Poetic prelude
Invitation to an encounter:
the magic of horse and human
Being a horse – being a human.
A horse shows you who you really are. If you engage in the magic of this encounter, you will begin to see the world in a new light. In its beauty, sensitivity, and clarity, the horse invites you to discover the magic of its true essence. If you are open to it, it will touch you deeply in your humanity and guide you on your path to yourself – perhaps for just a few moments, perhaps for a lifetime ...
Martina Doll
„Who looks outside, dreams;
who looks inside, awakes.“
C.G. Jung
Why Bukepha?
The name "Bukepha" is derived from Bukephalos - the proud stallion that once accompanied Alexander the Great on his campaigns of conquest. But the true story of Bucephalus and Alexander goes deeper than heroism and the noise of battle. It is a metaphor for the art of developing true leadership - leadership that comes from trust, respect and inner clarity.
Legend has it that Alexander won over the mighty horse as a twelve-year-old, while others despaired of its wildness and untamability. Alexander recognized the secret: the horse's apparent aggressiveness did not stem from dangerous rebelliousness or pride, but from fear - a fear of his own shadow. Instead of using force or trying to enforce control, he led Bukephalos towards the sun so that the shadow disappeared and the fear subsided. This small, empathetic act revealed a quality that distinguishes true leaders: the ability to see the invisible and recognize the essence rather than just the façade, i.e. the appearance.
A process of co-creation began in this first encounter. Alexander and Bukephalos found each other at eye level - characterized by deep understanding, mutual respect and appreciation. No coercion, no dominance, but an invitation to connect. It was a subtle spirit of partnership that connected the two, an energy more reminiscent of feminine principles than the tough masculinity expected of a warrior. The Bukepha Way embodies exactly this principle: it is a path that trusts that true transformation can only come from inner strength and authentic togetherness.
Through this connection, both were transformed. Alexander not only found a loyal companion in Bucephalus, but also a constant mirror - a silent teacher who guided him on the path to inner and outer greatness. And Bucephalus? An unruly creature became a horse that found its destiny because someone believed in its inner abilities.
Another aspect that is often overlooked is the symbolic power of the shadow. We humans also carry our shadows with us, parts that we repress but which always remain a part of our being. In the story of Bucephalus and Alexander, the fear of the shadow is overcome, not by repressing or fighting it, but through conscious attention. Horses reflect these shadows to us and challenge us to bring them into the light by becoming aware of them. Because these repressed parts of ourselves often hide the potential for true transformation, healing and becoming whole as a person. It is a light that is just waiting to be found in the depths of ourselves.
The Bukepha Way: The journey to inner strength
The story is my personal interpretation of the existing legend of Bukephalos. My path with horses is based on this deep understanding of the legend and is so coherent for me because I am able to experience this special connection on my journey of discovery. On the Bukepha path, my horses and I accompany you on your journey of discovery to yourself, your inner strength, leadership quality and this "light" described above.
Why horses?
90% of human communication is non-verbal. This 90% mirrors us horses and shows us ways to find ourselves and our strength.
Horses are flight animals:
They are therefore highly sensitive creatures that can perceive the most subtle changes in their
environment. As so-called muscle readers, they can notice even the slightest tension. They are therefore masters of body language.
It has been proven that stallions can perceive 1/5 of a millimeter change in facial expressions and gestures. This makes them perfect mirrors for what we embody in the truest sense of the word through our non-verbal communication.
Horses are herd animals:
They live in a social system that is similar to ours and comparable to families, organizations, teams, etc. In order to create harmony and balance in the herd, questions such as: who leads, who follows? Who moves, who lets themselves be moved? How much individual space is taken up? What are the relationship levels between them? The answer depends on the situation and is not just a linear hierarchy. Clarified relationships are just as important to experience in every moment as the principle of cooperation.
Horses are seismographs for emotions:
Horses have a fine sense of smell that enables them to detect chemical signals such as pheromones or the finest sweat secretions on the skin that are associated with emotional states.
They also pick up vibrations of emotional energy with all their senses, which is one of the most important sources of information for behavior in the herd (e.g. fear as an emotion triggers flight; calm triggers relaxation).
The horse as an archetype:
C. G. Jung describes archetypes as unconscious "beings and images of psychic energy". As an archetypal symbol for us humans, the horse has embodied since time immemorial the primal, powerful, uncontrollable, free and alive.
In this role, the horse speaks to people on a psychological and emotional level, promotes self-knowledge as well as inner healing and growth processes.
Horses are true human readers and whisperers
Would you like to know more about this or experience it for yourself?
Experience Coaching
How does the coaching process with horses work?
Equine-assisted coaching is a unique experience that enables profound self-awareness and lasting change. But it is not only the horses that act as bio-feedback providers through their fine perception - it is the special interaction between my horses and myself that makes this process so effective and often almost magical.
With my many years of experience and special intuition, I will accompany you on this path. Together with the horses, you and I will discover where the potential for your personal development lies. While the horses react to your body language and inner attitude, I translate their signals and give targeted impulses that lead you to a deeper level of self-awareness. This is where your answers and dormant potential lie, which you can tap into at a pace that is right for you.
It is the special connection that makes the whole more than the sum of its parts - a powerful teamwork between you, me and my horses.
What is the benefit of Coaching with horses? Find out more in this Video (in German)
Coaching as a corporate investment - often easy to finance with company budgets
Many companies offer their employees budgets for personal and leadership development - and this is exactly where my coaching services come in. The majority of my clients come from a corporate context and use these subsidies to invest in their professional and personal development. It is worth looking into this option and not seeing the cost of inspirational coaching as a barrier. I am happy to be your contact person to advise you on how you can use this option for yourself. There are also interesting options for private individuals.
Arrange a free 20-minute introductory meeting:
Suitable for you?
The Bukepha Way is for
- Curious, explorative and searching people who are open to new experiences and want to develop themselves further
- Entrepreneurs, leaders and managers who would like to explore how modern leadership can be effective and fun
- People in a life or creative crisis, possibly also with burn-out symptoms, who want to find their way back to themselves and their own strength and creativity as a precautionary measure, during or after therapy
- Therapists who work a lot with people and want to do something good for themselves in terms of time out and self-reflection
- "Horse people" who are willing to work on themselves in order to improve their connection with their horse and want to experience more joy and relaxation together.
In general, previous knowledge of horses is not necessary. On the contrary, it is actually very helpful to get involved with horses with an open mind. This is done step by step at a pace that is right for you. We meet horses at eye level. In the truest sense of the word, namely from the ground.
