Chris Nichols is the President and Executive Director of The Medicine Horse Project, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue of abused, abandoned, neglected, or displaced horses. She is certified in horse inspired growth healing and facilitates programs for veterans, women's empowerment, and at risk youth with her method of discovering resiliency through horsemanship. Chris also offers horsemanship workshops and clinics helping equestrians develop deeper connection and partnership with their horses.

 

In this episode, Chris and I discuss:

• How humans and horses work together to learn and heal one another in a safe space.
• Dealing with and moving past fear through acknowledgement, vulnerability and building a network of support.
• Women’s empowerment and education through horsemanship activities to build trust, confidence, leadership and personal strength. 
• Fear now as opposed to an anticipated fear.
• Meeting basic needs of both humans and horses: safety, nourishment, play and sex/ intimacy. 

 

Key Takeaways:

• Chris’s favorite self care practice being with the horses and getting to spend undemanding time with them. To spend time in their world and become a part of the herd.
• Chris’s advice for women is to make yourself a priority. To live and plan your life for you. If you don’t take care of yourself you can’t be your best self for you or anyone else. Have the courage to step back – it’s critical for your own self health. Follow 1 WIG (Wildly Important Goal) You can’t do 10 things well – do one in a wildly important way.
• Chris’s advice to develop their own personal power and courage comes to the basic 4 needs of humans and animals. Safety, nourishment, play and sex/intimacy. Defining what makes you safe and what actions you are taking to fulfill those things to build confidence, power and to chase your passion so all aspects of your life are fulfilling.

 

"It takes courage to step back, push yourself back from the complicated table and take a moment for yourself." —  Chris Nichols

 

Organization Mentioned: Lifesavers Wild Horse Rescue

Book Mentioned: Move Closer Stay Longer by Dr. Stephanie Burns 

Retreat Mentioned: Wild Horse Empowerment Journey For Women

 

Connect with Chris Nichols:

Facebook: The Medicine Horse Project

Website: MedicineHorseProject.org

Instagram: @themedicinehorseproject 

Donate: The Medicine Horse Project

 

CONNECT WITH CYNTHIA:

If you'd like to chat with Cynthia, sign up for your Personal Safety Preparedness Consultation with her today!

Remember to subscribe to "Born to Be A Badass" so that you don't miss a single episode, and join us in the "Born to Be A Badass Collective" group on Facebook. While you're at it, won't you take a moment to write a short review and rate our show? It would be greatly appreciated!

If you work in the self-defense world, are a survivor, a healer or otherwise BADASS woman and you would like to be interviewed by Cynthia, reach out at [email protected]

To learn more about previous guests, listen to past episodes, and get to know your host, go to Apple Podcasts or here.

Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin