Made in the Stars, a Heart Horse Story

Made in the Stars was written by me, Julie Bradshaw, as a way to finally put down the whole story of my heart horse, or as I liked to say, soul mate Scout. He was the most remarkable horse I'd ever met and still is. I hope you enjoy. Some names have been changed for confidentiality purposes but everything else is completely true. Please tell me in the comments what you thought.

“My home is with you!” he said.  

I stopped dead in my tracks.  “What did he just say?” I thought.  “Wait, did I just hear that IN my head?”

Not only was it ridiculously bizarre that a horse just talked to me in my head, but I certainly wasn’t thinking about giving a horse a home when an acquaintance asked for me to meet him. 

Who is “him” you ask? He was a 12 year old, 17.2 hands high bay Dutch Warmblood gelding living at a boarding and training barn in Taylor, Texas.  I had gone to the facility that day simply to meet a woman who boarded her horses there.  She was interested in learning about one of the personal coaching services I offered.  

I had seen on Facebook that she had horses and was delighted at the thought of meeting them, so she invited me to the boarding barn.  I hadn’t owned or even been around horses in over 20 years and had thought they would never return to my life.  Taking in a horse wasn’t remotely on my life radar that hot June day in 2016.  

But he knew what he was doing.  

After meeting her horses and talking for a bit, the acquaintance Joan* said, “Hey would you come over and meet this other horse?  We think he might be a good therapy horse.” 

I thought she was asking because I had a son on the autism spectrum and had mentioned that I had considered riding therapy for him.  

The Meeting

We began to walk across the farm to a paddock that sat next to a large covered arena.  She shared with me on the walk that the horse lived with a Shetland pony that he was extremely attached to.  She said he had had a difficult first 10 years of his life as he had never been pastured, only stalled, by the breeder who foaled and raised him. 

I shook my head in dismay as that just sounded like terrible abuse to me for a horse.  She said it had resulted in extreme separation anxiety for him, with whoever his “best friend” horse happened to be.  At that moment in time it was a Shetland pony named Hobbes.

As we neared the paddock, this enormous bay gelding began to stride slowly, but purposefully, across the paddock towards us.  He was followed closely by a palomino pony. We went in and just as he came to a stop, he said it.  

“My home is with you!”

I was so shocked I simply said, well, nothing.  At least I said nothing out loud.  In my head, my thoughts were racing. “What?  What would I do with a horse?  Where would I put a horse?  I live in the suburbs, for crying out loud. Besides, I don’t even know if this horse NEEDS a home.  I’m just not going to say anything, because what if I just imagined it?” 

And then the enormous and gorgeous head of this Dutch Warmblood was gently shoved into my chest.  His head was longer than my torso on my 5’3” body, and for the most part his head stayed there.  I gently pulled repeatedly on his black forelock while he kept his face in my chest.  

He would not leave my side and kept returning to putting his face in my chest.  He did it so often that Joan finally took some pictures of us.  I was instantly enamored with this incredible soul that sought out such a seemingly intimate connection with me.  

Hobbes, the pony, started to pester me.  He was biting on me, and the strap of the black camera bag I was carrying, as if to say, “Hey, I’m here too! Pay attention to me!” And while I did pet him several times, it began to become difficult to escape him.  

But then the big bay gelding fussed at him, pinning his ears, thus telling him to move away from me.  And he began to position himself between me and Hobbes.  He wouldn’t let Hobbes get close to me anymore.  It was as if he could feel my frustration with the pony.  

Joan was shocked.  She said, “Usually he doesn’t let anybody get between him and Hobbes.” 

He had this tremendous energy that felt like a huge hug.  It just enveloped you and made you feel like you were the only person in the world.  Or at least that is the way it made me feel. I had never felt anything like it.  It was as if the love of his heart had just exploded onto and over me.  

My Home is With You

I didn’t want to leave.  But I had to and as I drove home, I still felt him around me.  It was like he was still hugging me.  On the way home, I was stopped at a red light and I sent a message to Joan thanking her for introducing me to him.  I expressed how incredible his energy was and that I could still feel it.  

And that’s when she said the words that caused my world to start spinning.  

She said, “Well, his owner is hoping to find a good home for him.” 

I said, “What?! Well, actually now that you say that, I have to tell you what happened.  You might think I’m crazy, but he told me in my head when we walked in his paddock that his home was with me.”

