using them for personal gain. Instead, we recognize that horses are social animals with unique personalities, emotions and needs - just like us. By reconnecting with our awareness, we learn how to listen to our horses and communicate with them in a way that they can understand - through mutual body language that considers our presence, position, and behavior.
Over time, we will realize that our horses experience that which also lives within us - grief, anger, and fear, as well as freedom, power, and joy. As our relationship grows, we may find that our horses reflect back to us that they can move when there is movement in us; they can trust us when we become trustworthy; they will follow us when we learn to lead with their best interest in mind; and they can feel free to be themselves when we learn to become accepting and free.
Through Being with horses…we will inevitably be confronted with beliefs and strategies that block us from being in the present moment - pressure, expectations, perfectionism, ambition, and a fear-based need for power and control. But when we allow our horses to guide us toward being present, moment to moment, we may at times experience a depth of connection to ourselves, our horses, and the world that can only be described as spiritual in nature.
Work with me:
Individual Sessions
60 min | $100
Individual sessions and intensives are akin to couples therapy for you and your horse. Areas of focus may include improving communication by learning to listen to what the other is saying, and speaking clearly using body language and energetic presence. We may also spend some time identifying beliefs and narratives that are getting in the way of your connection with your horse. Last, but not least, we may spend some time exploring ways you both can spend time together that feel mutually enjoyable, and that continue to deepen your connection by building trust in each other.
Clinics
3 days | $800 with horse/$400 for auditors
Clinics offer a wonderful introduction to the Being with horses…philosophy. Each clinic is tailored towards addressing the themes that are coming up for individual participants and their horses. Together, we will reconnect with our awareness, learn about equine psychology and communication through body language, energetic presence, and behavior, and explore a new way of being in relationship with our horses that is based on mutual understanding and trust.
Auditors will participate in all somatic and experiential exercises exploring communication through body language and energetic presence.
What people are saying:
“Carla’s ability to understand horse and human nature, and clearly communicate with both is divine to witness. She has played a huge role in helping me to understand my horse and my behavior around my horse, and therefore myself. Working with her played a huge role in re-wiring my brain and fine-tuning my energy. She helped me examine my fears, my authenticity, my motives, my struggle to be present, and my relationship to play. Working together helped me build self-awareness, self-respect, and self-esteem. I’m grateful for her every day for helping me build such a strong bond with my horse and with my future self.”
“When it comes to my horses I trust Carla and her guidance 100%. Her sense for a horse’s energy and movement is so subtle and finely attuned. And most importantly, her emphasis is always centered on inspiring a horse’s innate freedom and creativity, which is beautiful to behold and rare to find. If you are looking to develop true partnership with your horse, Carla is an incredible mentor.”
“Last weekend I had the pleasure of working with Carla, her approach to being with horses, and to redefining what it means to be in relationship with horses on a heart-level. It’s not training, it’s not groundwork, it’s not a “method”— it’s a way of listening and understanding your horse so that two-way communication is possible.
What I’ve seen in her work is that your horses’ well-being and comfort is at the core of her caring. She’s genuinely impacting the way horses are treated and understood in an authentic way, and I can honestly say it feels healing.”
“With Carla’s guidance, the bond between my horse and me transformed over the course of her clinic. I’ve been a rider and horsewoman my whole life, but the Being With Horses philosophy has profoundly opened my eyes and my heart to a whole new way of being with and relating to my horse. At Carla’s clinic I realized it was what I’d long been searching for. Carla is a thoughtful, patient teacher with a very intuitive sense of both horses and people. She also embodies what she teaches which goes a long way in setting an example for her students. I look forward to spending many more years learning from and working with Carla.”
THE PODCAST
I recently started a podcast with my good friend and co-conspirator in horse-human liberation, Emily Anderson! Emily hosted the first Being with horses…clinic at her beautiful ranch in Emigrant, MT, and has been practicing the Being with horses…philosophy with her own horses for the last three years. Together we explore all things Being with horses…, and what it has been like to stray from the path of conventional horsemanship in pursuit of a real connection with our horses.
Listen here: Horse Time
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