Living Arrangements For Your Horse

Mar 012013

By Joyce Pearson

The most expensive of all your outgoings when you own a horse will be the cost of the living arrangements. Unless you are lucky enough to own your own land of course!

If you are buying your first horse then it is important that you make sure the arrangements are all in place before you make a move. After all, you don’t really want to be stuck keeping a horse in your living room.

There are many options available when it comes to your horse’s living arrangements, and it is important to work out which option will suit you best.

The most likely and convenient option will be a livery yard, which may also be known as a boarding stable. The type of board your horse will need is entirely down to the time you have available to look after him.

Full Livery/board – This is the best option if you work full-time and have a busy schedule. With this type of livery your horse is completely looked after by the staff at the stable, this includes daily exercise and is the most expensive option.
Part Livery/board – Your horse’s stall will be mucked out and he or she will be fed and watered, but you will be responsible for all exercising and training. This is the best option for you if you have some free time every day to ride or at least exercise your horse.
DIY Livery – This means your horse has somewhere to live but that you are responsible for all of your horse’s care and for providing food and bedding.
Working Livery – This is a great option if you are a bit strapped for cash or busy. You will house your horse at riding stables and, in exchange for letting your horse be used during lessons, you will get a discount. Your horse will get plenty of exercise this way.

Some yards will offer most of the above options but others will specialize in one or two types of livery, so before you start looking work out what you need from a yard. Ask the owner exactly what you will be getting for your money and if you will be charged extra for anything.

Find out about visits from the vet and the farrier and how regular they are; ask about the fire procedures, the bedding and feed used and also find out if you will be allowed to provide your own.

Make sure you take a good look around, be on the lookout for any potential dangers or problems and watch how horses are treated. Try and arrange your visit during a busy time so that you speak to other horse owners about their experiences.

Once you have chosen the ideal yard for your horse, make sure and have a contract between you and the owner that you both agree to.

Searching for the perfect yard can be time-consuming but it will be worth it in the long run. If you spend some time looking for the right livery yard from the get go then you will have the perfect home for your horse and won’t have to look again.

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Joyce Pearson has been around horses her entire life and has been riding since she was old enough to walk. She currently owns 2 of her own horses and rides every day. She shares her knowledge on www.horsesjournal.co.uk.

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30 Minutes to a Drastic Improvement In Your Sport Horse’s Behavior – From an Expert Horse Whisperer

Animal Communication, Horse Talk 1 Response »

Nov 272012

Are you struggling with a behavior or training problem with your sport horse? Sport horses of all breeds are spirited, gifted and intelligent athletes. But if you get on the wrong side of your sport horse, then things can go bad in a hurry.

If any of these scenarios feel familiar, then you’ve got a real problem on your hands that may not be easily or quickly resolved through normal training methods or approaches.

* Does your Thoroughbred spook, act skittish or nervous in hand or under saddle?

* Is your Trakehner horse so heavy in your hands that you think your arms are going to fall off?

* Does your American Quarter horse stoically refuse to go forward… or run away with you once they get going?

* Does your Hanoverian dressage horse race along with their nose in the air and a hollow back, consistently evading the bit and your hands?

* Does your American Paint horse bite or nip at you (or others), or run away when you approach?

* Does your Appaloosa kick out, rear up, or strike out at you or others?

* Does your American Standardbred refuse to load (or unload) safely in a horse trailer?

* Does your Tennessee Walking horse hold their head so high you can’t bridle or halter them?

* Does your Andalusian horse constantly swish their tail or pin their ears under saddle?

If your sport horse does any of these things, then this is the perfect time to discover why — by asking your horse directly. The answers may surprise and entertain you, and will always help you grow dramatically in your horsemanship.

A 30 Minute Discussion with Your Horse Can Bring You Clarity on Why Your Horse is Misbehaving!

Your horse doesn’t have to be Mr. Ed in order for you to hear what they need to tell you, you just need to know how to listen with an open mind and heart.

Animal communicators are gifted with ability to have an in depth conversation with any animal, including horses. And after working with horses for most of my life and communicating with them professionally for almost 20 years, I’ve discovered that what the horse owner, rider or trainer thinks is going on is rarely the truth, from the horse’s viewpoint.

If you miss the boat on this one, then you will spend a lot of wasted energy, time and money going in the wrong direction in a hurry. You can even wind up being hurt – or your horse can lose their health, their willingness to work with you (their goodwill) or their home… and in the worst cases, lose their life.

