Chanti Cleland @ the epona partnership Blog

A Feather Duster, a Horse & a Lady

05/10/2012 10:19:00

A Feather Duster, a Horse & a Lady

Imagine a small arena, where the seating benches are filled with spectators, people are murmuring, talking about what they think they will see that evening.

To one side of the arena are four horse owners, nervously biting their nails, fiddling with their hair, chewing their lip, anxiously hoping that their “naughty horses” will behave tonight. Someone turns the speaker system on and the theme to The Good, The Bad & The Ugly begins to play......that’s the cue that something is about to happen.

With a deep breath and a big smile, a lady enters the arena facing the spectators. She thanks them for coming, giggles at her theme tune and tells them it’s time to go to work.

The first three horses are a breeze to work with, as this lady works with them and their owners together, overcoming, nervous loading (& that’s just the owners), handling the horse on the ground, and better communication skills. To a ripple of applause, it’s time for the interval, a break and time for a quick tea or coffee for everyone concerned.

The owner of the fourth horse has requested to be left until last, as she is not sure her horse can be “fixed” as she puts it. Sensing her anxiousness and worry, the lady wanders over to this owner with a cup of coffee and offers to share a kitkat with her. Sits down, and smiles. “Its ok to breath you know” she says softly. “I can’t......what if my horse hurts you; she’s pretty bad you know.” Smiling reassuringly the lady says “there’s also every chance that she won’t hurt me too, this could be the chance that your mare has been waiting for – it will be ok, no matter what happens – everything will be fine.” “How do you know?” the owner asks somewhat shakily. “I just feel it” she says. “You know you don’t have to come into the arena with me..... Just stay on the side where you can watch everything if you want to. We can go over what happens, together afterwards, my son will stay with you.” With tears in her eyes, the owner nods gratefully, and the lady’s son, helps her to a good vantage spot at the end of the arena, gets her a chair.

The Interval is over; it’s time to begin again.

A nervous 4 year old mare is brought into the arena, and she rushes to the other side. All this is new to her, her breathing is fast and shallow as she nervously attempts to watch everything around her. The lady takes her position up in the arena once again; in her hands she holds a soft lead rope. The young mare eyes her cautiously.

The lady explains that this horse was very headshy, so extreme that getting a head collar near to her is virtually a no no. The mare’s owner tells the story of how she spotted this horse in a field, its then owner didn’t want anything to do with her, but there was something in her eyes that really drew her to the mare so she bought her.

Upon getting her home, the owner noticed welt marks around the girth area, and under her tail. There were some deep looking scars around her poll and down one cheek bone. Instead of her being just nervous – the mare was virtually impossible. Over the months the owner had worked hard with her but getting a bridle or head collar on her was impossible, grooming her around her head and neck was dangerous due to the horse’s reaction. It took everything she had to get her to the clinic.

The lady in the arena got to work, gently manoeuvring the horse around, in arcs and circles, watching and quietly waiting for the body language that said a deepening of the conversation already taking place between them was about to happen.

The owner held her breath and commented to the lady’s son that the pair of them looked like they were dancing.

Suddenly the cues began to happen, one after another: licking of the lips, standing still and watching the lady, head bowing down, followed by a series of deep sighs, all from the horse that was so nervous beforehand.

The lady slowly approaches, she places the rope open around the base of the horse’s neck and lets it hang loose, then gently using just the forefinger and thumb, she applies the lightest of touches to the hanging lengths, and the horse’s head drops a little lower. Slowly, and starting from the shoulder, the lady takes her hand and using the slightest of touches begins to work her way up and down the neck on one side.

She reaches an ear and with a feather like touch, gently brushes over it. This continues for some minutes, as the lady slowly works her way around the horse’s entire body, picking up feet, stroking legs, girth area, tummy, tail, back, neck and ever so slightly the head.

It’s as though the whole world has stopped still, with only these two beings in total communication with each other....... this continues for several minutes, as the mare allows this lady to touch her all over, including her ears, her head and her mouth.

