by Nicole Birkholzer

Do you want to give your hard working therapy horse a gift?

Breathe with him.

Turns out, the simplest way to support your therapy horse--is through breath.

Taking a conscious abdominal breath, (breathe in through the nose to the count of three expanding your abdomen, exhale slowly through your mouth releasing your belly) puts us right into the present moment, the now, which is where the horse resides.

As we race through our fast-paced, over-stimulated days we barely breathe and that creates tension in our bodies.  We bring that tension to the barn, to our horse. But, a deep belly breath can change that tension. Research shows that proper breathing calms your nervous system, and if you're breathing deeply and consciously, you also, automatically calm your horse. Breathing more consciously puts you into the present moment and gives you a chance to connect with your amazing co-facilitator.

Here are several perfect opportunities to connect with your therapy horse through breath:

• Next time you head to the barn or paddock, no matter how rushed you feel, take a deep belly breath, (inhale through the nose/exhale through your mouth) and in your mind tune in to the horse. With your breath tell him you're heading his way. 

• When you get to the stall or gate, stop and take another breath and say "Hi Jimmy, let's get ready for our session" giving Jimmy a chance to wake up, or stop eating.

• As you enter the stall and step next to Jimmy, instead of forcing the halter over his ears, take another breath and ask him for participation. Ask him to please put his nose into the halter. Stay open and curious while you ask. So many horses are never given the chance to respond to a verbal request. Jimmy might initially be surprised to be asked, but after a few more offers he will gladly cooperate. Before heading toward the grooming area, take another conscious breath and then invite Jimmy to follow you.

These small but significant efforts to connect with our equine facilitators pay off in all the interactions that follow. Your horse will be more tuned in to you because you are also more tuned in to him. It's a nourishing circle of energy for you both. Considering how much tension Jimmy feels, absorbs and holds while working with his clients, an occasional breath will do wonders for his mental, emotional and physical well-being--and yours as well.

NICOLE BIRKHOLZER is an author and relationship coach for horses and their humans. As the creator of Mindful Connections ™, Nicole is pioneering a new approach to horsemanship and mindful living, where horses are honored as soul-companions and partners in our human search for happiness, fulfillment and wholeness. Discover the ancient wisdom of horses - and the unbridled intuition in every human heart at Mindful-Connections.com . And connect with Nicole on Facebook and Twitter at @Mindfulconnect .