Today, we’d like to introduce you to Erin Robinson. Erin was introduced to us by the brilliant and talented Christina Marz.

Erin, can you walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Horses have been in my periphery for the majority of my life. I grew up in Denver, Colorado, one of the original cowboy towns, where my family always had horses around. When I was young, my parents gifted me my first horse. We worked with trainers in a local barn where we trusted they would guide us in our inaugural role as horse guardians. However, we soon realized that we were not values-aligned. The trainers focused on performance and flashy moves, and we disagreed with their methodology to achieve particular outcomes. Given this, we made the decision to step away from that environment.

Although horses were not always part of my immediate existence, my love for them never faded. In 2017, in an attempt to create balance and joy in my life, my mom adopted two horses from Montana. I was working too much, and my partner was battling cancer. Mom wanted to give me something that brought levity to my current circumstances. 18 months later, my partner passed away suddenly from what the doctors described as a “heart event”.

This was an incredibly traumatic time for my family. The year following Chad’s death was full of deep pain and darkness. I was in complex grief trying to navigate a new world and care for these remarkable creatures. It wasn’t until the beginning of the pandemic, when the world shut down, that I had to confront my grief and truly be present with myself and the horses. That’s when I was introduced to HeartMath®.

This practice transformed the connection I had with myself, the horses, and everything around me. In the trauma of Chad’s death, I completely detached from most, if not all, life-giving forces. Between the horses and HeartMath®, I was bestowed a gift that quite literally saved my life. HeartMath® helped increase my capacity for coherence and awareness, while the horses taught me to trust my intuition again. As prey animals, they innately rely on energetic transmission, more than what is easily seen or heard.

In my healing journey, I’ve emerged from a period in the dark night of the soul, to a deep understanding of myself and vehement appreciation of the power of the human-horse connection.

Please tell us more about your practice.
At Grateful Farms, my passion lies in teaching people about the transformative magic of horses and the profound connection they foster. Our practice focuses on sharing the healing power of horses through certified HeartMath® techniques and a unique equine therapy modality known as Horse Guided Empowerment®. We provide a safe space for self-exploration, allowing clients to reflect on and transmute their thoughts, ideas, or beliefs about various life circumstances through energetic communication with the herd. In addition to our work at Grateful Farms, I travel to conduct coaching workshops for those seeking higher levels of coherence, resilience and overall mental wellness. I collaborate with different herds of horses, offering Horse Guided Empowerment® workshops that integrate HeartMath® techniques and our signature practice, the Energy Hug®. What truly sets our practice apart from other equine therapy modalities, is the agency we give to the horses. In Horse Guided Empowerment®, the horses have the choice to participate in the sessions. We invite them to engage based on the intention we set for the session, allowing them to decide how they want to show up. This contrasts with many other modalities where horses may not have the option to choose if they want to assist in the session. In our approach, the horses serve as the practitioners, while we act as stewards guiding the session. This dynamic fosters genuine energetic communication and exchange between the humans and the horses, creating a unique and meaningful experience. I take immense pride in the reciprocity inherent in our practice. We emphasize not only how horses can help humans heal, but also the importance of honoring and protecting these magnificent animals. Recognizing the undeniable intelligence present in horse herds worldwide allows us to celebrate and safeguard them in a different light. By acknowledging the wisdom that horses offer, we can work toward more prominent protection for them and the extraordinary significance of their family dynamic. This reciprocal relationship is at the heart of what we do, and I love that about our practice. It embodies a holistic approach to healing that has the capacity to benefit our global family of humans and horses alike.

Christina Marz and Horse guided Empowerment have been great to us and I know you’ve got a great relationship with them as well. Maybe you can tell our audience a bit about Christina Marz and Horse guided Empowerment and your experience with them.
Christina and I have a very special bond. We were introduced by a mutual friend at the end of 2020 and quickly discovered that we share similar hearts, passions, and a love for horses. We even got certified in HeartMath® together in early 2021.

What I admire most about Christina is her altruism and dedication to helping all walks of life, both human and animal. She is passionate about giving a voice to everyone and fostering the opportunity for them to be well and thrive. When I was struggling with grief and felt I wasn’t providing my horses the life they deserve, Christina was the solution. She encouraged me to take her course, which ended up changing me and my horses for the better. Now, I’m able to pay it forward as a mentor for the Horse Guided Empowerment® students, helping others on their healing journeys.

Christina’s work has an acute ripple effect. Together, we dream of global expansion through heart-based living and honoring the wisdom of the herd. As we continue to share the transformative power of Horse Guided Empowerment® and strengthen its reach, I believe it has the potential to change the world. It has certainly changed mine.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grateful_farms

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinrobinson78/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GratefulFarms1111?mibextid=LQQJ4d

Other: https://energyhug.org/