She excitedly replied, “Oh I am so glad he told you.  I felt it as soon as you drove up!” 

I giggled out loud.  Could this really be happening??  I drove home trying to imagine the possibilities.  

Later that night, she connected me with his owner, Celeste.  We met a few days later back at the paddock. 

Celeste shared that she had acquired Cocoa (what she called him) from the breeder at age 10 when he needed surgery for a keratoma that started in his knee and affected his lower leg from the knee down.  She had the surgery performed and rehabilitation done in hopes of his being a winning competition horse.  Cocoa had once been priced at $70,000 due to his breeding and training, she advised.  

Unfortunately, his separation anxiety was so extreme that he had bucked her from one end of the long covered arena to the other.  She said he was the scariest horse she had ever ridden and that he was unsafe for riding.  She had been trying for a long time to find a home for him but no one would take him.  

I had brought my young sons, ages 9 and 11 at the time, to meet him.  My oldest son with autism walked up to the paddock fence and turned around with his back to the fence.  Cocoa stuck his head over the fence and wrapped it around my son’s neck and chest.  At that moment, I knew he had been right all along.  His home WAS with me.  

And so despite not having owned a horse in over 20 years, despite not having one remote idea of where I might keep or what even to do with this horse, I exuberantly agreed to take him. 

Are You Sure You Want This Horse?

That night, as I was still reeling at the thought of owning a horse again, the name “Scout” popped into my head.  And from that moment forward, his name was Scout to me.  

With Joan’s help, I found a small boarding barn in the town I lived in that agreed to take him.  But they knew of him and his behavioral challenges and said I would be charged a significant amount extra per month just to house him there.  

My sons and I went to our local Dover Saddlery in Austin to buy grooming supplies.  I mentioned him and his owner Celeste to the cashier and excitedly shared I was getting him.  She said with a concerned look on her face,  “OH, you’re getting THAT horse?” and looked away quickly. 

Even with all that, I knew into the depths of my soul that I was supposed to have this horse.  I didn’t know why, but I knew without a doubt he was mine, and I was his.  

Two weeks after first meeting him, I went back to be there when he was loaded up in Celeste’s trailer to haul him to the new boarding barn.  I arrived early just to spend some time with him.  I put his new jewel-tone purple halter and matching lead rope on him and we walked out of the paddock so that he could graze near the arena while we waited for Celeste.  

He never even looked back at Hobbes.  

When Celeste was ready, we walked together to the front of the property, making our way across the farm to the straight load 2 horse trailer. He had not an ounce of “buddy sourness” for Hobbes.  Celeste expressed shock that he was absolutely calm and never gave Hobbes a second look.  He walked straight into the Warmblood sized trailer and waited calmly for us to close the gate.  

We arrived at the new facility and I took him to a large paddock where he was initially alone but other horses were nearby.  He paced the fenceline until he was dripping with sweat.  It would be the beginning of what would become countless hours I spent watching him pace fences.  

As I stood there watching him that day, the barn’s trainer and lesson instructor came and stood with me for a bit and she said, “Julie, are you sure THIS is the first horse you want to start back with? There are a lot of easier horses out there.” 

And I told her the words that really could only have come straight from my heart, “I don’t know why, but this horse and I belong together.  It doesn’t make sense but we are meant to be.”

Dissociation

I spent time with him every day that I could get there.   I ran a business and had two young kids as a single parent, so there were a few days I couldn’t make it.  Having a horse again was a complete adjustment and turned my life upside down in many ways.    

After several days though he had calmed down and had acquired a pasture mate, a senior mare named Star that he had made friends with over the fence.  The barn owner and trainer felt like they would be a good fit for each other, and Star’s owner agreed to have them live together.  

One day about 2 weeks after he first arrived at the barn, I pulled in and didn’t see him in his paddock which I thought was odd.  I walked into the barn and I passed a horse that was in a stall.  It was a bay horse but it was in a strange stupor.  It was completely zoned out and I didn’t even realize at first that it was Scout.  

I went into the stall with him and he didn’t even acknowledge me.  It was as if he had been drugged.  I stayed in there for a bit wondering what to do.  I had never seen a horse like this and was worried something was wrong with him.  I texted the trainer and she said nothing was wrong with him.  I don’t even remember the reason they had put him in there.  But I put his halter and lead rope on him and walked him out of that stall.  

