Animal Soul Sync

19/06/2025

Harry had a full-body nope when it came to the pool today. He barks and runs around with excitement to get in, but when he gets himself up there he has a little rethink. He has full autonomy to get up there, he clearly wants to go but sometimes you just freeze.

And you know what? I get it.
Sometimes we want to do the thing, but our body says “not yet.” Those pesky nervous systems have a lot to answer for sometimes!

That’s something I see in a lot of the animals I work with.
They’re curious. They want connection.
But trauma, anxiety or past experiences hold them back.

Healing isn’t always jumping in headfirst.
Sometimes it’s just… hanging around the edges until it feels safe.

That’s okay, too 💧

And yes, he jumped in eventually... several times. My husband told me off, dogs aren't allowed in the pool 😂

18/06/2025

“What if I get it wrong?”

That question still sits in my nervous system like an old bruise.

When I was around 10, we were given what was framed as a privilege — the responsibility of running the school office during staff lunch breaks, I had to give up my break time and eat lunch in the office whilst manning the phones (I don't think we were very technical back then, I feel so old!). At the time, it felt like a big deal. Looking back now, it was a big deal. A lot of responsibility for a child. We weren't given training or the tools to succeed, just chucked in a room for an hour and left to figure it out.

One day I had to take a phone message. My undiagnosed ADHD brain did its absolute best. I scribbled down what I could remember, racing against my short-term memory. And then I went back to class thinking I’d done a good job, I'd been helpful and I was responsible.

But when the staff came back and couldn’t understand the message, they pulled me out of class and told me off. I was made to feel like I’d let everyone down. That I was careless. That I’d failed. I wasn't good enough, even though I was doing them a favour and I had tried my best.

I was 10.
And that moment stayed with me.

It planted something deep — a fear of responsibility. Not just “big” responsibilities either. To this day, even paying bills on time can cause my nervous system to go into panic mode and I still have a huge fear of phone calls and forgetting what is said. My brain tells me: What if I mess this up? What if I let someone down? What if I’m not good enough?

These early childhood experiences stay with us. They don’t just fade. They shape how we show up in adult life, how safe we feel in the world, how our nervous systems respond to pressure — even decades later.

And I see this reflected in the animals I work with, too.

When an animal reacts or shuts down, it's rarely about defiance or “bad behaviour.” They don't choose to be naughty. Often, it’s a nervous system that’s learned, over time, that it’s not safe to get it wrong. That trying and failing comes with consequences. That being misunderstood can hurt.

And as humans, we don’t always realise how much impact we can have on our animal companions— even with the best of intentions. That doesn’t make us bad. It doesn’t mean we don’t love our animals. It just means we’re human, we make mistakes and that's okay. And sometimes, we only know better once we’ve had a chance to stop and reflect.

Self-reflection is one of the greatest lessons our animals can offer us.
They mirror things we didn’t even realise we were carrying.

In my work, I hold space for that. For both you and your animal. A space where you’re not judged. Where you’re not “bad” or “wrong.” Just seen, heard, and understood.

🌿 Shelley
Animal Soul Sync

Enjoy this video for Barney showing me where he wants the good scratches and when he's had enough. 💖

08/06/2025

My happy place has always been arts and crafts, especially drawing animals and fantasy things. It's really important that we take time to do what fills us up and brings us joy, it helps to regulate our nervous system and has a huge positive impact on our mental health.
I'd love to know what you do to relax and refill!

03/06/2025

30/05/2025

✨ Scaffolding Support – What Bill Cipher Can Teach Us About Connection ✨

This week, my daughter, who is completely obsessed with Gravity Falls, discovered her favourite character, Bill Cipher, was in an episode of The Simpsons. Her joy was off the scale. We watched the episode together, paused it to take photos, rewatched the scene three times, and shared the moment like it was the most magical discovery in the world. For her, it really was and I was grateful she wanted to share the joy with me.

But it wasn’t just about the cartoon. It was about being seen, feeling understood, and having someone sit with her in that joy. I didn’t need to explain the significance, she already knew. My role was to be there, support the moment, and help her hold onto it in a way that felt safe, exciting and completely hers. I have been made to watch that two season show more times than I can count but it is sacred to her, therefore it is important to me as her support and her family. Without judgement or my own views, just experiencing it with her.

