March newsletter 2013

EQUINE HARMONY
Newsletter
Equine Harmony
Issue 5
March 2013
Newsround
From Foal to grown up!
Bronwen has had the pleasure of
being involved with Rudy from the
day Helen Jones purchased him as a
6 month old and affectionately
named him Foal Face! She has
watched him grow and learn over
the last 3 years and blossom into a
handsome well mannered horse.
Bron is honoured that Helen has
asked her to back Rudy this year.
Bronwen enjoyed some time off over
Christmas and felt recharged for the
start of 2013. As well as continuing
to help horse owners overcome
problems and build happy partnerships, Bronwen has also been busy
organizing the Hands on Horsemanship course at Horseworld (see page
5) and visiting Kelly Marks on the
Horse Psychology course as well as
assisting on the recent Monty Roberts Demo at The Hand where it was
lovely to see so many familiar faces
and catch up with some fellow RAs.
Kelly and Monty with Martin Clunes and
one of his magnificent Clydesdales
This month Bronwen’s world has
been thrown off balance by the tragic
and sudden loss of her beloved pony
Ivor.
Many of you knew of, or had met this
loveable hairy cob and so you will
realize what a gaping hole he has left
in Bronwen’s world.
Helen has done a great job introducing Rudy to the world, she has
never over handled him and ensured that all his first experiences have
been positive.
Inside this issue:
Ivor’s Legacy
2
First Take Care of You 4
For Sale
6
SPECIAL OFFER
7
Bronwen and Helen have spent the last couple of months preparing
Rudy for backing. He has been introduced to longlining, including working over poles and more recently popping a few little jumps. At this
stage we are just aiming to keep it fun, we want him to enjoy his work.
Rudy has accepted his first saddle and has been walked out in hand on
the roads.
USEFUL TIP
So really just one thing
left……..BECKY….time to
climb aboard!! We’ll let you
know how Rudy takes to his
first rider in the next issue.
And finally…. Simon’s work on
our house extension is coming to
an end and he is looking forward
to a Spring and Summer spent
mostly at the yard and with his
wife and horses.
We cant wait to have him back.
Simon has now ridden Paddy out
with Bron a few times and enjoyed
finally riding the horse he brought
at auction 3 years ago. Simon has
always been rather taken with the
idea of Western Riding and Bron
agrees that this style of riding
would really suit Paddy.
So with all the free time Simon
now has (!!?) he will be taking
Western lessons and researching Western riding and we will work
together towards turning our Paddy into a Western pony!!
Its something that we all hope
we will never have to use, but if
you do have to make a claim on
your insurance don't leave it
until then to check your policy.
Things to check:
Is your insurance covering you
for what you believe it to be?
Check any exemptions.
Ensure you read and agree with
all the small print on your policy
Shop around - ask friends who
they use and if they are happy.
DON’T GET CAUGHT OUT!!
EQUINE HARMONY Newsletter
Page 2
Ivor’s Legacy
I’d promised myself I’d right an article on the process of training Ivor to harness, I will
never get the opportunity to drive him again but I think this story should be told.
Ivor was my uncomplicated boy, he took everything I asked of
him in his stride, even when I told him I thought I’d be a great
idea if I learnt to drive…...
“Ivor—
“Ivor—a true
legend and
very much
loved”
“Oh no, she’s had another harebrained idea….”
“Wouldn’t it be fun”, I said to Simon, “if I introduced Ivor to harness so we could all go out together as a family?” As supportive as always Simon smiled and gave his nod of approval so I was off…..
Becky Davies
Driving…..hmm…..not something I knew anything about
but how hard can it be???
“I feel so
lucky to
have had the
privilege to
have owned
such an
amazing
pony. He is
in my heart
always”
Bron
So what's the first thing you do when venturing into something new that you know little about?.... Turn to people that do!!! Fortunately Becky had worked for some time at a driving yard and she presented me with a book
entitled “Breaking your horse to harness” and a client/friend of mine, Jenny, has been driving her ponies for
years and was willing to share her knowledge and experience. It was the support of people like that coupled
with my IH training that really made this process work.