What can you do with a horse who refuses to follow your direction?

Most often the trainer or rider blames the horse for the problem, thinking they are just being obnoxious or don’t want to perform. They rarely think about their horse experiencing an emotional, mental or physical problem.

But that’s as ignorant as it is disrespectful. Don’t blame your horse for their behavior or training problems, or their seeming inability to master a skill. It is time for you to assess what you may be doing wrong and make the appropriate changes to rebalance your relationship.

Your horse knows why they are behaving the way they are and it makes perfect sense to them. Poor communication is at the root of most every issue… and communication is always the key to resolving things.

When your horse refuses to follow your direction, then they are telling you:

* You’re not the boss of them…

* Your instructions don’t make sense or are not clear to them

* They have a problem with doing that, either because it hurts or confuses them

* They think they have a better way of doing that or giving you what they think you want

* You’re not being a good leader

If you want to have a happy healthy horse who is delighted to see you and work with you, then start here before doing anything else.

Your best horse trainer and riding instructor is not your trainer! It’s your horse!

Who knows better than them what is working or not? What hurts or is confusing, and why?

My horse and I were working very hard at picking up the correct canter lead. I’d ask the way I was being taught, and he’d either ignore the cue or toss his head or cross canter… rats. Then we’d try again, and again, with our teacher getting more exasperated at us, and we were getting more frustrated with each other with every stride.

Hot in the face and temper, I finally called a time out and asked my horse, “What is going on?! Why aren’t you giving me what I’ve been asking for? Don’t you understand my cues? I’m doing it exactly like our teacher told me to…”

He said, “Oh, I understand your ‘cues’ all right. But you’re in my way! Your seatbone is digging into my back on that side so I can’t lift my shoulder to step out, and your hand is so tight on the rein I can’t get my neck free.”

Ah Ha!! Mystery solved. He was absolutely right, of course.

I had been very heavy in my seat, my grip on the reins in my effort to ‘do it correctly’ had been growing tighter and tighter. I’d been forcing the cues ‘harder and harder’ in my exasperation, never realizing that what I was doing was exactly opposite of what I truly wanted.

So, I apologized and when we tried again, it was with delight (and gratitude!) that he effortlessly picked up the right canter lead.

Your best riding instructors (and trainers) are right there beneath your saddle (or at your side)! Why wouldn’t you ask them for help or feedback when you are trying to work through a difficulty?

So take a moment to reflect on what signals and cues you might be giving that they are reacting to. They know intimately better than anyone observing from the outside what we are doing wrong, if our signals or cues are being misinterpreted or applied in a confusing manner, or if we’re doing something that’s interfering with their ability to perform easily.

Allow them to teach you. You’ll be glad you did.

It is the rider and trainer’s responsibility to learn to communicate effectively so your horse understands what is being asked of them and can perform to their best with a willing and happy heart.

You can get what you need to know straight from your horses’ mouth! Communicating with your horse to resolve behavior or training problems will ultimately and quickly strengthen the bond between you and your horse.

Instead of fighting with a nightmare, you can begin to enjoy the horse of your dreams.

______________________________________________________________

Bio: Val Heart - Internationally known expert animal communicator, teacher, author & master healer, Val is called The Real Dr Doolittle, & Animal Communicator to the Stars. She resolves behavior, training and performance problems, healing you & your animal, & helps with euthanasia. Val provides a comprehensive service and offers a 100% Four Fundamental Results Guarantee. The Val Heart Method™ of Learning Animal Communication includes the World’s 1st Complete Animal Communication Made Easy System. Free AnimalTalk QuickStart Course, The Real Dr Doolittle (podcast) Show now on iTunes! For your Complimentary Strategy Session, call (210) 863-7928, email: contactval@valheart.com visithttp://www.valheart.com

Book: Avoid the Top 12 Most Costly Mistakes Dog Parents Make – and learn how to have happy, healthy dogs!

* Reprint Requests: I appreciate your sharing my articles with others. You have permission to reprint this Article as long as you keep my bio and copyright information intact.

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Horse Constellations with Sara Fancy on The Real Dr. Doolittle Show™

Horse Talk, The Real Dr. Doolittle Show No Responses »

Oct 192012

Join Us On iTunes Podcast!

