Heart Horse Therapy of Rancho Encina Sola

By Martina

His name is Tamarindo; he lives in Rancho Encina Sola where he shares the land with wild horses. Tamarindo is one of the horse therapists who enjoys the shade of the ancient oaks. At the edge of a lazy stream, the California live oaks have lived here for eight hundred years and are now considered a natural habitat. Two women, Walker Rollins and Carolina Garcia Malo, have found nature’s hidden secrets in which to birth their dreams. It is all about the spirit of the horse of which few people are actually aware. People have held the beauty and power of the horse in high regard for thousands of years. Humanity has used them for performing exquisite acts of dressage, cart horses and sadly beasts of burden. Walking into this protected landscape and being up-close and personal, travelers will learn the secret of the horse.

Walker has lived in Baja for thirty years, well before its development. She has been the protector of this land for the last ten years. When she saw the massive oak forest, she was home. Part of the house left behind was built in the 1800. It was in pretty sad condition and critters had begun to claim it. Walker laughed, “It didn’t matter. The trees captured me and I wasn’t ever going to leave this place.” She stated, “Whatever I have to do to be here I will figure it out.” Before coming to Baja she had been teaching children for 20 years in the Los Angeles area. She guided the children into understanding regenerative land practices by planting gardens as a way to understanding nature’s cycles. All of this wisdom she is now utilizing and establishing permaculture gardens as well as becoming a bee keeper; a natural step along the way.

Tamarindo

She explained, “When I first came here there was a wild stallion and three mares. I was enthralled and wanted to understand them. Now there are 24 wild ones running free. But back then I would watch how they communicated with each other. I followed them, slept out with them, hiked with them. I began to learn from them. There is a huge horse culture in this community. I began to see there was an opportunity to offer this understanding to others of this animal’s true nature. Horses should never be broken. You begin with quiet trust and kindness.”

Carolina begins to weave her story into the present moment. It was fated and started seven years ago. “A friend who was working for Walker invited me over to the ranch one day. I immediately felt an ancient sensation of the magical forest. I grew up in the Mexican horse culture and I really really loved horses. At the time I was completing a master’s degree in Marine Ecology, but when I met Walker on my third visit it was an instant recognition. Together we were in horse heaven.”

Carolina shares, “Walker was there to see all my transformations into what would be a real job. She has always believed in me and later I sought out the practice of the Red Road.” The Red Road is a Native American philosophy of humility and respect. It says that life is a journey towards spiritual wellness and to honor life's continuous cycle of growth and transformation. It is this that is incorporated into Heart Horse which she founded in 2020. She is a certified Holistic Equine Therapy practitioner, but she stated, “The horse is the therapist and I am the facilitator.” Now Carolina combines her work of transpersonal therapy with Walker’s primary focus of protecting this natural habit and the wild herd, la manada libre. Together they have formed a legal association of two women in order to maintain confidence in the multinational communities.

Horse visits with Carolina

Carolina asked me, “Would you like to be with the horses?” I didn’t hesitate, “Oh, yes, please!”

We made our way down to the corral. A gigantic oak with massive branches overhead created a canopy. Munching quietly, there were four horses on the far side of the enclosure. Carolina who is the wise facilitator knows that no words are necessary for being with horses. She herself has learned their way. When she is preparing, she does not bring the horses in; she opens the gate and welcomes the horses who come by their own nature. They already know something that we do not know. They know how people are feeling and what they need. We took a seat on the opposite side. Carolina suggested I select a horse and reach out in my thoughts. We sat for a while in a mediation with intention.

My thought focused on a big glossy bay gelding named Tamarindo. In the stillness that followed, nature’s sounds became sweeter; birds and wind rustled in the leaves, a far-off rumble from dark clouds. Suddenly, without a word from Carolina or myself, Tamarindo turned to look at me. He walked slowly in my direction and came to a stop within inches. He hung his great head over my shoulder. The depth of his quietude was a rare communion which lasted without a sense of time. His name was Tamarindo and he shared his truth with me. And as if orchestrated, nature sent gentle rain drops to complete the experience.

Horse camp!

Later we all regrouped on the patio, and talked about the vision for the future. Walker and Carolina have created the Center for Equine and Human Wellness. They have offerings for every age and different interests. Carolina said, “We really are complete as we combine educational, recreational, and therapeutic modalities all under one umbrella.” Rancho Encina Sola is a natural habitat and is being utilized for true investigation by biologists, botanists, and anthropologists. A local college brought their physical therapy students to practice healing touch with the horses. Later, one of the students told Walker, “I’ve been raised around horses my whole life, but I never knew they were actually sentient beings.” Walker and Carolina hold open house opportunities to introduce hands-on knowledge. Walker added, “I hope to educate the horse community on how to care for the sentient horse.” The old methods of using power-over to break the horse’s spirit has a long painful history and does not serve horse nor man.

Since Baja’s development is driven by a need for land, natural habitats are under threat. A biologist group, Fauna Noreste, is creating designated wildlife habitats. It is being investigated as a way to monetize and thus protect these remaining fragile ecosystems. More and more messages are being heard that nature supports our wellbeing. Touring the land on horseback in the spring, wild flowers blanket the hills, a photographer’s delight. Overnight camping trips reveal the vastness of the star-studded blue/black night sky. By adding some fun - like horse camps for children with horse petting and retreats for adults - it becomes a very enjoyable way to experience how important untouched land and pure air are for our happiness.

Walker among her horses

There will be a traditional Day of the Dead event and fundraiser on November 1st and 2nd. One ticket buys one bale of hay. Visitors will help build a Day of the Dead altar and will learn what it actually means. There will be live music, food sales, Mexican dancers, crafting and a puppet show for the kids. Rancho Encina Sola is the new destination.

Contact information:
Reservations required
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Phone: (52) 646-196-0018
Walker's U.S. phone: 213-880-3056