Incremental learning is the key to good training. So I thought of my end goal and worked backwards creating
small steps:
END GOAL = Myself, Simon and Tom smiling in a cart being pulled by Ivor around
our villages.
I knew that each of my steps could be broken into further steps as necessary. So armed with my initial steps
and a Plan A (and as always a plan B, C and D in the background) I began.
Longlining
Ivor was very used to being longlined, often helping me teach people
the art, however I had never longlined him around roads and tracks so
I grabbed a willing friend to play the role of traffic controller and off we
went around the villages. I realised how little I use my voice when I
am longling as we tend to work primarily on body language, however
when sitting in a cart I would not be able to use this aid and so I began
teaching Ivor the basic voice commands. He learnt very quickly and I
was soon comfortable that I had full control with just my voice and rein
aids.
Introducing the harness
With the help of Jenny, Becky and my book I learnt how the harness is put on. Jenny kindly let me visit her and demonstrated correct fitting of a harness on her own pony. My IH mode kicked in and I decided to introduce the harness
one piece at a time. I wanted Ivor to be comfortable with each element of the harness before moving to the next. I
decided not to introduce the blinkers at this stage as I wanted Ivor to be aware of a tyre dragging behind him.
Issue 5
Page 3
Introducing the tyre
Once Iv was happy being longlined in harness (minus blinkers), we introduced the idea of towing a weight. To begin with I took Ivor into the
round pen and then I asked Simon to drag a tyre in front of Ivor so he could follow it. You can help a horse to be brave by encouraging him to
follow the item he is unsure of. Once comfortable with this we moved slowly towards Simon dragging the tyre behind Ivor as he walked
around the pen. Wary at first Ivor soon settled to accepting the tyre dragged by Simon about 6 ft behind him. My trusty book described how
to safely attach a tyre to the traces with a quick release system. Starting in the round pen we worked steadily allowing Ivor time to get used
to the feel and sound of the tyre dragging behind him, before setting off around the villages. We had many happy walks around the village,
dragging our trusty tyre.
Blinkers or no blinkers?
I put a lot of thought and research into the use of blinkers. My initial feeling was that surely, by
limiting the horses vision so much you are risking them being more worried and anxious.
However, the driving fraternity generally insist that it’s an important safety issue, you really
don’t want your horse to take fright at something from behind and take off with you and cart in
tow. We know horses as prey animals have a fear of being chased, their instinct will kick in
and they will flee. With all this in mind I decided that whilst I would drive Ivor in blinkers I really
wanted to make sure he was comfortable with the cart attached and moving without the
blinkers on. However, if I was going to take away half his vision I wanted him to be ok with
that too, so I put the blinkers on and spent some sessions walking him out in hand. I found
him much more alert and tense at first and needed to really use my voice a lot to reassure
him. We soon progressed onto longlining in full harness and blinkers.
The Cart!
And so to the vehicle!! Iv was very suspicious of the cart at first, so I fed him next to it for a few days until he was comfortable in it’s
presence. We repeated the process we’d used when introducing the tyre (although Simon thought the tyre was easier to pull around than
the cart!!) and in time Ivor was standing quietly (with and without blinkers) whilst the cart was ‘put too’. It was at this point that I found myself
scratching my head….what do we do next?? I did not feel experienced enough to take the first steps with the cart attached. So I turned to a
professional. Mark Broadbent of Pheonix Carriages has been driving, building and restoring
carriages since before I was born!
