July carries us toward the threshold of harvest. The landscape has changed. What began as tender shoots and hopeful beginnings has matured into something fuller and more complex. Meadows stand tall. Wildflowers are beginning to set seed. The trees rest in deep leaf. Everywhere, the season invites us to pause and notice what has grown.
Yet for many women, this time of year can feel different than the landscape suggests.
Beneath the beauty of summer, there may be grief. Fatigue. Uncertainty. Responsibilities that feel heavy. Questions that remain unanswered. The quiet ache of caring for others while forgetting to care for ourselves.
Sometimes we simply need a place where nothing is required of us. A place where we do not have to perform, explain, solve, fix, or hold everything together.
The horses offer such a place. At liberty in the pasture, they are completely themselves. They do not ask us to be more productive, more positive, or more certain. They do not require us to have the right words. They respond only to what is present and real. In their company, there is permission to arrive exactly as you are.
To be tired if you are tired. To be uncertain if you are uncertain. To carry your grief without needing to set it aside. To simply breathe.
The horses become our teachers in attention. They remind us how to slow down. How to listen. How to be fully present to what is rather than rushing toward what comes next.
This is an invitation to step outside the noise of daily life and into a quieter conversation—with nature, with the horses, and perhaps with yourself.
As we move toward the first harvest season, we are invited to ask:
What has sustained me?
What am I still carrying?
What needs rest?
What am I ready to honor, release, or gather as I move forward?
Like the season itself, the horses remind us that wisdom often arrives not through effort, but through attention.
Our Gathering
Our gathering will begin outdoors with a guided meditation in nature. Resting on the earth beneath the summer sky, we will take time to settle our nervous systems, awaken our senses, and arrive fully in the present moment. Together, we will listen to the sounds of the landscape, feel the warmth of the season, and allow ourselves to become part of the living world around us.
From there, we will spend time seated beside the paddock, observing the horses before entering their space. Through a series of gentle invitations, we will practice the art of noticing—watching without interpretation, witnessing without expectation.
How do the horses move through relationship?
What captures their attention?
How do they communicate, rest, respond, and simply be?
Before connection comes observation. Before interaction comes understanding. Only after this period of quiet witnessing will we enter the paddock. Among the horses at liberty, we step into a space where connection cannot be forced and presence matters more than performance. The horses are free to approach, move away, remain nearby, or continue about their day. Every interaction unfolds naturally and on their terms. You may experience moments of connection. You may experience moments of simply standing quietly among them. Both are equally valuable. The invitation is not to seek an outcome but to notice what arises within you—how your body responds, how your awareness shifts, what feels comfortable, what feels vulnerable, what feels true.
We will move between observation, interaction, reflection, and quiet presence, allowing the experience to unfold organically.
Following our time with the horses, there will be space for personal journaling and reflection.
We will close our gathering with a simple nature-based ritual of gratitude, honoring the horses, the land, the season, and whatever insights or gifts have emerged during our time together.
No horse experience is required—only a willingness to be present.
Come as you are. Move at your own pace. There is nothing to achieve here.
Only an opportunity to listen, observe, and remember what it feels like to belong to the living world.
Safety & Support
For those carrying fear, uncertainty, or unease around horses, this space is held with deep care. You are always welcome to observe and participate at your own comfort level. Presence is enough.
All interactions with the horses are facilitated with care and supported by experienced guides and volunteers. The horses' wellbeing and your safety remain at the center of the experience.
This offering is thoughtfully created for women seeking connection—with nature, with animals, and with themselves. It is the result of years of experience, study, and heartfelt intention.
Whether you come to reconnect, reflect, or simply spend a few hours in a different way of being, you are warmly welcomed.
A few days before the gathering, you will receive an email with details on what to bring, what to wear, and directions. 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.