This blog entry comes from Sandy Nicholson-Smith. Many thanks for writing down this lovely account of celebrating Jock’s birthday giving Equine Touch to appreciative horses. Jock Ruddock was one of the Founders of Equine Touch, together with his wife Ivana. He sadly passed away a few years ago, but his memory lives on.
_____
It was a rainy Saturday when I set out for a morning of Equine Touch on horses to celebrate Jock’s birthday.
I gave Equine Touch to 5 horses that day, some for the first time and others who have been receiving Equine Touch for a few years.
I started with Tess, an ET veteran. She has been on a diet and tucks into hay whenever it is presented to her as if it is going to be her last meal. However, she happily ignored her hay to give all her attention to the bodywork, flexing her neck and processing as she has learnt to do.
Spice was next in line. I always feel gratified when I see this mare. We have history.
I met Spice a few years ago. It is true to say that Spice is quite opinionated. She doesn’t tolerate people very well and can be quite aggressive.
On our first Equine Touch session, Spice made it very clear that I was spoiling her planned morning of eating hay and being left alone. She was grumpy and reactive. My only safe place was in the middle, trying to dodge teeth and kicks. But she was also quite suspicious and not ready to believe that the bodywork was actually quite a nice thing to have done. The first session was limited and I left her thinking about it.
On the second session I devised a bespoke method for Spice, that is never taking off the touch as she didn’t like the hands coming off and on. So no pauses in between procedures creating a ‘rhythm and flow’ technique. This calmed her and on this session I started to see glimpses of relaxation, although the key was not outstaying my welcome and knowing when to stop. Once again, I left her when she had had enough.
We continued in this pattern and, credit to Spice’s owner for persevering and continuing to have me back, we have now reached a point where Spice will process for long periods, totally relaxed, and where she will be left snoozing in the middle of the yard, untied with the lead rope over her neck and her owner waiting for her to be compos mentis enough to lead her back to the stable.
Another horse I saw that morning was a young 5 year old thoroughbred. Cleo had had massage a month earlier and I was told in a quite a matter of fact way that this mare had dragged her and the therapist around the stable a few times. She was certainly suspicious of me to start off with. Whilst explaining Equine Touch to the owner I tactfully included the fact that we never force ourselves on a horse and that we work with a horse, not on it. Eventually this baby relaxed and processed, showing me where she needed attention. What was amazing though, was the horse stabled opposite. Someone pointed out that this horse was totally engrossed with what I was doing, ears pricked and totally focussed. She even started processing at the same time. How wonderful. So I gave her a gentle mini session which she loved.
Fern was the last pony that day. She had started having behavioural issues, lunging at anyone that passed her stable door and had bitten her owner a couple of times. This was one on those times when I had to leave my ‘intent’ at the door, so that I appeared more casual and relaxed and didn’t scare her. She was so tense and suspicious. After spending some time just standing with a hand on her back chatting to her owner (during which I was able to do a form of branding) I gradually introduced some procedures, starting with where she was most comfortable and progressing to other areas as she became less tense. Fern’s owner contacted me a few days later with a photo to say that Fern was much happier and relaxed. We are putting together a programme of sessions to keep up her bodywork.
It is days like this when I am so thankful that I found Equine Touch and was lucky enough to meet the man himself, who has given us the tools to help not only horses, but anything with four legs and two.
The net continues to be cast far and wide with every student and practitioner who has the desire to help horses in need.