Sierra Acres Equine Assisted Learning Centre

09/15/2025

The Power of Contrast
As Charles Dickens once noted, “There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast.” This perspective reminds us that moments of darkness or adversity can make the presence of light—hope, joy, and growth—even more profound and meaningful.
The Ever-Present Shadow
The shadow is an integral part of the human experience; it is always nearby, trailing behind us wherever we go. In every instance of direct light, we inevitably cast a shadow. Psychologically, the shadow encompasses all the aspects of ourselves that remain unseen or unacknowledged.
Self-Image and Denial
Most people go to great lengths to maintain a positive self-image, avoiding anything they consider unflattering or unfamiliar. It is often easier to recognize the shadow in others than to acknowledge our own. This tendency is universal among humans. Engaging with our shadow can be both difficult and rewarding, offering the potential for greater authenticity, creativity, energy, and self-awareness. Such introspective work is a crucial step toward mature adulthood—a state that is perhaps rarer than commonly believed.

09/13/2025

So true. We tend to become very self-critical when we fall away from our path. But it's just a setback. Setbacks are a universal part of the human experience. They arrive uninvited, disrupt our plans, challenge our resolve, and test our character. A setback is just a setback, nothing more and nothing less. This simple truth, if embraced, can illuminate a path through disappointment and frustration, shaping how we react not only to obstacles, but to life itself.

09/11/2025

Be a light. 💙

09/10/2025

More lessons from the horse world.

Alberta’s wild horses thrive in deep snow, spring floods, and summer heat. They adjust, shift, and carry on. Their lesson for us? 🌦️ Change is inevitable. Adaptability is strength.

09/02/2025

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09/01/2025

08/29/2025

Time for vacation away from social media and enjoy more learning from my herd. See you mid September. 💜

08/29/2025

Life Lessons of a Ranch Horse - Mark Rashid
Week of August 25th- Friday Lesson 6 Fix it and Move on
Turning Setbacks into Stepping Stones
With this mindset, setbacks are reframed: they are not dead ends, but detours—sometimes frustrating, often instructive, always surmountable. Whether it’s a failed project, a miscommunication in a relationship, or a personal misjudgment, the process remains the same:
• Acknowledge the issue. Name what went wrong without embellishment or denial.
• Take responsibility. Own your part, but refuse to dwell in self-reproach.
• Seek solutions. What can be remedied, improved, or learned?
• Let go of the rest. Accept what cannot be changed or undone.
• Move forward. Step into the next moment with intention, carrying wisdom rather than regret.

This concludes the series: Life Lessons from a Ranch Horse.
1. carry a non confrontational attitude.
2. plan ahead.
3. be patient.
4. be persistent.
5. be consistent, and
6. fix a setback and move on.
As I have discovered over the years,, these lessons do not happen in a linear fashion; rather, they intertwine, each one reinforcing and deepening the others. Just as the movements of a horse are guided by subtle shifts and gentle cues, so too do these values ebb and flow through our daily lives—sometimes patience gives rise to persistence, sometimes consistency enables us to fix a setback and move on. Life with horses and in the wider world is less a straight line and more a braided trail, where wisdom is gathered through repeated cycles, small adjustments, and moments of reflection. By embracing this interconnectedness, we learn not only to navigate challenges but also to appreciate the quiet strength that comes from living by these enduring principles.

08/27/2025

Life Lessons of a Ranch Horse - Mark Rashid
Week of August 25th- Wednesday Lesson 6 Fix it and Move on
Letting Go of the Grudge
Grudges, those slow-burning embers of unresolved slights or failures, consume more than just our time—they sap our energy and cloud our judgment. Carrying resentment is akin to dragging a burden on a journey already demanding enough. “Fix it and move on” invites us to release these weights, not as an act of denial, but as a conscious choice to prioritize our well-being and future opportunities over the inertia of disappointment.

Picture: "Ok we didn't get that exercise perfect but let's give it another go!"

08/26/2025

Hope you can join us and please feel free to share. 🥰

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08/25/2025

A reminder from a fellow struggler. ♥️ ~ Nanea

08/25/2025

Life Lessons of a Ranch Horse - Mark Rashid
Week of August 25th Lesson 6 Fix it and Move on
The phrase “fix it and move on” is deceptively simple, yet it holds profound wisdom. At its core, it advocates for a mindset grounded in practical problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and a forward-facing spirit. Rather than allowing setbacks to define, diminish, or discourage us, this philosophy urges us to address what we can, release what we cannot, and step boldly toward what comes next.

Progress Over Perfection
To embrace “fix it and move on” is to reject the myth of perfection. Mistakes, after all, are not character flaws but inevitabilities—proof that we are engaged in the world, trying, risking, and learning. When we shift our focus from unachievable flawlessness to meaningful progress, each error becomes a lesson, each disappointment a teacher. The path forward is paved not with the absence of missteps, but with the wisdom gleaned from walking on after them.

The Power of Emotional Intelligence
Setbacks often arrive hand-in-hand with difficult emotions: frustration, embarrassment, anger, or regret. The natural temptation is to ruminate, allowing egos to bristle or grudges to take root. Yet, emotional intelligence—the ability to recognize, understand, and manage our own emotions—offers a more liberating alternative. By acknowledging our feelings without letting them dictate our response, we create space for compassion (both for ourselves and others), clarity, and constructive action.

Horses offer unique insights into emotional intelligence through their heightened sensitivity to non-verbal cues and their ability to reflect back our emotional states, according to equine-assisted learning and emotional intelligence experts. This makes them excellent teachers for developing self-awareness, emotional regulation, and empathy.

Picture: Sierra helping a client understand emotions.