Every childhood is incredibly different, just like every horse out there. When we understand that our patterns were often created by the meanings we placed on experiences we had as children, we can heal and honor our inner child. 

 Here’s an example from my childhood, so you can begin to reflect for yourself. 

When I was in the fifth grade, I had been riding horses for a good two years. It had completely consumed me, much like many of the young riders, also known as the ‘barn rats’ in the late eighties and early nineties. All I could think about was riding, hanging out with my friends at the barn, and occasionally getting to go to local horse shows. I would run around like a horse at home, as well as jump over jumps without the horses after lessons. I pretended I was riding all the time.  

Now, imagine me as a kid in school, where nobody else rode horses. It was like trying to relate to aliens, as far as I was concerned. Other kids started to become annoyed and even jeal...