Tranquil Touch Equine Therapy

26/03/2025

Interesting chat with the locals this morning in beautiful Antigua.

“Can I talk with you?”
“Not really”
“Can I ask you one question?”
“If you must”
“Do you like living here?”
“It serves its purpose”

You’ve got to love a sassy cat !

This ginger boy, I was informed by a tabby female, was in charge. She alerted me of his pressence before he appeared, she then hid in the bushes, before slinking off.

13/03/2025

❤️

What is a Heart Dog?

A Heart Dog is not just a beloved pet; it’s a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love. It’s that four-legged friend who wiggles their way into the deepest chambers of your heart, leaving an imprint that time cannot fade. This bond is profound, built on a foundation of trust, understanding, and an unspoken language that only the two of you share.

The term has its roots in the profound connection between humans and dogs. It encapsulates the idea that some dogs don’t just occupy a space in our lives, they take residence in our hearts.

Each furry companion brings their own brand of joy, love, and companionship. While a Heart Dog holds a special place, all dogs are special, and it’s crucial not to compare or hold others to the same standard. All animals are different, so if you already have a Heart Dog, or have lost one, it is so important to recognize that there’s no need to try and replace or replicate that bond. Just honour it and respect it and love your other animals with your whole heart!

The Adored Beast Apothecary 🐶

artist credit: Aeppol

08/02/2025

Absolutely..

I don’t think people realize just how many horses out there carry trauma with them.

With that, I don’t even mean severely abused horses that have been starved, or beaten heavily. There are plenty of those around, and those usually cause a lot of outrage (as they should).

What I am talking about though, is the horses whose trauma is never really recognized as such. The ones who tolerate humans and their requests, but never learned to trust them. Those who get extremely obsessive about food which are labelled as “bossy” or ”dominant”. Those who deal with severe Separation anxiety, which are said to be “dramatic”. Those who cannot self-regulate, or co-regulate and constantly carry tension. Those who try to express their pain, which get punished for it because “just a mare”.
Those who are “perfect” until they finally get a choice.

Between Unethical weaning practices, unsuitable welfare, constantly moving homes & and ownership, and aversive training/handling approaches, most horses at some point experience trauma. And this trauma can present itself in a variety of ways. Some are more subtle than others.
Trauma doesn’t have to be this huge explosive reaction. Just like people, horses can carry trauma and move on with their lives fairly normally. It can shape their personality just like it can shape ours.
However, that doesn’t mean doing so is healthy.

The horse that has been in 6+ homes before the age of 10, and thus can’t cope with changes. That is Trauma.
The horse that has never had consistent companionship and becomes obsessive with certain herd mates. That is Trauma
The horse that has only known corrections when they tried to express their confusion, fear, or dislike, and turns from “a perfect beginner’s horse” to “Don’t touch me” the moment you stop using corrections. That is Trauma.
The horse that never had a chance to learn from other horses or connect with people and thus can’t trust people to make good choices for them, can’t self-regulate or co-regulate, and can’t think their way through a situation. That is Trauma.
The horse who was only ever fed 2 times a day and was left without food for 6 hours each night, and has thus become food-aggressive. That is Trauma.
The horse who experienced highly aversive training techniques, and thus now gets frustrated, tense and severely stressed out anytime they are handled in a similar manner. That. Is. Trauma.

Sometimes, awareness of this can be a frustration and defeating realization. I think as equestrians we are often blind to this reality, because sadly, it’s just so common to see horses like that.
It’s not until you work with young, untraumatized horses, or rehabilitated horses, that you realize: “Oh! This is how it should be!”

06/02/2025

I would be super, super grateful if those of you who love dogs would kindly like/follow my Canine Training Page 🙏 many thanks in advance 🙏

https://www.facebook.com/share/16ABvVYe6m/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I am a positive reinforcement dog trainer, handler and animal communicator, based in the heart of the New Forest.