Note From Val: Sara Fancy went from being a body builder in England, to discovering her love and passion for horses in California. Her story and her work with horses and people is absolutely fascinating! I’m not the only one, Deepak Chopra thinks so too, because he’s featured her in his 30 Days to Intent YouTube channel video series. Healing people through Rapport with Horses and Horse Family Constellation work, amazing. Enjoy!

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Sara Fancy originally from SE England now lives in Southern California with her seven horses, three dogs and cat. Sara is the founder and director of Silver Horse Healing Ranch, a therapeutic and educational horse facility inspired by her first horse Silver. Sara has a background in Polarity Healing Arts (she is an RPP Registered Polarity Practitioner) Cranial Sacral Unwinding and is a Family Constellation Facilitator.

Sara has established a unique Horse workshop called Rapport with Horses and she combines Family Constellation with horses which she calls Horse Constellations. Sara’s work with people and horses is so compelling, that Deepak Chopra has included her in his 30 Days of Intent YouTube Channel series.

When interviewing Sara, she answered these questions:

What is Family Constellation work, and how did you discover the contribution that horses can make to the healing work?
Why are horses used for therapy?
Where did the name for your ranch come from?
How can people who want to do the type of work Sara is doing get started?
What is Polarity Healing?

To get involved and learn more about Sara:

- Be Sara’s Friend on Facebook at Silver Horse Healing Ranch – Authentic Relations Between Humans and Horses

- Subscribe to her newsletter at www.silverhorse.org

- Watch Sara on Deepak Chopras Choprawell YouTube channel, video series 30 DAYS OF INTENT. Look for Series #4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCB62ZRNhZU

- Check out Sara’s Horse Greeting Cards, original artwork of the horses at SHHR available from the product page at www.SilverHorse.org

Click here to download…

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Yoga and Horses with Lauren Michele McGarry on the Real Dr Doolittle Show™

Horse Talk, The Real Dr. Doolittle Show No Responses »

Sep 052012

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Lauren Michele McGarry is the founder of Red Horse Equine Arts. She fell in love of horses at the tender age of 12. In her career, she has managed many horse breeding farms. Many of the young horses she’s trained have gone on to enjoy very successful, strong “show” careers earning money prizes in both Reining, Western Pleasure, Hunter-Under-Saddle & Jumping.

Unfortunately, Lauren Michele also witnessed inhumane & unproductive treatment of horses in the name of training. So she began to explore what we now call “Natural Horsemanship”.

She spent many years studying and being licensed in holistic health care as well as Somatic Psychology at Naropa University. And from that, she developed a unique philosophy and education in the Art of Horsemanship. Her goal is for riding to become a rewarding experience for the horse and the rider, a path of wisdom & discovery.

She believes that her approach to horsemanship, Yoga & Movement for Equestrians, is an essential piece that helps bring balance and harmony to the relationship between horse & human.

Besides managing the holistic equine training center Lauren Michele is a clinician and teacher, barefoot trimmer & consultant for horses & their people. She is also a co-founder of the Holistic Horse Care Cooperative, now an international organization dedicated to honoring the horse & supporting holistic horse care practitioners of all types.

Lauren answers some questions we would all love to know:

How are yoga & movement practices related to horses?

How are yoga & movement practices related to horses?
How do the horses respond to someone doing yoga?
What is the first thing someone needs to learn about yoga and horses?
What programs do you have available for people?
What was your background in horses and yoga & why did you unite the two?

You can find out more about her work at: www.redhorsecenter.com

Pick up your Starter Kit for Yoga and Equestrians at www.redhorsecenter.com

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Horse Clicker Training with Amanda Martin on the Real Dr Doolittle Show™

Horse Talk, The Real Dr. Doolittle Show No Responses »

Aug 242012

Join Us On iTunes Podcast!

Amanda Martin, the first UK approved The Click That Teaches Instructor, trained by Alexandra Kurland, has been training horses since the early 2000s and has been teaching since the mid 2000s.

Shortly after buying her first stallion Amanda came across clicker training and immediately recognised that this would be a fantastic way to train her stallion. She headed out to the barn with The Click That Teaches book, a clicker in hand and a pocket full of treats and made some wonderful discoveries. She discovered that clicker training is incredibly powerful, that it is an effective communication tool for horses and handlers, and that the horses responded with great enthusiasm.

