"Feature Friday – Dr Joseph Thomas, Ph.D– Chinese Herbalist - For Love Of The Horse"

Howdy Folks,

 

Last week I had the honor and pleasure of interviewing Dr Thomas for my "Holistic Hall Of Fame" column in Natural Horse Magazine. In speaking with him it was easy to feel his deep compassion, really a driving desire, to help horses, and their people. I wrote the story about his life's journey to become a most noted authority on Chinese herbalism in the equine world. Having studied and apprenticed for years under masters such as Dr. Leon Hammer MD, regarded by many as the father of Contemporary Chinese Medicine. Dr Hammer had in turn studied under Dr John H.F. Shen, considered to be the world's foremost expert in both diagnostic and Chinese herbalism.

Dr Thomas

Where his life's journey led him was to eventually, with the help of his wife Crystal and their daughter Allison, create For Love Of The Horse website; a Chinese Herbal healing and health enriching place for horses. Dr Thomas has, and continues to do more than any other individual, to bring the power of Chinese Herbalism to the equine world.

On their website you will find 26 premixed solutions, their famous, "Horse health support service questionnaire," and "Dr Thomas' custom formulations protocol." Dr Thomas can create specific solutions for any horse after detailed examinations by way of questionnaires and if necessary, blood work. They have succeeded in making a healing place as close as your keyboard.

Also there to support your horse's health, answer your questions and guide you along your own journey to understanding Chinese herbalism is the For Love Of The Horse, horse wellness team; Melissa, Shelley, Leah and Amy.

Chinese herbalism, Dr Thomas explains, is not just about understanding herbs and their usage, but also understanding how each of the herbs in a given treatment interact with each other. And how each herb interacts to support the body in the healing process. The benefit of each herb must be weighed and understood singularly and collectively. Each situation and treatment is unique and must be carefully orchestrated to match the patient and situation, illness and condition.

But how did Dr Thomas come to create this healing place so ready to help so many?

Excerpt from my story, "Two veterinarians had been to the farm to inspect Jesse Doe, Crystal's beloved mare. They had both decided the only course of action for the foundered horse was euthanasia. They were both escorted off the farm. Crystal turned to her husband. "You save her," she pleaded. "You've been saving people with horrible diseases for twenty years. Please use everything you've learned to save my Jesse Doe." That moment changed everything. For Jessie Doe, Crystal, Dr Thomas and people and horses everywhere."

We hope you'll watch for my story in the Oct/Nov/Dec issue of Natural Horse Magazine. There is a lot to the man who heals horses with herbs, and I'd like you to read his story.

It is important to Dr Thomas that folks understand he is there to help and they should not hesitate to contact him at customer service with their questions, concerns and dreams. For Dr Thomas and everyone at For Love Of The Horse the motto is, "We are here for the horse."

Have a stroll through their website –  www.forloveofthehorse.com  Your horse will thank you.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Feature Friday – Carol L Nolan Equine Therapy

Howdy Folks,

 As a child Carol wanted to save every animal she saw in distress. Every stray kitten, every injured bird, and everything in between, from lost dogs to wild animals. She didn't know how, but she knew her life would need to revolve around helping animals. About six years ago a young horse named Hope helped her find a way to help.

Hope was a Frisian mare who found Carol, who had gone 20 years without horses in her life. Shortly after their joyous bonding, Hope fell while frolicking in the pasture. It was a bad fall. She became seriously lame. No veterinarian could find a way to help. No help could be found from chiropractors, or a series of lameness experts. Carol set out to educate herself on how to help Hope. She believed from watching the experiences with Hope, that healing and health had to have its foundation in, "A whole horse approach."

She made her mission to learn all she could about the biomechanics of the horse. She dug in, researched and studied hard, learning about the soft tissue, and injuries. She learned about chiropractic, acupressure & meridians, massage and stretching. It all made sense to her and she began to wonder why it wasn't part of everyday horse ownership. "In the end, I have learned that many horses are suffering from the discomfort of chronic pain & physical restrictions that we humans have not been taught to recognize." Carol said. "Once we can understand this, we can set about making our horses feel better."

After much study and learning Carol chose using the acuscope, myoscope & myofascial release as her main therapy tools to, "make horses feel better."

