Did you know….

 
When you lovingly gaze into your animals’ eyes, its levels of oxytocin – the attachment hormone – go up.  And so do yours.  
 
A horse trainer friend calls it the “ooey gooey puppy feeling”.  That feeling when you see a puppy and all the world disappears and you become completely enthralled with this little animal showing you complete unconditional love.  
 
When I worked in the corporate world, I never experienced the ooey gooey puppy feeling.  Thinking back when diffusing a tyrannical boss or an insecure harsh co-worker I often wonder now if the ooey gooey puppy feeling would have been effective.  
 
Engaged with a 1000+ lbs animal who may be having a bad day, taking a moment to smile looking directly into the horses' eyes, shifts my energy to a point where it directly effects the horse in front of me.  **Granted this is not recommended for training purposes, this is a grounding technique.  
 
A recent study done by psychologist at the UK’s University of Sussex, revealed that horses have the ability to read emotions across the species barrier.  Amy Smith, a doctoral student leading the research stated: “We have known for a long time that horses are a socially sophisticated species, but this is the first time we have seen they can distinguish between positive and negative human facial expressions.”
 
When coaching with equines, they are able to pick up and comprehend what is occurring  within the human standing in front of them, just based on their energy.  It is remarkable to witness, and a beautiful experience [sometimes emotional] for the client to encounter on their journey to healing.
 
Next time you are in a situation where there is tension and uneasiness, take a moment to smile, find your inner “ooey gooey puppy feeling” and see what transpires.
 
And to quote the guru, Jimmy Buffet; “Wrinkles only go where smiles have been.”