Now thanks to Amanda, and The Click That Teaches program, horse owners all over the UK and EU/Europe are able to build a solid relationship with their horse where the horse is a willing and enthusiastic partner in the training. Through clinics, lessons and online training courses she is helping horse owners everywhere discover that clicker training can help them create happy, eager horses who love to train. As a result she is also creating very happy horse owners who love spending time with their horses.

Amanda also teaches clicker training at universities and colleges throughout the UK and is also a faculty member for the Equine Clicker Conference in the UK.

Amanda answers some very important questions:

· What is Clicker Training, and who is Alexander Kurland?

· Does the clicker method work for all horses?

· Clicker training was still considered to be relatively new when you first began learning it. Have things changed in horse training since then?

· Is the clicker good for all aspects of a horses training?

· Is there a limit to what a horse can be taught through clicker training?

Everyone loves their horse, and that means we want to have a great relationship with our horse. At the S.M.A.A.R.T. Horse Company we aim to help you build that relationship. To help build that relationship it’s important to be training for emotional changes in our horses just as much as behavioural changes. We can change behaviour but that does not mean the horse has shifted how they feel emotionally about performing behaviour.

To learn more about Amanda and about the Clicker Training for Horses contact her via email at info@smaarthorses.co.uk or call her at 0777 196 5083.

Click here to download

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A POSITIVE LOOK AT FEAR WHEN HORSEBACK RIDING

Horse Talk No Responses »

Aug 012012

By Jane Savoie

Have you ever been afraid while horseback riding (or doing anything else for that matter!)? Of course you have. But you don’t have to be paralyzed by your fears.

Remember, courage when horseback riding is not the absence of fear. It’s being afraid and doing what you want or need to do in spite of fear. (I think John Wayne said, Courage is being scared to death but saddling up, anyway.)

Let’s think outside the box for a moment and perhaps change your attitude toward fear a little.

Fear means you’re growing. Every time you stretch yourself, aim a little higher, or take a risk, you’re going to experience some anxiety. So fear itself is not the issue. Fear doesn’t make you a coward. There’s nothing wrong with being afraid.

Fear only becomes an issue when it paralyzes you and prevents you from doing something you really want to do. Besides, if you’re not afraid at times, it just means that you’re not stepping out of your comfort zone and living big enough.

So, rather than interpreting fear as a signal to retreat, think of it as a cue to take action. If fear goes hand in hand with growth, why would you want to avoid it completely? Instead, think of fear as a sign of your development and look at it as a companion that accompanies you on all your exciting adventures.

Once you take action, you’ll find that action cures fear. You see, you might think you’re safe if you stay in your comfort zone. But refusing to push through your fears actually leaves you with a greater sense of dread because your fear grows into an unmanageable monster.

So, take a small risk every day. That’s not to say that you should take foolish chances. Always make sure you’re well prepared for the task at hand. But taking a well-thought out risk will make you feel great. And even if it doesn’t work out, at least you’ve made an effort. You’re not sitting back powerless and immobilized by your fears.

In the last section, I explained how your subconscious mind is just waiting for your instructions. One of the fascinating things about this process is that the subconscious is nonjudgmental. It doesn’t care if the goal you give it is positive or negative. It just moves you relentlessly toward what it thinks you want. Like the genie in the bottle, your subconscious mind says, Your wish is my command.

For example, if you repeatedly say, My horse isn’t ready to compete, and this show is probably going to be a disaster. Or I’m a basket case when I compete and can’t sleep the night before. or I’m afraid my horse will have a mental meltdown if I ask for more collection, the words disaster, basket case, and meltdown become the goals.

Or let’s say you keep your fears to yourself and don’t verbalize them. BUT you’re gifted with an extremely vivid imagination. You can picture potential disaster in great detail like the rider who told me she had a very distinct mental image of what would happen when she asked her young horse to canter. She clearly saw him launching her into the air where she did a perfect full twisting somersault before landing unceremoniously flat on her back in the dirt!

What can you do to prevent an image like that from becoming your goal? First, when you find yourself picturing something horrible, do some thought stopping. There are all kinds of ways to do this so choose a method that’s easiest for you. For instance, try saying the word, Clear or Quit! to quiet your mind and erase the negative pictures. Or picture the thing you fear the most, and then draw a big, black X through it.

Or try this. Go out and have a look at a stop sign. I mean really study it. Memorize the details “the size, shape, colors, and style of letters. Then when your mental demons plague you, superimpose that stop sign in your mind’s eye over the image of whatever it is that you dread.

