There are some experiences that are almost impossible to put into words because what they give you…read moreis something you feel far more deeply than you can explain. My experience at Kenshō Stables has been one of those.
After losing my dear husband causing overwhelming grief, I struggled to find a place where I could truly feel peace again. My therapist knew that horses had always been my "happy place," & after discovering Kenshō, she personally visited the property, met Gretchen, & experienced the environment b4,recommending that I reach out. I will forever be grateful to my wonderful therapist for taking the time to do that for me.
From the moment I arrived, there was something incredibly special about Kenshō--25 beautiful acres of greenery, horses, open space, & nature, removed from the noise of the outside world. Gretchen greeted me with a warm hug, sweet Ollie (adorable doggie) welcomed me as well, & almost immediately I felt that I had arrived somewhere safe.
My first experience with Gretchen was deeply emotional & unexpectedly meaningful. I had gone for a Reiki session, which takes place outdoors beneath a beautiful canopy of trees, with horses nearby & nature surrounding you. It feels peaceful & protected-like a little sanctuary.
But what unfolded that day became something entirely different. Instead of completing the Reiki as planned, the experience became profoundly personal--I felt an overwhelming sense of my husband's presence & connection to him. Looking back, it felt as though I had been led there for that very moment-to a place peaceful enough for me to feel him in a way I hadn't been able to before.
The horses remained nearby but did not approach me, even though Gretchen had explained they sometimes might. That first experience seemed to have a purpose all its own. It touched my heart in a way I wasn't prepared for & is something I will always carry with me.
Bc we hadn't been able to have the Reiki session we intended, I returned a few days later & this experience was different, yet equally profound.
As Gretchen performed Reiki, the horses came to me. With my eyes closed, I suddenly felt something at my foot. I thought one of the horses was touching me with its mouth, but afterward Gretchen told me it had gently placed its nostril over my big toe for a few seconds. After that brief contact, I felt this sensation in my foot-something I still don't quite know how to describe.
The horse lifted its head but didn't leave. It remained nearby, standing next to me & quietly watching me for what felt like nearly the entire session. There was something incredibly peaceful & moving about knowing it had chosen to stay there with me.
Another horse came close to my head & stayed there as well. At one point I opened my eyes & looked into the horse's eyes & there are truly no words to adequately describe that moment. I felt an extraordinary feeling & connection between us--whether the horses were responding to something within me, offering something of themselves, or we were simply sharing that energy, I don't know. I only know what I felt, and it was beautiful.
There were physical sensations--the tingling, the release--but beyond that was an incredible stillness & peace. The closest way I can describe it is that I almost felt as though I were levitating--not literally, but in the sense of feeling completely peaceful, serene, weightless, & safe. For a little while, the heaviness I had been carrying seemed to lift. My mind was quiet. I wasn't drowning in my thoughts or grief. I was simply there, surrounded by nature, Gretchen's healing presence, & these magnificent animals that had chosen to stay near me. I hadn't felt that kind of peace since losing my husband.
It didn't magically take away grief, nor would I expect it to. But it gave me something I desperately needed: a glimpse of light through it. A reminder that even while carrying tremendous loss, there can still be places where my heart can rest, heal, reconnect with myself, & perhaps begin discovering purpose again.
Gretchen has an extraordinary warmth about her. Her presence, patience, compassion, openness, and willingness to share this beautiful land and the community she is creating make Kenshō so much more than a place with horses. There is a peace here that invites you to simply be--to breathe, feel, reflect, & perhaps discover something within yourself you didn't realize you needed.
I am profoundly grateful that my therapist found Kenshō Stables & that my path led me to Gretchen. I look forward to becoming more involved in the programs & community she is building.
For anyone who is grieving, searching, healing, feeling a little lost, or simply longing for a place where the heart & soul can exhale, Kenshō Stables is an incredibly special place.
Thank you so much, Gretchen, for opening your heart, your land, & this beautiful space to me and others. What you have created here has touched my life more than I can possibly express.
