The Human Animal Bond and Mindfulness Series: 4. How Mindfulness Can Deepen the Bond

Written by Shreyasi Brodhecker and edited by Natalie Wilson

In the final article of this series we reflect on how being fully aware, of your experience in the present moment, can deepen the quality of connection you have with your companion animals – horses and otherwise.

The previous articles in this series introduced the Human Animal Bond (HAB), explored the benefits that the Human Animal Bond has demonstrated through research and anecdotal evidence and provided some ideas as to why this bond can be so powerful. But, is there a way that we can access these benefits in our everyday life? Yes! By staying mindfully aware.

Staying mindfully aware is another way of describing paying attention to all that is happening right now – by being present. Ask yourself; What am I feeling? What am I thinking? How does my body feel? In this moment can I detect my five senses? i.e. What do I hear? See? Smell? Taste? Touch? What is happening in this experience from moment to moment? Can I remain attentive to this? Noticing your feet on the ground and noting the five senses can help to shift your awareness so that you are more mindful.

When you are able to stay grounded in your experience right now, without judging or getting caught up in the moment being “good” or “bad”, you are being mindful. This way of noticing things in your life invites more space for connection with others. Animals naturally live this way, inhabiting the present moment with their entire being, and, when they sense that we are also living this way, it creates room for a new kind of relationship. This is how we can allow a new way of paying attention to our daily moments to create and nurture a meaningful bond.

Here are some ideas to invite that closeness with your pet or chosen animal the next time you’re around them;

Mindfulness Exercises

• Consider taking a few deep breaths, notice the air entering and leaving your body, notice your feet on the ground. Check in with your five senses. What can you see? What can you hear? What can you smell? What can you taste? What can you touch and how does it feel?

• When you are with your pets or horses, notice how you feel right now. How do you feel inside? What thoughts are in your mind? Can you focus on being with your animals rather than being distracted by those thoughts?

• Try moving with your animal, for example walking with them or leading them, while noticing how your body feels from one moment to the next.

• Imagine breathing in and out from your heart. Take a moment to let feelings, of gratitude or love, naturally flow to your animals whenever you are with them.