--- title: Lessons Learned From a Horse description: Learn the importance of being present from horses in this insightful blog post. Discover how undivided attention impacts communication. image: https://www.sobermansestate.com/hubfs/_672%20x%20480px)%20(940%20x%20788%20px)%20(3).png --- For a Confidential Consultation Call: (480) 595-2222 [![Soberman's Estate](https://www.sobermansestate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SobermansEstate_September2019%20Theme/Image/sobermans-logo-registered-trademark.png?width=800&height=454&name=sobermans-logo-registered-trademark.png "Soberman's Estate")](https://www.sobermansestate.com/) - [Home](https://www.sobermansestate.com/) - > - [The Estate News & Blog](https://www.sobermansestate.com/blog) - > - Lessons Learned From a Horse # Lessons Learned From a Horse Posted by [Mitch Prager](https://www.sobermansestate.com/blog/author/mitch-prager) on June 6, 2024 at 7:44 AM ![Mitch Prager](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/c2cdb8a4bf614b220b345e503953de69) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) While speaking with my wife via cellphone, I shared with her, “It’s the strangest thing—as I was speaking with you a moment ago, I was petting our horse, [Sugar Pine](https://www.sobermansestate.com/blog/equine-therapy-with-an-expert), and he began stomping his front leg. I looked and Sugar had plenty of food and clean water. He looked healthy but continued to stomp his front left leg as if trying to tell me something. Now I’m petting our other horse, [Charlie](https://www.sobermansestate.com/blog/welcoming-charlie-the-newest-member-of-our-equine-therapy-team), and Charlie is also stomping his front left leg, even though he has plenty of food and water.”![_672 x 480px) (9)](https://www.sobermansestate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/_672%20x%20480px\)%20\(9\).png?width=672&height=480&name=_672%20x%20480px\)%20\(9\).png) When I explained this to our “[Horse Whisperer](https://www.sobermansestate.com/janice-story)”, she replied by putting her hands up in the air and saying, “Hmmmmm.” It was so very obvious: I was petting the horses, but I was not present like I usually am. I was focused on my phone conversation, and the horses were letting me know of their disapproval of my lack of engagement while interacting with them. One of the most basic and essential tools for therapists or for anyone trying to communicate with others is to be present and be a good, not distracted, listener. Many times, a client will share with the therapist, “That session was so beneficial, and thank you sincerely,” and the therapist will feel that all they really did was hold space. By remaining fully present and not distracted, they were able to not only listen but truly “hear” the client as they spoke. Sometimes it takes a horse to remind us of the importance of not being distracted.   [Soberman's Estate](https://www.sobermansestate.com/) is a [residential](https://www.sobermansestate.com/comfortable-accommodations) men's addiction treatment center that provides [discreet](https://www.sobermansestate.com/private-surroundings), individualized, [sophisticated recovery and wellness services](https://www.sobermansestate.com/comprehensive-evaluation-programs) for adult men that want to recover from [substance use disorders, and or other behavioral issues such as trauma, anxiety, depression, stress, or other addictions](https://www.sobermansestate.com/clinical-excellence).     If you or someone you know are struggling and wondering about the next step for receiving help, please call our Admissions Director for a complimentary consultation at 480.771.9241, or email [info@SobermansEstate.com](mailto:info@SobermansEstate.com).     Topics: [Soberman's Estate](https://www.sobermansestate.com/blog/tag/sobermans-estate), [mindfulness](https://www.sobermansestate.com/blog/tag/mindfulness), [Equine Therapy](https://www.sobermansestate.com/blog/tag/equine-therapy) ## The Estate Blog Soberman’s Estate’s blog has a primary goal to connect with those in need, support the recovery community, and provide inspiring articles, opinions, and research information to help others make the right decisions about treatment and help them reach their potential in recovery. ## In the News: [TREATMENT Magazine: Soberman's Estate Innovates Accelerated Resolution Therapy](https://www.sobermansestate.com/sobermans-estate-innovates-accelerated-resolution-therapy) [Real Leaders Podcast: Let's Talk About The Opioid Crisis](https://anchor.fm/realleaders/episodes/Ep--98-Lets-Talk-About-The-Opioid-Crisis-ee3tm1) [As the Economy Free Falls and Mental Health Spirals, both Rehabs and Addicts Try to Hold On](https://www.sobermansestate.com/economy-free-falls-mental-health-spirals) [Mezuzah Ceremony Honors "Track of Jewish Recovery"](https://www.sobermansestate.com/mezuzah-ceremony-honors-track-of-jewish-recovery) [Together AZ: "In the Shadow of the Saguaro"](https://www.sobermansestate.com/shadow-of-the-saguaro) [Highline Auto's: "The Road to Recovery"](https://www.sobermansestate.com/highline-autos-article-road-to-recovery) ## Learn More: - 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If you or a loved one are seeking world-class addiction treatment and holistic care in [Arizona](https://www.sobermansestate.com/arizona-luxury-mens-rehab), we invite you to discover the healing experience that Soberman's Estate has to offer. **Contact Us**[tel:6027731112](tel:6027731112)   [**Admissions Phone**:](tel:6027731112) [(480) 351-6749](tel:6027731112)     **Estate Phone**: [(602) 773-1112](tel:6027731112)   Fax: (833) 969-0106     **Email:** [info@sobermansestate.com](mailto:info@sobermansestate.com)   [**Mailing Address: **](tel:6027731112) 100 Easy St. #5167 Carefree, AZ 85377   **Estate Address:** 3010 E. Cloud Road Cave Creek, AZ 85331 Search our site This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. - ![The Joint Commission](https://www.sobermansestate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SobermansEstate_September2019%20Theme/Image/The%20Joint%20Commission%20Logo-PNG.png?width=100&height=100&name=The%20Joint%20Commission%20Logo-PNG.png) - ![Soberman's SSL](https://www.sobermansestate.com/hubfs/SobermansEstate_September2019%20Theme/Image/ssl-trust.png) - [![Soberman's Estate BBB Business Review](https://www.sobermansestate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SobermansEstate_September2019%20Theme/Image/BBB-Accredited-Business--png.png?width=140&name=BBB-Accredited-Business--png.png)](https://www.bbb.org/us/az/cave-creek/profile/drug-addiction-treatment/sobermans-estate-1126-1000066472/#sealclick) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Mitch Prager", "url" : "https://www.sobermansestate.com/blog/author/mitch-prager" }, "dateModified" : "2024-06-24T22:02:38.164Z", "datePublished" : "2024-06-06T14:44:18.000Z", "headline" : "Lessons Learned From a Horse", "image" : [ "https://www.sobermansestate.com/hubfs/_672%20x%20480px)%20(940%20x%20788%20px)%20(3).png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.sobermansestate.com/blog/lessons-learned-from-a-horse", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.sobermansestate.com/hubfs/Sobermans-logo-with-tag-reverse-cmyk-2.jpg" }, "name" : "Soberman's Estate" } } ``` ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.sobermansestate.com/blog/lessons-learned-from-a-horse", "description": " Learn the importance of being present from horses in this insightful blog post. 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