By David Rude
There is no doubt that social isolation and loneliness have had a profound effect on personal health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. I imagine that anyone who had open-heart surgery during this time may have truly struggled. It is well known that mood swings and difficult feelings — including depression, fear, anxiety, loneliness, helplessness and anger — can be common after heart surgery.
I have a friend, John, who had emergency heart surgery in February. He, like me, had five bypasses and returned home to isolation due to the global pandemic and his post-surgery recovery. Fortunately, John has a caring wife and friends who regularly connect with him via Zoom and other social media sources. Despite this, he still struggles with feeling isolated, and his moods continue to vary from high to low. His wife shared her concerns with me, as I am a friend, coach and someone with a similar heart recovery story to John. I encouraged her to bring John to our ranch and spend some time with me. I was hoping he would be interested and willing to spend some time with our horses as well.
My wife and I live on a horse ranch in Northern California where we offer dressage training and boarding. We also operate a nonprofit, Gypsy Magic Equine Outreach, which utilizes our horses for activities like visiting convalescent and children group homes. Many studies have shown that animals, such as dogs, cats and horses, not only inspire personal wellness for the individual, they are also helpful in connecting the individual with the community around them.
I believe that horses have the uncanny ability to illuminate who we are and where we need to go. They respond to us as unique individuals and somehow understand who we are in our hearts and souls. Horses touch deep recesses and regions in us that are typically inaccessible and help us address issues we are afraid to examine.
After a few ranch visits, John agreed to work with the horses and me. We did some equine-assisted coaching, which does not require previous horse experience. Horses notice, sense and appreciate when folks are themselves and in the moment. This present-based, mindful approach helped John stop worrying and overthinking and allowed him to be focused and on task. He had no time to get lost in negative, troubling thoughts. This fostered John’s ability to make positive connections with the horses, and it was great to see him smile, laugh and become calm.
I have found that horses can serve as teachers and guides and transport us to a new journey of self-awareness. The connections I have made with these amazing animals throughout my life have been powerful and meaningful, especially during my personal and post-surgical healing.
David Rude, MA, is an Equine Assisted and Certified Professional Coach as well as a life and education strategist. For more information, please visit davidrude.com
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