Massaging the horse’s head and neck

It’s truly remarkable to groom and tack-up horses alongside Eurico Rose da Silva. The man seldom takes his eyes of the horse’s faces and he seems to always be interacting with them on some level. He’s won the Queen’s Plate race twice in his life, and numerous Breeders cups and sovereign stakes and claim-this-and-that; he was regularly featured on Canadian Thoroughbred magazine as he seized the biggest prizes possible in Canada. Today he’s more likely to be featured in the pages of HorseSport magazine as he charts a new course with his mind coaching business. 

On Tuesday the 22nd of September we visited Halton Place and our impromptu riding program was not an authentic medically supervised equine-assisted therapy as we didn’t have a proper treatment plan beyond our desire to have just some fun and meet some top-ranked animals. To claim this was horse-therapy would be doing real equine-assisted medical programs a great disservice.  Instead, we met and groomed sport horses with Eurico, a world class jockey who has just published a book chronicling his career.  The Brazilian-born horseman has redefined himself and has become a life coach who helps athletes and executives build better brains.  At age 45, Eurico has now officially retired from horseracing, and he calls his consulting work Mind Coaching and he usually points to his own skull when he says the word. 

The gals corral around Eurico Rosa da Silva, a mind coach and horse whisperer

Eurico Rosa da Silva is best friends with Louise Masek of Look Ahead Sporthorses who provided mounts and tack for our adventure. She’s the resident equestrian at Halton Place which is huge facility with sand rings and round pens outside the barn which contains a large riding arena. Authentic horse therapy happens here, and Louise helps certified instructors use specially trained horses to recondition patients with limited mobility. They march about inside this sand-bottomed arena as they recover feeling and sensation in their arms and legs and some folks believe it’s especially good for massaging lower backs. Others believe that equine therapy is bunkum and offers no benefit whatsoever.  

Most major studies done by medical and academic organizations have concluded there’s insufficient scientific evidence to validate equine-assisted therapy as effective treatment for psychiatric or behavioral disorders, or even to reduce pain associated with physical disabilities. 

Louise Masek of Look Ahead Sporthorses

But that position may be changing as just recently a joint pilot project by the University of Regina and the University of Saskatchewan found that therapy participants all experienced a sense of love and happiness when around horses. We can validate that finding right now. Regardless of the lack of proof, the international organization Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association has certified twenty programs across Canada.  

Equine therapy is actual a very old idea. Hippocrates wrote about the benefits of horse therapy in ancient Greece.  But let’s be clear that wasn’t our prescription on Tuesday. We went to Halton Place seeking adventure, intellectual stimulation, and a break from the homogeny of being cooped in up our homes. 

The riders practice their balance and form before Eurico lets go of the reins

We’ve read and we believe and can attest to how horseback riding increases problem-solving, leadership, and social skills.  In addition to being relaxing, riding horses can also be an excellent workout, and our Tuesday at Halton Place with Eurico will forever be remembered as a great day at the stables.   

Photo Credits

Photos by Sue Lisset – All Rights Reserved

Guest Author Bio
Rob Campbell

Rob Campbell is a freelance nature writer and author living in Toronto, Canada. Son of a beekeeper, Rob is keenly interested in using technology to improve conservation and the preservation of our natural world; he funds projects that use gadgets to study and improve the lives of insects (honeybees) and animals around us, especially those unfortunate creatures that are, like so many of us humans, stuck living in the city.

Rob is actively involved in Toronto’s business world and the city’s cultural art scenes.

Website: Dumpdiggers Blog

Follow Rob on: Twitter

I have always thought that angels come to earth in many forms. In this case, one arrived in the form of a miraculous horse named Lumis (pronounced Loomis). This was a special angel and he really should have been in the body of a Clydesdale horse to accommodate the size of his soul and his heart. But here he was, neatly packed into a compact and sturdy little equine.

Lumis arrived to us as a boarder for our little barn, and over the next several years he became my counselor, my friend and my biggest concern. I don’t know why I worried about him so much but there was something about that little guy that drew me to look after him like an over-protective hen.Why that was became painfully clear in time.

When I was sad or not feeling well, it was the middle stall in the barn where I found myself seeking comfort. He would rest his head on my shoulder, I would lean my ear against his warm, solid neck and we would stand together in thoughtful silence. He was like a sponge. He absorbed my sadness and that feeling of un-wellness would be gone almost instantly. For me, it was an over-the-counter prescription that worked in minutes.

