Apr 29, 2025
As we continue this season's mentorship series, this conversation with one of my current mentors was as potent as I had imagined. Carmen Spagnola has been a support, guide, teacher and esteemed colleague for over 12 years, and I have benefitted greatly from her depth of presence, attunement, clarity and nuance. She has spent time with my mares Diva and Raven, and has recently, and excitingly, become the steward of two geldings. Her love and care for horses (and humans) spills forth in this conversation and in her many offerings.
In this conversation, we unpacked the concept of attachment theory, and specifically how secure attachment in any relationship can be facilitated by understanding and prioritizing contact nutrition, essentially nourishing ourselves and others through presence, attunement, co-regulation, safe touch, and empathy. How we interact with our horses, as fellow mammals, and their nervous systems, impacts the quality of our relational experince, and their sense of feeling safe, secure, and soothed. There are so many nuggets of goodness in this hour and it reminded me once again why I am so grateful to have Carmen in my life! Grab a tea, some chocolate, a shedding comb, or a manure fork, and enjoy this sweet chat.