Horses of Hochoka, the Healing Circle

“The earth would be nothing without the people, but the man would be nothing without the horse.”

― Author Unknown

Kimberly Clarke, Hochoka Director, Healing with Horses – I was born to a family by half Native American blood, brought in by Daniel Israel Boone who fraternized with natives along the Yadkin Rivers of North Carolina. The travels of Lewis & Clark took this blood to the northwest, to the “keepers of the horses,” who raised the native’s favorite spirit horse, the Appaloosa. The Nez Perce tribe became famous for this. Chief Joseph and his people, fleeing from the Calvary, were captured 20 miles south of the Canadian line in the treacherous hills. It was “the horse,” as their spirit guides, which allowed for the traversing of these hills and where to go for freedom. The Calvary learned of this and slaughtered their horses; thus causing capture and enslavement. Natives were the first slaves. 

Many natives are still caught in the trauma of this travesty. There are many other stories of captures, and taking of their peace and the lands where natives once lived. 

Fast forward to today, Hochoka Retreat Center is the name of my organization. Hochoka’s driving force is the resurgence of the horse and its ability to help humans heal, by way of dissecting into the soul of who we are as humans. These steeds are fabulous without fail, to take any person willing to go to the depths, to the core of who they truly are, in spirit, and to rid them of any energy, experience and/or trauma or disease, that no longer serves them.  

Hochoka in Native tongue means “healing circle.” Completing the circle of who we are while alive, and not waiting until death and our next go around, is imperative to seekers of the light and the right trail. The horses of Hochoka gently assist with healing and are astute and profound, as they can facilitate clearly with many people at once or even more directly through an individual.  

Visit: www.healingwithhorses.com to learn more.  

I have much more to say about my personal journey and how I have been bestowed this gift of facilitating horses to help humans heal. It has not come with jollies, ease and grace – it has been blood, sweat and tears, along with the jollies, grace and ease. To walk in true healing, letting go of who we think we are, can be painful.  

My story: I was born into this unbeknownst white family unfamiliar with horses or animals of any kind. I learned at a very young age, to cling to horses at any chance I could. I never owned horses growing up, but I chose friends who had them so I could get my fill. Then, when I was in my 20s, I got my first horse, Priscilla. Her name means “wisdom.” I had no idea of this name meaning until I had raised her – and her, me – for over 30 years.  She came to me at 4 months of age. She took me into many places, literally and figuratively – and into the first farm I had, Avalon Farm.  

Priscilla healed over 3,500 people in her 33 life-years on earth. She was born on Christmas Day, and this writing is a tribute for the love she gave to all those she touched. And, oh my God, she was the best friend I have ever had! 

Avalon Farm served over 350 families in healing services during its 15-year life. The spiritual warfare came in and I personally and privately fought three battles behind the scenes, whilst still healing everything in sight, for 5 years. But, then we lost the battle. The government took our donated 50 acres, just like was done to our people 200 years ago. In order to heal this for the Nations, my horses and I had to re-live this “taking of our lands,” to bring the pains to light. However painful this process was, it taught me much – and I would not take it back. 

Not only did I fight the government this go around, but I also went up against a very large bank and very wealthy benefactor who both were doing inequitable dealings within my farm business. Pretty big and nasty stuff!  

* Systemic constellations, is a form of healing work we offer. I HAD to live it before I could break it down and teach it to others. This happened from 2008 until 2016, when we suddenly became homeless – our horses and other farm animals suddenly were cast off the lands we knew as home, even though it was land we actually owned. This is a loooong story which I have written about many times in our plea to save the farm, to no avail….

Fast forward to today: Avalon and I, and the animals, moved the farm seven times in 2 years!  Not an easy task. We would set up shop; begin our healing work with others, only to learn the spiritual warfare is still attacking. At each location there was something that surfaced that would force us to leave. 

Avalon dissolved and we formed a new 501(c)(3) organization called Hochoka, which I have briefly spoken about earlier herein. Hochoka provides healing services in a private intimate outdoor setting with horses. 

We are currently trying to lease purchase location number seven, however, this is not working well for us either. We are looking to purchase land to relocate. We are calling for “alignment” and the right and peaceful lands to be shown to us.  

But, more importantly, even though we have had these difficulties, we have never missed a beat in helping and healing others! The power of the horse and its healing abilities and my own – have not been ceased by situations of the world. 

Partnerships and allegiances do not come easy with the intensity of this type of healing work. You have to be strong in your own right and very clear in your spirit. As this IS “the way of the horse.” And, I am like the horse in that clarity, compassion and grace, but only after having gone through many storms.  

There are multitudes of stories depicting great healings of individuals and of battles. Even though we lost our lands initially – yes, we have lost battles, but we have not lost the war!

Thank you for listening.

Regards, 
Be well.
Kimberly Clarke
Hochoka Director

www.healingwithhorses.com