Lead with Heart & Horses: Horses Hold the Dream Steady: Episode Two

Summary

In this episode, I had the honour of interviewing Chloe Elgar of Three Spirit Ranch, located in Texas, USA, to hear more about her calling to the land, the horses, and her offerings. Chloe shares her personal story about her horses and property, and we connect over our connection to the land as sacred, and to the power of intuition that emerges with deeper clarity in our path with horses, due to the power that is in the energetic intelligence of the horse. In this episode, as we explore the therapeutic and transformational power of horses and nature, Chloe shares her journey of creating retreats on her Texas property and how the land and the horses weave in with her own years of study and practice with intuitive gifts. Our conversation concludes with our thoughts on how retreats can unfold, how our creative process grows as we tend to the land and the horses, and how holding space for our clients to deepen into the magic of nature and horses has a serious quality to it - with a way of allowing for the much needed space to truly listen within.

Chloe's Dream Property and Horses

In this episode on how Horses Hold the Dream Steady, a title inspired by Chloe’s description of her Horse and Land Journey, Chloe shares her journey of finding her dream property and horses in Texas. She describes how her childhood love for horses and connection to nature led her family, in her childhood, to a 500-acre property complete with an Old Western Town, and how she was this Wild Child, running free with a herd of horses, often jumping on bareback, and also sinking into deep conversation with the herd in a profound connection that attuned her even more deeply to the presence of the intelligence of the horse. She speaks to how she explored different properties of land, finally finding her current property in Texas, and how having the land now, fulfills a long-held dream. She also speaks to the story of the land itself, and a fierceness there. Chloe then tells us the story of how she found her first two horses, Raziel and Stevie, through a horse rescue organization, and how the animals chose her as their owner - an experience that many of us who now own horses, can relate to. Our conversation highlights Chloe's deep connection to her horses and the land, as well as the challenges and joys of finding a place that truly feels like home.

Horses as Transition Guides

I so love how this episode explores how horses hold a long held dream steady for us, as we move through our human hopes and fears. Chloe brings this to light as she describes how her horses held her dream of property steady, as she moved through her growing awareness of the vision she was unfolding. Chloe shares with us, her experience of moving to a new land with her horses, describing how her horses helped her through a difficult transition by maintaining a steady presence and encouraging her to embrace her new responsibilities - how they "held the dream steady." Her words highlight the powerful connection people feel with horses and the horses' ability to provide guidance and support during challenging times, and we deepen into this experience further. We also discuss Hillary Schneider's luminary presence in British Columbia with her herd, where she holds space at Epona Rise for a deeper understanding of the profound intuitive connection with horses on her 80-acre property, offering retreats and wisdom to those seeking guidance.

Women's Land and Horse Empowerment

Chloe and I discuss the importance of women owning and caring for land and horses. I also share my personal journey of taking on responsibility for my horses and learning from my heritage and intuition. We explore how the horses and the land can teach resilience and intuitive connection, with Chloe highlighting Hillary's role as a supportive anchor for many women on this path. I also share a vision that I had in breathwork, many years ago, of horses coming down on rays of light from the Sun, and having a meaning to me of how horses will help transform human consciousness, and how the current growth of energetic and healing aspects of working with horses and nature may support a profound shift in collective consciousness in the near future.

Intuitive Horse Retreat Vision

Chloe shares her journey of creating retreat offerings on her land, which began when she felt a calling to work with horses and then became more clear when she was cleaning her cabins one day and then - realized that these two cabins on her property were there for a reason, and would be where future retreat guests would come and stay, and be immersed in her herd in a quiet expansive space, that supports a spacious reflection and integration for her guests. Chloe describes how her horse Dreamer, a Medicine Hat Horse with sensitive traits, played a pivotal role in solidifying her vision for hosting retreats. As Chloe explains what a Medicine Hat Horse is, she shares with us how the Medicine Hat Horse has a specific way of showing up, and we learn through her experince how to be more aware of the gifts that the Medicine Hat Horse brings. Chloe also explains how her approach is intuitive and grounded in the present moment, and based in years of study and practice, which contrasts with her husband's analytical nature. She emphasizes her preference for avoiding rigid methods or modalities, instead focusing on creating a space where participants can connect with the horses and land in a natural way, and how her process is very much one of being in the present moment, and feeling what is happening with the present moment, to guide her forwards.

Retreat Preferences: Individual vs. Group

I was very curious about how Chloe hosts her retreats, as I enjoy the depth within the 1:1 interaction while in the transformative realm of the horses, and so we had an interesting discussion about group versus individual retreats. Chloe spoke to her experience of the benefits of one-on-one sessions, as she has foudn there is a deeper level of transformation and a personal capacity for handling energy. We disucssed this further, as we both have the experience that 1:1 sessions with the horses have a depth, and a clarity, that allow for the retreat guest to get very clear on what is happening within their pscyhe, the subconscoius inner realms, and there is a capacity to go deeply that we have observed. We also discuss how hosting groups, and two people, is something that we have capacity and comfort with, and yet there is also this space of the 1:1 experience that allows for a clarity that is deeply rewarding for our guests.

Transformative Retreats and Nature Experiences

At Three Spirit Ranch, Chloe and her herd have been hosting guests to have truly transformative retreats in the beauty of her land, her horses, her creatures and the beautiful space and nourishing environment that she provides, with thoughtful touches and a balance of hosting and space to simply be. Chloe shares with us her retreat design, explaining the importance of personal space and intentional solitude for participants to process and integrate their experiences. She describes her retreats as medicine journeys where you confront your fears and undergo transformation with the support of the land, the herd, and herself. We further speak to how ceremonies and nature experiences can imprint values in a useful and strengthening way, and help us to discover our unique gifts. We discuss the healing value of the silent interactions with the horses' unique consciousness, as well as the importance of allowing guests to process their experiences at their own pace without immediate interpretation.

Transformative Horse-Inspired Retreats

One of the beautiful parts of how Chloe holds space with horses, is her ongoing creation of physical objects that are designed to embody the essence of her ranch and her horses. In our discussion, Chloe shares with us, her creative process of designing items like her candles and the ranch scarves that are inspired by her horses, her land and the retreat experience - like her scarf with elements of the land on it, and a compass in the middle. She explains how her intention to embody and amplify the energy of the horses influences her designs, and how the products she creates shift and change as she finds the resonance with how each object most aligns with the eneergies of her land and herd. She shares her approach to her retreats, and how her retreats focus on deep self-inquiry while providing a nurturing environment for her guests.

Conclusion

As we wrap up our talk, we discuss a shared vision of women and horses as integral to a new age of intuition and stewardship, guided by the unique intelligence of the Horse. I compare the horse guided medicine experience to traditional plant medicine ceremonies and we discuss the importance of a seriousness and sacredness as to how we support guests to approach the horse sessions and retreats. We discuss how a transformative experience for our clients is held by the power of the unique intelligence of the horse to work with us, to bridge people into a space of greater personal growth, transformation and awareness of the power of the unseen energies that inform our physical world and our path in life, and how these energies can guide us to a more expansive and authentic existence.If you are interested to explore Chloe’s beautiful gifts and shop, her retreats and land and horses, and her offerings and more, you can read more on her website at www.channeledbychloe.com and on her instagram @channeledbychloe, and discover the many beautiful offerings that she creates.