After you’ve done some thought stopping, the next step is to reprogram your mental computer through self-talk and imaging.

Find buzzwords that empower you. One of my students froze every time she thought her horse was going to wheel around and take off in the opposite direction. Her catch phrase became, Take charge. and that mobilized her. Another rider who tended to be too conservative in competition used the phrase,I’m a risk-taker.

Or consider the fact that if you truly believed that you could handle anything, you’d have nothing to fear. So, your motto becomes, Feel the fear and do it anyway. So what if my horse bolts. I can handle it! (By the way, it’s not a runaway unless you try to stop!)

As far as imaging goes, I’m a great advocate of visualizing the ideal scenario because I believe that perfect practice makes perfect. However, if you find it difficult to do perfect practice, do some coping rehearsal instead.

For instance, let’s say it’s early spring and you’re getting ready for the first competition of the season. You’ve been preparing diligently all winter and you’re psyched. As you tend to all the last minute organizational details, you reflect about how much fun it will be to take your 4 year old, chestnut thoroughbred mare to her first competition. Your sense of anticipation stays with you right up until the time that you go home, listen to the evening weather report, and hear that there’s an arctic cold front blasting in overnight. The temperature is going to plummet some 30 degrees and the wind will be gusting to 45 MPH. To top it all off, your ride is at 7:45 A.M And you think, I’m gonna DIE!

Rather than visualizing being catapulted into outer space, do some coping rehearsal instead. Watch the whole disaster unfolding. See it in great detail. And then continue your mental videotape until you see a successful resolution to the scenario.

For example, you take your horse off the trailer. She’s dancing around and screaming hysterically to the other horses. It takes two people to hold her steady enough so that you can tack her up. As soon as you mount, you feel a hump in her back and her tail goes straight up like a flag. You piaffe out to the warm-up area (by the way, she doesn’t even know how to piaffe).

As you begin your warm-up, she begins to buck exuberantly. BUT THEN You realize that during all of her antics, you’re never actually unseated. (See, You can handle it!)

Your breathing gets slower and deeper, and you begin to relax. After those initial exciting moments, your horse settles down to business. You proceed with your usual warm-up and then go into the ring to have the ride of your life!

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Free Class Secrets to Understanding Animals

Animal Communication, Cat Talk, Dog Talk, Horse Talk, Personal Note From Val, Uncategorized 2 Responses »

Jul 252012

3 Lucky Winners will be chosen – all you have to do is Register for Class

FREE CLASS! August 9th, 2012

Learn 3 Secrets to Understanding Your Dogs, Cats and Horses and Stop the Expensive Guesswork That Can Cost Your Animal Their Life â€“ and Empty Your Pocketbook

Hi, you know me – I’m Val Heart, The Real Dr Doolittle and internationally recognized Expert Animal Communicator with my best friend, Einstein.

You also know your animals have secret wisdom, knowledge and healing abilities, right?

Without communicating with them, you simply can’t know what they’re thinking, and you won’t be able to access their thoughts and innermost feelings.

You may think that the only option you have is to hire a professional to communicate or work with your animal friends.

But what if I told you that YOU can learn how to communicate with them simply by developing your own innate telepathic abilities?

Imagine, you could simply tune in and converse with them like you do with your best human friends, anytime day or night.
By asking them a question and listening in a different way using your heightened sensory perception, you could find out yourself how they’re feeling, if they are in pain, what they need or want, and even what they can tell you to improve your own life.

By now you’re probably wondering, “Sounds good, Val, but I don’t know if this will work for me – I’m not psychic. I can’t hear my animals thoughts.”

Is that really true? How do you know? Have you spent any time learning how? Anyone can learn a foreign language if they take the time and practice. And the best way to learn another language is to immerse yourself in it by first learning the basics, then developing and practicing their skills…

The truth is this: Your animals are communicating with you all the time… in every way they know how.

Most animals I’ve talked with tell me how sorry they feel for their humans because they seem so dense. They have to get really basic and very demonstrative before their human friend can understand them, and it saddens them because there is so much they want to share with you.

The remarkable fact is that you do pick up on some things… you may not know how you know what you know, or where the impression or thought came from. That’s because you are not as consciously aware, focused or open enough to hear them… yet.

If You Love or Have Animals in Your LIfe, You NEED to Know How to Communicate With Them.

