Meet Jody Nixon | Equine Facilitated Learning Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jody Nixon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jody, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Metaphorse provides a sanctuary for aging horses. With help from the horses, we teach humans about heart coherence and emotional intelligence. The young learn self confidence and the traumatized learn to live again.
  

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have ridden horses most of my life and started teaching riding lessons my junior year of college. (1987) I’ve had many different jobs, however horses were always a constant. In 2010 I became a domestic violence advocate. I remember sitting at my desk one day and thinking that these women need a horse. If you can set boundaries with a 1200 lb. animal, your 180 lbs husband would be nothing. That’s what started my search for the best equine therapy program for me and my clients. That’s when I found Linda Kohanov’s book and her program. I’ve taken what I learned and listened to the horses. I’ve found they’re smarter than we humans. I am one of the few people who allow the horses to run the show.
My sessions consist of a herd of thirty horses and my client on a message table. I stand back and look for the metaphors. Horses speak in metaphors and once the client understands the message, the true healing begins. It’s almost as if the horses invite the human to lay on the table and the horses start clearing, grounding and centering the person. I’m often asked what a session will be like and I can never answer that question because everyone’s energy is different and therefore every session is different. It’s something you just have to experience for yourself.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The greatest part about Montrose is that it’s in the center of so many spectacular places. The Black Canyon is a must, it constants some of the earths oldest exposed rock. Gorgeous views of the Gunnison river flowing through and extremely deep canyon. Vapor cave and waterfalls up the road in Ouray. Montrose has several phenomenal trail systems for biking, hiking and horse back riding. Petroglyphs tour in Shavano Valley with the Ute Museum., Our favorite place to grab a bite is the Camp Robber. Always fresh and delicious. Great burgers and steaks at the stone house.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I grew up loving and riding other people’s horses. My husband and I were 26 when he bought me my first horse and the property which enabled us to keep horses. I learned to partner with a horse from famous horse trainer, Pat Parrelli. I learned to listen to the horse from Linda Kohanov, who wrote the best seller, The Taos of Equis. She also started an apprenticeship program which I completed both the regular and an advanced program. This changed my life and the lives of many a horse. I was taught to listen and give the horse a voice. Thank you Linda for showing me a different way.

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