This is scaffolding in action. It’s about meeting someone exactly where they are, understanding what they need to thrive, and offering support that fits them, not just the situation.

The same approach transforms our relationships with animals.

When we take time to understand what really matters to our pets, what comforts them, what overwhelms them, what they need to feel safe, we can offer that same kind of gentle support. Whether it’s helping a nervous rescue dog cope with noisy spaces, supporting a grieving horse through a routine change, or just making space for our animals to express themselves, the magic is in being present and honouring their experience.

And just like that moment with my daughter, it becomes less about fixing, and more about witnessing, celebrating, and gently holding space.

Scaffolding isn’t really a strategy. It’s a relationship.

💛 Shelley

28/05/2025

Prepping for my first podcast interview this afternoon 🫣

In the meantime I felt drawn to pull a card for some courage and after a card for you!
Just let me know the number you're most drawn to and I'll post the outcome this evening.

These are my latest deck, Animal Wisdom Guides by Andrew Laylock. 💖🐾

23/05/2025

As next week is half term for those who are educated in school, and is the mid way point of the GCSE exam season, it is a good time to pause, reflect, restore, reset and prepare for the final phase of the academic year.

We have a unique way to relieve some of the pressure that can be caused by assessments at this time of year. Our horses can bring a sense of calm and release, helping to regulate emotions that can be on a bit of a rollercoaster at the moment. They are able to connect with your heart and soul, and hold space to allow you to be you.

One-hour sessions are available throughout half term, drop us a message to book in. Sessions are £25 per person, discounts available for groups.

22/05/2025

Healing doesn’t happen overnight. Growth takes time, patience, and a lot of support.

I’ve been working with Ajax for 9 months now, and his journey continues to be one of slow, steady transformation. Like many animals with trauma in their history, he moves forward in small steps, sometimes slipping back when things feel overwhelming. And that’s perfectly normal. It's how we grow.

Ajax was taken straight to a race yard as a youngster, kept isolated with no herd to learn from and no real space to develop emotionally. Now, years later, he struggles to read other horses and often doesn’t understand boundaries. He finds people easier to be around because that’s what he knows. But instinct doesn’t always follow logic, and sometimes his body still carries the memory of what he went through.

This week, his herd pushed him away again. It’s something that used to happen a lot when he first arrived, but had settled over time. This recent shift showed us something was off. So I went to check in with him and give him the space to be heard.

I used a little bit of Reiki to help bring him back into his body, though he often finds that scary. We do it gradually, gently. His default is to live in his head, because it feels safer but he allowed some movement in his energy, despite his fear. But his friend in the herd noticed and came over to support him too. Letting him know he's never alone anymore.

Working with animals like Ajax over time gives us the chance to notice the little things. To track the subtle changes. To catch things early. One evening the energy was off and I'm there the next day so we can support and understand the change in dynamics, addressing it quickly so it doesn't fester. It’s not just about one session, it's a commitment to growth for all of us involved. It’s about building trust and helping them feel safe enough to open up. And that has helped Ajax more than anything else. Having a support network that stands beside him, not pushing or pulling him in any direction, just ambling alongside him as he grows.

When I first met him, he didn’t know how to be loved. He didn’t know what it felt like to be respected or asked for consent. He was labelled dangerous and was due to be shot the weekend he was rescued.
Now he enjoys groundwork, on lead walks, and even started to be ridden with care and his consent. His owner has seen him blossom and their bond is beautiful to witness, they have both grown so much together because she listens and asks his consent, she doesn't rush him and has no expectations other than what he can give her that day and it's beautiful to see their bond when both feel truly safe together. And while there are still moments of struggle, like there are for all of us, he’s no longer alone in them. His owner and wonderful yard manager knows how he is feeling and supports him where he is, he's learnt to love and what it really means to be loved in return.

Listening isn’t passive. It’s powerful. And for animals like Ajax, it can be the thing that changes everything.

21/05/2025

I always feel like... Somebody's watching me... 🎤