The Return of the Horsewoman
Life at camp Bar-L in Guthrie Center, IA
The question came unexpectedly, slipping into a phone check-in as naturally as a breeze through an open field. Are you a horsewoman? Kelly’s words struck a chord, reverberating through my bones like the gallop of hooves on sacred earth. At first, I hesitated. It had been so long—decades since I last brushed the soft coat of my first horse, Dandy, since I felt the weightless flight of saddling up my western saddle and riding in the pasture in Iowa under an endless sky. But something stirred within me, a memory long buried yet never truly forgotten.
As if called by an unseen force, I unearthed old photographs, dusted memories layered with the scent of leather and hay. There I was—young, wild, and free—spending summers at horse camp, where dawns were greeted with gentle nickers and evenings settled under a sky full of stars, my body exhausted but my soul alive. I remembered Dandy, my first horse, an untamed spirit as fierce and independent as the wind. She was my mirror, my teacher, my guide. I would spend hours bathing her, carefully scrubbing away the dust and sweat, only to watch her immediately roll in the dirt and mud, undoing all my work with a satisfied shake.
And then I wondered—why had I let this part of me slip away? Why had I walked so far from the world where I once belonged?
The Horsewoman’s Return
The journey back to the horse is never just about the animal. It is about remembering who you are at your core—the part of you that was never broken, never tamed, only waiting for the right moment to gallop forward again.
The horse has long been a symbol of power, intuition, and freedom. In myth and spirit, the horsewoman is one who rides between worlds, moving fluidly between the physical and the mystical, the wild and the wise. She does not seek control; she seeks partnership. She does not force; she listens, trusts, and surrenders to the rhythm of the earth beneath her.
For me, this return is not only about horses but about the deeper invitation they bring—to integrate their essence into my path. As a psychic medium, I have always walked the liminal spaces, listening to whispers beyond the veil. Now, I see the horse as a guide in my shamanic journey, an ally who teaches me the balance of movement and stillness, intuition and action. The horse is a portal, a bridge between my past and my becoming.
I find myself drawn to the sacred relationship between the Ojibwa people and their horses, their connection forged in trust and mutual respect. Like them, I seek to understand the spirit of the horse not as a tool but as a teacher, a being of wisdom who reminds us how to listen—not just with our ears, but with our whole being. The medicine of the horse is calling me back, and I am ready to answer.
Stepping Back into the Sacred Bond
As I allow this journey to unfold, I know the first step is simply to be in their presence again—to stand in their stillness, to move with their rhythm, to remember the language I once spoke fluently in my heart. I am seeking places to work, to volunteer, to immerse myself in the sacred companionship I once knew so intimately. Perhaps, one day, I will bring another horse into my life, a new Dandy, a new companion to teach me what I have yet to learn.
But for now, I let the spirit of the horse guide me, unbridled and open, galloping toward a destiny that has waited patiently for me to return.
Yes, Kelly, I am a horsewoman. And I am finding my way back home.
Self-Inquiry: Reconnecting with the Horse Within
If this story resonates with you, take a moment to reflect on your own connection with horses—whether in memory, spirit, or presence. Here are some self-inquiry questions to deepen your exploration:
Have horses ever been a part of your life? If so, what memories stand out the most?
What qualities of the horse—freedom, intuition, strength, companionship—do you feel drawn to embody in your own life?
Have you ever felt a calling to reconnect with horses? If so, what has held you back?
In what ways might you invite the energy of the horse into your journey now?
What does being a horsewoman mean to you?
Let these questions guide you, as the spirit of the horse leads you toward your own path of rediscovery.
