Introduction to Soulstice
Hey there everyone!
My newest project (one of many I have going) is creating a horsemanship blog. This blog will highlight my own journey with horsemanship, musings about ethical and compassionate horsemanship, barefoot integrative hoof care, working with wild horses, working with horses that have trauma, and working with clients using unconditional positive regard and their journey.
As is my nature, this will be straight forward, passionate, and hopefully will resonate with you and inspire others.
In this quick introduction, I will be sharing a piece of my life; the basics. In further blogs I will talk about my own mental health, spirituality, and finding agency in the horse community, even when I didn’t always agree with the values I learned. I will dive deep into my own ego and share the harder truths, because vulnerability is something I wish to see more of in the world.
I am Emily! I own Soulstice Ranch with my partner Dan. We share 24 acres, nestled in “the heart of Maine” (Dexter, the town we live in, uses this to describe its location in Central Maine.) We have a herd of seven horses (domestic and wild!) and also have a BLM burro, Mr.Bojangles!
Both Dan and myself work in social work and as a result we strive to keep things therapeutic at the ranch.
Who buys a ranch and restores an 1830’s Cape in the middle of a pandemic? We looked at one of the most difficult years in a long time and said to each other, it’s now or never. Well, technically I said, “Dan, I am doing this, you in or you out?” With fearful eyes, Dan said, “let’s do it.”
This journey hasn’t been easy. We lived in a camper without utilities for two months while (with the help of family and friends) ripped, shredded, added and installed new pieces in the house as it was inhabitable. Of course, the horses home came first (building shelters and putting up fencing).
And that’s where the Soulstice journey began, one year ago, building from the ground up. That is exactly how I work with animals too. If you want to create a foundation, you use tiny approximations to make something incredible and beautiful, with time, energy, and your heart.
I hope to inspire you all here with my blog posts, as I have found writing to be therapeutic, as well as reading other’s success stories that gave me the courage to be able to take my horsemanship to the next level.
This is a safe space, and will continue to be.
And for all the lost horse women, men, and children out there, I hear you, I see you, and I open my heart to you.
With love,
Emily
