03/04/2026
At the horse rescue where I volunteer, many of the horses arrive underfed.
Some have neglected hooves.
Untreated dental issues.
Visible signs of hardship.
The care priorities feel obvious:
Nutritious food.
Medical support.
Farrier visits.
But one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned isn’t about feeding schedules.
It’s about safety.
Some of these horses startle easily.
They’re wary of touch.
They hesitate before stepping forward.
Their bodies may begin to regain weight
but their nervous systems don’t immediately feel safe.
Early on, I remember standing beside one horse thinking, What am I actually doing here? On the outside, not much.
I was simply being present.
Extending a hand.
Letting her decide when to move closer.
This is part of recovery.
Learning to feel safe again internally is foundational.
And I couldn’t help but think about the teen girl athletes I work with.
When a young athlete is injured, we focus, rightly, on physical healing.
But just like the horses, safety isn’t restored simply because the body begins to recover.
On paper, she may look better.
Internally, she may still feel:
Uncertain.
Guarded.
Afraid.
Disconnected from who she was before.
Recovery is nervous system repair.
It’s rebuilding trust in the body, mind, and in oneself.
At the rescue, healing often begins with presence.
In my work with elite teen girl athletes, it begins the same way:
Steady support. Intentional regulation.
A safe space to process identity shifts and fear.
And when safety returns, strength follows.
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