02/02/2025

27/01/2025

I get this message repeatedly from horses and dogs alike .. TIME .. I need more time.

Ask yourself, what does that look like to you? What does that cost you? To spend time, real quality time on yourself, your dog, your cat, your horse ..

One day you’ll look back and realise it was the most previous gift of all 🙏

I don’t have enough time.

I don’t have enough.

There is not enough.

Not enough.


Hurry up I am going to be late.

Hurry, there is not enough time.

Not enough.


I haven’t spent enough time with them.

I don’t have time.

Not enough time with them.

Not enough.

…

So the animal feels the dominant vibration of “not enough” and in their language it can manifest into:

One day, there will not be enough for me: I will scarf my food down, I will store the energy as fat in my body.

One day, there will not be enough for me: My body becomes skinner resulting in receiving more food.

One day, there will not be enough for me: My body manifests illness or injury, resulting in more time focused on me, or reinforcing the deep scarcity around how much time we have together.

One day, there will not be enough for me: Fear manifests in my joints to keep me from moving forward.
When we let go of the addiction to time, life seems more full and less short. We can’t stop the hands of time, but we can adjust the reality we create within them.

04/01/2025

When was the last time you checked it?

Saddle Fit for Horse and Rider

24/12/2024

The Forgotten Dog’s Christmas Poem

Twas the night before Christmas when all thru the house,
Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nick soon would be there.
The children all nestled snug in their beds,
With no thought of the dog filling their head.
And mom in her kerchief and I in my cap,
Knew the dog was cold but didn’t care about that.
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window, I flew like a flash,
Figuring the dog was free of his chain and into the trash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow,
Gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.
When what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But Santa Claus with his eyes full of tears.
He unchained the dog once so lively and quick,
Last year’s Christmas present now painfully sick.
More rapid than eagles he called the dog’s name,
And the dog ran to him despite all his pain.
Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and V***n,
On Comet on Cupid on Donner and Blitzen.
To the top of the porch to the top of the wall,
Let’s find this dog a home where he will be loved by all.
I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year,
For Santa had made one thing quite clear.
The gift of a dog is not just for the season,
We had gotten the dog for all the wrong reasons.
In our haste to think of the kids a gift,
There was one important thing we missed.
A dog should be family and cared for the same,
You don’t give a gift, then put it on a chain.

And I heard him explain as he rode out of site,
“You weren’t given a gift, you were given a life.”

—Arthur Unknown

16/12/2024

❤️ Remember, grief comes in waves, animals or humans, the pain is the same

“If the pain was deep you will have to let it go many times.”

~ Yung Pueblo

Image by Dorota Kudyba from Pixabay

12/12/2024

And on the 12th Day of Animal Christmas ....

I've come here to help you learn ...

To learn to laugh,
To learn balance,
To learn patience,
To learn to listen,
To learn to love,
To learn to trust,
To learn responsibility,
To learn to take time out,
To learn to be in the moment,
To learn to release judgement,
To learn joy,
To learn that WE are a partnership and that I have feelings, just as you do.

The list is endless.

I hope you've all taken a little something from the 12 Day's of Animals Christmas .. they are always teaching us, about ourselves .. all we have to do, is learn to listen.

Merry Christmas on behalf of all of our furry friends on this Earth plane and beyond.

Love to you all,

Sarah & Bobi ###

11/12/2024

Sent to me this morning 🙏thank you Naomi Albrecht ###

“They come to her. They find her instinctively, the strays, the abandoned, the forgotten, the traumatized, the lost and wounded.

It isn't because of a sign on her door, but the love in her heart. She's a rescuer, a healer, a fosterer, a friend to animals and people.

It's her calling from above
to make it safe and love them whole. And she does.”

- Jody Doty,
Meditations and Musings by
Jody Doty (2023)

[Image: Darklings oil on canvas by New York poet and painter Jeanie Tomanek.]

The Smart Witch by Elizabeth

Classic The Smart Witch
Post from 01 December 2023