When Sparks Fly

Almost three months have passed since Ditte last visited Helgi and Caroline. She therefore feels a certain sense of anticipation when she arrives at the stable. She is excited to hear how things have progressed since their last meeting and what the second EquiCoach session with Helgi and Caroline Poulsen will involve.

It is perfectly normal for Ditte not to know what the day will bring, or which challenges she will help address. This makes her work exciting and varied.

Nevertheless, the EquiCoaching program offers a better opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of a rider’s collaboration with their horse because it spans a longer period, with a minimum of three to four visits. When Ditte works with a horse, the owner usually asks her to help resolve a particular problem. Ditte rarely visits the same horse several times, but this program is different. The EquiCoaching program is also new to Ditte, and over the longer process she learns more about the horse-and-rider partnership.

Helgi stands in his stall and tells Ditte how much he has been looking forward to seeing Caroline and how much he enjoys going out to make mischief. During their first session, Ditte, Helgi, and Caroline met for the first time and gained an impression of the entire partnership and Helgi’s personality. Following that meeting, Caroline was asked to think more carefully about the challenges and problems she encounters while training Helgi, so Ditte can begin working with the specific issues that arise.

Caroline generally feels that things are going better with Helgi. He seems more confident, more relaxed, and more focused during training. He also appears happier and more cooperative. However, one particular issue remains difficult for Caroline to handle: Helgi’s fear of thunderstorms when he is indoors. Now that summer has arrived, thunderstorms can occur frequently, and the sound of thunder and lightning causes Helgi considerable stress.

Helgi tells Ditte he is afraid of being trapped inside because of the loud noise, and that he reacts most strongly when he cannot see where the sound is coming from. He is not nearly as frightened outside as he is inside his stall. Ditte explains that he cannot get away from the thunder because it often strikes the ground. Helgi repeatedly asks whether she can promise him that it will not happen. Ditte never promises anything with absolute certainty, as she cannot promise that lightning won’t strike.

Helgi says he is most scared of the spark

Ditte has an idea that she hopes will reduce his fear of lightning, which creates a flame-like flash for a brief moment. She asks Caroline to find a flashlight with a colored filter.

Helping Helgi Become More Comfortable

Caroline finds a flashlight. Ditte wants to help Helgi become less reactive by creating a controlled situation and giving him a new light experience.

Ditte also gives Caroline visualization exercises to help Helgi relax and become less sensitive to external influences. The exercises also encourage him to listen more closely to Caroline and notice her calmness.

Caroline and Helgi calmly visualize and draw the weather together while Ditte turns on the flashlight. Gradually, Ditte tries moving the light around him, including above his head and down toward his hooves, where he cannot see it as clearly as when she is standing in front of him. He remains attentive but does not run away or panic. He calmly moves away when the light becomes too close. Normally, he becomes very alert when something moves, and he has difficulty concentrating.

They go outside and take a walk in the woods, where they also practice using the flashlight. This gives Helgi a different experience because he is outdoors in nature, where he must pay attention to several things around him. Helgi registers the flashlight but does not move away from it or withdraw. Caroline is surprised because she would normally expect him to react when the light is switched on.

Caroline says that he seems much calmer now and that she finds it wonderful to get to know her horse better through the sessions with Ditte. Outside, they encounter several horses in the field, which run after them. The visualization exercises and breathing exercises Ditte has shown Caroline also help Helgi become more relaxed in response to external circumstances and influences.

Everyone is pleased after a good day, which included both a pleasant walk and a very successful training session together.