Honoring Midwinter Stillness & Inner Listening
Midwinter carries a different kind of quiet.
The rush of the holidays has passed. The land is bare. The world feels stripped back to essentials — breath, presence, endurance, and truth. January does not ask us to begin yet. It asks us to listen more deeply.
Horses understand this season instinctively. In winter, they conserve energy, move deliberately, and remain exquisitely attuned to their surroundings and one another. Their wisdom is not loud or performative — it is grounded, embodied, and honest.
This gathering is an invitation to step into that frequency.
We’ll begin with a gentle forest bathing walk, moving slowly through the winter landscape. With leaves gone and light low, the forest offers fewer distractions and clearer signals — sound, texture, temperature, space. This walk is not about distance or effort, but about attunement and presence.
From there, we’ll move into the indoor ring at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center, where we’ll work with a small group of hand-selected horses, thoughtfully chosen to partner with us for this midwinter gathering.
We’ll begin with guided interaction on lead lines, learning to connect, communicate, and move together with clarity and intention. This gentle practice invites us to notice subtle leadership — how presence, breath, focus, and steadiness shape relationship far more than force or words.
As the session unfolds, we’ll also spend time with the horses at liberty, observing how they move, relate, and respond when free of direction. Here, the invitation shifts from doing to listening — allowing ourselves to be witnessed by animals who respond only to what is real, coherent, and embodied.
After our time with the herd, we’ll gather for journaling, warm tea, and a closing circle, reflecting on what midwinter — and the horses — have mirrored back to us about stillness, trust, restraint, and inner clarity.
Together, these experiences offer a powerful reflection of midwinter wisdom: when to lead, when to follow, and when to simply stand rooted in presence.
The horses invite us into a state of listening that lives beneath words — awareness of boundaries, subtle shifts in energy, and the calm that comes from being fully present in the body.
If you carry fear, uncertainty, or past experiences with horses, know this space is held with deep care. You are welcome to observe and to move at your own pace. Nothing is required of you. Your presence is enough.
This offering is open to all women who feel called.
No horse experience is needed — only curiosity and willingness to listen.
Safety & Support
For those carrying fear or unease around horses, know this space is held with deep care. You are welcome to observe and participate at your own pace. Presence is enough.
This program is thoughtfully crafted for women seeking to connect with the healing power of nature and animals. It represents years of training, refinement, and heartfelt dedication by two women who have walked this journey with authenticity and purpose.
Whether you come to reconnect with yourself, soften into a new season, or listen for what wants to emerge — you are warmly welcomed.
No horse or outdoor experience is required — just an open heart.
Space is limited · Registration required
Safety & Support: You’ll learn appropriate behavior around horses to ensure both your safety and theirs. All interactions are facilitated with care and supported by experienced guides. If you feel unsure or carry past fears, you are welcome to observe from beyond the gate. We honor where you are, and we walk gently together.
A few days before the gathering, you will receive an email with detailed directions, what to bring, and what to wear. All participants are required to sign a liability waiver for High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center.
This offering is limited to 8 women.
Investment: $75 (non-refundable)
About our Facilitators
About Kathleen Lowe: Kathleen Lowe, the founder of Friends of the Forest. Kathleen brings extensive expertise as a certified Mindful Outdoor Guide through the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership and a certified Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy (ANFT), a global leader in evidence-based nature therapy practices. Her walks follow the ANFT’s structured approach, rooted in the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku, as well as ecotherapy and the Way of Council. Each walk is a gentle, sensory-rich journey designed to reduce stress, enhance well-being, and deepen personal connection to nature. Kathleen's work is specifically designed for women, offering a safe, nurturing space to release the demands of daily life and reconnect with one’s body, inner wisdom, and the earth. Her recent training in somatic healing adds a deeper layer to this practice, inviting participants into embodied presence — allowing for release, grounding, and integration. Her background in art history from Brown University weaves in a unique appreciation for nature’s beauty as a living canvas, blending reflection, creativity, and reverence in every experience.
About Kim Severance, CTRS, ESMHL, CTRI, MMES: From a young age, Kim has harbored a profound love for animals, with horses holding a special place in her heart. Her journey into the equestrian world began at the tender age of five, quickly evolving from casual riding to competitive events both on the flat and over jumps. These early experiences not only honed her skills but also deepened her empathy and appreciation for horses as sentient beings.
Holding a Master of Science in Recreation and Leisure, Kim has dedicated her career to therapeutic recreation, becoming a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) in 2006. Her approach is unique, integrating animals ranging from dogs and dolphins to horses into her therapy sessions. She is continually inspired by the significant insights and transformations her clients achieve through these interspecies interactions.
In 2019, Kim shifted her focus to primarily working with horses, earning her certification as a therapeutic riding instructor (CTRI) through PATH, followed by her qualification as an equine specialist in mental health and learning (ESMHL). Driven by a desire to reciprocate the healing horses provide, Kim has also delved into equine bodywork. As a certified Masterson Method Equine Specialist (MMES), she finds joy in fostering trust and connection, enhancing the well-being of her equine companions.
Kim's philosophy centers on encouraging individuals to live in the moment, remain inquisitive, and trust their instincts—lessons she believes are best taught by our equine partners. Her passion and dedication not only highlight the therapeutic power of animals but also underscore the profound bond between humans and horses.
About our Horse Partners: Our horse partners at High Hopes are professional therapeutic partners, carefully trained and supported to interact with humans in grounded, meaningful ways. Unlike “rescued” horses, each of their horses is thoughtfully selected and welcomed into the program only after a thorough evaluation by the expert team at High Hopes.