On Mark’s advice I went to his yard for a driving lesson with one of his experienced horses. It was a
great lesson and if I hadn’t already I certainly caught the driving bug that day!! Mark suggested I
brought Ivor over to him and he would put him to his little breaking cart before putting him to a
vehicle and giving me a lesson with him. Ivor pulled the breaking cart like a pro and Mark was very
confident to put him into one of his 4 wheel carts and drive him around his huge arena with me on
the backstep. What a thrill! Seeing my pony confidently pulling the cart and responding to the voice
and rein aids made me feel really proud. I didn’t think it could get better until Mark suggested that I
took the reins and Simon came up onto the seat next to me and we had an amazing half hour
practicing transitions and steering though cones.
And that’s all it took—
took—I was hooked.
I will drive again one day, Ivor passed me a gift that should not be wasted.
Find out more about Mark Broadbent and his work at:
www.fenixcarriages.co.uk
EQUINE HARMONY Newsletter
Page 4
FIRST TAKE CARE OF YOU
….then you can look after your horse.
Many of us spend all our time and money on our horses, but can we really
give them the best if we are not at ours??
Andrea Ham is a fully qualified Shiatsu practioner having studied with the Bristol School of Shiatsu (20062009)she is also a horse owner and knows only too well the link between our good health and balance and our
horses well being.
Shiatsu
Softens – Supports – Strengthens
So what is Shiatsu?
Shiatsu is an ancient healing art which supports the body's natural ability
to heal. In the oriental tradition our universe is described in terms of energy (known as 'Ki'). Ki flows throughout our bodies in a system of channels
(called 'meridians').
How does it work?
The flow of Ki can be impeded in various ways (eg blocked or excessive) and
this can lead to problems in physical or emotional health. Shiatsu aims to
balance the flow of Ki using a combination of techniques, such as pressure,
stretches and rotations.
Treatment is usually given lying on a soft futon mattress on the floor (or
seated on a chair if needed). Shiatsu is a non-invasive therapy and the receiver remains fully clothed.
Is it painful?
No Shiatsu should not be painful although sometimes certain areas may feel
tender. Shiatsu means 'finger pressure' and is sometimes referred to as
“acupuncture without needles”.
How many treatments might I need?
It varies, some people come for Shiatsu when they have specific symptoms,
others have Shiatsu simply because they say it makes them feel better.
As a guideline start with 4–6 treatments. After that people will often go
for 'top ups' at intervals that suit them.
What will it cost?
£30 per session. £20 introductory rate for first session.
How long is a session?
A session is approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.
EQUINE HARMONY Newsletter
Page 5
Do you do Shiatsu on horses as well as people?
No, the 3 year training that I completed is for use on people. However I have used Shiatsu on horses for first aid purposes with good
effect. One example is when our horse had colic I used Shiatsu
whilst I was waiting for the vet. She responded well and by the time
the vet arrived her symptoms had reduced significantly.
How can it help me?
Our Horses
Shiatsu treatments for me are immensely supportive and nourishing
and a deeply relaxing experience. This is what other people say:
When I receive a Shiatsu treatment from Andy I instantly feel a deep sense of
relaxation and well-being. Not only is the treatment deeply relaxing but Andy takes
time to listen carefully to my needs and responds with great empathy.
NIKKI BURNS, HOLISTIC THERAPIST
As a regular recipient of Andy's Shiatsu treatments, I feel that they have been of
enormous benefit. Her caring and healing ways make Andy a very special person.
DENISE MARSH, YOGA TEACHER
Andy is a very understanding and calming person; during the time I went to Andy
for shiatsu she worked successfully to reduce my stress and anxiety levels and I
was pleased with the service I received. Thank you for all your time and treatmentit has definitely helped me!
ROSE PARKER, CARE SUPERVISOR & HORSEWOMAN
Andy offers great bodywork with an energy sensitive aspect. She is caring and professional in her approach. I have felt the benefits of her treatments.
Coco and Bonita
“After a lifetime of mucking out horses, lugging
soaked hay and a ski injury
to my shoulder occasionally
something 'goes' and I end
up stiff and sideways. A
session of shiatsu gently
re aligns, releases tension
and re balances. The way I
describe how I feel after
is 'evened out'.”
