Presence in the Pasture:
Cultivating Quiet Mind and Open Heart in the Company of Horses and Nature
With Angel Batt, MSW, and Rev. Connie L. Habash, LMFT
(plus our two horse friends, Melody and Ruby!)
Saturday, September 6th, 2025- 9am-1pm
At BEYOND Liberty Equine Education and Horse Retirement Center
La Selva Beach, CA (near Santa Cruz)
50% of proceeds benefit BEYOND Liberty and the care of their rescued mustangs
Presence – being fully attentive and aware in the moment with a quiet mind and open heart – is essential to finding inner peace through the challenges of life. And there’s no better teacher of Presence than nature. Whether a tree, the ocean, or a horse, the natural world is always Present. It is us humans that have forgotten this essential way of being.
Spend a day practicing Presence and learning from our horse friends and the natural surroundings. This is not about riding horses – it’s about Being. They are masters not only of Presence but keenly aware of energy and boundaries. The plants, trees, elements, and other present animals will deepen our understanding.
We’ll spend time consciously observing the horses and connecting with them, learning their Presence skills, enhancing awareness of energy and boundaries, and engaging in Ecotherapy on the intimate land of BEYOND Liberty.
Our day includes:
- Grounding, centering, and energy awareness practices
- Cultivation of Presence through connection with the horses and nature
- A Splash of Yoga/Conscious movement
- Writing and Journaling
- Ecotherapy practices
Bring your own water and snacks; if you wish, you can also bring your lunch and enjoy it afterwards in the company of the horses.
Pay what you can. Choose from these two options:
Foundational rate – $175
Pay this if you are able to afford it, and give foundational support to your fellow participants.
Equity rate – $125
For BIPOC and historically marginalized communities, or those with limited income.
Limited partial scholarships may be available – email Rev. Connie to inquire.
Over the last 31 years, she has helped thousands of students and clients overcome stress, anxiety, depression, and spiritually awaken. Rev. Connie is passionate about deepening personal growth and spirituality through nature. She leads outdoor events throughout the year connecting people to their heart and Spirit via the natural world, and she also teaches the Level 1 Online Ecotherapy Training with The Earthbody Institute. Rev. Connie has spent time learning from the horse teachers and continues to grow from her connection with them.
Find out more about her online community, Awakening Women of the Earth (AWE), as well as her other online programs, in-person retreats, workshops, private practice, and ecotherapy sessions in the San Francisco Bay Area at her website: https://dev4.arclightgraphics.com/
Founder & President, BEYOND Liberty
Voice of the Horse | Horse Advocate
Angel Batt is a Master-level Social Worker (MSW) whose career has centered around justice, compassion, and advocacy for those too often left unheard—including, now, horses. As the founder of BEYOND Liberty, she brings decades of experience in nonprofit leadership and trauma-informed care into her work with both humans and animals.
Bridging human awareness with equine presence, Angel represents the herd not as a trainer or therapist, but as a respectful witness and advocate for their consent, communication, and agency. Her role is rooted in the belief that simply being with horses—those living harmoniously in and with nature—invites profound well-being and awakens a deeper sense of connection, curiosity, and, therefore, care for the natural world around us.