What in the H-orse?
"I started brushing Taz’s hair with the gentleness that I’d use on my kids. Slowing down to pay a little more attention.
We led Taz into the arena and I stood next to Sean as he started talking me through basic groundwork.
I’d never watched someone do groundwork before, outside of movies, and it was kind of fascinating.
“We won’t be riding until you can earn the trust from the horse and master this groundwork. Everything we do with horses starts on the ground.” he explained.
Great. I’m not even fucking riding. I thought, fighting the need for immediate gratification & trying to stay positive.
The image I had in my head of what this was going to be wasn’t accurate, it became more than I could have imagined.
I stood next to Sean and I suppose the tense, excited energy was oozing out of me.
I felt wired, almost like I was putting on an act, trying to be a certain way to fit in.
As good as I thought I was at trying new things, I wasn’t.
He turned away from Taz and looked at me, “Whatever you’ve got going on outside the barn needs to stay outside the barn.”
I’m pretty sure I looked shocked at what he said.
“Taz can feel your energy. Horses have a beautiful way of mirroring back to you, what you’re projecting. Horsemanship is more about energy and your breath than anything else.” he explained as I felt tears sting behind my eyes.
It was exactly what I needed."
- BOOK LAUNCHING 4/4
When I first started riding lessons in the Fall of 2021, I signed up in hopes to do something for me again. I hadn't been around horses since I was a kid but for some reason, I had the urge to be around the animals.
If you would have told me that one year later I'd adopt a horse of my own, I'd call you crazy, thinking how would someone let me own a horse?!
If you would have told me that within two years I'd own two horses, I'd just think you were off your meds.
For a decade, I identified as a health & fitness coach.
I realize now, looking back at the progression of my life as it's been reflected on social media, some might be wondering at what point I decided to give up that role, trading it in for a life coach certification and a passion for sharing my relationship with all of my animals.
My first pivot came as I fell out of love with teaching people what workouts to do and how to eat, the wellness world felt so toxic.
I wanted to do a deeper dive to understand thought processes, mindset and inconsistency. It didn't matter how many plans I gave out, people still struggled to stay consistent in the things that make them feel good - something I'd mastered over the years.
It didn't matter if I was going through divorce, illness, or entrepreneurship ups & downs, I navigated life & business without veering from the routine I'd created.
That's probably why you followed me on social and so I began to teach people how to build daily routines that they could stay consistent in, no matter what.
The next pivot came as I started to get clients who felt like they were on a hamster wheel, living the same days over and over, not really sure on what they're working towards.
I thought back, time-traveling during these sessions, realizing that vision was a big key to the consistency that I did have.
My vision was so clear it kept me in that forward motion.
Because of this, in addition to helping people create a flow that feels good - I led with helping them create a vision for their life.
Not super long term visions, but instead, this year.
What did they want to accomplish?
What did they want life to feel like?
How did they want their day to flow?
What kind of energy did they carry in that future vision?
I helped people get clear on that vision and then, helped them create those feelings now.
We created magic together.
I began to reflect on my own life through this process, thinking about how I wanted to feel myself.
I had just left a pretty toxic 4-year relationship and having been divorced once, I knew that I needed to really figure out what was pulling me to these relationships and deeper, what made me feel like I needed to stay.
By journaling through this, I realized I had more to heal, more self-love to build, more joy to focus on.
What did I want to accomplish?
What did I want life to feel like?
How did I want my day to flow?
What kind of energy did I carry in that future vision?
Joy and self-love look different for everyone, because of this, I started to get curious in my coaching.
The next pivot came as I helped women uncover what each looked like in their own lives.
I'd be shocked, listening to women admit that they did nothing for their own joy, they didn't even know what that looked like.
I'd walk them through visualizations and exercises to help them identify the things that brought them joy, things they'd never given themselves permission to explore, and we focused on beginning to incorporate those things, tiny steps.
I realized through several conversations that people felt held back in their life, unable to work on their vision, because they didn't want to be working the job they were in, forever.
The next pivot came as people shared visions and dreams of doing something for work that lit them up. Following our joy often leads to expansion within our vision.
We start to think - holy shit this is so fun, this lights me up, I want to do this every single day.
I've always led with my joy.
When I started in the wellness space, it lit me the fuck up.
When I started teaching people daily routines, I got so excited helping them find a flow that motivated them.
When I began diving into teaching vision, I felt so fulfilled daydreaming with women and thinking about the what-ifs that forced smiles on their faces.
I believe that I am my number one student, first and always.
Because of that, I'm constantly practicing what I preach and sharing with my clients the things that have personally worked for me.
What brings me the most joy?
What makes me feel the most alive?
I sat reflecting over the last couple of years since I began pivoting away from the wellness industry.
Horses.
It came into my mind as if a voice was yelling it.
Horses bring me joy.
I'd been doing riding lessons and working with my trainer for over two years.
I had learned so much about the equine world and felt more alive than ever when I was at the ranch.
I owned two horses now, boarding at a private co-op ranch which meant that I was learning more about their care, their energy, and their world while getting deeper, hands on experience.
I'd arrive at my barn, greeting all of the mustangs with peaceful energy and loving excitement to spend a few hours with them. As I inhaled, I welcomed the smells of manure, hay, dirt and with every exhale, I could feel the stress, the worries, the ego-driven fears that I'd been carrying all day leave my body.
This.
People comment saying I seem more zen, more calm, more at peace over the last couple of years and I want to stand on the fence while the horses run around me and scream:
THIS! This is why I'm so calm in the chaos!
And this is where my next pivot was introduced.
Instead of yelling at no one and scaring the horses, I decided to dip my toe into the world of equine-assisted coaching.
The Universe really had my back with this one.
She planted the seed for me as my trainer, Sean & I said our goodbyes, daydreaming about the idea of running equine retreats together.
She watered the seed as she led me to a private ranch to board my horses, co-oping with a woman who already has a corporate equine retreat business.
She shined warm sun on the seed as the woman offered to let me help & shadow during some of her retreats and private coaching sessions.
And as the vision sprouted, I started to think why not me?
The vision I once had for living on the beach with my dog evolved into one where I owned a property here in Colorado with my dogs and horses, hosting retreats and stays for women who want to simply reset.
That's what this world did for me, helped me reSTABLEize mentally, emotionally, and physically.
That's exactly what I wanted to help other women do.
So - we pivot.
I am still helping women create their flow, find their joy, get clarity on their vision, and holding them accountable as they build their dream life and/or vision through my one-on-one coaching.
And in addition, I'm inviting them to the ranch with me so I can show them how powerful, how deep, and how awakening it feels to be in the presence of horses.
I'm not going to talk them into buying a horse or owning a ranch, I just believe that over the last couple of years, my horses have been a mirror for me.
They've shown me where my gaps are.
They've shown me where my mind is or isn't.
They've shown me what needs to be cleared from my life.
They've shown me where I've needed to be healed.
They've stabilized me, reset me, and have given me the clarity to move forward with more confidence.
That is what I feel led to share with people.
Either through my Equine-Assisted Retreats in Colorado or my [coming soon] in-person Equine-Assisted Coaching Experiences, my goal is help my horses hold the mirror in front of women that are needing to stand on their own two feet again.
All of these shifts have happened, just in the span of 2.5 years.
I see now as I write, where people watching from social could feel lost.
What in the fuck is Raina doing?
And I hope this helped bring some clarity.
I'm also writing my first book, a memoir of sorts, and I know it'll connect dots as well, giving you a glimpse behind the curtain of my life.
I just thank you for holding space for me as I also follow all of the pings, urges, and voices, leading me to my souls mission.
xx
Raina
@raina.odell
