Today is Valentine’s Day — a day traditionally associated with love, devotion, and heartfelt connection.
The history traces back to Saint Valentine, a figure remembered for acts of loyalty and love carried out in quiet defiance of division and fear. Over time, February 14th became a celebration not only of romantic love, but of courage, devotion, and the willingness to lead with the heart.
And for those of us who walk alongside horses in equine-assisted practice… this day carries even deeper meaning.
Because the work we do is heart work.
The Heart Is Not a Metaphor — It’s a Leadership Instrument
In my work integrating principles from HeartMath Institute, we talk about the heart not simply as an emotional symbol, but as a powerful regulatory center.
Research shows the heart has its own neural network. It sends more signals to the brain than the brain sends to the heart. When we cultivate coherence — alignment between heart, brain, and nervous system — we access:
- Clearer thinking
- Emotional regulation
- Increased creativity
- Greater relational intelligence
- Authentic confidence
Sound familiar?
That’s exactly what horses invite us into.
Horses: Masters of Heart-Centered Alignment
Horses don’t respond to our titles.
They don’t respond to our resumes.
They don’t respond to our carefully crafted words.
They respond to our state.
They mirror incongruence.
They soften in coherence.
They step toward authenticity.
They disengage from pretense.
As equine-assisted practitioners, we know this intimately. The herd reflects whether we are present, grounded, and open — or scattered, guarded, and misaligned.
The heart-centered field is not an abstract idea in the arena.
It is tangible.
It is measurable.
It is felt.
And when a client steps into coherence — when their breathing slows, when their inner dialogue softens, when intention and emotion align — the horses respond. That feedback is immediate. Honest. Clean.
This is HeartMath in motion.
This is heart-led leadership embodied.
Seeing Through the Lens of the Heart Today...and Everyday
On this Valentine’s Day, I invite you to pause.
To breathe.
To place your hand over your heart.
To remember why you began this work.
Not just as a business.
Not just as a modality.
But as a calling.
The horses are calling you — not only to be heart-centered in your own life — but to connect them with the people who desperately need this kind of connection.
The overwhelmed entrepreneur.
The burned-out executive.
The young leader searching for authenticity.
The human who has forgotten how to feel safe in their own body.
You are a bridge.
The horses are partners.
The heart is the pathway.
And creativity — that beautiful, playful, life-giving force — emerges naturally when we lead from coherence instead of chaos.
A Valentine’s Gift for You
In the spirit of today — a day devoted to love and connection — I want to offer you a gift.
If you haven’t already experienced it, I invite you to join the 7-Day RESET — a simple, powerful practice of 7 minutes a day designed to bring you back into heart coherence and grounded alignment.
This isn’t about doing more.
It’s about coming home to your heart.
Because when you are regulated, clear, and aligned…
Your horses feel it.
Your clients feel it.
Your business feels it.
And the ripple spreads.
Today, may you:
- See through the lens of the heart
- Let the creative in you come out to play
- Trust the wisdom of the herd
- Lead with coherence
- Love the work you’ve been called to do
Happy Valentine’s Day.
The horses are waiting.
And the world needs more heart-centered leaders. ❤️