There is silence all around; the air seems still, as though everyone is stuck in time holding their breath. Out of the silence there is a deep sigh, from the horse. The lady then gently steps away, and walks towards the centre of the arena. She apologises for not communicating what she was doing and she explains that she was lost in the moment with the horse.......”I felt a deep sense of release from this mare.... I don’t know if you did too.”

There are murmurs of agreement, from the spectators, hushed whispers, the mare once so scared and so nervous had walked quietly up behind her new friend, and was standing slightly behind, with her head bowed down, in deep relaxation.

At this point, the lady invites the owner to come and meet her calm horse, the owner through tearful eyes, makes her way into the arena. She stands next to the lady, saying “I’m nervous I’m going to break this spell”, but with a smile the lady gently takes the owner’s hand and shows her how to rub her horse.

It’s time for the next part, the part where the mare needs to be brave, to trust, her new friend and her owner; they have no intention of letting her down.

The lady’s son brings in the halter and lead rope, as well as a new bridle. The mare brings her head up quickly, eyeing these implements of pain fearfully. “Shhh my friend it will be ok.... trust me – let me show you.” Nervously the mare takes a few steps back from the lady, her owner steps back to the side of the arena.

“She is not ready yet for the halter, but we are not far off” the lady says. “Luke can I have the feather duster”.

There is a ripple of laughter around the arena, people find the terminology from the lady funny – the laughter quickly turns to gasps of amazement as a genuine feather duster is brought into the arena.

“This is Ozzie, my ostrich feather duster, and he is a great tool for working with head shy horses.”

Slowly but surely the lady begins working with the mare and Ozzie the feather duster. There are whispered murmurs of shock as the mare allows Ozzie to be used all over her, including her face neck, and poll. Some giggles are heard as she takes a liking to the feather duster, sniffing and nuzzling at it, as it moves over her face.

Next comes the head collar, and after a moment or two the mare willingly lowers her head and allows the head collar to be fastened in place. The owner delighted, throws her arms around the lady, as together they lead the horse around the arena.

The owner gently takes the head collar off and puts it on herself. Her mare calm, happy and relaxed.

Finally the bridle, which is fastened in place with very little effort, the mare getting used to the taste of a bit in her mouth. Again she allows herself to be led around by the bridle, following her new found friend, her owner with ease.

The lady excuses herself for a moment, to talk to the spectators, some want to actually feel the feather duster; others want to talk about what they have just witnessed. She wants to allow the owner and horse to be together quietly.... with this in mind she asks her son Luke to keep an eye on the horse and owner, whilst she answers the many questions put to her.

The clinic comes to an end, spectators leave, talking excitedly about what they had witnessed. Owners leave with big smiles on their faces, with contented horses. The lady and her son, sit quietly allowing the energy of the arena to flow around them.

This is a true story of, the Feather Duster, a Horse & a Lady.

The Lady is Chanti Cleland, her work is found under Chanti Cleland @ the epona partnership; & her website is www.theeponapartnership.com, if you wish for more information on the work she does.

Love & best wishes, Louisa Ems

My Interview with Chanti

05/10/2012 10:03:00

As part of my work, I needed to find the time to sit down and have an extensive interview with Chanti; I wanted to know what makes her tick, why she has chosen to do the work that she does; what makes her heart sing.

I took the time over the Bank Holiday Weekend to have that interview and Chanti could not have been more generous, not only with her time, and answering all of my questions but also with regular coffee and tea breaks, lunch, and laughter.

Whilst this interview will go towards my Thesis that I am working on, with Chanti’s permission I have included it on her blog too, as it may be of interest to you, the blog visitor.

Louisa Ems:

Thanks Chanti for taking the time and trouble to not only help me with my Thesis work, but to allow me extensive access to your life, both work and home.

Chanti:

No problem, always happy to help if I can

Louisa Ems:

The one thing that I have noticed about you and your horses is that you don’t just love your horses, but you value them too. Why?

Chanti:

Well if it was not for horses, I would not be doing the work that I am. Ever since I was a child, I have always been fascinated by horses, and how they communicate, and how they are with each other. I guess it’s always been something that I have tried to emulate in my own life, wherever possible. I am one of those people that believe that horses are not just there to be used as we humans see fit, they are there to teach us something too.