Lumis was also known for his sense of humour and outrageous social skills. He loved visitors and was a source of amusement for people with his habit of relaxing with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth. He liked being invited into our workshop and would often knock his foot gently on the door to get attention. Being IN the shop was not the greatest idea as the painted floor did not mix well with polished iron shoes. I envisioned a scene from Looney Tunes with said horse splayed in four directions while destroying all contents in the shop as he tried to get his legs gathered under him. However, Lumis was a steady, thoughtful steed and he always managed to back out the same way he came in without turning himself into a floor polisher.

He was also a friend to other animals. Dusty, our 17 year old, almost blind, cat was his best friend. I would often find her in the barn, lying and purring happily between his front legs. His head would hang down just touching the top of hers and the two of them would look very content. When I first discovered this, my heart leapt to my throat, sure there would be a nasty flattening of cat. However they both protested loudly when I tried to snatch her away to safety. He was extremely gentle and always kept an eye on where she was. When Lumis moved away from our barn, Dusty mourned sadly outside his stall for days.

 I made it a habit to treat him to a specially made molasses horse cookie every night at bedtime. He was uncharacteristically frantic in his need to have that cookie and waited very impatiently for the evening chores to be done so that anticipated moment in his day would finally come – cookie time. He savoured that cookie like a connoisseur savours a $300 dollar bottle of fine wine. The look of ecstasy followed by a tiny bit of embarrassing drool and then a thorough licking of my barn jacket was Lumis’ way of thanking me for yet another wonderful daily experience.

A gentle, loving soul adopted Lumis a few months ago and when I went to visit him at Christmas, he was surrounded by other horse friends and he seemed very happy. I brought an entire molasses cake so he could share with his barn-mates. I wish now that I had spent more time with Lumis on that visit. Less than a month later, he had a very sad and unfortunate accident and he left this world, leaving a huge void in everyone’s hearts.

Lumis’ new owner was in shock and devastated at losing this loving companion and her decision was to honour him in death as he honoured us in life – with love and a proper send-off. On a cool Saturday afternoon, Lumis was laid to rest in a sunny corner of the paddock, surrounded by people who loved him, and a wonderful Shaman led the service. I had never been to a “horse funeral” so I wasn’t sure what to expect. What happened at that service changed us all forever.

The weather was cool but the sun was shining. It was quiet except for a breeze that stirred the branches in the cedars above us. As the Shaman placed the four classical elements of earth, fire, water and air around Lumis’ resting spot, the trees began to rustle as the breeze turned to a wind, bending the boughs and spinning the grass and earth from the grave in circles around us. Pellets of snow began to fall. My heart was hammering in my chest as I looked up at the sky to see it turn to a fantastical, ever-changing kaleidoscope of colour. I was holding my breath and my hands were clasped over my heart as I felt that knot of pain and loss twist again in my stomach.

And then my little space in which I was standing seemed to fall quiet within that storm of emotions and weather. I sensed a subtle movement near my left shoulder and as I turned my head, I inhaled a wonderful aroma that was so familiar. It was the warm, sweet smell of Lumis’ breath as he blew gentle encouragement against my cheek. I could feel his solid strength standing behind me and that feeling of peace returned that I used to have when he and I would stand together in the barn. My friend and counselor, Lumis the sponge, had come to absorb my sadness one more time.

As I looked around the circle, I could see that many were experiencing the same profound moment. Lumis was here – his spirit had made itself known to us as the wind carried his soul to that forever place where he can run free for all time.

Lumis – always the caregiver, quietly assuming his role, whereas people tend to insist that others know what they do. He needed no accolades for what he was. My role had never been to look after him in the way I thought I was supposed to. He was there to look after me and countless others. His contribution to us was huge. It was his time to go and maybe he’ll be back some day. Maybe not in the same form, but I’ll know him when I meet him. You can never forget meeting an angel. I miss you Lumis.

 Photo Credits

All photos by Wanda Lambeth

A horse in the sun casts the shadow of an angel.

That relaxed habit of tongue dangling always made people smile.

Please may I come in?

By Lorna Shepardson

“Rusty, I promise to keep you safe and I need you to keep me safe, and if I make a mistake I want you to forgive me, and if you make a mistake I will forgive you.”

