Welcome to our journey!
Welcome to our first update from our journey. We are so excited that you are here.
So much has happened since we last came together in July for our Birthday Fundraiser. Because of your support we were able to adopt our first horse, Mandy. She is an 8 year old Mustang who lived free until the age of 2 when she was rounded up. We are overjoyed to take this next huge step in our work of developing a repairing relationship with the land, horses, and each other.
Rebecca would like to share a few reflections with you.
As a Jewish person, one of my core values is Tikkun Olam, which means “repair of the world.” We understand this as a big undertaking but also seek to participate in this repair in our everyday lives. I know deeply that Mandy is one of my connections to this work.
Last week, Mandy and I had our first training session together with our horse trainer, Farah DeJohnette.
Over the past year Farah has been a tremendous support in helping us get to this phase of development with the sanctuary. We met virtually while I stood in Mandy’s paddock. Mandy stood with me, per her own choice (no halter or lead) for the whole session.
In this conversation we, as two Jewish people of differing cultural experiences, integrated our thinking about the Mustangs in America – the trauma they endure when being rounded up, separated from their herd families, and often physically and emotionally traumatized in the process.
We connected this to how Black people, Jewish people, Palestinian people, and so many other groups experience similar types of violence and for similar reasons – many of which are related to land. We talked about the destruction of ecosystems and how this leads to further inhumane interventions.
I bet you didn’t expect for this to be what I discussed with my horse trainer. But the truth is, I don’t know how to truly listen to Mandy and build a trusting relationship with her without these conversations.
How can I begin to understand the trauma she experienced being rounded up as a two year old Mustang roaming free with her head without becoming curious about it and learning with people who know more about it than me?
How can I begin to understand the ways in which that trauma she experienced may be still impacting her? How can I participate in that partnership without exploring what it brings up in me?
This also directly connects to my approach to trauma therapy with humans.
When I recognize that she has trauma,
I slow down and assess how I am feeling and how this impacts Mandy.
I challenge my assumptions regarding equine behavior and handling strategies. This comes with the acknowledgement that these assumptions may be rooted in traditional horsemanship practices that were embedded in me, or that I was socialized to believe.
I ensure that I don't mistake her stress for misbehavior (i.e., pawing at the gate isn't to break the gate, it is communicating a need.)
Stable Grounds Sanctuary is about coming together in community to practice Tikkun Olam.
I feel so blessed to work with and learn from people like Farah who understands the holistic nature of trauma and relationship building with horses.
We are excited to embark on this learning journey with you.
Together we will think critically about how we do this repair work.
Today we are launching our campaign to ask you to join our Sanctuary of Stewards, our community of monthly sustainers to 1. Stay closely involved with these conversations and 2. Help us extend our reach as we build our educational platform.
In times like these, as we bear witness and experience so much pain, building and strengthening an explicitly reparative community is more important than ever.
All Our Love,
Rebecca and the SGS Board