So many times within the work that i do whether it’s with an owner having horse problems as they put it, or someone having personal problems – horses have this natural ability to give us the key we need to move on, to realise what is holding us back, to release it and to move on. They live in the moment, humans very often live in the past, and base their present and future on the perceptions they have built up from their past experiences. Very often those perceptions are incorrect. Yes we all need a past, it’s how we learn, we grow, we make mistakes, we should move on.....very often we don’t move on. Horses help with that.

I guess also because horses are a huge part of my life, they are not only my “pets” for want of a better word, but they are also my livelihood, so yes I do value them.

Lousia Ems:

Wow now that’s an answer – you have answered about four of my questions in one there.

Chanti:

Ooops sorry Louisa.

Louisa Ems:

No don’t worry. You have such compassion not only for horses, but for their owners, and for people, especially kids and teenagers – why?

Chanti:

Why not – it’s not my place to Judge or criticise and I do work very hard not to judge and criticise - after all whether we are human, dog, or horse, we learn by our mistakes – it’s how we grow. It’s better to make a mistake and then have someone come into your life and show you a better way; without judgment than to make a mistake and have someone hammer you for it. As a child I was hammered for mistakes that I made, I remember only too well the name calling “Jinx” was the most popular and “sh—h-ll cos you’re sh—“ was the other one every time something did not go quite right – I hated it being inflicted on me, so I I work hard not to inflict Judgments on anyone else.

I remember when my mum was dying of cancer and we spent so much time at the hospital whilst she was undergoing treatments etc. We used the time to have some really in-depth conversations – during which mum apologised for the mistakes that she made and the decisions that she had taken, that perhaps had not turned out in the way that she hoped. I remember my reply to her was “Don’t be so harsh on yourself mum, you were doing the best that you could at the time, with what you had available - & that’s all you could do.” I still believe that.

For most people thats their starting point - working in the best way that they can with what they have available....it may not always work out, but they are trying something.

Louisa Ems:

Even those that inflict violence on their own kids?

Chanti:

Violence – well it’s a very realistic part of society. My dad had a violent temper and I have worked with many kids from those kinds of backgrounds, but it’s not for me to Judge all I can do is to do the best that I can with and for the person or horse in front of me, at the time. When you have the opportunity to talk to those parents that have used violence, very often you find that there was a great deal of violence in their own childhood – for them they think that that kind of behaviour is normal – they don’t understand or realise that they have different choices to make.

Like horses who are missing out on some aspect of their early learning, early training - humans can be very similar - if they have missed out some part of their childhood learning process, that will reflect in their choices of behaviour.

How many times do we humans repeat the same mistakes over and over again, not realising that we actually have a different choice open to us – we all make that mistake - for some its more extreme – surely its better for someone like me to be open to helping them make different choices – we have a legal system and the courts to do the judging, as well as the person’s own conscience – which usually catches up in time.

Yes I feel sad, upset and frustrated at things I come across when working either with horses or humans, who wouldn't. But I have to remember I am not responsible for that other's behaviour, nor the reasons behind that behaviour, - my responsibility is to help guide them to make different, postive and better choices, when I am asked for help - to do the best I can with what I have before me at the time. Does that make sense?

Louisa Ems:

Yes it does - thank you - I had not stopped to think of things like that - you are making me consider my own opinions; I think thats why I find working with you so fascinating, so interesting and life changing.

Chanti:

(whispers quietly) Thank you, but at the end of the day I am just me, thats all

It was at this point we decided to take a break so that Chanti could catch up on some missed telephone calls, and I could take stock of all that we have talked about to date.

Please come back soon for the next instalment of My Interview with Chanti.

A Letter from Your Horse

05/03/2012 08:31:00

a good friend sent this to me, and its so good, I wanted to share it with you.....I do not know who the author is; but whoever you are - thank you so much for this great piece of prose.

~A Letter from Your Horse~

When you are tense, let me teach you to relax.

When you are short-tempered, let me teach you to be patient.

When you are short-sighted, let me teach you to see.

