Past Projects
Voice of the Horse Conference (2007)
This conference, held in-person at and via live webcast from Iowa State Univeristy, Ames, Iowa, explored some of the current experiences of the horse-human relationship through the use of story. Individuals such as Olympic coach and dressage rider/competitor Jane Savoie, Northern Cheyenne horseman Phillip Whiteman, Jr., award-winning equine artist Kim McElroy, Pulitzer-Prize nominated Chickasaw author Linda Hogan, and others presented stories of their relationship with horses.
Horse-Human Relationship Survey (2007-current)
Between January and March of 2007, over 1200 people completed a major research survey about the horse-human relationship and the factors that influence it. The survey is being analyzed at this time for future publication.
Mustang Freedom Project (2005-2007)
In the fall of 2005, Tapestry received a grant from Pierce Brosnan to implement the Mustang Freedom Project. Tapestry purchased 3 older Mustangs from the Bureau of Land Management. These Mustangs lived free in a 100-acre pasture on the ranch Tapestry operated out of from 2004-2007. The Mustangs were going to be a part of workshops planned for 2006, however, the workshops had to be canceled after a catastrophic wildfire burned the ranch in the summer of 2006.
Horse Meditation (as part of the Mythic Living for Modern Women Workshop) (2005)
Participants in this workshop series spent time each day riding a horse bareback, while being led so that they did not have to worry about steering the horse. As they did so, they were instructed in a guided meditation that helped them to reconnect with the horse, with the land, and with themselves. It was a powerful experience, and it led one woman, who had a fear of horses for more than 20 years, to no longer be afraid to ride.
Trailmaster Project: Palo Duro Canyon Event (2003)
Tapestry Institute held a planning team meeting for a Native Science film in Palo Duro Canyon,Texas, in the early winter of 2003. At this meeting, we planned a trail ride in the canyon as the first planned event. We wanted to see if and how the trail ride impacted the meeting participants with respect to working with each other, to addressing the meeting’s purpose, and to connecting to the land. A brief survey was used to assess the impact of the trail ride on the meeting participants. The results were so positive that they led to the eventual formation of the Horse-Human Relationship Program in order to learn more.