Coffee Clutch with Dutch Henry: My Wonderful Trip to Live and Let Live Farm Rescue

Thursday, August 29, 2013

My Wonderful Trip to Live and Let Live Farm Rescue –

Howdy Folks,

Last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Live and Let Live Farm Rescue in Chicester NH, to guide volunteers in my "Therapy for Therapy Horses," exercises. These exercises, a combination of Connected Riding/Ground Work and TTeam Touch I learned while working with my mentor Diane Sept, a Certified Connected Riding instructor, are wonderful for all horses.

Teresa Paradise is always looking for ways to help the horses heal and recover from their traumas and she knew it would be helpful for volunteers to learn some of the exercises. Working with the recovering horses to release tension, encourage proper body carriage and relax in their body, will also soften muscles and encourage better blood flow carrying away toxins, and supplying nutrients to healing tissues, bones and muscles. I'm thrilled to say there is now a core group of volunteers who understand and will implement the basics of these exercises for the horses. And can introduce them to adopters of horses at Live and Let Live!

We started Friday night with a Pot-Luck and discussion in the big indoor

Knowing the basics, the meaning and fundamentals it will be easy for volunteers and adopters alike to learn much more by buying Peggy Cummings' latest book, "Connected From The Ground Up." And Linda Tellington-Jones' latest book, "The Ultimate Horse Behavior and Training Book." I thought it proper and helpful to share those resources here.

Starting the "Basics"

Friday we had a large group of volunteers, each working with horses at different levels of recovery and it was wonderful to see the horses' responses and the volunteers begin to feel, and see those responses. Every horse ended the day lighter on their forehand, able to lift their back and softer and relaxed in their muscles. Many horses for the first time, in who knows how long, knew where their feet were. The volunteers ended the day better able to hear the horses, and had a clear understanding of how to carry the healing forward. The volunteers at Live and Let Live are so devoted, and worked so hard to master the basic exercises, that for Feature Friday this week I'm going to write a post featuring volunteers; for without them how would the rescues, sanctuaries, therapeutic riding centers and many other wonderful organizations function?

After releasing Hank's, Poll, Axis, neck, spine and inversion muscles he was able to stretch and release his neck. At first he was unable to release, but in just 5 minutes we got this this lovely release.

Saturday and Sunday we opened the clinic to everyone as a fundraiser for Live and Let Live. Some folks brought their horses, others borrowed horses from Live and Let Live, and everyone, horses and people, had a great time. We started with the basics on Saturday morning, moved onto exercises in motion in the afternoon. On Sunday we explored these exercises while riding. We had a really terrific group who really got it now have new tools in their toolboxes to help their horses maintain proper and healthy body carriage.

I'm introducing Fenway to the "Piano String" release ... Many times horses can not release and lower their heads until we help them release their hind ends. Fenway is getting a huge release here.

There was plenty of time for socializing, and eating, too. You bet there was plenty of food, starting with tables full at the pot-luck Friday night. Throughout the weekend Teresa kept the tables loaded with pizza, BBQ, hot dogs, doughnuts, and cookies – Oh gosh too much to eat … I think I gained 5 pounds!! There was always buckets of coffee too.

I found time for bird watching on the drive up, and back home. Saw some great birds along route 90 in MA … it's a very busy 6 lane through marshes and swamps, but I had to stop. And hold my hat on as I sat on the guardrail. I reckon folks thought I was a bit silly, but I saw Great Blues, Cattle Egrets, Red Winged Blackbirds, Cormorants and even a few diving ducks!

It was a wonderful weekend meeting Facebook friends for the first time, and seeing friends I saw there last year. I look forward to coming back next year! … I'm a horse advocate and I LOVE celebrating folks like Teresa Paradise, and meeting wonderful folks like all those I had the honor of spending time with last weekend. Thanks to all of you and God Bless!

Gitty Up ~ Dutch

2 comments:

AnonymousSeptember 1, 2013 at 6:52 AM
I was one of the volunteers that came to your Friday session. I'm really looking forward to using your techniques. Thank you so much for helping us to help the horses!
Renee
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Welcome to the Coffee Clutch

Welcome to the Coffee Clutch, a happy place to visit. I write uplifting stories about a wide variety of subjects from horses to birds and nature, to love and family and friends. Sometimes I'll post excerpts from stories I've written for Equine Publications. Sometimes I'll post about writing itself. Coffee Clutch got its name because I often write while enjoying my morning coffee in the barn with my mare Kessy, and all our critters. Join us here for fun conversation and stories I promise will make you feel good.

It's For The Horses

This is not a book about riding, or training horses. It is a book on my thoughts, ideas and suggestions on how folks might find the joy in doing things for the horse, with the horses’ point of view as the leading guide. My hope is to help as many people as possible learn to hear the horse, feel their spirit, and in that way help horses everywhere. Over the years I’ve met and worked with remarkable people and horses who taught me about their feelings, their joys, their sadness, and their spirit. As a horse advocate everything I do is from the horse’s perspective, including this little book. Every story, idea, suggestion and thought on these pages will be to suggest and share thoughts and ideas on how to maximize a relationship between horse and human—from the horse’s point of view.

Tom Named by Horse

The only man ever to offer Tom respect is Red Cloud. The only woman to give him love is Red Cloud’s granddaughter. Struggling with his own personal demons, Tom finds himself wedged between honoring that friendship and staying true to the depths of his conscience. Amid a backdrop of tumultuous social upheaval, he finds nothing prepared him, the woman he loves or Chief Red Cloud, for the changes about to thunder into their lives, sweeping them helplessly into the tides of human conflict and historical drama. Available on Amazon.

From The Banks OF Little Bear Creek

The Tom Named by Horse Saga continues. Three years after the death of Tall Dog, Tom Named By Horse and Soft Cloud have turned the little soddy, the lands granted them by Red Cloud, and the lean-to barn into a thriving horse ranch, fulfilling Tom’s dream. The Plains Indians Wars, or Red Cloud’s war, is mostly behind them, and the lands have had their transformation as Red Cloud’s vision had warned years earlier. Trailing horses from the ranch to Denver city has become an annual event for Tom, Buck and the rest, and this is the story of that trail. In the spirit of a good old John Wayne movie, vengeance, cattle and horse thieves, a dirty sheriff and corrupt mayor, and a wedding make this year’s drive a ride you’ll want to tag along on.