When you are quick to react, let me teach you to be patient.

When you are angry, let me teach you to be serene.

When you feel superior, let me teach you to be respectful.

When you are self-absorbed, let me teach you to think of greater things.

When you are arrogant, let me teach you humility.

When you are lonely, let me be your companion.

When you are tired, let me carry the load.

When you need to learn, let me teach you.

After all, I am your horse.

All Horses Welcome......No Horse is a Lost Cause. Press Release

04/30/2012 08:49:00

Press Release - February 2012

All Horses Welcome.....No Horse is a Lost Cause....I’m here to help.

The horses that I’m asked to work with are the ones that no-one else want to touch.

Very often they are horses that have something “missing” in their earlier training, or are horses that have behaviour issues caused by “human hands”. Sometimes they are just “confused, mixed up and quite simply do not understand what is going on”.

I have come across owners who are “petrified of my horse on the ground” but work beautifully under saddle.

One owner told me “My idea of a dangerous horse is one where I, the handler and owner feel unsafe in myself when being with or working with my horse.”

Another said “as a lower level dressage rider, I do nicely on my horse in the ring at shows, but I am absolutelypetrified of my horse on the ground and spend little time around him, unless I’m riding him.”

Someone else said “I don’t know what makes me, and horse owners in general, so reluctant to admit that sometimes a horse is more than we can handle. Is it pride, or the fact that we are limited in what we can do, and just do not want to admit that we need help.”

I’m known by my clients as a “Life Coach for Horses & Humans” as I work with both. Many of my “horse clients” have been horses that other trainers have refused to work with because they have been labelled as aggressive, dangerous or potentially displaying “predator type behaviour”; as a result I am brought in by owners as the “last chance saloon

Some clients have been subjected to third party actions brought by people who have been frightened, injured or threatened by their horse. Two of my clients were facing attempted actions under the “Dangerous Wild Animals Act”.

At times like this, horse owners feel very isolated and lost, and on occasion feel compelled, and pressurised to having their horse euthanized due to lack of support and understanding. They want help with their horse - they want to find a way forward.

Some of my clients (prior to finding me), approached other respected trainers, but the trainers refused to help. On occasion the previous horse trainers have given up on the horse, advising the clients to either sell the horse on, for someone else to sort the problems out, or for the horse to be sent away for slaughter. This leaves the owner with something of a dilemma – how can they move forward, how can they seek professional help; who will listen and give guidance.

When working with horses that have beenlabelled in this way it’s important to put aside criticisms, judgments and opinions.

For me when I work with these horses, I also work with their owners, as I believe that there is no point in my doing all the hard work, for the horse to trust me, but when I hand back the horse to its owner, the owner has not received the same education or understanding of what is required; therefore leaving the horse and owner in a position where neither understand each other.

Communication and education are so vitally important, for the owner to understand what is making the horse tick, and for the horse to understand what is expected of it which is where re-training comes into play and is such a vital and important step when working with such horses.

I take on horses that most other trainers give up on, and to date I have never given up on a horse, or its owner.

Very often my work will start at the very beginning, and move forward in steps. This method of working has yet to be unsuccessful; this method has been extremely successful when working with the horse, and owner. Working this way is so much more than showing them who is boss, “appearing to be dominant”, or “being the alpha

When there is something missing in a horse’s training, or owners decide to not address a behaviour issue, but instead move around it; the horse is not really doinganything for its owner to take personally, it is simply just being a horse, but one with a behavioural issue that can be corrected.

Re-training and working with a horse, no matter what its labels are, can be fun enabling the horse to bond with you, its owner, to understand what is required of it; To be a horse that is confident, comfortable and relaxed, and happy to work in partnership with you. There is so much more to the horse/human relationship than being an alpha owner. In my eyes and in the eyes of my clients, be they horse or human - No Horse is a Lost Cause, until all avenues have been looked into and properly utilised.

Someone like me who is prepared to go to any horse and owner assess, guide, help and train must be a benefit not only to horses, horse owners, but equine societies and equine insurers too.

