Knead Your Steed

01/31/2019

Deb Nunan Veronica Barndt Vanessa DeCaro Vinnie DeCaro

5th Annual Swing Into Spring Event APPRECIATION DINNER OUTREACH ~ ADVOCACY ~ COMMUNITY SUPPORT ~ GRATITUDE Saturday, March 23, 2019 from 6:00 – 10:00 PM POLISH AMERICAN CITIZENS CLUB, 29 KLINE BLVD., WHITEHOUSE STATION Join us for a special night of music, comedy, testimonials from the people we s...

01/31/2019

Veronica Barndt Vanessa DeCaro yeah but what about the bun?

The success of the traditional food movement boosted the popularity of fermented foods, and we finally realized the wisdom of our ancestors. People have consumed fermented foods for centuries, due to the numerous health benefits they offer. According to Jillian Levy, CHHC: “Sauerkraut, a form of f...

05/01/2015

Permanent absence of a loved one not only makes the heart grow fonder but enables the memories to become concentrated through a mental tunnel of vision. The shadow of any discordant times recedes and the brightness of the loving moments is paramount. However, sometimes inharmonious moments will traverse those recollections. We cannot take back harsh words once spoken; we can only regret that they were spoken at all.

Words can be weapons used to destroy or tools to build up a person or an animal.
“Handling” an animal does not imply you have the superior end of the learning curve. When you enter the personal space of an animal you will not get the response you want if you approach with the attitude “You ARE going to do what I want you to do when I tell you to do it!” Using a whip, chain, club, slapping, screaming or any other means of force to “train” will achieve a result but it will also create an animal with a rebellious or, worse, a broken spirit.
I have had the great pleasure to have had many dogs in my life. Spending time with them wasn’t an unpleasant thing to do so training them really wasn’t all that difficult. If I needed to correct a certain behavior, it really wasn’t their fault; it was mine for not making sure they understood what it was I wanted them to do.
In 2012 my friends agreed to teach me about horses. Their horse is a 16.2h (5’6”) black Tennessee Walker gelding. I am 5’ (15h). Even though his size is humongous compared to any of my dogs, I was not intimidated. Well, maybe a little, especially those long hind legs! The first time I helped to groom him I lost any apprehension within a few minutes of absorbing his quiet yet vibrant energy. My first experience of actually touching a horse was exhilarating and I knew somehow I would make these magnificent creatures a part of my life.
I have always used, to coin a descriptive phrase, “natural canineship”. So, using a gentle approach or “natural horsemanship” with equines makes perfect sense to me. A tender hand will result in a horse that will do your bidding willingly. Equine rescue farms are full of horses that “could not be trained”, “became nasty”, and “couldn’t be trusted”. The angels on earth who work at these farms spend hours of gentle handling and whispered words of love to help them to trust humans again.
As I stated at the beginning of this message: “Words can be weapons used to destroy or tools to build up….” Horses can teach humans volumes with their body english and it would be a wise human indeed who can accept that teaching.
Be well, my friends

09/12/2014

Everything I know about horses, I learned from my dog #2:

Curiosity is a great motivator.

We had a mixed breed German Shepard that had been abused. He had been kept in a chain link enclosure with several of his litter mates. The “man” would poke a rake handle through the door before he opened it to keep the dogs back.

We were able convince this “person” to let us have one. He boasted that the dogs would not run out, even if he left the door open for hours. They didn’t attempt to escape; they just cowered in the far corner. I went in and sat on the filthy concrete. I could hear the man saying to my companion, “What is she doing? Just go and grab one! They won’t do anything while I am here. They better not because they know what they will get…..”