Some animal owners simply talk with their animals for fun… because It’s so COOL to know what they are thinking, while others use animal communication to save money by avoiding expensive guesswork with unnecessary vet visits or trainers…

Did You Know That Being Able to Hear and Understand Your Animal’s Needs, Pains and Wants Can Actually Save Your Animal’s Life?

REGISTER NOW And Find Out How:

Learn 3 Secrets to Understanding Your Dogs, Cats and Horses so You Can Stop the Expensive Guesswork That May Cost Your Animal Their Life… and Empty Your Pocketbook

Thursday August 9th, 2012 5:30 PM PST, 6:30 PM MST, 7:30 PM CST, 8:30 PM EST

Go Here Now To Find Out More and to Enter the Contest: http://www.howtotalktoanimals.com/3secrets/

3 Lucky Winners will be announced the week of August 20th, 2012 – YOU could Win!

Looking forward to seeing you in Class!]

Much love to you and your furrkids,

Val

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Natural Remedies To Relieve Colic In Horses – Natural Horse Care Tips

Health Issues, Holistic Healing for Horses, Horse Talk, Recommended Products 1 Response »

Jul 052012

by Lisa Carter

No one yet understands why some horses are more prone to colic than others. One thing is certain though - colic in horses can be fatal if left untreated and should be dealt with as an emergency. If you suspect your horse is colicking, take immediate action by calling your veterinarian. While you await the arrival of your veterinarian you can try some of these natural remedies to relieve colic in horses.

Homeopathy Remedies For Colic

Homeopathic medicines are a common natural therapy to relieve colic in horses.Â It is best to consult an holistic veterinarian to determine dosing and the best treatment for your situation and symptoms.Â Here are some general guidelines to determine what you might want to have on hand and what to use for certain types of symptoms.

Aconite - Used for colic triggered by fear.Â Best if used early, when colic symptoms are first noticed. Symptoms for aconite use are: sudden high fever, a rapid pulse, and restlessness or fearful behavior.
Belladonna – Best used for sudden intense onset of severe colic symptoms. The horse displays violent behavior such as striking, biting or kicking, and may show heightened sensitivity to touch, light and noise. Other symptoms may include dilated pupils, dry mouth and hot to the touch.
Arsenicum Album – Use if your horse has very watery and dark diarrhea. The stool may have a foul odor to it. The horse appears thirsty but will only take small frequent amounts of water.
Chamomilla – Use for horses with symptoms of excessive flatulence and/or diarrhea consisting of green stool that smells of rotten eggs. The horse may also display violent behavior such as kicking out, grinding teeth or screaming. Do not use if the horse is constipated.
Colocynthis – Use in cases where the horse wants to roll or lie down or if the cause of the colic is unknown. Other symptoms may include sporadic but severe cramping pain.
Magnesia Phosphorica – Use with symptoms of muscle spasms, twitching eyelids or extremities, bloated and/or kicking at abdomen.
Colchicum - Use with very gassy symptoms – frequent spasms accompanied by a bloated abdomen and very loud gut sounds. The horse may also be kicking at abdomen but doesn’t want to move much. Other symptoms may include abdomen being hot to the touch and constipation.
Carbo Vegetabilis – Use with shocky horses. Symptoms include weakness or horse has collapsed, bluish tinge of the mucous membranes, shallow breathing, bloating or excessive flatulation.
Nux vomica – Can be used to increase gut motility when used during colic associated with a blockage or severe abdominal spasms.

Equine Massage Therapy

I have used equine massage on multiple occasions for horses that are in the early stages of colic. Using equine massage can be a very beneficial natural therapy if a horse is colicky by helping the horse to relax and providing much needed pain relief. Massage also helps increase circulation and in conjunction with the muscle relaxation can aide gut motility with certain types of colic. This modality works extremely well in conjunction with acupressure in relieving colic symptoms and can significantly lessen the severity of a colic episode while you await the arrival of your veterinarian.

Equine Acupuncture and Acupressure

Acupuncture and acupressure are ancient Chinese bodywork therapies that are based on the concept of “life energy” or “Chi” which flows through pathways in the body called “meridians”. Acupressure uses finger pressure and acupuncture uses needles to access these meridians in order to “unblock” the pathways and allow the free flow of Chi through the body, restoring balance and health. There are specific points along the meridians of the body that effect each organ, including the stomach and intestines. By applying pressure to these points you can help ease colic symptoms in the horse.