My former career was as a Litigation manager specialising in Litigation and Contentious cases; therefore the preparation of assessments, reports and the way litigation/ contentious cases work is second nature to me. Due to this I prepare written assessments of a client’s horse, detailing its behaviour, causes, and what can be and/or is being done to improve/overcome the challenges/issues that the horse & Owner may be faced with. These reports have been useful not only to the insurers, but also to the owners who have been ableto show livery yard owners and general members of the public who are quick to label, that they are taking positive steps in helping their horse.

So in my eyes, and in those of my clients.......No Horse is a Lost Cause....I’m here to help.

Please feel free to telephone me on 01606 872405, or 07957 160333, or email me on chanti@theeponapartnership.com to set up a meeting, to have a chat about your horse, or to talk generally. I’m happy to help.

Update 30th April 2012

04/30/2012 08:36:00

Good morning everyone,

How are you? Its a beautiful morning outside, and I have already been to see Chanti's horses. The ground is so wet, and there is a lake in the menage - I did not know whether I should have worn a wetsuit, goggles and flippers or wellies and waterproofs!!!

At the least the horses look a lot happier for the time being.

I am sorry I have not updated my diary for a while. In all honesty I had no idea how Chanti's work would affect me, but it did personally, and so I took some time out, with Chanti, to work on some personal issues that came to light with her.

I have a bullying older brother, who is the apple of my family's eye, and can do no wrong. Whilst watching Chanti work with some teenagers who were on the last session at The Epona Pocket Money Club, before taking their final GCSEs and going onto college, I found myself.....well weeping uncontrollably and I ended up joining in the sessions with them. I feel much stronger now, and I believe that I have worked things out positively for myself and so I am back.

Those kids are great, you know - I cannot believe the work that Chanti does with them, theres no cannons, fireworks, balloons and whistles going off, but theres laughter, fun, some talking, singing and Chanti and her horses.

You can hear the laughter and the singing from down the road, and you expect to find 10-20 kids but find only 2 or 4 - but the joy and relief on their faces, its priceless.

This is Nell who was pulling faces whilst the kids were singing the Pooper Scooper Song....I like to think she was joining in - hehehehe

I wish I could download photos of what Chanti and the kids get up to - but for child safety reasons and confidentiality which Chanti is really strict on - I cannot, but believe me I wish I could.

The life stories that these kids tell you about their backgrounds and whats going on in their lives....It amazes me how well adjusted they seem to be, although they all tell me that they are only now more adjusted because of the work they have done with Chanti.

Abba songs have a whole new meaning for me......I cried with laughter when I first heard the Pooper Scooper Song - oh man - where does she get these ideas from.

Watching Chanti working with kids and teenagers of all different ages and her horses I have come to understand one thing. Chanti is not afraid to release her inner child, to help others.....and thats a rare quality indeed.

Over & out for the time being, Chat soon, love Louisa E

Kidsguide

04/25/2012 10:12:00

www.kidsguide.co.uk

Kidsguide is a local on-line directory of kids activities, clubs & classes, childcare, parties, children’s sports, pregnancy, baby & toddler services, fun days out, places to go and family-friendly events. It’s constantly updated and has everything you need to know in one easy to use website. There’s no need to register and it’s completely free. Kidsguide covers Cheshire, Merseyside, Manchester and NE Wales

Can Horses Really Help Victims of Domestic Abuse/Violence?

04/24/2012 09:46:00

Can Horses Really Help Victims of Domestic Abuse/Violence?

Many people do not think about putting horses and children, teenagers and young adults together so that they can help each other, but for me personally I realised at the age of 7 how alike horses and children are and how powerful that help can be. From the age of 7 horses helped me in a way that only realise and appreciate, now in my 40s. As a child, they were a way to escape from the bullying and abuse at school and the difficulties at home.

At the age of 3 I fell in love with horses. From the age of 7 I began horse riding lessons as and when the family's finances allowed. However by the age of 7 I had become a very quiet girl, with an odd name that never fitted in, no matter how hard I tried to. Throughout this part of my childhood, I felt like an outsider, an alien both at home and at school. Both School life and home life were extremely difficult for a number of reasons.

