Sophia Jade Pugh

Yesterday a friend and I got up at 4am and drove 4 hours up the country to spectate at a horse clinic ( Emotional Horsemanship by Lockie Phillips), it was his first UK clinic and it was a really great! Then we drove home again…

The most powerful thing I was reminded of, was the power of getting around people that have similar values as you and how important that is. I feel refreshed and renewed in my heart, body and soul today…like wow there really are more and more people looking for a kind and heart centred way of being with and training our horses…and doing it together is the key…

It has got me even more excited about my upcoming Empowered Equine Retreat, we are less than 2 weeks away and there is room for 1 more woman…

Do you want to join?

It’s happening On Sat 1st and Sun 2nd August, Near Exeter, Devon.

A whole weekend to deepen your connection with your horse and yourself, meet other incredible women and gift yourself a weekend of pure presence!

Its a small intimate group, no spectators, in the most peaceful environment…

My intention is that you walk away feeling refreshed, renewed, more deeply connected to yourself and to your horse…
Oh and we will be having lots of fun doing it!

DM me and I’ll send you the details/next steps

Something I’m hearing over and over again…

I’m so exhausted by the noise online - do this with your horse, don’t do that… this is right, that’s wrong, this method is it, no that method is it… there’s a trick to get the horse to focus, a spell for spooking, a 5 step method for connection… a hack, a fix, a formula, a framework…bla bla bloody bla

Then you get in the arena or you are with your horse and there’s this weird internet voice watching you - critiquing, shaming, questioning… Making you second guess every tiny thing…

and before you know it, you’re fu**ed off, full of self doubt, confused, frustrated and the whole damn reason you fell in love with horses in the first place has gone out the window… 😅

This is what I’m hearing over and over again…

Women who are stuck in their heads, disconnected from their own inner knowing, spinning out trying to do it ‘right’… Meanwhile the horse is like - urmmmm, this human is a tad confusing…
because I believe our horses don’t need us to be perfect, they need us to be present…
Grounded, clear, coherant, connected to ourselves, able to listen, lead and feel…

Yes, I have frameworks, the academic art of riding guides my training, good technique matters… and in my experience, so many of the ‘problems’ we are trying to fix with more methods, more info, more pressure… actually begin to shift when the human comes back into their body, heart, self trust and joy…

This is the experience of the Empowered Equine Retreat…

A 2 day retreat to unfunk your head, come back into your body, develop your training, expand your presence and deepen the connection with your horse, alongside a gorgeous group of like minded women who are craving the same.

We’ll be exploring groundwork, lunging, ridden work, theory, feminine leadership, energetics, breathwork and connection.

And yes, we’ll also have a bloody good laugh while we’re at it.

Couple of spaces left,

If this sounds like your kind of weekend, message me and I’ll send you the details🤍

This is what Saturday evening looks like at The Empowered Equine Retreat…

Your horse is settled in their stable, fed watered and peaceful…

You’re sitting around a fire with women who are your kind, just as mad as you and love deep conversations…

Who understand the particular kind of love you have for your horse…

You’ve had a heartfull kind of day that actually moved something in your body, in your riding, in your groundwork, in the way you and your horse are communicating… andddd you’ve had a laugh whilst doing it…

Plus there’s a whole other day tomorrow for more magic…

Empowered Equine Retreat
August 1st and 2nd
Near Exeter, Devon

Couple spaces left 🦄🔥
Dm me to join us

I can’t believe I actually did this… this time 7 years ago I had an excited and simultaneously terrified feeling in the pit of my stomach…
Frantically Prepping to drive my horses across the country, hop on a ferry and through another couple of countries, all the way to the Netherlands 😬 I still can’t believe I actually did it, with my wing woman Emily Whelan - Equine Podiatrist as co-pilot, we had only met 6 months b4, but she’s one of those definitely done life with you in a past one kinda friends…

