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18 DAYSPA | JUNE 2014 TREND WATCH Spa resorts are harnessing horses' powers of intuition to help clients discover new life skills. By Jennifer Chen Country-singer-turned-therapist Wyatt Webb (pictured, left) introduced the Equine Experience program to Miraval Resort & Spa (miravalresorts.com) in Tucson, Arizona, in 1995. In the ensuing 19 years, he has witnessed dramatic shifts in participants' behavior on a daily basis. "I've seen incredible amounts of shame reduction, and dramatic drops in self-criticism and fear," says Webb. The program, which comprises one-day classes ($45) and four-day retreats ($600), is a chance for guests to look inward and alter their perspectives. Rather than ride the horses, clients "ask" them to lift their hooves to clean them—all silently, communicating with body language. (Horses are said to have a highly developed ability to interpret nonverbal cues and pick up on a person's fears or insecurities.) Webb says, "For the horse to respond, the guest must: 1) be clear with his or her directions, and 2) be genuine." Webb admits the Equine Experience upkeep is costly but he feels that the positives far outweigh any negatives. "It changes people's lives," he says. Salamander Resort & Spa (salamanderresort.com) in Middleburg, Virginia, runs the Equi-Spective Experience, consisting of private (from $125 per hour) and group ($450 for eight hours) sessions. Equestrian director Sheryl Jordan drew upon 43 years of experience working with horses when developing the program. "Horses are intuitive and perceptive— they pick up on our energy and help us see ourselves clearly," she says. The day's agenda includes selecting a horse, interacting with it as it follows the guest's commands to walk, trot and change directions, and journaling. According to co-facilitator Kaelin Creange (pictured below, left) the experience "focuses on developing leadership skills, revealing authentic leadership styles and team building." And how can interacting with a horse help teach a person real-world lessons? "Body language is universal," explains instructor Angela Nuñez. "Through learning about equine body language, participants also learn how they portray themselves to other people and how to read them as well." Plus, the resort setting offers clients a chance to unwind while going through their period of self-discovery, says Creange. The Equine Journey was brought to The Spa at the Inn at Bay Harbor (innatbayharbor.com) on the Lake Michigan shore by a former spa director who had enjoyed horse therapy fi rst-hand. The full-day experience ($295) is based on the principles of Facilitated Equine Experiential Learning (FEEL), which purports that horses are intuitive and respond to changes in humans' body language and behavior, and that they mirror our emotions and energy. In addition to time with the animals, the day includes lunch, a journaling session, a spa services credit, and transportation to and from the nearby Bay Harbor Equestrian Club, where the program takes place. Spa manager Fallon Oberg shares that for fi rst-timers the experience "can bring out many different emotions" and that "one should be open-minded when taking part." The biggest hurdle in running the program is educating the public about its rewards, she says. But given feedback so far, which includes nods to the program's self-empowerment and personal growth possibilities, neigh-sayers may yet be persuaded. Mane Attractions T r e n d W a t c h . i n d d 1 8 Trend Watch.indd 18 5 / 1 / 1 4 3 : 2 4 P M 5/1/14 3:24 PM