If you overheard this conversation, you might think that Rusty and this person have a trusting relationship.  They do.  Yet, there’s something you should know about why this connection’s so special.

Rusty is a horse.

Horses are healers, as seen as Animals as Natural Therapy (ANT)

Equine-assisted therapy as it’s formally known today has been around for 20 years. As with any counseling mode it isn’t helpful for all people, but it has given many people a real, honest insight about themselves that might not have been revealed otherwise.

Animals as Natural Therapy (ANT) operates at Windy Acres, a former dairy farm, nestled beside the Queen and King mountains in Bellingham, Washington. Upon arrival, you’re greeted by a menagerie of sights and sounds. Horses nudge each other vying for the first mouthful of hay. Juan, the banty rooster, crows with his squeaky little voice. The contagious giggle of an 8 year old spills into the arena as Patriot softly tickles her cheek with his long whiskers.

People who come to ANT think they are coming to learn about horses; this is often their only goal. But ultimately they learn about themselves.

As prey animals that have roamed and survived this planet for thousands of years, horses have a finely tuned intuition that can reflect a person’s emotional state at any given moment.  This gift allows us two-legged humans to become aware of our own emotions that we might not have noticed. Too often our culture has taught us not to feel or emote so we don’t upset anyone. The horses—by mirroring emotions—remind us that emotions aren’t good or bad. They just are.

Lorna stands with Penny who's a combination of gutsy and gentle. She’s unwilling to give in quietly to horses that try to take her food, yet she is gentle with children and teaches them to build confidence. Courtesy of ANT

A large percentage of ANT’s visitors—adults, veterans, teenagers, children—have anger issues. Many youth have turned to drugs or self-harm to push emotions further away, suspending any feelings. Remarkably, I don’t witness much anger at the farm. What I often witness is frustration.

The other day I was working with a teen and Moonshadow. Moonshadow wasn’t interested in leaving her herd, much less her pile of hay. And you can’t move a horse that is unwilling to move. Moonshadow planted all 4 feet and 1200lbs in resistance. I asked Mike (name changed) if he is like this with his mom. He said, “Yes, and by now I would be angry.” We promised Moonshadow a hay bag while we brushed her, and she began to move with us. I asked Mike, “What will it take for your Mom to get you peacefully out of bed tomorrow?” He wasn’t sure, but a seed was planted.

We have seen our horses reach a place in the human heart that more traditional therapies may not have touched. Patriot puts his muzzle on a young person’s chest, and she starts to open up about her pain, letting healing into her darkness. People of all ages can be seen walking beside their horse partner in the arena, telling their story, sometimes spilling their guts without interruption—or judgment.

My role is to be an observer and ask questions from a non-judgmental place. I also interpret the horse’s body language, noticing and drawing attention to the horse’s response to an individual’s actions or reactions.

Often times we hold our breath when our anxiety rises. A horse knows that just before a predator pounces they hold their breath. I have personally concluded this is why I have heard of people who get hurt during their first riding experience—the horse felt a “cougar” on its back. When a client feels anxious, I suggest singing or humming a familiar song, and to check in on his anxiety level using a scale of 1 to 10—“1” is totally relaxed after a peaceful night’s sleep and “10” is watching a really scary movie. By simply acknowledging the anxiety, a person becomes less anxious. Horse and human begin to relax, and trust builds.

Esquel, the llama watches over the farm protecting the small animals from raccoon, possum and other intruders. The goats run to him for protection. Courtesy of ANT

So, how might this translate to students in our schools? Equine therapy can help struggling students by giving them the confidence to be seen and heard without hiding behind a facade. Learning how to walk in partnership with a 1000 lb horse gives people the self-confidence to see themselves as leaders. Oftentimes a horse will pull a youth to a patch of grass, and I’ll ask, “Do you want to be a strong leader and set a boundary, or are you going to let that horse take you for a walk?”

I also cannot say enough about the power of meaningful relationships. Counselor to young person.  Teacher to student. Parent to child. We all have an inherent desire to be seen and heard by someone—even the most shut down, angry individual has this need. And we all need to feel we have something valuable to contribute.

My dream job at ANT allows me to work with kids and horses—two of my favorite things in the world. Horses add an element of surprise and inquisitiveness that I couldn’t possibly create on my own. I see youth feeling empowered— or at least asking questions of themselves—tuning into the glimmer of insight they now have into their true authentic self.