What are the Acuscope and Myoscope? They are FDA approved instruments that use electrical impulses, specifically calibrated to animals, sending healing in exactly the same current that is found in the body naturally, but might be blocked due to injury or tightness. Thus providing noninvasive healing and therapy to both cells and nerves. Each treatment is unique to the animal and cannot under, or over treat. "The myoscope is a direct treatment to the tissues, and an indirect treatment to the nerves once the cells are 'normal' and working correctly, after the ascuscope treatment which focuses on re-charging the cells.  So the myoscope works by detecting & fixing breaks in the magnetic fields surrounding the cells.  Again, the current from the myoscope is what is found naturally in the body, adjusts to only what the body needs, and in that way, the body can accept it." Explains Carol.

Apache gets a back opening with the acuscope, Ahhh - with Carol Nolan & Emily

"The scopes will help an injury heal up to 50% faster (as much as 75% faster if both instruments are used), and the integrity of the healed connective tissue involved is better & stronger. There is also less chance of scarring or proud flesh if the injury is a wound.  Any treatments are cumulative because the cells are being 'retrained' to be normal." Carol said.

Carol also uses myofascial release in her healing practice. "This is another biggie, and why I finally decided this was the 'missing link' to my work." Carol said. "Most of the time, once you do the myofascial release, the bone can 'seek its own home'"

"I am very patient with trying to help people.  As I am helping, educating them, there comes understanding of how what they are doing may have a lot to do with the predicament their horse may be in....so I am sure to do it in a way that they usually get to that understanding on their own.  Then then 'own it' and it becomes a 'self discovery' out of their new understanding.  And when they do get there, they are usually pretty eager to reverse things and improve their horses' quality of life!   That's the part I love with the humans!"

Her love of animals, and wanting to help them all, keeps Carol on her journey to learn more, teach more, and help more. Humans and animals.

Join Carol on her journey  HERE on her Facebook page.   Your horse will thank you.

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Feature Friday - Loving and Healing at Twelve Stone Farm- Jerilyn Skyface Flowers

Howdy Folks,
 

Tucked in the mountains of northern Georgia, not far from Atlanta is a loving, healing place called Twelve Stone Farm. Here among nature, hearts, minds, bodies and lives are healed, encouraged, nurtured, and restarted. Abused, neglected and unwanted horses given new life, love and purpose here, use their refreshed spirits to heal and encourage abused, misunderstood at-risk youths.

Sunny and the horses romp at Twelve Stone Farm

After years of working with youths at children's camps and being the director of a spiritual retreat center, Jerilyn Skyface Flowers felt the heart-tug to do more. She sought guidance in a vision quest and saw the beautiful mountains, and in them a peaceful, welcoming farm. Just weeks after that vision she was contacted by the heirs of a farm, and invited to come.

Chiquita Berry had started Twelve Stone Farm as a place of healing. When Chiquita passed away it was her eldest daughter who connected with Jerilyn. "It was even better than the farm I saw in my vision. It really is Heaven on Earth. I knew I was home."

Jerilyn moved to Twelve Stone Farm 3 years ago and carried on the mission that Chiquita had begun. Building on her foundation, Jerilyn created programs and activities designed to use horses and nature to help at-risk and high-risk children and youth to examine their behavior, and to modify their lifestyles from destructive of themselves and others, to cooperation and contribution and to healthy interaction with family and the community.

Jerilyn and New Spirit

Adults and children alike are welcome to come and, "Heal from the inside out," by experiencing nature and the rebuilding of their hearts and dreams. Here is offered a place for primitive camping retreats for Girl and Boy scout troops, school and church groups and families as well as programs for Horse Rescue, Therapeutic Horseback Riding, mentoring for at-risk children, teaching pioneer and camping skills, and many other activities.

Tipi village at Twelve Stone Farm

Twelve Stone Farm is a non-profit equestrian, and agricultural ranch dedicated to providing a sanctuary where people can come into nature and restart their lives.

Making dreams come true

Visit Twelve Stone's website (HERE) and join them on Facebook (HERE)

Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry

Feature Friday- Therapy Horses -

Howdy Folks,

 

This story about Therapy Horses was published in Natural Horse Magazine  in the Oct/Nov/Dec issue 2012. In that story I also included some of my "Therapy For Therapy Horses"  exercises. I hope you'll enjoy this story and perhaps find a way you can – Help Therapy Horses Help …

**********************

Hippocrates wrote about the benefits of horseback riding for physical therapy, over 3,000 years ago. Hippo is the Greek word for horse. He actually wrote how a rider's pelvis, legs and feet move in synchronization with a walking horse. Thousands of years later this was proven scientifically.

