Play is not just for kids, and it is not a waste of time either. Researcher Stuart Brown spent his career studying play in adults, and he found that people who keep playing tend to be more creative, more resilient, and better at solving problems. When play disappears from someone’s life for too long, the effects can be quietly damaging. As Brown puts it, the opposite of play is not work. It is depression.
This workshop leans into the lighter side of working with horses, and that is by design. Over about three and a half hours at Ember Ridge in Moss Beach, you will step out of your usual routine and into something most busy adults have half forgotten how to do, which is mess around with intention. Expect low-stakes, hands-on time with the horses, a little creativity, and permission to lead a bit more lightly than usual. It sounds simple, and that is the point. Your nervous system gets a break, your creativity comes back online, and you get a reminder that being present does not always have to feel like hard work.
No horse experience is needed. The horses do the teaching.
You will leave with:
- A genuine sense of reset
- A lighter, more creative headspace
- A better feel for what play actually does for your brain
- Time spent with a small group of people who showed up to breathe out for a bit
This session is capped at 6 seats to keep the group small and personal.
Details:
Monday, August 31, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM PDT
1181 Etheldore St, Moss Beach, CA 94038
Cost: $149.00
Please wear closed-toe shoes and dress in layers for time outdoors and in the barn.
Facilitated by Ranger Kielak and Joan Brennan.