I am the eldest of three children, and I very quickly learnt what it meant to be seen and not heard, and if at all possible to be invisible, both at school and at home. Every day I would dream of being swallowed up by the ground, wishing I was somewhere else.

Behind closed doors there were incidences that occurred where I received punishments for mistakes that I may have made; but that did not warrant the physical punishments received. Or at times for occurrences that I received the blame for, even though I was totally innocent of what I was accused. There were also times when I witnessed arguments at home, which resulted in physical pushes and punches from one parent to the other. On occasion I would stand between my parents and received the blows myself, to protect my mother and siblings.

The belt and garden cane became items to be feared and even to this day, I will not use garden canes in the garden.... or the house.

School life in particular primary school was similar, the meter ruler, the slipper and the hand all became instruments of violence. As a result of my unusual name I was ridiculed by the adults around my...at times I felt as though there was no where safe to be, and no one safe to be around.

However through my love of horses, I did find somewhere safe to go to, for a few hours at weekends, and occasionally through school holidays to be with horses. Mr Williams a show pony was my favourite and for 50 pence for half a day, I could spend time with Mr Williams, caring for him, pretending for those few hours that he was mine; for those few hours I was safe from the rest of the world, at peace, and one with an "adopted pony".

For £1 I could adopt the same pony for a day or two ponies for half a day each, and care for them, groom, brush, clean up after them, bathe them, and even take them out for treks and walks.

I spent every weekend I could at this place. The man who ran it had absolutely no idea what a safe haven he had created somewhere a child like that could feel safe, regain balance, release her stress and troubles, and be a child again.

Just after my 14th birthday my father left and went to work abroad, and we moved away to a different town. He never came home. By my 16th birthday my father had written to her saying that he never wanted to see or hear from me again, he disowned me and that I was "dead" to him......I have no idea why, so I concentrated on looking after my mum and siblings. Even though the Old Man's farm was no longer a viable option, I visited any horse that I could find on my travels.

The Old Man has since passed away many years ago, and no one really knows what happened to his farm and all the horses that he had, and he will never know how his horses, saved my life and my sanity in those years.

Nowadays I have devoted my life to horses, and humans, as I work as an international Life Coach for Horses & Humans. Very often when horse owners bring their horses in for retraining, they too bring baggage to the table, that gets resolved too – hence life coach for horses and humans.

Over the last 6-7 years with the memories of that old man’s farm still very fresh in my mind, I have been working with kids between the ages of 7-20 from Domestic Abuse/Violent backgrounds and families, using equine assisted life coaching, exercises and games, with the help of my two horses. Over those years I have been nagged by those kids who have come to me to start a “club” so that more and more can be helped by releasing their past and moving towards a brighter present and future through coaching with horses.

As a result The Epona Pocket Money Club has been established, which is the non profit part of my small business here in Cheshire. For the same fees as the Old Man charged in the 1970s that helped me, I help other kids from similar backgrounds to mine. The small pocket money charge is so that the kids have a value on the experiences and work that we do together with the horses, and it’s affordable for them too. However having said that, I never turn any child away, whether they have 50p or not.

Through The Epona Pocket Money Club the kids learn that what has happened in their past, need not form a part of their present or future, they learn self discipline, self respect, and can achieve awards and certificates.

Horses are great mirrors of people, as all that horses can go on is feel, what they feel when they are around someone, this in itself is a great emotional release for these kids – as the kids can be authentic, they can be themselves. They can make mistakes without fear of punishments and they can learn and develop and grow.

The skills that they learn through groundwork games and exercises, by working through feel with the horses and themselves, helps and encourages them to make better decisions for themselves, as one teenager boy said “I realised that I did not have to use violence to make my point, or to get my own way, I have other choices”.

So can horses really help victims and in particular kids from domestic violence backgrounds – Absolutely.

New Links

04/21/2012 08:20:00

New Links, News & New Pages

Holly Davis

www.centaur-therapies.co.uk

Holly Davis

www.hollydavis.co.uk

New Pages

Also check out the new Equi Events page on http://www.theeponapartnership.com/equievents

The Epona Club & The Epona Pocket Money Club

News

How about joining The Epona Club, and receive newsletters, discount/money off vouchers, free ebook manuals and much more AND at the same time know that your membership/subscription fee is supporting The Epona Pocket Money Club that reaches out to and helps children, teenagers and young adults from domestic abuse/violence backgrounds/families.