Equine assisted therapy, or Hippotherapy, is an important, and thankfully, growing form of therapy used to help people of all ages improve and enrich their lives. According to Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International's (PATH Intl.) website www.pathintl.org  there are over 800 member centers around the globe with an estimated 42,000 student participants, 3,500 instructors 30,000 volunteers annually. And 6,300 equines. There are many others as well, but I wanted to be able to site a few actual numbers. I read once that in the US alone there are over 900 organizations or centers founded to offer equine assisted therapy.

 Kids Love Their Therapy Horses

Equine assisted "physical therapy" is used for everything from spinal cord injuries, to stroke victims, to wounded Veterans and skeletal and muscular diseases in children and adults. But seeing the equine/human connection and the ability of the spirit of the horse to touch lives, many therapists began to experiment. They began to use horses to aid in therapies not only related to physical rehabilitation but mental and behavioral health as well.

Therapy horses are incredibly valuable and helpful in so many different ways and for so many different treatments. More and more therapists are finding new and exciting results with not only physical but mental stress and confusion, too. The spirit of the horse connects with the spirit of the person as she visits with or rides a therapy horse.

Many equine assisted therapy centers seek out certain breeds for their therapy horses. For some it's heavy horses, or drafts. For others Haflingers, Icelandic's or Fjords, for their strength in more compact bodies. Many use their own horses. Still others rely on donated horses; many of these have injuries or ailments that end their previous careers. During interviews I've conducted with therapists and equine assisted therapy center owners I've been told about one horse in 25 can be a therapy horse. I suppose it is the same as, not every person can be a therapist, either. I wonder what that ratio would be.

Those wonderful and giving horses who become therapy horses have the inner will to care more about their rider than they do their own body. More than that, they must be aware of, not only their rider, but the therapist, the leader and sidewalkers. I've heard them called, martyrs, in that they will ignore their own needs, or ailments in favor of taking care of those all around them.

She's doing her job and taking care of 4 people at the same time.

Ever aware of those around them, and those who need their support, these remarkable horses often make sacrifices in their movements and can become out of alignment themselves. This causes them to often walk in ways that may not allow free movement, and causes them to be heavy on their forehand, inverted, dropped at the withers and tight in the hind end. This may begin to affect their temperament and they get retired with the thought they are, burned out, or tired of it. That may be the case, sometimes. I chose to write this article, because I don't believe it is the case all the time. Or even most of the time.

My mare, Kessy, enjoys a little release from the "Poll Wiggle." Lightly place your hand on the poll, wiggle gently. I like to hold the halter as shown so when they release you can help support.

Therapy horses can greatly benefit from a little therapy of their own and remain happily on the job for many years. One important thing many folks do with their therapy horses is to take them on regular trail rides. Trail riding is perhaps the easiest form of therapy for the horse and it is not only terrific for the horse's body in that he will be allowed to walk along freely, and even run, but it is great for his mind, too. Stretch those legs, get the heart pumping and take deep breaths. Some centers have set up regular rotations for volunteers to take their horses on trail rides.

Kessy & me demonstrating the, "Rock Back." With a slight touch ask for the horse to "rock back" off their forehand. This can easily be done while the therapy horse is standing still during therapy sessions and does so much to help their backs.

Hands-on therapy for the horses is important, too. Simple to do exercises to release the poll, soften the inversion muscles and a variety of other tension releasing routines to loosen their stifle and stretch their legs, will help keep a therapy horse happy and in shape. These easy to do exercises should be part of the daily warm up routine. Remember, therapy horses meet new riders who are seeking benefits from the horse all the time. It is different from the horse who has one rider and together they can get into a comfortable and reliable relationship as they explore the world.

Some centers incorporate not only their volunteers and therapists in the therapy-for-therapy-horse sessions, but the students and clients too. A sort of mutual therapy!

I offer free clinics teaching these easy to learn and easy to do exercises to folks at therapeutic riding centers.

The world is a better place because of these wonderful people and horses and we thank them for their tireless efforts. The spirit of the horse touches so many lives, heals so many hearts and builds smiles on thousands of faces. If you have the chance, hug a therapy horse.

Gitty Up

Dutch Henry

Pictures curiosity of Heartland Horse Heroes Appomattox VA and Kessy & me.

