I was crushed by a horse but now Im much happier
By Katherine Beaumont
I loved fell running before my riding accident and was even fit enough to run the Yorkshire Three Peaks. Then we got pregnant, then we had Persephone, then, about 3 months after, my horse reared, flipped over backwards and landed with his rump between my legs, breaking my pelvis in 4 places.
Of course, I couldn’t run, or ride, or walk for a long time. I also had to spend long periods in a hospital far from home without my baby and family. I felt very sad, scared and sorry.
I had been doing yoga for about 10 years at this point, but to get fit. Whist lying on my back not able to move for hours, days weeks, I turned to meditation to help me cope. Soon after I started studying meditation and yoga philosophy, I discovered that I had been completely nuts. I crammed everything in, I was always occupying the next moment, I did everything while thinking about work and was always trying to distract myself from my inner pain. My horse certainly picked up on this (Im not surprised, the way I rode him) and he decided it was time I stopped.
What that horse taught me was how to heal. After coming out of hospital, I spent long periods meditating in the paddocks with my horses and their behaviour changed around me completely. I realised, that everything I had done with them had been motivated by fear; “I’ll put this bit in his mouth in case he tanks off.” “Ill shout at him then he will know I’m the boss.”
That day I changed my horsemanship. My partner sold his software business and I my interiors business and we bought a house with land that we could turn into a retreat. I now offer horse meditation, equine therapy, yoga retreats, eco therapy and wild swimming, cold water therapy.
I live for being in nature. Nature is not a means to an end, I no longer buzz from one bit of nature to another. I am absorbed by every tree, leaf and flower, rabbit, sheep. I am constantly processing and healing by the guidance of nature and animals so that I can help others do the same. Holidays are usually spent exploring nature and finding places for wild swimming. Today, I found a herd of about 60 goats in the alps and they were nervous so my son and I meditated and they came and lay down with us. Then they ate all our snacks. Its been, perhaps, the best day of my life. For the first time that I’m aware, I’m really really happy. xx
To see more of what Katherine does take a look at her business The Happiness Hub.