And it was as if his soul suddenly jumped back in his body and he came alive again.  He nuzzled me hello and when we walked out of the barn into his paddock, he was my Scout again.  

I knew then that he thought of barns and stalls as prison, dare I say hell, because that is where he had spent the first 10 years of his life.  I promised him right then and there that I would never lock him in a stall again for the rest of his life unless he was ok with it. 

To this day, and many horses later, I’ve never seen a horse become utterly disassociated like he did that day.  That is what trauma will do to a brain. 

Another Home

After only a month at this boarding barn, things became very dramatic between the trainer and barn owner and I was asked to do some things I wasn't comfortable with.  I decided that it would be best if I found another boarding barn.  I found a young woman that boarded much closer to my home and that had plenty of pasture for a horse like Scout that wanted nothing to do with stalls.  

She too had heard of Scout and his excessive behavior but was willing to give him, and me, a try.  

On the day we left, Scout initially didn’t want to leave Star, his pasture mate friend, but we got him loaded up. I had walked away from the trailer and he began to whinny frantically.  I walked back up to the trailer and he stopped.  The trainer was amazed that he wasn’t calling for Star, but rather for me.  

We arrived at the new farm and Scout got to go live in a very large pasture with a couple of other horses, a black mare missing one eye and a younger Palomino gelding.  He didn’t really pair up with either of them right away.  But shortly after he moved in, I walked him out of the pasture and he began to panic about being away from his new friends.  He was circling me, pacing, and calling.  

The barn owner told me, “Julie, if you can’t get his behavior under control, you will have to find a new barn.” And so began my quest to try and rid Scout of his separation anxiety. Little did I know how much it would change not only him, but me.

The Learning Process and a Heart Horse Story Begins

I began to research horse trainers that specialized in anxious horses.  I read books, I watched YouTube videos.  The barn owner gave me tips.  I tried supplements.  I was patient, and truthfully some days I lost that patience.  I pleaded and cajoled.  I practiced going into the barn with him just one step at a time.  I walked into the open stall with cross ties and worked on getting him relaxed while cross-tied in the barn.  I took him into the wash area.  We attempted and sometimes succeeded at walking around the property away from the other horses in slow increments.   

But more than anything else, I spent time with him in the pasture.  I spent hour upon hour with him walking around grazing.  I took a chair into the pasture and I sat while he napped over me, or stood with his head sitting on top of mine.  He would keep the other horses away from me if they came near.  I was his and he was mine.  Not being able to ride him never even crossed my mind.  I was just so incredibly happy to have him in my life.  

I took a ridiculous amount of selfies because this magnificent creature that no one else wanted, that some were even scared of, made me feel special and magical and like I was living in a real life fairy tale.  He was kind and loving and compassionate and I was different when I was with him.  

A New Friend

About 8 months after bringing Scout home, Celeste texted me one day and asked if I would be interested in another horse that wasn’t working out for her.  He was an OTTB that had left the track, and then ridden in fox hunting, before coming to her.  He was turning up lame at times with no real reason.  He had no real issues other than the random lameness and she wondered if I might be interested in him. 

And that was the beginning of many more horses coming to live with me.  Jester was a wonderful horse and became Scout’s new best friend over time.   

Total Eclipse of the Heart Horse Story

In August of 2017, about a year after we had been at this barn, we had a total solar eclipse.  I took a chair and went to sit in the shade of a large tree to wait for the eclipse.  That day brought great change as eclipses often do.  Primarily, it brought what became Scout’s signature move.  As I sat in the green lawn chair, Scout and Jester came to stand under the tree with me. 

A few minutes later, Scout came and stood in front of me and picked up his front right leg.  He placed his bent knee in my lap.  I scratched and rubbed on his leg for a bit.  Then he moved forward a few steps and placed his back leg in my lap.  So, I scratched and rubbed it as well.  He proceeded to do all 4 legs this way, one by one.  And from that point forward he would always lift one of his front legs to me and if I were sitting down, he would put the entire knee in my lap. 

I inquired of other horse owners and asked in Facebook groups, but no one had ever heard of a horse doing such a thing.  He eventually came to do it with a few other people as well, but only people he really liked and trusted.  It was a sign of affection really.  

I took countless pictures of him and began to tell stories about him and our experiences together.  One day I got a message from someone that lived in a different state and she said, “I have to tell you that I saw a picture of Scout and just started crying.  And I felt better after I cried.  I don’t understand why that happened.  I’ve never had anything like that happen.  Can you explain it to me?” 

