Magical Horses

It never fails to amaze me the often dramatic emotional effect that horses can have on us human beings.

A few weeks ago, I ran my July clinic. The weather was awesome, with bright dry sunshine and a slight cooling breeze. We had a choice of 25 horses to work with but, a few days before the clinic, I always visit the venue to see which horses want to work with us. This time, we had three new horses, retired racehorses Monty, Warrior and Caine. Monty held the greatest sadness, but has a soft and stable energy. He feels lovely to be around. He just wants to be loved, but can't quite believe that it could be possible. Warrior has the worst legs I have ever seen with lumps and bumps aplenty, and Caine is agitated with restless energy, not knowing what to expect next in his life, and pretending he really doesn't care, when all the time he is desperate to discover his purpose. And not one of them over nine years old!

As I held Monty's head against my chest, he told me that he would be very grateful indeed if he could work with us. He would consider it an honour. Warrior and Caine looked on, with heads over stable doors, reacting to the healing energy with ears drooped against their two heads and bottom lips quivering. There was no question that these three horses would take priority.

Cas is a huge bright bay who apparently threw his last owner across the stable with his teeth. You cannot yet get a bridle on him without undoing it, and if you try to restrain his head at all he gets very stressed. He had worked with us on the previous clinic and had been quite withdrawn, but this time he clearly told me he was willing to give it a go.

Then there is Freddie, a lean chestnut that just hasn't put on any weight. True to form, on the morning of the first day of the clinic, the chosen horses were waiting at the gate to come in, eager and excited to find out what this healing and communication is all about.

The four students were on site bright and early, and by 11am we were out with the horses. I like to allow students to be drawn to the horse that they feel connected to, and so all four soon drifted off to be with their horse. Very soon, the energy on the yard became still. Some tears were shed as the horses allowed their sadness to be dissipated by the healing. One student leaned into Cas and looked like a small child against his side, and I watched their connection grow. Another student stood like a rock with Monty, who was now looking rather drunk and as if he was likely to fall over - but in the nicest way. I drift from student to student, getting their feedback, providing guidance and loving every minute.

Just before lunch, I took the students down to work with a couple of wormy unhandled New Forest colts. With big googly eyes, long skinny legs and pot bellies, they looked at us with rising fear. They had only been in for a few days and had not yet got used to humans. I showed the students how to 'dance' with scared unhandled horses, by using gentle, soft, but guiding body language, and soon the babies were sniffing our arms and necks and following us round the stable on the very end of the leadrope. It was a magical experience for everyone, witnessing these little four legged blank canvasses and knowing that the quality of their lives depended on how they are handled at this stage.

At the end of the two days, sitting at the picnic table outside the yard, under the shade of the umbrella, the energy was like nothing I had ever experienced. Horses stood quietly with drooping heads and resting legs, content to just 'be' with the calming effects of the healing. The students admitted that they didn't want to go home and please could they come back and just 'be' with the horses.

This is the backbone of building a relationship with a horse, to learn to just be with them, without expectation, learning how to merge soul to soul in a way that many horse owners NEVER get to experience. It surely takes one out of what we call real life but, in my opinion, THIS is real life, this ability to be still and connect to others, to life, to nature. This is the reality that leaves you feeling fulfilled and complete. This is the experience that makes you want to give up your car and go live feral on the mountains with the ponies, and this is the moment where you make a choice as to whether you can find this 'place' in your soul when you go home.

Horses ... they are truly magical beings