10/22/2026
I have just returned from a long trek to Mississippi and back, where I attended a retreat and Mastermind with Horse Help With Michael Gascon. I regularly participate in their online challenges and take advantage of the education they offer, but being there in person is the ultimate opportunity. There is just something about being immersed in the experience, learning, watching, asking questions, and having those moments when something clicks.
Now I have a tremendous amount to unpack and unload... the truck, the trailer, and my mind. That last one is proving to be the most challenging.
One of Michael's sayings is, "Slow down your ask." He says it in regard to how we're asking our horses, but I think I need to apply it to myself just as much, or perhaps more. With the horses, I can take a breath, relax my body, and ask again. I can recognize when I need to slow down, change my approach, or give them a moment to process what I'm asking. I'm learning to be more thoughtful about that rather than simply repeating myself or asking for more... aka negative loop.
Funny how much easier it can be to offer that same patience to a horse than to ourselves.
Today, I'm giving myself an easy morning before switching gears and shifting my mindset back to massage therapist, tending to my clients. They were gracious enough not to complain too much while I was gone! I've scheduled a few for tomorrow which is normally not a massage day and then I'll start tackling the unpacking... both the physical kind and the mental kind.
The Wyoming air was downright cold as I was greeted by whinnies and horses making their way to the fence. Of course, maybe that was just their way of asking where breakfast was, but I'll take it either way. It warmed my heart as much as the sun on my face.
Of course, my mind is already wandering toward what's next. I've been talking with a fellow retreater about the possibility of hosting a clinic in Nebraska, and it got me thinking... is there anyone else out there who might be interested in hosting one in their neck of the woods, mountains or prairies? Maybe we can bring some Horse Help fun a little closer to home!
And... I am taking my own advice. I'm giving myself the same grace I offered to Sol... one ask at a time, a little patience, and room to figure things out without expecting everything to happen all at once.
