Horse power
Healing the hearts of humans
HEALING others through the help of horses is a way of life for Isabel Wolf-Gillespie from the Midlands.
Describing horses as having “a profound effect” when it comes to human interaction, Wolf-Gillespie, who specialises in equine-facilitated therapy, said a horse’s sense of awareness was so acute that it quickly picked up on human emotions.
“When we interact with them, whether it’s sadness, false pretence or anger, they pick up on that immediately. The simple reality is that horses help without expecting any return. It’s that same element of healing you get with dogs, and you can also get from being in the wild,” said Wolf-Gillespie.
Born in Germany, she moved to South Africa 10 years ago where she met and married her Durban-born husband, Lloyd.
After a lot of travelling around Africa on various conservation-based initiatives, the couple started up The Company of Horses in the Midlands, just past Dargle .
“Both my parents have horses and I grew up with them since I was a toddler,” she said.
She added that she did not like being referred to as a “horse whisperer”.
“I would prefer to be called a horse listener.
“I facilitate the interactions between horses and people.
Horses have a profound effect on individuals. In their unconditional way of giving, they deliver again and again. Sometimes we cannot put into words how we have been helped. We just know it to be the truth. Horses build a bridge to connect people and nature.
“They have that wildness to connect us at a deeper level,” she said.
The couple’s 27 horses that live on their farm on the edge of Inhlosane Mountain live as a wild herd.
“They live naturally. They are not in stables. There is no solitary confinement, no (bridle) bits in their mouths and no shoes on their feet. Fifteen of the horses, which we rescued, are completely wild. It’s a very holistic way of keeping them,” said Wolf-Gillespie.
She added that it was a false perception that horses were only for riding.
“I spend only about 5% of my time riding horses, the rest is walking with them.”
Highlighting the similarities in the dynamics of a horse herd and a human family, she said a horse family herd was led by the lead mare who was responsible for the herd’s overall well-being, health and safety.
“She takes on the role and responsibility of the mother, not only of her own children, but of the entire herd.
“In human life, a stable family requires a nurturing mother role, non-specific of gender,” said Wolf-Gillespie.
A stallion, or gelded male, fulfils the father role, reprimanding young boisterous colts, and is key in ensuring the herd’s safety and actively defends it against threats and possible predators.
“Stallion and human fathers alike are often more distant, but when matters require serious attention, they are essential in keeping everyone in order and safe,” she added.
When it comes to the actual process of healing, Wolf-Gillespie said, “Horses are always acutely aware of themselves, each other and their environment and based on this awareness, they make decisions to remain in a fully-regulated, homeostatic state, if they are allowed to live in a natural, non-restricted life.
“This is not to say they do not experience fright or other forms of stress, but their regulatory system is impeccable in getting them back into the feeling of safety, security and content.
“Most therapeutic methods, whether family oriented or not, aim to increase a person’s awareness. Some are focused on finding ways to regulate themselves better when not coping.
“It seems that if humans could find ways to emulate the way of a horse, to live by the example of the horse, maybe humanity would find itself at a crossroads for the better.
“In my opinion, it is obvious and the next step in our development .”
Wolf-Gillespie and her horses are going to be filmed in September as part of the Sisters of the Wilderness documentary, which has recently been filming in the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve. It is a documentary focusing on the lives of five young KwaZuluNatal women from difficult backgrounds discovering the power of nature to empower themselves and develop leadership skills based on ubuntu and inhlonipho (respect).