Presence, horse riding and goat domination

We’re at the gate, and I’m tucked in the isle, half-standing, waiting to get off the plane.  The conversation behind me was between a flight attendant and a middle aged couple talking about their young daughter who was there with them.  Trapped in the isle, I was overhearing them talk about their daughter’s interest in horses, barrell racing and roping goats. 

Turns out, the way they break kids into roping calves is to have them rope goats first.  Lasso them, hog time them and bring them down.  That type of thing.

The girl said that at first it was hard to get herself to do it but it got easier over time.  The dad said that in the evening, when all rodeo is over, they have a barbeque and roast and eat the goats.  To him, that seemed to make the ‘competition’ between child and the goat, all the better.  I’m just guessing that it added to the ritual and appeased the need for unconscious domination, or something.  The children were encouraged to rope the goats and then eat them later.

I didn’t say anything, couldn’t think of anything to say and I wasn’t invited into the conversation anyway. 

What I was thinking was that it seemed paradoxical that that the girl ‘loved’ her horse and would treat it with special care, but she could hogtie, and ‘mess’ with a goat and that was okay.  And if she ate it later, then that made it even more okay. 

I’m thinking this might be an example of unconscious behavior. 

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Dr. Amber Quaranta-Leech, LPC-S

Amber holds a PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision from Regent University. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in both Texas and Oklahoma and holds Supervisor credential for Texas. Amber is an EMDRIA consultant and trainer. She has over a decade of experience in the trauma field in work with uniformed services, domestic violence, childhood trauma and abuse, and recent mass trauma events. Amber provides consultation for EMDRIA certification, for consultants-in-training, and supervision for LPC-Associates. Amber continues to research the benefits of EMDR therapy with a variety of populations. Her goal is to help build strong clinicians who are well versed in trauma interventions to better support their clients. Amber sees a limited number of clients with a focus on trauma work, she is also a Certified Career Counselor and Certified through EAGALA to provide equine-assisted therapy. 

Dr. Jose Carbajal, LCSW

Dr. Jose Carbajal, a U.S. Army veteran, earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social work and a master’s in theological studies from Baylor University, and a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Texas at Arlington. With over 15 years of clinical experience and extensive teaching experience, Jose specializes in trauma, sexual abuse recovery, domestic violence, and substance abuse. His research focuses on trauma interventions, neuroscience, and faith. He is EMDR Certified, an Approved Consultant, and an EMDRIA Approved Trainer, with numerous publications and professional presentations to his name.

Dr. Amanda Martin, LMFT-S, LPC, BCN

Amanda Martin holds a PhD in Family Therapy and is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Supervisor, and EMDRIA Approved Consultant. With over 14 years of experience, she specializes in trauma therapy for individuals and families in residential and outpatient settings. Amanda also provides supervision for EMDR certification, EMDR consultants-in-training, and LMFT-Associates. Her mission is to help people find a healthy, joyful, and fulfilling path in life. Her warm, supportive, and interactive counseling style incorporates Symbolic Experiential Therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, EMDR, HeartMath, Animal-Assisted Therapy, Neurofeedback, and Collaborative Problem Solving.

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