La Sonrisa
Coaching with horses
The herd of La Sonrisa
The real coaches
The herd at La Sonrisa consists of three horses. Each of them has their own story, character, and strength. Together they form a close, healing herd that reflects the essence of La Sonrisa.
As mentioned earlier, horses live in the here and now and do not dwell on the past.
Yet they can carry trauma, because trauma does not live in the mind, but in the body. Intense experiences are stored in the nervous system as a survival response.
When a horse recognizes something that resembles such an experience, the body responds automatically, as if the danger is present in that moment.
The horse is therefore not reacting to the past, but to what the body is feeling right now. With safety, calm, and clear guidance, the nervous system can learn to relax again. Enero and especially Dinora are clear examples of this.
Enero
Enero is a gelding we rescued at almost six years old from a life in which he lived as a stallion, confined to a stable 24 hours a day. Only twice a day was he allowed to stretch his legs for a few meters while drinking water placed outside the stable. We then placed him in a herd where he could live outdoors 24/7, and he became my very first horse.
Despite this difficult beginning, he has grown into a reliable and loving horse. His presence radiates calm and safety, and he clearly enjoys cuddling and close contact. His winter coat is so soft that many people compare it to a warm blanket.
Dinora
Dinora came from the same environment as Enero and lived there under even harsher conditions. She was kept in a stable with a halter and a piece of rope, standing in a high, slanted pile of manure, and terrified of people. She was placed in the same herd as Enero, where she chose him as her safe place. With him she felt secure, could eat calmly, and relax, while she was often chased away by other horses.
When we found our own finca, I knew that Dinora had to stay with Enero, because horses are herd animals and do not thrive alone. So she became my horse. From the very first day in their new little paradise, both horses immediately felt at home. The calm and sense of safety were unmistakable. There was no nervous whinnying for a missing group, no restless pacing, only peace and presence. The horses changed visibly, both physically and mentally.
Then something extraordinary happened. Dinora turned out to be pregnant by the young stallion, not yet two years old, from the previous herd. From the very first day, Dinora revealed herself to be a mother in every sense of the word. Motherhood has given her greater self-confidence. She remains a sensitive mare, often observing a situation from a distance before stepping in.
The surprise - Mara
Mara was born in June 2023. She is a curious, lively mare with clearly her mother’s face. She is still young, full of energy, and at times a little bossy. She is actively discovering her place in the world and within the herd.
Because Mara was born and raised at Finca La Sonrisa, she has been accustomed from day one to moving across hilly and rocky terrain. As a result, she is well muscled, has excellent balance, and is very flexible, something she is more than happy to show. She loves playing with Enero, and they often run together through the arena, with Mara making a full cross-country lap around the finca before rejoining Enero in the arena.
Together they form a close herd in which safety, presence, and growth can be felt
Enero brings softness, stability, and trust.
Dinora invites authenticity, awareness, and feeling.
Mara represents life force, curiosity, and openness.
Their unique stories, their connection with one another and with people, make Finca La Sonrisa a place where calm, safety, and inner growth can be felt by everyone who meets them.
Finca La Sonrisa
My three horses, Enero, Dinora, and Mara, live in this little paradise as freely and naturally as possible, following the Balanced EquineLife concept.
They move across a hilly terrain of approximately 4,500 m², and depending on the season and the dryness, the finca can be beautifully green or quite bare.
Because of this way of living, they are both mentally and physically strong, balanced, and pure in their responses. From this place of calm and strength, they can mirror you in an honest and clear way.
Precisely because they are allowed to be fully themselves, they invite you to do the same.
Freedom of choice creates calm and space, for the horses and for you.
Balanced EquineLife
Balanced EquineLife is my natural way of keeping horses at Finca La Sonrisa in Andalusia.
For me, it is all about creating an environment in which horses can live as naturally as possible: outdoors 24/7, within their herd, with free movement across varied and hilly terrain, constant access to good-quality hay and minerals, space to browse from trees and shrubs, and the freedom to choose between sun, shade, shelter, and rest.
Balanced EquineLife grew from working with the land and the possibilities that are naturally present here. Every place is different, and every piece of land offers its own opportunities. Here at Finca La Sonrisa, I have step by step created a living environment that meets the natural needs of horses, using the space and resources available.
Not from the idea that it has to be perfect or follow a fixed system, but by carefully observing what the land offers and what the horses need. In this way, a place has been created that supports, enriches, and invites natural behaviour.
Through height differences, varied surfaces, and continuous free movement, horses develop their bodies in a natural and balanced way. Muscles, coordination, balance, and hoof health are supported daily by the landscape itself. At the same time, the environment offers mental enrichment, freedom of choice, and social connection within the herd.
At Finca La Sonrisa, for me, it is not only about horses living in balance, but also about people.
From that same vision, I offer coaching with horses and systemic work with horses. The horses live here from a place of calm, freedom, and connection, and it is precisely because of this that they can mirror people in a pure and honest way.
Their presence invites you to slow down, to feel, and to reconnect with yourself.
In this way, Balanced EquineLife at Finca La Sonrisa brings people and horses together in the same essence: living from balance, movement, connection, and trust, in harmony with yourself, with each other, and with nature.