How is everybody?

[Debbie]

thank you Pam. It was his time, but I would never have been ready to say goodbye. Still, Mister had an incredible life with us. We were truly blessed when he came down the driveway to lay his claim on our farm all those years ago. Such a huge, huge part of our lives. The vet that helped us last Monday has made a donation to an Animal Charity in Mister's name. I thought that was incredibly thoughtful of them. They included a card with Mister's pawprint too. It was an important momento and one I will cherish, but I wasn't prepared for it, so of course it brought on a flood of tears, especially as it's only been one week. They clearly took it after we left that day.

...moving on... today was a big day for us and Anna Bea as her new mommy came zooming to pick her up. I was delighted as the fit with her new family is beyond perfect, certainly way better a fit for her. As Anna Bea was leaving, Blossom's ears swivelled about and she let out a whinny, listened and then heaved an enormous sigh. I could literally watch the stress draining from her.

We left her for her afternoon nap to go shopping and when we returned, I offered Blossom her evening water and she sucked the whole bucket dry in one go! Oh yes, I hadn't said on here, but we'd had a couple days this week where it got exceptionally hot for our area, and Blossom was refusing to drink. She'd had enough of AB and this was the only way she felt we'd take her seriously. I've seen her stressed before, but this took the cake! she'd never refused water before. The fact she was able to drink once AB was gone confirmed it. So, lesson learned and that's it, I am not rocking her world again. She'll remain my solo therapy pony

[harveydales]

How lovely of the vets. So thoughtful.

I'm pleased you found the perfect home for AB, things can go bck to how they were and Blossom will be happy. It is fascinating how extreme they will "shout" to make us hear what they want. Eve is very similar and if I don't listen to what she is trying totell me, she will find more and more obvious and often violent ways to tell me. This is quite new to me as I've been used to accomodating geldings. I can imagine what a relief it must be to you now.

I had a strange experience with Eve yesterday. As you know she has been acting very out of character lately and I've put it down to a combination of being in season, her age, the grass coming through in a big flush and my own general plus me being out of sorts with my Dad dying and having to go back and forth to Germany/Switzerland. Anyway, I'd planned to go for a short ride on her and Lou was coming to walk with me. Lou had just been on a healing weekend and asked whether she could try her Tuning Forks on Eve first as she was interested in Eve's reaction. I take all this sort of thing with a pinch of salt but thought it couldn't hurt so said yes.

What happened next was very strange. First Eve wanted to eat/play with the fork. Then she went over to her bedding, envited Lou to come over and then pointed to parts of her body where she wanted Lou to place the vibrating fork. Then withing a minute or so she lay down on the bed and allowed Lou to treat her while she was flat out. This took a good 30 minutes and Eve went into some sort of trance, making sweet wickering sounds from time to time. When she came out of her trance she still wanted more treatment and Lou must have been there for well over an hour. Needless to say I didn't ride. Eve was a lot happier after the treatment. Fingers crossed it will last. Was this a convoluted way of Eve saying she didn't want to be ridden or is there something in this sort of treatment?

[tinkeralison]

That's very interesting Pam, I'd like to believe this sort of stuff, but would also be sceptical
I suppose you've got to see the effects on your own pony to see it.

Debbie, pleased you've got a good home for AB, and that Blossom is more settled xx

[harveydales]

Alison, yes I am naturally very sceptical of these things too. Eve's reaction was very ovbvious so something happened, but not sure what. Lou tried the forks on me so I could feel what Eve felt and it was a very pleasant, soothing but deep vibration. So maybe Eve just found it very relaxing. But, there again, we know ultrasound waves have a very real effect on deep body tissues and cells and are used to speed up healing/mending broken bones etc.

[Debbie]

Sorry it's taken me so very long to reply. My world's just been in upheaval since Mister left, but day by day I'm stitching it back together and learning to cope with one less at suppertime . In happy news, Blossom is way more relaxed that AB is out of her life. Two days ago she was doing shouties to a pony 1/4 mile away, but to be fair, I could hear the other horse screaming first and Blossom responded. I'm using a new supplement with magnesium and tryptophan in case she has any mineral imbalances, but equally Blossom's gained enough weight that the shouting and running about the paddock is kind of a plus at the same time she gained easily 75 -100lbs while Anna Bea was here.

Regarding the tuning forks I discovered these little gems back in 2004 after I'd learned Shiatsu for horse and rider. Ironically Eldon was the reason I found them. I could literally massage his neck til the cows came home, but when it came to the muscles around his neck and tops of his shoulders (stressor muscling), I would massage to the point of bruising, but it would never release the underlaying muscles. He was still terribly tense and all I accopmlished was bruising the upper derma.

Enter the tuning fork. I would tap the 'ball' ends of the fork with the heel of my palm, and place the stem directly on the belly of his muscle spasms and voila! The muscles have no choice, they HAVE to release and fully relax. It's not woo woo, though I always keep a foot in each realm when I do energy work vs physical, tuning forks actually have their 'magic' in the mechanical realm. It's to do with muscles respond to resonant frequencies. They literally, mechanically have no choice. When placed in the belly of the muscle, the tuning fork 'tells' the muscle to relax completely and fully and will allow it to reset. In Eldon's case, his previously marbled muscles went like putty and he finally let go the tension.

When it comes to muscling, we have emotions that get locked in when we experience traumas. I was warned about it when I learned about my Shiatsu. Even though for the most part animals and people do have enjoyable experiences, if the animal or person has experienced past emotional trauma, it is possible to have it 'locked' into a muscle. As I did my Shiatsu massage, I could accidentally 'unlock' the same thing, dropping the critter/person right back into the exact same experiences they were in when it was locked into the muscle during the first trauma.

From what you recount, it sounds like Eve had a very theraputic encounter with Lou's healing session. I am not surprised given her background elsewhere being ridden. I'm sure Evie realized very quickly the help she was receiving. It's even better when they can guide you to where they feel they need the help.

Typically when I do energy work, I will do my deep session, and then have to wait roughly 3 -5 days when I do meridian work to let the energy do their thing. It has to have the time and space to work itself out. Then I go back and ask for extra photos so I can go back in real time to do deeper work and to deal with the energies that have come to the surface once the outer layer has been removed. Over time, old wounds and traumas can finally surface and be cleared off.

[harveydales]

Thank you, Debbie, for your detailed explanation. I understand better now what Eve is experiencing and what Lou is doing. I feel a lot happier about the whole thing and am convinced Eve is benefitting from Lou's treatments. There are a lot of people here, many of them well meaning friends, who think I should be riding Eve properly by now, and if not, then I should sell her. It's true, Eve loves to explore new things and play and I sometimes think is it my age/nerves stopping me but there is no way I would put a saddle on a horse in pain. She has been tons better the last few days, more like her old self. It is true she went through a very rough patch between the ages of 18 months and 3 when she turned into a hatrack and who knows what physical and emotional damage was done at that time.

Interesting that Blossom gained weight when she was stressed and unhappy with AB. I have to say Eve has gained too much weight lately but that is through the flush of grass we've just had.

I feel for you re losing Mister. It takes time and you never get over it completely. I still look for Harvey sometimes! Mister was a very special cat and the memories will be with you always.