You can find an excellent article on acupressure for colic with the associated points for each type of colic here: http://www.animalacupressure.com/tg_site/articles/actionforcolic.html

Essential Oils For Horse Colic

Essential Oils can be a powerful first aide tool for your barn. They are easy to use and horses react very well to them. You can often find pre-assembled emergency first aide kits online or can create your own. The recommended essential oils for a horse colic are:

Di-Gize Essential Oil – a blend of eight different essential oils and is known to aide relaxation, the prevention of diarrhea, intestinal spasms, digesting toxic material as well as provide an overall soothing effect on the digestive system.
Peppermint Essential Oil – good for headaches and upset stomach.
Ginger Essential Oil – good for digestive upsets, used as a heart tonic and aides in circulation.
Tarragon Essential Oil – good to combat digestive conditions, indigestion, hiccups, urinary tract infections and menstrual problems.

The great thing about all of the above-mentioned natural colic remedies is that they can be used alone or in combination with each other. They are all very complimentary and should not interfere with traditional treatments that your veterinarian might recommend. All can be performed at the earliest signs of a colic and while you are waiting for your veterinarian.

Determining the root cause of your horse’s colic can be very challenging as there are so many variables involved and triggers for colic in horses. However, with the help of your veterinarian, when you do identify the culprit it will go a long way in determining a course of preventive care for your horse and help eliminate the possibility of another colic in your horse’s future. Prevention is the best medicine!

If you have other natural remedies that you’d like to share please feel free to leave a comment below. We’d love to hear from you!

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Dr Doolittle™ Quack or The Real McCoy?

Animal Communication, Cat Talk, Dog Talk, Horse Talk Comments Off

Jul 012012

By Val Heart

Ever wonder what would it be like to talk with the animals? Everybody loves the idea of having the gift of talking to the elephants, the chimpanzees, the Beverly Hills Chihuahuas, Felix the cat, Trigger or their favorite race horses, Willy (the whale from Free Willy the movie)… the very idea captures the imagination!

Every animal lover, young and old, has spent some time at some point wondering and wishing (and hoping and praying) their animals would suddenly speak to them. Oh the things they could tell you… if only you could hear their voices!

Sure, we animal lovers talk TO our animals – all day long. We baby talk, and coo, and fuss at them and we like to pretend that they understand us. The problem is that most of us never hear them say much back. It seems to be pretty much a one sided conversation.

They just look at us with those soulful eyes, intent long stares that make you wish you were privy to their thoughts. You know they would love to tell you the secrets of the universe (or the latest neighborhood gossip) – if only you could hear them.

So is Dr Doolittle totally quacked – or is it really possible to hear what animals are thinking?

Naysayers think animals are dumb beings who can’t feel, think or reason; a non-intelligent species who couldn’t string two sentences together. And after all, for folks who need things to be proven to them before they’ll attempt to understand something beyond their normal scope of what they have decided is or isn’t possible, and since animals don’t communicate with words in a spoken or written language, they simply can’t argue very convincingly in their favor.

But I say Nay-Nay! As a professional animal communication expert, often called The Real Dr Doolittle, I have to tell you, it really is true. I’ve enjoyed many an intelligent conversation with animals of all types, shapes and sizes. Not only that, but I firmly believe you can too if you put a bit of effort into learning a new skill.

For instance, they’ve taught me about the importance of smells – and what amazing information that body of knowledge entails.

Did you know that cancer smells different to an animal? Dogs have long been used to sniff out tumors in humans, they often know before a child is going to have a seizure and can warn their person when the insulin in their body is dropping to dangerous levels. I know a delightful Bichon Frise named Romeo who does exactly that.

Dolphins are able to pinpoint and identify objects behind closed doors. KoKo the gorilla knows hundreds of words and concepts in American sign language. Koko even makes up his own words when he needs to express something he’s feeling but hasn’t been taught the sign for that yet. And I just heard about someone who teaches sign language to dogs, cats and horses who do the same thing.

I find animals often wiser than many a human I’ve met. They are amazing sentient beings with unique viewpoints, insights and clarity about what they need to be happy.