Feature Friday - Teresa Paradis- Live and Let Live Farm Rescue -"Carrots For The Horses."

 Howdy Folks,

Since I'm here this weekend doing my, "Therapy For Therapy Horses" clinics I thought it appropriate for Theresa and Live & Let Live Farm Rescue be our Feature Friday today. How better to tell the tale of how this wonderful woman came to create the largest shelter, rescue, and sanctuary in NH and all the good that is done there, than to share here the story I wrote for Trail Blazer. "Carrots For The Horses" was published in the July 2012 issue of Trail Blazer. 

 "Carrots For The Horses."

Just outside Chichester NH there are 70 acres of peace, love, healing and restarting for animals great and small who have, through no fault of their own, lost their homes, families and loved ones. This place is called, "Live and Let Live Farm Rescue (LLLF)." Teresa Paradis founded LLLF in 1997 with the love and support of her husband, Jerry, daughter Heather, and 5 horses, 2 dogs, 2 cats and a parrot she had already rescued. The only way to tell the story of LLLF and the healing that happens there is to let you know, who is Teresa Paradis, and perhaps just a bit about the journey that brought her here.

Teresa getting love ...

Teresa, coming from a troubled childhood herself, always looked to animals for her own healing, love and support. Her first recollection of how deeply animals can care for us was her little beagle, Tippy. Twice as a young girl Tippy intervened when Teresa's safety was threatened. Once when a pack of free running dogs came charging at her, Tippy, a tiny dog with a huge heart, disregarded his own safety and plowed right into the pack. Teeth gnashing and barking fiercely he drove the dogs away. Another time, as Teresa was walking alone a man stopped his car and tried to harm her. Tippy attacked with the viciousness of a dog three times his size and the man sped away. Teresa knew it was that love and connection between her heart and Tippy's spirit that forged the foundation within her to somehow, someday, find a way to help as many animals in need as possible.

Mooney trimming the grass at the entrance

As a young girl she lived within walking distance of a horse farm that raised and trained Thoroughbred race horses. She had always been drawn to horses, even though she never knew any. From a distance she loved and watched the beautiful horses graze, prance and play. She hatched a plan to do babysitting and use that money to buy a bag of carrots for the horses. 

Only one problem stood in her way. She had no way of getting the carrots to the horses. She decided she would sneak to the farm's mailbox and put the carrots inside with a note, "Carrots for the Horses." Her system worked flawlessly. For weeks she would sneak to the mailbox and tuck a bag of carrots inside, and then sit at her favorite vantage spot and watch the horses.

One day as she approached the mailbox she was startled by a man's voice. "Are you the young lady who's been leaving carrots for the horses?" Sheepishly Teresa whispered she was. The man replied, "I'm Morris Vallee, would you like to give your carrots to the horses in person?"

For the next few years Teresa lived a young girl's dream. She had a series of fun jobs that allowed her to live within the horses' spirit. Morris was a kind and gentle man who had a special way with horses. Because of his gentle ways, his horses often did well in the races, and lived a happy life on the farm. Through him Teresa learned a happy and good side of the racing industry. His teachings helped Teresa learn to love horses even more. Too soon, while traveling, Morris died in a truck accident. The farm soon closed.

Teresa found work at Suffolk Downs Race Track in East  Boston MA as a groom, walker and handy person. What a very different world this proved to be than the peaceful, wonderful world with her old friend Morris. It was while working there that Teresa was introduced to the other side of the racing industry. It was while working there that she realized that one day she would work at a rescue. She just knew she had to be a part of helping horses in a big way.

Rehabilitation can sometimes require a little song

Time and life marched on; Teresa married, raised a family, and divorced. "Life has its ups and downs and nobody knows what crooked roads bring us to the fields we settle on." Teresa said. 

Teresa and Jerry knew each other for years, but each had their own lives. Then one day Teresa got word Jerry was very ill. Teresa had already been rescuing horses and other animals and it was that inner spirit that reached out and told her to go to Jerry. Through the illness and healing they formed a bond that would mold them together each filling a void in the other.

Jerry had the land, Teresa had 5 rescued horses and a passion. Together they set out to save, heal and restart precious lives.

Jerry does most of the construction and road building, yes the road building. One of the beauties of LLLF is the way Teresa and Jerry uses the land and nature to help heal the broken lives of horses, ponies, dogs, cats, goats, pigs, chickens, parrots and any animal who needs help. The farm is laid out along a wonderful meandering trail through the sheltering trees. 

