EQUINE THERAPY
There has been growing scientific evidence proving that animals are not only smarter than the average population thought, but their intelligence is far superior to anything we could possible imagine. Isn't that astounding! What a concept. Many individuals have known since time began that animals of every species have been an integral part of man's very survival on every level. Art depicting animals and humans with the same traits have been found in every culture throughout time. And one animal that has played the largest role in man's evolution has been the horse. Ancestral memories of the partnership between horse and human are still relevant today as the horse still plays such a major role in the lives of man and retains its place in today's society.
Horses are reflections of our deeper selves. Incredible teachers and healers, these magnificent animals transcend the human soul in ways that only those who have personally experienced this powerful process can understand.
Equine Therapy covers many concepts, pushing the boundaries further with each learning experience. Working with horses is much like the story of the three blind men describing the elephant. Each man comes away with a different experience of the same animal. Because each horse is an individual and has a personal story. The reactions and responses will be processed differently. The protocol in holistic equine therapy is diverse. With holistic therapy, the total picture is considered. Even a horse's personality, environment and miasm plays a critical part in the journey.
Things that might be considered supernatural, miraculous, mysterious or even ridiculous are actually a natural evolution of events. This process is so important because with each horse that we work with, we are also changed in some way. My associate, Stepheney Womack, a lifelong horse woman in her own right, has had the incredible experience of working on one horse and being aware the other horses will crowd around, getting as close as possible and appear to be receiving the exact same hands-on therapy. Their body language, physical signs of release and relaxation after the session is nothing short of miraculous. In fact, it is not a coincidence, but they are actually receiving the healing energy they need on a higher level. But, we accept it as a natural state. We know that we are all connected in a very scientific energetic way. And, we are connected in the spiritual and etheric realm. This is the same thing that happens when we work with riders and their horses. The slightest change in breathing patterns, energetic posture, learning to make subtle adjustments in thought patterns and the smallest interaction on a higher level can make the greatest difference.
Alfred Wallace, who proposed a theory of evolution at the same time Darwin did, had a different perspective than Darwin. He proposed evolution through natural selection, but considered awareness, not survival, to be the goal of survival. He had previously believed that material forces were operating throughout the world, but later stated that was inadequate to explain the great mysteries of life and he was convinced there was a guiding force. After all his study and scientific research with his scientific mind, he knew there was something that could not be explained with science.
So, Equine Therapy, is many things. But, the true base of practice is awareness. The art of listening and seeing, noticing the most subtle signs are the key to this powerful process we call Equine Therapy. You must have the knowledge, yes. It is imperative to know anatomy and physiology. Yes, the data is important. But working with animals has an added quality that is sometimes overlooked when thinking about a business model, working in an environment we know we love and all the reasons we involve ourselves with this profession. The intrinsic value of what animals have to teach us and the mystical, ancestral calling to our hearts are how we can share the healing path and create change. Join us in our journey.
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| Equine Therapy
Each horse will respond in a different way and do not think because you don't see the same response from one horse that you see in another, the therapy is not working. The sorrel horse in the bottom picture could not move. He felt like a statue and each and every muscle looked as if it were carved in wood. There was no response at all. You can see by the horses in the other photos, the reactions were completely opposite. Thankfully, the outcomes were all good and the sorrel horse actually fell completely down. I will admit right now that my heart stopped and it scared me. I just stood there with my hands in mid-air. He laid there and suddenly his eyes, which had a glazed appearance, became alert and focused. He looked at us like he had been deep inside a dark place. He stood up, shook, gave us a big thank you and walked over to his water tank and took a big, long drink. That is one horse I will never forget. Nor will I forget his owner who shamefully admitted his fault in this horse's condition.
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This wreck happened on December 13, 2006. It was one of those freak accidents. I had just turned the mare out to pasture. She ran under the gooseneck hitch on a trailer. She came out on the other side of the trailer with her back ripped open. You could see her ribs. The first photo was taken months after the accident and shows the extent of the wound running the entire length of the back. At the time it seemed there would be no hope for recovery for an injury this serious. This mare was originally stitched up for five days and then was opened up to drain a little at a time. By the thirteenth day it was completely open. I applied an ointment on this wound for 5 1/2 months. At that time, I felt like I had come to a complete stand still with this great mare.
A friend of mine, Stepheny Womack, who is an animal therapist, suggested that I try her photonic torch. At this time of these photos, I had been using the light therapy for 69 days and as you can see, it is almost completely closed. This was a great blessing and the pictures speak for themselves. I would have never guessed that a little light could do such an amazing job. I often wonder how much sooner this would have healed if I had used it in the beginning.
Along with the Photon Torch, Stepheny and I did circular massage around the edges of the wound to break up scar tissue and move the skin as a whole in all directions to keep it from attaching to the muscle with scar tissue and becoming unmovable. We scrubbed the wound and washed it daily to prevent bacteria from re-entering the wound. This scrubbing and massage process also exacerbated the tissue to further enhance the edges of the wound to come together. We did belly lifts to help stretch and strengthen the back muscles, keeping the skin across the area of the wound pliable.
At the time of this letter, this mare is now being ridden and shows no sign of soreness and tenderness. Thank You! ? Tracy Oswald
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| This photo was taken months after the original injury. |
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| Photo taken right after beginning light therapy |
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| Photo taken approximately three months into treating with light therapy combined with other modalities. This horse is now being ridden with residual scar tissue. Stay tuned for current photos. |
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| Waiting for the equine dentist |
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| This is what a horse should feel like after a good session with the equine dentist. Please make sure your horse has his dental needs addressed. Please contact us for more information. |
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