Riding Between The Worlds: Expanding Our Potential through the Way of the Horse
In The Tao of Equus, author Linda Kohanov intertwines the story of how she awakened to the spiritual presence of horses with compelling mythology, neurological research, and personal anecdotes. The result is an extraordinary story of healing and communication that turns conventional understandings of these amazing creatures upside down.
A horse trainer and equine-facilitated therapy practitioner, Kohanov first began exploring the horse-human connection in the early 1990s. When her black mare, Rasa, became lame, Kohanov was plagued by a series of sinister dreams and premonitions. Finally, prompted by her dreams, she canceled a chancy surgery to save Rasa’s potential career in competitive riding.
To relate to the injured horse outside conventional equestrian pursuits, Kohanov immersed herself in the day-to-day activities of the herd. In the process, she discovered that horses are intensely emotional, intuitive, intelligent beings. They are true reflections of our deepest souls. Over time, she discovered their extraordinary ability to awaken intuition in humans, while mirroring the authentic feelings people try to hide, makes these animals powerful therapeutic teachers. Kohanov describes the subtle emotional and even clairsentient cues she tapped into after time spent interacting with her herd. And she details the techniques she developed to help students strengthen mind-body awareness and access their own extrasensory abilities through the way of the horse.
For Kohanov, it’s no mistake that many who feel alienated from modern society — women in particular — find themselves mysteriously drawn to these magnificent animals. She delves into the spiritual processes behind the magical connections riders sometimes stumble onto inadvertently and skillfully explores the subtle behavioral nuances horses detect and reflect. She reveals a potent feminine perspective in horses and shows how this equine-based wisdom can help people heal and empower themselves.
Blending her provocative story of prescient dreams and ancestral communication with a wide-ranging exploration of equine-facilitated therapy practices, Kohanov delivers an extraordinary work sure to interest both longtime riders and readers interested in exploring the deepest reaches of the bonds between species.
Praise for Riding Between the Worlds
“In this stunning work, Linda Kohanov explores a powerful and exciting brand of therapy: one where the patients are two-legged but the psychiatrists have hooves! Linda examines the fascinating interchanges and psychological growth that can occur when we honor horses as our teachers and healers. Her revelations are breathtaking and her writing is sterling. This landmark work is not just a celebration for horse lovers, but for all animal lovers everywhere. Read it and treasure it!”
— Amelia Kinkade, author of Straight from the Horse's Mouth: How to Talk to Animals and Get Answers
“Daring, deep, and right on target. Kohanov's work with horses and healing may be startling and challenging to many mainstream horsetrainers and psychotherapists, but it is a head-nodding, knee-slapping affirmation to those who have experienced — over and over again — the astounding potential of the human-animal relationship. Beautifully done!”
— Susan Chernak McElroy, author of Animals As Teachers and Healers
“Linda has the courage to go beyond the limits of our current beliefs in order to help all beings. These conceptual and experiential stretches can help all of us in these challenging times. Cherish her insights into the remarkable healing connections with our Kindred Spirits and allow them to transform you! Read, learn, and blossom!”
— Allen M. Schoen, MS, DVM, author of Kindred Spirits: How the Remarkable Bond between Humans and Animals Can Change the Way We Live
“Linda Kohanov has done every human a favor by helping us build a bridge of equality and respect between ourselves and another species. Interspecies dialogue — the opening she gives us — I hope we all can pass through. Certainly every highly sensitive person will be glad to know the highly sensitive horse. If you love horses and have inherited a vein of sensitivity, you must read her books.”
— Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D., author of The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You
"Linda Kohanov shares compelling stories from the world of horse-and-human relationships — stories that can help each of us rediscover the intelligence of our hearts, and reconnect to our native ability to converse in the universal language of authentic emotions. Linda's empathy, dedication, and deep respect for animals — not as pets or trophies, but as friends and mentors — shines through every page.”
— Karla McLaren, author of Emotional Genius: Discovering the Deepest Language of the Soul