These people are all over Asheville. They apparently are rich as Croesus, because they advertise relentlessly. It makes no sense to me either - I rode horses pretty seriously from age 5 to age 15, and I got no life shaking insights, except that by the time I was 10 or so I finally admitted that yeah, horses are not the brightest animals on the ark. Sweet, check, fun, check, smart? Uncheck. Intuitive? Uncheck. Your dog is far more helpful in times of crisis than your horse, who really only cares about that days ration of sweet meal.

But, you know, whatever. If somebody can find nirvana in a stall and that in turn affords somebody else the opportunity to keep a lot of horses and a lot of horse friendly land, as opposed to new multi million dollar condos & private airstrips, well, hell. Sell me a franchise. Let's all get psychoanalyzed by Equus!

Yeah, bollocks. (As opposed, you know, to bullocks.)

Horses are the new dolphins.

The last time I rode a horse was about 15 years ago. I wasn't in very good shape, exercise-wise, and the horse insisted on trotting, so I, er, bounced a lot, and the next day I had all these massive colorful bruises on my inner thighs. It looked like I'd been assaulted.

Horses are the new dolphins.
posted by Arqa 06 April | 15:01

Arqa, let's hope horses are kinder.

I think the internet has permanently damaged my previously untainted, unblemished soul.

I was actually expecting more explicit, erm, animal husbandry.

I bet that's a life changing experience. I should call up Catherine on the deadphone and ask her. Yes, I know it's an unsubstantiated and apocryphal rumor, but her responses are always entertaining, if prolifically profane.

So many tall tales have been spawned
About Catherine the Great's passing-on
If they're true, it's shame
She's as great as they came...
But oh, what a way to have gone!

Horses kinder? hmmm, well stallions in the wild are less than keen on the offspring of a previous stallion in a herd. If there's a power skirmish and an old stallion gets ousted, if foals have very recently been born, then those foals are occasionally turned into ex-foals.

I'm happy that a dolphin is just as likely to use a person in the sea as a toss-about toy, as they are to nudge them towards the safety of the nearest fluffy beach.

Your dog is far more helpful in times of crisis than your horse, who really only cares about that days ration of sweet meal.

Yes, but in that sense the horse is giving you a good life lesson. Also, the horse can deliver a few thousand pounds of force to your solar plexus if he thinks you're being a jerk, or if he just takes a fancy to. That is also a good life lesson.

You know, yesterday afternoon I knew nothing about the Equine Psychotherapy Industry. Today, I know that it is apparently thriving. Dang. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or not.

What if, like me, you are poisonously allergic to horses? What life lessons can one draw from hives and wheezing? If you break your leg, should you shoot yourself? If you feel like losing it completely because you think there's a predator coming up beside you, and running off down the highway despite your rider's best efforts to stop you, should you do it?

Ah well.

mgl, thanks for providing me with my biggest laugh of the day.

Meet the horses.

Known for being grounded and present in the moment, Dreamer never tires of working with clients. This easygoing Palomino gelding is a natural EAP horse and tells it like it is. He and Shannon are working on achieving their Level 2 Parelli certification and study often at the Parelli center in Florida.

This attractive young Paint with the sky-blue eyes is just as sweet as he is handsome. Since he knows it, his nickname is “Rock Star”! Rocky’s calm nature and propensity to lie down and snooze during sessions often puts apprehensive clients at ease.

*laughs hysterically*

It's a very powerful therapy for children with severe emotional/behavioral disorders or are somewhere on the Autistic spectrum. Sounds goofy but the results are astonishing.

loquacious, you could always call this guy on the deadphone.