Read just a few of the true stories submitted by those teenagers who have already benefited from The Epona Pocket Money Club, become a sponsor & have a link as a thank you. http://www.theeponapartnership.com/kidsprogress

thank you for your interest & continued support.

Diary Update

04/13/2012 09:37:00

Hi there, its me again,

its 13th April 2012 today as I write this. I spent yesterday with Chanti once again, and found myself travelling with her to three equine reiki sessions on three different horses.

Now my understanding of equine reiki is that it is an adaptation of Usui Reiki which is usually used on humans, a form of energy, hands on healing, that can only be used for positiveness.

My research into Reiki.....as I wanted to have a little knowledge before going out for the afternoon with Chanti is that Usui Reiki was "discovered" in Japan, and has become increasingly popular in western society for the last decade or so. Its considered an alternative medicine, a complimentary therapy.

As Usui Reiki is used on humans and animals, plants and life in general, it has adapted and evolved in various forms, one of which is equine reiki.

Now with horses' behaviour being somewhat "unpredictable" due to their flight, or fight instincts, equine reiki does not just cover placing your hands onto a horse and hoping for the best, the actual equine reiki levels that give you the practising qualifications also include the best way of approaching a horse, working with a horse either freely, from a distance, in the field, the arena, haltered and tied or in a stable. These are aspects that a none equine trained practitioner may not be aware of.

What I was surprised at, as were the owners is the level of dramatic response in the horse.

One horse that we visited in particular was just so nosy, into everyone else's business, could not stand still, fidgeted when tied, hopped around when having his hooves cleaned, became overly energetic and agitated when being tacked up etc etc. The owner said that her horse fidgeted constantly, could not even eat hay or feed in peace, was always running to the stable door, the owner said she felt that her horse was unable to just relax. I could see for myself how fidgety her horse was.

The owner said that she had been to an Introduction to Equine Reiki workshop with Chanti last year, and witnessed Chanti working on a similar horse and could not believe how calm that horse became in a matter of seconds through Reiki. Chanti remembered the horse. The owner told me that it was her friend who owned the horse used in the demonstration and that after the event they all felt a little mean, as they had deliberately chosen this horse as they suspected that equine reiki was just a lot of hot air.....when they saw how calm and relaxed the horse became within seconds, the owner said she felt really embarrassed and wanted so much to apologise.

Chanti's inner quietness and calmness in her working life always amazes me, because she just smiled and said, "no apologies necessary....things often happen in the way that they do so that the impact of the work is truly understood" - do you know I am not sure I would have felt just so calm about being "set up" but Chanti said "they did not mean any harm, they just wanted me to prove a point".

Anyway let me tell you equine reiki is just lovely and not just for the horse, for those of us that witnessed the sessions yesterday with the three different horses, and how Chanti invited the owners of the horses to join in the sessions and to bond through simply touch...even I joined in, and I felt so emotional and yet so calm. Ok I know this sounds mad but I felt the release, the relaxation, and I felt this overwhelming sense of calm and peace. Each horse relaxed within seconds, and I noticed a lot of sighing, licking and chewing, sleepy expressions and deep breathing.

What made the sessions so special for the owners is that Chanti also left each owner with the simple basics of just starting this touch process with their horses themselves explaining how touch is so vitally important for the horse, and is an integral part of the horse's make up. She gave each owner a simple booklet with little exercises for them to do whilst grooming, before competitions, after competitions or hacking out, or for simply confidence building or bonding.

As I walked away from each appointment I looked back and saw each owner stand with their horse, peacefully and calmly together and like them really felt that I had witnessed something beautiful happen, that words can not properly express.

Enjoy your day my friends,

Louisa Ems :))

Dude Ranch Vacations

04/10/2012 12:23:00

Dude Ranch Vacations - New Link

www.duderanchvacations.com