Ever met a human who shows no apparent signs of intelligence? Personally, watching the incredibly stupid stunts humans do makes me worry about our species. Humans as a species can be as unreasoning as a rock (no offence to the rocks), as unfeeling as an ice cube (no offense to water), and act as silly as a tub of jello (and even though I liked jello as a kid, I’m not apologizing for that one…).

Animals have a remarkable way of touching our hearts, helping us feel unconditional love, of showing us what they are feeling and thinking every moment of their lives… if we have the wits, know-how and intelligence to learn how to understand THEIR rich, profound and wise language.

Animals communicate through telepathy (the energetic language of the mind and heart), and through body language, emotions and vocalizations just like we do. It’s important to pay attention and become more consciously aware of yourself as fundamentally an energy being.

They know how to be honest with what they’re really feeling. They know to rest when they’re tired, to ask for what they need, and to eat when they’re hungry. Not every human I know does this consistently, including moi.

They know how to be patient, loving and kind. They know when to act to protect their stuff, who to trust and of whom to be wary. They know how to accept the reality of life and not argue with what is. They know how to embrace, connect and play with others. They know how to be fully present and use all their senses. They know how to live a good life. And they rarely ever have regrets when they come to the end of their life’s journey.

Animals teach us how to be better humans with their wisdom, love, compassion, insights and viewpoints. Their gift is to reconnect us to the wisdom of the planet and intelligence of other beings.

We can learn a lot from learning to listen and talk with our animals. We might even be able to save our planet with their help…

And after all, we humans can use a little help too.

_____

Val Heart – Internationally known expert animal communicator, teacher, author & master healer, Val is called The Real Dr Doolittle, & Animal Communicator to the Stars. Resolving behavior, training, performance, health, working with euthanasia. Free AnimalTalk QuickStart Course (value $79), The Real Dr Doolittle (podcast) Show now on iTunes! Apply Now for a Complimentary Happy Animal Assessment Session, call (210) 863-7928, email: contactval@valheart.com visit http://www.valheart.com

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Whole Horsemanship with Penny Stone on the Real Dr Doolittle Show™

Horse Talk, The Real Dr. Doolittle Show No Responses »

Jun 292012

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From Val: I first met Penny Stone at a Linda Tellington Jones Ttouch event at a wonderful equine therapy center in Dallas, TX. A gifted and talented horsewoman, she became my animal communication student, AND, I have taken horseback riding lessons with her. We’ve also experienced the joy of seeing major changes with many horses, dogs and cats by combining Ttouch and Tteam techniques along with the power of animal communication. Her new book is brilliant, inspired and powerful. You’ll have a good time listening into this fireside chat style interview, while we share our hearts — and our journeys — with you and your furrkids. Enjoy!

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Penny Stone has been training and caring for animals her whole life. As a child she was always bringing home sick animals and strays. As a young woman she spent time as a dog trainer, a small animal vet technician and as the education coordinator for the humane society. In 1980 she graduated from Merideth Manor International School of Horsemanship and began her career as an equine professional. She began studying with internationally renowned author and horsewoman, Linda Tellington Jones, and became a Ttouch and TTEAM practitioner. All her interactions with animals emphasize understanding, communication, and relationship.

Penny has written many articles, and most recently published her first book Uncommonly Good Horse Sense, about how to understand and interact with animals with compassion and kindness to be their leader. Although horses are the subject of the book, readers say the insights apply to all the creatures in their lives “ including humans!”

Penny also does Body Balancing for horses. Her methods utilize several bodywork techniques, Cold Laser, Lifewave Technology and integrative movement to improve the horse’s comfort, body awareness, balance and movement â€“ and subsequently enhance their performance.

Penny answers some thought provoking questions:

· How did you get involved with horses?

· Who is Linda Tellington Jones and what is Ttouch and Tteam?

· What do you mean by the phrase, “Whole Horsemanship”?

· What is the difference between dominance and leadership in horse training (and dog training)?

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FREE CLASS! August 9th, 2012

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By now you’re probably wondering, “Sounds good, Val, but I don’t know if this will work for me – I’m not psychic. I can’t hear my animals thoughts.”

If You Love or Have Animals in Your LIfe, You NEED to Know How to Communicate With Them.

Did You Know That Being Able to Hear and Understand Your Animal’s Needs, Pains and Wants Can Actually Save Your Animal’s Life?

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Learning animal communication can change your life PLUS the health, happiness & well-being of your animals!

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Learning animal communication can change your life PLUS the health, happiness & well-being of your animals!