Finding moments of silence is rare in this loud and busy world. Often, I can't even fill up my car at the gas station without having to listen to music or ads blasting through the speakers next to the pump. I search for a button to turn down the volume or shut off the sound, but there isn't one.

The constant, inescapable, and unnatural noise we encounter each day is an assault on our brains and nervous systems. Even if we've become habituated to the daily background noise in our environment, it's still creating stress at the cellular, neurological, and psychological levels.

Over the last few years, public health researchers have started studying the effects of environmental noise exposure on human health. They have since compiled a body of evidence documenting the consequences of constant noise. These consequences range from increased risk for cardiovascular disease to adverse neuropsychiatric outcomes (e.g., stroke, cognitive decline, dementia, depression, anxiety, and neurodevelopmental disorders). On a physiological level, researchers also found links between environmental noise and increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Would the effects of environmental noise be any less detrimental to equines than they are to humans? 

I just returned from a week-long writing vacation (Thank you, Patti and Jon Memsic, for graciously offering your condo in Mexico!). My goal was to find a place where I could focus on writing my next book while enjoying the natural and soothing sound of gentle ocean waves mingled with the calls of seabirds.

Although the days in Mexico were quiet, I noticed that the sunsets marked the beginning of music, Bingo, and fireworks at a nearby resort. It struck me that, even on vacation, humans like to occupy the silence with loud, activity-filled entertainment. We humans can't be still or quiet, even when we're supposed to be relaxing! We aren't giving our bodies and minds a break from the constant noise.

During my time in Mexico, I made fantastic progress on my book. The uninterrupted stretches of quiet contemplation allowed my brain to kick into creativity mode. I could organize my thoughts and deeply consider the subjects I was writing about. The words and ideas flowed from my mind so quickly that it was almost impossible to capture them before the next ones appeared.

This experience made me recognize that so many horse-training methods resemble both the gas pumps near my house and activity-filled "vacations"—loud and busy. We seem to take our human need for noise and constant movement into the arena. We subject our horses to continuous requests for performance with only brief moments of silence for learning, integrating, and remembering the information we're trying to teach them.

The brain, whether human or animal, needs time and quiet (low stimulus) to learn and form long-term memories. Many equestrians have bought into the idea that it takes countless repetitions to teach a horse a new concept. You've most likely heard the saying that “it takes a lot of wet saddle blankets” before a horse can learn a new idea and become consistent in its behavioral responses. However, if you teach the horse while he is present, focused, relaxed, and connected, there is no need for wet saddle blankets.

Some questions to ponder for the November Zoom discussion are:

Do I enjoy quiet time, or does it make me feel anxious?

Do I follow the belief that repetition and wet saddle blankets are a necessary part of teaching a horse?

Do I give my horse time to learn, process, and integrate information?

Do I have a get-it-done-quickly attitude when working with my horse?

Join me for the next free subscriber Zoom meeting on November 22, 2025, at 9 a.m. Mountain Time (8:00 am Pacific/10:00 am Central/11:00 am Eastern) to continue this discussion. 

Click on the button to register for the November Zoom meeting:

If you missed October’s Energetic Equestrian Zoom Discussion, or would like to listen again, here is the link:

If you’re new and would like to read The Energetic Equestrian Digest, which contains several longer, more in-depth articles, here is the link:

November 14-16, 2025 Surprise, AZ

Contact: Tammy (623) 332-8116

December 5-6, 2025 - Queen Creek, AZ

Private gathering

(More to be announced when dates/locations are confirmed.)

May 15-17, 2026 St. Louis, MO

Contact: email Barbara Dove at [email protected]

July 13-17, 2026 Ty Evans Mule Week

Guest Clinician

Dr. Fay,

I know you are traveling so I don't expect a response. I just wanted to share something that happened this morning with Ellie.  After I fed the horses in their stalls I stepped into Ellie's to say good morning. She turned towards me and came to stand in front of me.  We talked about how nice the COS was and to have her POM. ( Using your secret code).  She seemed engaged and blinking. 