Navigated crazy 4 lane hectic highways in Belgium (and I thought the English were crazy drivers), no sleep as ferry being rearranged because of high winds, last minute go ahead from the captain that we could board… slightly nerve wracking… Both horses wouldn’t eat an apple after the ferry… very out of character, were they sea sick?!… Arriving in Holland to High 30 degree temps…😅 Arco being Spanish literally stepped out of the horsebox and sighed as if she was saying finally shes taken me somewhere with some decent weather, then proceeded to sleep☀️Both horses were super stars, its kinda mind blowing what these majestic, sensitive, gorgeous beings will do for us humans…

I spent a month training with my friend and trainer Eef Nibbelink going over all the elements of the groundwork and lunge test in The Academic Art of Riding, then at the end of it I participated in my first clinic with Bent Branderup and went straight into my first session to do my groundwork and lunge test - we passed, thank the gods! But holy moly where has 7 years gone…

When you open your phone to receive a message like this 🕊️🪶🤍🥹

“I’ve worked with you for around seven years now, through 1:1 healing work, workshops, equine lessons and your equine retreats, and I honestly just wish more people could experience even a fraction of what I’ve had the privilege of experiencing with you.

Your work has helped me so much and has completely shaped the way I see myself, my relationship with my horse and training, my life, my relationship to others and the world around me. I am such a different person from who I was five or ten years ago.

“Enlightening” doesn’t even really cut it, it’s deeper than that.

What this work has given me is the ability to move through life differently. To acknowledge the hard things, even when life feels difficult, but not let them become the whole story. Instead of feeling heavy every single day, I’ve learned how to accept some of the s**t while still being able to appreciate the positive things around me.

That shift in energy and mindset is worth its weight in gold.

It is the most freeing thing, to move through life with that kind of outlook. It opens you up to the beauty of the world.”

Ways to jump into my world right now;

4 July (6pm - 9.30pm)- Shes All the Rage - Evening experience, think firepit, somatic movement, delicious evening meal and connection with like minded women. Come discover the power beneath your frustartion, anger and rage…

1-2 August - Empowered Equine Retreat - 2 days to improve your relationship with your horse and yourself, develop your training and have a bloody good laugh with like minded women

Inner Revolution - 1:1 Healing/Coaching over Zoom or in person - Bespoke 3 month journey to come home to yourself, heal whats weighing you down, activate your personal power and come alive again, in your life, relationships and connection to yourself!

Dm me for more info on any of the above 🤍

I haven’t even announced this on Facebook yet… but 3 spaces have already gone for my Empowered Equine Retreat

So I now only have 2/3 spaces left.

Sat 1st/Sun 2nd August

This is an intimate 2 day retreat to connect more deeply with your horse, connect more deeply with yourself, develop your training, and have a bloody good laugh with other like minded women.

We’ll be doing groundwork, lunging, riding, theory sessions, feminine leadership, energetics, and a deeply restorative breathwork and drumming session.

There’ll be food, overnight stabling, a Saturday night fire pit, and epic chats with like minded women

I fully believe this work is not just about horse training, but who we show up as

It’s about the relationship
The communication
The way you lead
The way you listen
The way you show up in your own body and energy

This weekend is for women who want to develop their training while also creating a deeper, softer, more connected relationship with their horse and themselves

And have a flippin good time whilst doing it!

It’s been 2 years since I ran something like this, and I’m so excited to bring it back

If you’d love one of the final spaces, send me a message and I’ll send you the details 🤍

We have 3 of each size left and 3 pairs of reins - to be delivered end of May 🐴

- Metal Free Noseband
- Padded Headpiece and Noseband
- Stays in place without over tightening

Order yours at www.sjpequestrian.com

Can be shipped around the world, dm me for a shipping quote!

Did you know… we now stock Soft Leather Clip reins too!

Black, 60’ in length, 1/2 inch Gorgeous leather

Great to use for riding, leading, lunging and groundwork

The ease of switching between positions in your training, no pesky buckles 😅🐴✨

Follow the link in my bio for the SJP Bridle and you will see them at checkout! Or visit
www.sjpequestrian.com

For shipping outside the U.K. send me a dm, we ship to us, Canada, Europe, Aus