HELEN TRIPP, VETERINARY RECEPTIONIST &
HORSEWOMAN
MARK POGSON MRSS, SOMERSET SCHOOL OF ORIENTAL HEALING ARTS
I have had many different forms of holistic therapies and treatments however Shiatsu for me felt like the most complete one I have ever experienced. It gives me a
deep sense of well-being that stays with me long after the treatment has finished.
BRONWEN PACKHAM, IHRA.
To book a session or to find out more please contact Andy on:
Mobile: 07506 899 990
email:
andrea.ham.shiatsu@btinternet.com
or visit
www.shiatsusociety.org
Andy offers sessions from her home at:
Crab Hole Farm, Biddisham Lane, Biddisham,
Nr Axbridge, Somerset,
BS26 2RS
Issue 5
Page 6
FOR SALE
I often get asked if I know of any suitable homes for horses or ponies and so I thought I would add a page
into this newsletter that will give people a place where they can advertise for loving homes, safe in the
knowledge that this newsletter only goes out to like minded people who put there horse’s health and
wellbeing at the top of their priority list!
To advertise on this page please email me a short description and a photo. You can advertise anything on
this page, within reason.
Don’t forget to include your contact details.
Advertise for FREE. That’s right, there is no charge for advertising on this page, it really is FREE!!
FOR SALE
1991 Leyland DAF Roadrunner Lorry
7.5 tonne
Good condition throughout.
Partitioned for 3 / 4 horses
Excellent living area, includes gas hob and oven, sink, double bed
above cab, sofa and table (can be converted into 2nd bed), toilet
and handbasin, plently of storage space.
Hydraulic ramp
On board cameras: one to watch your precious cargo and one to
aid reversing
ADVERTISE IN THIS
SPACE
FOR FREE
Bluetooth radio.
To be sold with:
12 months MOT
£5,800 ono
YOUR ADVERT
HERE—FOR FREE!
Contact Bronwen
07963 503429
Bronwen@equineharmony.co.uk
The small print : Bronwen reserves the right to refuse to publish any advert deemed unsuitable. Any items that appear on this page
are in no way associated with Equine Harmony.
EQUINE HARMONY Newsletter
Page 7
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Hands on Horsemanship
Practical equine handling
With
Intelligent Horsemanship Recommended Associates:
Bronwen Packham , Jenny Major and Sarah Weston
Equine Harmony
At HorseWorld, Bristol
Helping horses and owners form happy
partnerships
Dates for 2013:
20th April, 21st April
13th July, 14th July
th
14 September, 15th September
CONTACT US
11 Lippetts Way, Catcott,
Bridgwater, Somerset, TA7 9HZ
Phone: 07963 503429
E-mail: bronwen@equineharmony.co.uk
www.equineharmony.co.uk
This one day course will be tailored to best suit the student’s individual requirements.
With the fantastic facilities that Horseworld have to offer and their large selection of
horses and ponies we are able to cover all areas of training from catching to leading;
from halter training to leg handling; from long lining to preparing for starting and
MUCH more. This course can be taken as either a one day course or back to back
as a two day course.
This is a great opportunity to put key concepts and skills into practice and develop
timing, feel and technique, with a variety of horses in excellent facilities.
********************************************
Find us on Facebook: Equine Harmony
De-Spooking Clinic
Don’t forget to like our page!!!
Flags and bunting at the next jubilee – no problem!!
Saturday 4th May 2013
Harmony Fields, Edington, Bridgwater
Learn how to teach your horse to be brave. Improve your relationship with
your equine friend to ensure that he trusts you to look after him while you
introduce him to a variety of different obstacles.
10am—4pm
£79 per person
SPECIAL OFFER
Building a Better Bond
One Day Course
Organise a course at your yard or mine and get a
FREE place for yourself.
Based on 4 people per course
To claim your special offer contact Bronwen
Terms and conditions apply,
We would love to hear your feedback and ideas for this newsletter, please feel free to email us.
Next Newletter : July 2013