Adapted from the forthcoming eBook: New and Sustainable Ways with Horses by Barbara Berst Adams, edited for www.MicroEcoFarming.com by Amy Rose.
When people wonder how to start a small farm as a livelihood that earns them a living, they sometimes think income from small-acreage horse ranches is a pipe dream as far as being profitable. But Leigh Shambo earns her full time income from her 9.3 acre micro horse ranch in Chehalis, Washington State as a natural horse and rider trainer, as well as a facilitator of horse therapy programs for non-riders. She named her non-profit business "Human-Equine Alliances for Learning (H.E.A.L.), which pays her salary while allowing her to do wonderful things in the world of horse ranches. "Our therapy programs, personal growth workshops and facilitator training programs are open to people with any level of horse experience, and no riding is involved," she says. While experienced riders have also found her programs to work wonders for their riding hobby or profession, she has seen great things with non-riders as well. It was her own healing with horses that made her aware of the potential of horses as healers.

"As a young adult," Leigh said, "I earned a degree in Animal Science from Southern Illinois University, and began a career teaching riding and training horses. Then, in 1988 when I was 31 years old, two things happened that set me on a new course. A serious riding accident resulted in a broken pelvis, leaving me with a long period of rehabilitation and significant fear once I did start riding again. And later that year, my mother ended her life by suicide, a shock that prompted me to seek therapy. As I got back to working with and training horses, I found myself undergoing a process of emotional healing that was truly life-changing and profound. (This article © and written for www.microecofarming.com)

"Soon after, I started learning new horse training techniques: what is now referred to as 'natural training' or 'horse-whispering.' These techniques rely on an emotional bond with the horse, a trusting partnership instead of forceful techniques applied to unwilling horses. Most of this work is done on the ground, without even a halter or rope on the horse. I could not help but notice that the horses were highly attuned to my process of psychological healing and growth.

"On days when I was emotionally 'optimum,' the horses usually partnered right up, without any attempt (from me) to 'make' them do it. On days when I was unwittingly in a negative mood, the horses were reluctant to join up and would resist my efforts in a variety of ways. I could not 'fake it' with horses by telling them I was fine when I wasn't, as people so often do with each other. I also found I actually could listen to the horses, and let them help me become optimum even on my down days. When I let the horses help me get in touch with my feelings, even difficult ones, they became attentive, open, soft and helpful. This is why I say 'Emotional wisdom = horsemanship magic!'

"Working this way with horses was transformative for me, and also for the students I was teaching. The learning that takes place in relationship building with a horse translates directly to human relationships, and life choices. I became increasingly focused on the human psychology involved, and earned my Masters in Social Work. Simultaneously I pursued additional training from other perspectives-the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (www.eagala.org) and Epona Equestrian Services (www.taoofequus.com) in Arizona."

Leigh also gives workshops on others' horse ranches. It's a collaboration that people who want a stream of income from their horse ranches might want to consider if they don't have the natural horse training themselves to facilitate. Instead, they can hire a natural horse workshop leader to come onto the ranches for shared benefit. The author, Barbara Berst Adams, observed Leigh teaching her students on a horse ranch where she put on a fee-based workshop. She allowed each student to choose a particular horse to work with, and then to enter a ring with the horse who was free within the ring. The student then became quiet, and began to "tune in" with her equine companion. (This article © and written for www.microecofarming.com)

"Even 'non-horse' people quickly build strong bonds and positive relationships with horses when they are able to practice emotional self-awareness, clarity without judgment, and assertiveness coupled with gentleness and respect, Leigh continues. "Of course, these very same qualities enhance all human relationships as well! The horses' responses provide immediate guidance to people for accessing these qualities within themselves. There is an old saying, 'The horse doesn't care how much you know, until he knows how much you care.' But, how do we put our caring (for ourselves and others) into practice? In very precise ways, the horses seem to show us the way to translate caring into appropriate action.

"Very quickly, the horses provide proof that who you are on the inside speaks more powerfully than anything else. In a truly amazing and therapeutic way, horses guide people to access higher levels of awareness. Then horses reward the person with gentle bonding responses. These experiences occur even when we are working with the horse in ways that have nothing to do with traditional riding or horsemanship."

"To give a concrete example," Leigh said about a situation where her workshop became quite valuable to a human participant, 'Sally' (not her real name) was plagued with feelings of regret over her divorce and its effects on her teenage child and her personal dreams. Before entering the pen with a horse named Frieda, she expressed the desire to have Frieda give her a sign of forgiveness, an affirmation of her innate worth in spite of her recent experiences. For several minutes, Frieda ignored Sally, and moved away whenever Sally made attempts to approach her. What was Frieda trying to say? This is an example of a situation calling for expertise in both horse psychology and human psychology!

"Very gently I suggested that Sally contemplate what it would feel like to forgive herself. In that moment, Frieda looked toward Sally as if for the first time, and promptly walked over to her, made a small circle around her, and stood by her side! Sally practiced for another half hour. Whenever Sally wanted Frieda to bestow forgiveness, Frieda would move away from her again. Each time she could hold the thought of forgiving herself, Frieda would again join up close by Sally's side. As Sally went back to her world of human relationships, this one experience resulted in greater emotional well-being, increasingly positive relationships with her daughter and ex-spouse, and better success in building new relationships to sustain her through a difficult life stage."

Natural horse ranches are becoming more popular, as English and Western riding practices evolve into a new era for human and horse. Leigh is able to travel around the world teaching about horses, and then come home to her micro horse ranch in Washington State. It's important to note that part of her non-profit program allows donations, but those donations go towards scholarships for those who can't afford the horse therapy programs, while Leigh earns her livelihood as a natural horse and rider trainer and workshop facilitator. (This article © and written for www.microecofarming.com)

New and Sustainable Ways with Horses will offer more information on earning streams of income from small-scale eco-horse ranches (or even the backyard pony) and raising horses with new evolved natural practices. Included are an introduction and resources for the new paradise paddock method of allowing horses to be healthier, happier and gain as much exercise as their wild cousins on small acreage horse ranches, gaining income for mini ranches from a compost operation, creating wild herbal pastures and hedgerows as natural feeding stations, and using horses as a customer draw for an agritourism business. It also suggests and brainstorms systems that may help save wild horses as the horses run free in a manner that also provides income to further benefit the wild horse situation. Please check back. The eBook will be available when the link is live.