I just sat and waited. Finally, curiosity overcame fear and one came over to me. I didn’t move. He sniffed my hand. Joy was coursing through me!! He looked right at me and wagged his tail. I knew that a wagging tail does not always signify friendliness so I waited. He sat down. His tail was sweeping feces in an arc around him. I waited. He put his paw on my knee. Slowly I put my hand on his paw and we smiled at each other.
I looped the leash around his neck. He had no idea what the leash was for but when I moved forward he walked with me….until the door. I leaned down and cupped his chin, looked him straight in the eyes and without words I let him know that it was going to be ok. He balked a little at stepping on the grass but he made it through and he was freeeeeeeee!!

Cats might be the first animal people think of when you mention curiosity but felines aren’t the only creatures that can be mystified and inquisitive. Horses like to investigate anomalies that cross their paths too.

I volunteered one year at a local rescue for abused horses. I didn’t have much experience but I wanted to help. I was assigned menial tasks that did not involve interacting with the horses. The director was being cautious for the horse’s sake as well as for my safety.

They were preparing for a winter open house. My job was to string Christmas lights. I had to loop the lights from one post to the next that had been placed along the driveway. One of the horses came over to see what I was doing. I did not attempt to interact but I did get closer to the fence as I worked.

He came up behind me and put his head over my shoulder and sniffed the packet that held the next length of lights. I slowly stroked his chin groove. He didn’t shy away. This only lasted a few minutes and then he turned and walked away. I am smiling remembering how thrilled I was!! I had actually touched one of the horses!!

Curiosity is as old as time itself but there IS one moment when a certain pair of humans should have resisted that particular lure. Think about it. We could all be living in paradise today if they had not been so darn curious!!

09/05/2014

Everything I know about horses I learned from my dog!

Horses and sound:

When I was a child, I lost the hearing in my left ear. As a result, I have difficulty knowing in which direction sounds originate from. We lived on a farm and my father always made sure I had a dog or two to pal around with. My first dog I called mine was Duke. He was a toy fox terrier. My dad knew the dog did not need to be big to protect me but that he/she was needed to alert me to the direction any sound was coming from.

It is the same with horses. When I am massaging, I like to be alone in the walk way of a barn with the horse tethered in the crossties. Sometimes I get into a zen zone and I am only aware of me and the horse. As I progress I "read" the horses body language to gauge a response from a massage pressure.

A good place to keep an eye on are the ears as well as the position of the head. Usually I can relax the horse so much they are almost asleep! However, if someone is in another section of the barn or approaching the doorway, the horse will raise his/her head and turn their ears, listening. This lets me know we are no longer alone.

I have seen several horses stop munching on grass and raise their heads in unison to watch a bicycler go by on the road that is on the far side of the pasture! Horses hear everything, including words that are not spoken.

So if you want to keep your secrets hidden, don't hang around with horses. However, if you need someone to listen and not judge, by all means seek out a horse and tell them everything!

09/05/2014

Benefits of Equine Massage continued:
Strengthens the immune system.
Decreases blood pressure.
Stimulates liver and kidney functions.
Improves circulation of blood and movement of lymphatic fluids.
Promotes deeper and easier breathing.
Aids in digestion.
Enhances the health and nourishment of the skin and coat.

08/09/2014

Benefits of Equine Massage:
Reduces anxiety.
Fosters a feeling of well-being.
Helps relieve muscle tension and stiffness.
Provides greater joint flexibility and increases range of motion.
Reduces pain and swelling.
Reduces muscle spasms.
Shortens healing time of strained muscles and sprained ligaments.

08/05/2014

I am just developing this page. I will add photos of the horses I work with soon.

In the meantime, let me quote from my brochure:

"Just like humans, horses use their muscles, tendons, and ligaments to manipulate their skeletal structure. The simple act of lifting their feet or chewing involves many muscles. An equine massage relaxes the muscles thereby relieving the strain placed on them. Different disciplines will put more (or less) stress on certain muscles. For a hunter/jumper, the poll and shoulder will be the area to focus the massage sequence. whereas for a dressage horse, the neck, shoulder and point of hip would receive more attention. Massage also assists in the prevention of future injuries to the muscles."