No Fear: Embracing Growth Through Horse and Mind Training at Clear Sky

At Clear Sky Retreat Center, surrounded by peaceful grasslands and forests, I was invited into a new world — the world of horses. Known for its teachings on mindfulness and personal transformation, Clear Sky became the perfect setting for a deeper kind of training — one that connected both horse and mind.

When I began Natural Horsemanship training with Yvonne, I admitted something I had rarely said aloud: “I’m afraid of horses.” That moment of honesty became the starting point of a journey toward self-awareness, courage, and spiritual growth. The group didn’t rush to comfort me. They simply listened — allowing space for vulnerability and presence. I felt seen, supported, and ready to learn.

Under the guidance of my Teachers, Catherine Sensei and Qapel, I began to understand fear in a new way. Fear, they taught, doesn’t need to control us. It can be witnessed, felt, and released. Sensei’s compassion and dedication to training the mind — and all sentient beings — revealed that transformation is possible when we bring awareness and intention to our actions.

As I practiced with the horses, something changed inside me. They mirrored my inner world. When I was calm, they responded with calmness. When I was tense, they reflected that too. Through patience, communication, and trust, fear gave way to curiosity and confidence.

Each interaction with the horses became a lesson in mindfulness. Just as we train our minds to let go of suffering, we can learn to approach every being — human or animal — with empathy and awareness. Training with horses wasn’t just about them; it was about learning to train myself.

This path of “No Fear” is not about never feeling afraid, but about meeting fear with understanding. It’s about growing together — human and horse, teacher and student, community and consciousness. 

At Clear Sky, I’ve learned that true courage is simply showing up with presence, again and again.