Summer is winding down--what is your favorite memory that you created with your horse this summer? Galloping across a field? Taking that perfect lesson? Winning a class that you have worked SOOO hard to perfect your skills for? Maybe watching someone else ride your horse, and getting the chance to see how beautifully he moves? Spending some down time with your horse, in a long grooming session? Whatever your answer, take a moment to look back and enjoy your accomplishments, and those of your horse. And enjoy anticipating the accomplishments yet to come....

The world according to Danzig

I had the most amazing experience with my new horse, Danzig, recently.  In fact, it was so mind-blowing that I hardly know where to start.

I could start by telling you that that I bought Danzig, an 11 year old OTTB, a mere two weeks ago to be my new field hunter, and that it was love at first sight.  But most of you already know that, as I have been barley able to speak without inserting Danzig into the conversation one way or another.  

Or I could begin by telling you about the Animal Communication Workshop I took in June with Amelia Kinkade, and what a life-transforming event it was.  To have the opportunity to be with 40 or so like-minded folks, all of us there to hone our animal communications skills, and work with such a gifted and talented teacher was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. One of the skills that we worked on was doing body scans on animals, “inserting” ourselves into the animal to allow us to see what they see, feel what they feel. It was transformative.

I could also get the discussing rolling by asking you to relate some of your own successes in inter-species communication—and whether you are aware of these successes or not,  I’d be willing to bet the family farm that you have had just such an interaction with an animal, one where you knew what the animal was thinking and feeling, without knowing how you came by such knowledge.  

Here’s what happened.  We had just finished a lovely hack, with Danzig being his usual curious, enthusiastic self (“Let’s go here!  What’s over there?  What’s around the next bend?”) and were returning home.  We got to the pasture where I keep my sheep, and that’s when it happened.  Danzig stood there, riveted by the sights and sounds of the sheep, and suddenly, without me quite knowing how it happened, I was seeing the scene through his eyes, smelling what he smelled, FEELING what he was FEELING.   It was incredible—I was no longer in my body, I had become part of him, and could fully understand things from his perspective.  For Danzig, the sheep seemed to be magically appearing, as he couldn’t see the barn door from where they were emerging.  And the noises they were making!  The funny way they moved!  The shape of them!  And then, just as suddenly, without me knowing the connection had been “broken”, I was back in my own body, and able to verbalize to him what the sheep were, what they were like, what their jobs are (although we were communicating non-verbally the entire time).   

I’ve said it many times before, we all have the ability to communicate with our animals, it’s a matter of being willing to take the time to practice, like you would any other skill you are trying to perfect.  I’ve never had an experience quite like this one, but I’m confident that it will happen again.  And I can’t wait for the next time!

Here’s wishing for many connected moments for you and your horses.

Weekend plans!

Headed to Derby Line, VT for a 3-day Animal Communication workshop with the renowned Amelia Kinkade.  Happy birthday to ME!

Just downloaded xenophon's "On Horsemanship" to my phone. Freaky to be reading a text that is a couple thousand years old on my PHONE.

Let's go!

Spring is here!  Now is the time to make sure your horse has all his kinks and knots worked out as you start legging him up for the summer.  Message me on FB or call me at 802-989-3350 to set an Equine Massage session.  I offer discounts for equine seniors, and multi-horse discounts, as well as neighborhood stop discounts.  Looking forward to working on your horses!

Win Win Win!

....A FREE massage session for your horse!

Announcing a fun new CONTEST!  Submit a short essay to me, telling me why your horse deserves a massage.  The essay can be any form you choose; multiple entries are okay. I will pick one winner a week for a FREE massage session, from now through the end of April.  Winners will be announced on my FB page.  You can message me on FaceBook, or email me at SecondWindESM@gmail.com  The contest is open to everyone, including current clients.   Can't wait to read your entries!

Hard ground, sore horses.

I have worked on a LOT of horses lately, and they all have had one thing in common:  soreness through their shoulders and necks.

Actually, they have had something else in common:  their turn-outs have been affected by the lack of snow, leaving the ground hard, lumpy, uneven, and generally not very inviting for the horses to move around they way they need to, in order to keep their muscles supple.  Instead of being able to stride out at a walk, trot or canter, chase their buddies around, rear, buck, and get their ya-yas out, they are forced to mince around, taking very little, controlled steps, using their front end to brake and control their movement, while their hindquarters just sort of get pulled along.  

Three horses in particular come to mind in this scenario.  They all are worked in an indoor arena, with very good footing.  One gets worked very rarely, perhaps only once a week, and was by far the most uncomfortable.  The second horse gets worked a couple of times a week, and was definitely more comfortable than Horse #1.  The third horse gets worked several times a week, and while he was more uncomfortable than usual through his neck and shoulders, he was definitely happier than the first two.

What does this mean?  It’s important that you make the effort for your horse to get them out of that uneven footing, a couple of times a week at least, where they can move normally.  If you don’t have time to ride, hand-walk them, lunge them on good footing, and of course, sign them up for a massage session!

Thanks!

Just wanted to thank all my wonderful clients, both old and new, for making January 2012 my most successful month to date—this in spite of the fact that I was in Oregon for 8 days taking an Equine Anatomy/Dissection class with Dr. Deb Bennett.  Thanks! And your horses thank you, too!

Great clinic this past weekend.

Click on the following link for more details:
http://www.icontact-archive.com/WftxKSvVk5WpDuR-B8dl4qpsDPKegEjH?w=3

True connection

Hi, everyone.
We have all hard a great deal about connection as it pertains to training your horse.  I’d like to get you thinking about your horse as a beautifully engineered marvel of design, and the true connection in your horse’s body, from nose to tail, from head to hoof.  

Here’s a brief overview:  your horse’s HEAD is connected to his FEET, from JAW muscles (such as the omohyoidius inside the jaw), which connect to  muscles of the NECK (the cephalic muscles, for example), which connect to the muscles of the CHEST (some of which make up the bicep complex), which connect to the FOREARM (the carpi muscles), which connect to the HOOF (via the flexor and extensor muscles and tendons).  

Think about it: head to neck to chest to forearm to hoof.  None of these parts operates independently.  What does this mean? Any tension or imbalance or strain in one part, will of necessity have an adverse effect on the rest of the system.  A strain in one area means compensation in another area.  Restriction of movement in any  area is going to lead to problems, some obvious, some subtle.  

The best thing you can do for your horse?  Allow him to carry himself freely and in a relaxed way.  A tense horse is not using his muscles to their full advantage.  Look at your horse when he is moving, and pay attention to how he feels when you ride him.  Do his strides feel even or choppy?  Do his hooves make the same sound when each hoof makes contact with the ground?  How does he carry himself?  If you’re not sure what you’re seeing, ask someone you trust to help you.  Asking questions doesn’t mean a lack of wisdom, it means that you know enough to know that you need to learn more.  

Our horse’s bodies are truly wonderful.   

Airline food

We all know it's bad, but never, NEVER, ask them for a cup of tea. Bad beyond belief.
Judith Falk, ESMP
Second Wind Equine Sports Massage
www.SecondWindESM.com
Massage is good for your horse!
Sent from my iPhone

Anatomy course

Headed to Redmond, Oregon to take an equine anatomy/ dissection with Deb Bennett and Joe Lally. Everyone should be this lucky!

Judith Falk, ESMP
Second Wind Equine Sports Massage
www.SecondWindESM.com
Massage is good for your horse!
Sent from my iPhone