Paddocks along the winding way ... This is the corner of Sanctuary & Rescue

Along the trail Jerry built a series of spacious corrals each with run-ins that are home to 2 or 3 horses. Plenty of room to run, plenty to eat, a place of shelter, and an abundance of loving care and attention provided by the farm's several hundred volunteers.

Puppies getting baths after arriving at LLLF

The entire farm embraces visitors with the feeling of love, care and security. It's part of the healing magic of LLLF. Just walking the tour along the dirt road through the trees by the horse paddocks makes a person feel welcome and happy. That's exactly the feeling Teresa set out to create with the park like layout of the dirt road system on the farm.

 

Socializing PMU babies - The offspring of mares from Pregant Mare Urine Farms - 2 years ago LLLF rescued 104 "Premerians" ... 40 were pregnant mares ...

You see at LLLF they not only heal animal's hearts and lives, but people too. With no formal program, in fact nothing at LLLF is formal, everything is relaxed and free. There are many human hearts healed here too. Not only the hearts of the adopters, but many of the volunteers who care for the horses and other animals come for healing, too.

Early on Teresa recognized that many of the volunteers came from broken homes or were far too often victims of domestic violence, or other forms of life changing stress and challenges. 

She also noticed how these volunteers began to heal as they did some of the hundreds of things that needed to be done each day to care for the horses. She began to set up loose guidelines, and she structures the teams and chores to allow each volunteer to receive the most healing that they might need as well. Each volunteer is allowed to proceed with their duties at their own pace, providing the time and atmosphere for them to absorb the healing that even an abandon and neglected horse can give the human heart.

While all the necessary veterinarian care is provided without hesitation, the farm practices natural and holistic approach to healing and care. All horses are barefoot and hooves well trimmed. On a regular basis clinicians are brought in to teach volunteers and adopters basic natural horsemanship skills. Patty Sanborn, a Quantumbio feedback specialist comes by weekly, and as often as needed, to administer care for horses and other animals as they recover from their ordeal. Because of their excellent care LLLF has an excellent recovery rate for the horses and other animals they rescue, but the few who can never be adopted can live out their lives in happiness and peace in the LLLF sanctuary.

Since 2002, when they became a 501(c) 3 Non-Profit, they have rescued and found forever loving homes for 50-60 horses a year with a 95% success rate. How do they do that?

Teresa has a program that is very unique and highly successful.  She says she is not trying to just adopt out horses, but matching horses to the right people for forever homes. She lets the horses choose. The first step to adoption at LLLF is, "Sponsorship." An adopter signs up for 30 days as a horse's sponsor, which places the horse on hold, while the adopter visits and gets to know the horse, and the horse can bond with the adopter. During this time Teresa participates in the visits and activities and monitors the progress. If all goes well at the end of the sponsorship the adopter may take the horse home, or sign up for another 30 days. If she feels it is not quite the best fit, Teresa will suggest another horse or, as often happens, another horse may choose this human, and the "Sponsorship," will start again with a new horse.

LLLF has several more programs to help horses and other animals. One of those is their, "Outreach Feedbank Program." This program is designed to keep horses and other pets in their loving homes if their owners come upon temporary hard times. LLLF can provide hay, feed, limited veterinarian care and other support to those people who might come upon such hardships as layoffs, illness or other conditions that may otherwise force them to give up loved pets or horses. It is in the, "Help Thy Neighbor," spirit that Teresa and the volunteers work in an outreach manner to keep as many horses and pets and their loving families together, and prevent once cherished horses from a one way ticket to the auction barn.

Each Sunday afternoon the enchanted roads and trails are opened to the public for guided tours for folks to feel the love and meet volunteers and visit the horses. As the visitors stroll along the guides introduce each horse to the visitors. They stop at each of the 28 paddocks and enjoy the moment. It is often during these visits that new friendships that last a lifetime begin. 

And many folks feel the tug on their hearts to become part of the loving family of volunteers who help re-start lives.

LLLF is run entirely by volunteers and survives on your generous donations.

To learn more about LLLF and their programs Visit their website, (HERE) 

Please join them on Facebook (HERE) 

And if you visit, please take carrots for the horses.

Gitty Up,

Dutch Henry

Powder says, "Thank You."