At the end of each day, preteens thru adults leave ANT with a fresh outlook and a less heavy heart. The younger ones leave with good dose of joy and a new sense of confidence. All leave with a greater feeling of hope. Including me.

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Lorna Shepardson wrote this article for YES! Magazine, a national, nonprofit media organization that fuses powerful ideas with practical actions. Lorna is the resident Equine Assisted Mental Health Counselor at Animals as Natural Therapy in Bellingham WA, and has worked for over 20 years in social services, with children, at-risk youth, individuals, and families. When she’s not in the riding arena, Lorna has a private counseling practice called Therapynmotion. She also spends time with her husband Paul, children Athena (9) and Orion (7) playing with their menagerie of horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, fish, and a parrot.

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YES! Magazine encourages you to make free use of this article by taking these easy steps.

Shepardson, L. (2011, May 16). Horses as Healers. Retrieved June 11, 2011, from YES! Magazine Web site: http://www.yesmagazine.org/for-teachers/teacher-stories/horses-as-healers. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License Photos courtesy of YES Magazine and ANT.

By Jade Evans

I’m not sure I can remember the first time I saw a horse. I imagine it was probably at the racetrack with my grandmother. We’d stand there with the crowds, watching them parade from the paddock to the gate, with their flowing manes and shining coats. In my awe I’m pretty sure I said the same words that every child says at some point in their lives: “I want a horse.”

As a suburban family of moderate means, a horse was never in the cards for us. But fortunately, I distracted easily and my attention soon turned to cats and other much more reasonable pets. But that’s not the case for everyone.

For some people the desire to own a horse is rooted in something much deeper and is much more compelling. I would meet some of these people later in my life and they taught me about what it really means to own a horse.

Means and Resources

Let’s start with brass tacks, shall we? Owning a horse is not cheap. A horse itself can cost anywhere from a thousand to tens of thousands of dollars depending on where you go and what kind of horse you want. In some cases, cheaper horses may wind up being more expensive if they have defects or other health problems, so sometimes it may be better in the long run to pay a little more for the animal itself to avoid issues later one.

Beyond that, there are costs to consider for stabling, food, vets, farriers, shoeing, grooming, horse transport and other various kinds of toys and equipment. The costs can add up to almost as much of an annual expense as having a new child in the house. That doesn’t mean that only the rich can have horses, but if you don’t have significant amounts of disposable income then horse ownership will inevitably mean sacrifices in other areas of life.

Aside from money, you need access to other kinds of resources for a horse; you need a place for it to live. Some people may have the space and structures to house a horse on their own property, but most people will need to find a stable.

Locating a stable with availability and quality near where you live can sometimes be a challenge. The people working at the stable will be responsible for the day-to-day care, interaction, exercise, and some times emergency medical care.

It’s important to get as much information as possible on a stable before writing a cheque. Talk to other horse owners who have animals there, look at the condition of the other boarded horses; do they look strong and healthy? Try to meet the stable’s veterinarian if you can, or ask if they will allow you to use your own. Your stable and its entire staff will become extensions of your family in the same way your horse will, so the choice of where to board a horse is almost important as choosing the horse itself.

Passion

Ok, leaving behind dollar signs and calculations, the most important part of owning a horse is passion. Like I said, I was a child with a short attention span, not the kind who is meant to be a horse owner. Getting a horse means a huge commitment and it’s something that can become a burden if you don’t have the passion for it from the beginning.

If a child begins to show an interest or pre-occupation with horses, then the next step is not a pony in a red bow for their next birthday. First, start with riding lessons and regular exposure to horses. Whether it’s for a child or an adult who wants a horse, time and experience is the most important preparatory step.

If possible, try volunteering at a local stable. Working with all kinds of horses and doing various kinds of horse maintenance activities will help you gain experience and a real sense of what horse ownership can mean.

The fact is, owning a horse can be something that defines you. It will take a lot of time and dedication to truly enjoy life with a horse. You must hope that you find a stable nearby, because you should go there at least a few times a week to visit your horse, and work on training. If you intend to compete in equestrian events, that time spent at the stable increases significantly.

If you begin riding a horse at an early age, it may, in many ways shape your life. The afternoons you spend riding or at the stables, exercising and bonding with your horse. The hours of training and weekends spent in competition. These many moments can shape an existence.