She walked back over to look outside and I asked her if she had anything to show me today.  She turned back and walked around me with her neck along side of my shoulder. I told her thank you for wanting to be with me. She wrapped her neck around me and it felt like she wanted to give me a hug. I moved in closer and wrapped my arms around her neck. At that moment I felt rush of sadness combined with gratefulness.  We both enjoyed the closeness.

Here is the funny thing, as I was rubbing her neck I felt a tick and pulled it off. As I scratch the spot she gave me a look like thank goodness you found it and figured out what was bothering me.

Ellie then circled around me again and rubbed her chin against my shoulder. I felt around her jaw line and found another tick.  Sooo, I am not sure if it was just a mutual grooming session or Ellie trusted me enough to share her sadness. Either way it was special.

Hope my story brought a smile. 

Sincerely,

Lynn and Ellie 

In next month's newsletter, you'll hear the story of Beauregard, a 9-year-old former hunter-jumper and lesson horse. Barb, his new person, quickly found out that he wasn't fond of horse trailers. His answer when asked to load was "No@#?!" followed by rearing and pulling back on the lead rope.

When a horse says "No," an Energetic Equestrian searches for the reason behind the resistance—they don't resort to using more force or harsher techniques. Our job, as informed and critical thinking equestrians, is to figure out how to get the horse to say, "Yes, of course I would love to show you how well I do that!"

Trailer loading issues—like most behavioral challenges we encounter with equines—require us to transcend the one-size-fits-all training mentality. That way of thinking is part of the outdated horse-training paradigm. We must now fit the box to the horse, which means looking outside “the box” for solutions.

Beauregard’s story needs to be shared because it so beautifully demonstrates the healing power of the Sacred Space. Beauregard had the courage to face his greatest fear, and he conquered it. Rather, he slayed it—on his own and in relaxation! Stay tuned for the rest of his story . . .

In my upcoming book, I’ll expand on many of the concepts presented in Sacred Spaces, as well as introduce some new and ground-breaking theories, techniques, and insights into energy, equine training, and the human-equine connection.

September 2025 marked the official launch of The Energetic Equestrian Digest.

Within the pages of this digital publication, I explore topics from science to energy and spirituality. Each issue will include evidence-based and/or theoretical articles and equine-related stories. In addition, there’ll be a light-hearted editorial column, compliments of Cotton the donkey.

All of the articles in the digest will represent a fusion of science with spirituality, as one without the other gives us an incomplete picture of our human experience. Rest assured, all articles will be AI-free!

I have been an enthusiastic consumer of information for most of my life, with far-ranging interests including horses, the environment, psychology, energy, the brain, and consciousness. While pursuing these interests, I earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in Environmental Science, and a Ph.D. in Psychology.

I also have certifications in a number of energy and mental training modalities and techniques. I consider myself quite fluent in the language of energy!

In my former life, I raised Morgan horses and Scottish Highland Cattle on my ranch in western Colorado. I showed many of my horses, achieving local, national, and world championships in various performance-related disciplines.

While working on my Ph.D., I studied the role of early childhood trauma on mental, emotional, and physical health outcomes. My understanding of the effects of trauma is vital to my work with equines. The devastating impact of trauma on our equines is far too common, but also highly preventable if we follow science-based and energetically-aware training methods, such as the ones I teach in my Sacred Spaces work.

Virtual Zoom Session

A private Zoom session is a great opportunity for you and your equine partner to experience the Sacred Space. In a Zoom session, I offer:

The potency of energy is not affected by distance. Many clients comment that the energetic effects are just as strong during a virtual session as during an in-person one.

Sacred Spaces Gathering

Go to the Events page of The Energetic Equestrian to see where I’ll be appearing in-person in the coming months.

Gatherings offer both people and equines an opportunity to experience Sacred Spaces principles and techniques in a safe and supportive environment.

At a Gathering, you’ll learn more about energy, energetic horse training, and how to commune with your equine partner.

Consider joining the Sacred Spaces/Sacred Wisdom Facebook community where we share heartwarming stories, struggles, and victories on our path to becoming our horse’s “once in a lifetime human.”

© 2025 Susan D. Fay Ph.D., LLC. All rights reserved.