Horse ownership is a lifestyle that will change everything that you know. That means it’s not an easy decision — and it’s not a relationship to enter into lightly. The costs and realities of owning a horse make it a substantial challenge, even when your heart is entirely in it.

So if there is any doubt, or if you have concerns about a busy schedule or financial hardship, perhaps it’s a dream you’d best prolong. Even with enough money to make it feasible, only true passion, dedication and patience can make owning a horse truly rewarding.

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About Jade Evans

Jade is a writer for Uship, a transport company featuring specialties like horse transport. She has been a freelance writer and blogger for many years and an animal lover for a lifetime.

Phot0 Credit

“Pastoral with Horses” Chris Holt Photos @ Flickr.com. © Chris Holt Photos. All Rights Reserved

The first time I remember my daughter anywhere near a horse was at a small county fair when she was about eight years old. While the rest of us took shelter in a barn full of horses, she stood outside, too afraid of those flicking tails and nervous hooves to come in out of the rain.

Today, at 15, she rides with confidence. Her room is nearly wallpapered with horse pictures. And the owner of the stables where she rides hires her to clean the stalls, feed the horses and help with camps for younger kids.

So enamoured is she with horses these days, she’s even come to love their particular smell, to me a cloying mixture of hay, urine, sweat and a certain animal gaminess given off by their oily coats.

I have a theory about why the confident adolescent girl on the horse was once the frightened girl in the rain. She was simply too young to fall in love with horses. It’s not that younger girls can’t. It’s that for many girls, horses give them what they need at a critical time in their lives.

Girls love horses — the phrase has become one of those truisms about growing up that’s nearly cliché. A whole genre of children’s literature grew out of it starting with Anna Sewell’s only novel, the classic Black Beauty.

Since its publication in 1877, 50 million copies have sold. Black Beauty excluded, my daughter complains about the formulaic nature of the genre. The mothers in the stories are always dying. Through her love of horses, the young heroine somehow finds her way. The genre has moved to television with the successful series “Heartland” about girls who struggle to control the horses and the men they love.

When I asked my daughter to put into words why she thinks girls love horses, she came up with some compelling arguments. From the days of knights on horseback to Hollywood’s idolization of cowboys on the silver screen, she theorized, it’s boys who’ve been associated with horses, not girls. According to her, the invention in the Middle Ages of side saddle riding just made women look ridiculous. It was only when women took up pulling their pants on one leg at a time like men that they were able at last to sit astride and develop that most natural of bond with horses.

History is one thing, but she also had a lot to say on the personal relationships girls develop with horses. “Do you know what it feels like to ride a horse? You have as much power as what you think you are controlling. The amazing part is that your horse responds in some way to everything you do. Every little thing.”

Imagine a girl saying the same of her parents or of the boys who catch her eye. My daughter came to love horses at that stage in her life when radical and inescapable changes were happening to her body and her mind.

Suddenly, life seemed far more complicated and uncertain. On the back of a horse with the reins in her hand and spurs on her heels, she was in command. That huge, powerful animal will do whatever she asks of it. With a subtle pressure through her knees or a gentle tug on the reins, she can bring that beast to a gallop or to a complete stop. She can even back it up, something completely against the horse’s nature. And all the while, she praises the horse, looks into its large, soft eyes and feels affection for it because it’s doing what it’s told.

A Youtube video set to the Mariah Carey song “We Belong Together” opens a door into the heart of girls who love horses.

href='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bekK88sPNPM

1) A horse will never judge you on your looks.

2) You can cry into your horse’s mane without having to explain why.

3) No matter what mood you are in, he can always make you smile.

4) He will never give up on you.

5) He will always try his best for you.

6) He may knock down a jump break your arm but he would never break your heart

7) He will never stop loving you.

I still harbour a fear of the big animals. They can bite. They can kick. The can buck and throw you from their backs. They can crush you against the walls of their stalls. But girls don’t see it that way. They love horses because they find in those big, gentle beasts what suddenly seems at risk in human relationships: trust, loyalty and unconditional love. Here’s how my daughter so elegantly describes the nature of that relationship:

“Horses give you the respect you yearned for. Horses have that uncanny power to sense your mood and change it, and you are always trying to improve the way both of you work together, like a living project?

Photo Credits

“Girl riding Mystic Jazzy Joke” © Darcy Rhyno

“Girls Love Horses” © Darcy Rhyno