I shared only what I knew, that he had a magical effect on people, and that he was special in a way I had a hard time explaining.  

And then it happened again.  And again.  More people were getting a spontaneous healing of sorts just from seeing his pictures.

I realized that Scout not only had a magical effect on me, he also had it on others.  

And Yet Another Home

Over the course of about the first 2 years of having Scout, then Jester the OTTB, and then Mage, a young Morgan gelding, I boarded in 4 different places.  It almost seemed as if each one was worse than the one before it, with my horses being neglected, barn managers becoming unstable, and my tack being stolen.  I finally reached my limit and through a friend of a friend, was fortunate enough to find 20 acres of land to lease just a few minutes from my house. 

And thus began my taking full control of my horses’ care.  It was a greater responsibility in many ways than boarding, but it meant I didn’t have to worry about my horses or tack anymore.  And I could develop my relationship with Scout even more.  

Once we were settled in, I began to host individuals and groups for what I called equine-led coaching.  And Scout was always the star of the show.  He just had a star quality that attracted everyone who came across him.  It was as if he had a built-in magnet that lured people in.  And once in range, he loved them like they had never been loved before.  I would guide people according to his behavior in response to them.  I knew him so well that his behavior would show me what he wanted them to know.  And he was always completely accurate.  People would visit from both Texas and out of state just to spend time with him and get his guidance.  

Whether stranger or known, everyone who saw us together knew we had a special bond.  The land had frequent walkers, joggers, and cyclists going by and many would stop to say hello.  Every person that stopped would comment on the connection we obviously had.  

My behavioral training to help him with his separation anxiety did work to a certain level.  He learned to walk through the open barns where we boarded. He was eventually able to go into the old barn that was on the 20-acre property.   I never stopped trying to get him relief from his anxiety.  But no matter what I did or tried, it never went away completely.   And unfortunately it imprisoned whoever he chose his “best friend” to be.  So, it wasn’t just me or him affected, it was the other horses I had as well.  

Inspiration to Live or Made in the Stars

Through the years, I experienced a multitude of personal challenges.  Not only did my son’s autism regress when puberty hit, but I was hit with so many unending life challenges that people asked me many times if I was cursed.  

And through it all, even though at times I just wanted my life to be over as it seemed like the only possible relief from the relentless challenges, what kept me living was Scout.  I could not leave him.  I was committed to him. There was no one that could or would take care of him like I did.  I feared that if I left, that his life would come to an end too, or he would be abused all over again.  

And so every day, I went back. Every day I let him hug me with his energy, and let him put his knee in my lap. Every day I tried to free him of HIS anxiety from the trauma HE had endured. 

I remember one day I had tried walking him out into a separate pasture, away from the other horses.  Every once in a while I could convince him it was safe to do so.  It was such a joy to be able to walk alone with him on those rare days his brain didn’t tell him he was going to die if he didn’t have his best friend with him. 

But on this day, eventually his brain told him he wasn’t safe.  He panicked and when he did he accidentally hit me in the head with his large head.  And instead of continuing to panic, he stopped for just a brief moment to make sure I was ok.  And then when he knew I wasn’t hurt, he went back to panicking.  That moment epitomized Scout.  He loved me no matter what.  He just couldn’t get past his fear of being away from the other horses.

And as much as I loved him, it broke my heart in pieces to know I would never have all of him.  All because someone kept him in a stall for the first 10 years of his life. 

After 3 ½ years, I had decided to simply treasure every moment that I could with him that he felt at peace.  I knew he would never be whole.  He had started to lose a little weight and no amount of diet changes would return him to a healthy weight.  

Riding in the Stars

But one day we were standing next to the barn, and he was in a full state of peace and the way he moved himself next to me made me think he was inviting me to ride him.  Although I had always been fine with the thought of not riding him, a little part of me hoped that one day I might actually do it.  

I went and got my saddle pad and my black Wintec All-Purpose saddle, girth and stirrups and he stayed still the entire time.  I attached some reins to his rope halter, tossed them over his head, put on my purple riding helmet, and stepped up the black 3-step mounting block next to him.  He continued to stand perfectly still.

I leaned over him, and there were no signs of anxiety.  I put my foot in the stirrup and still there was only relaxation.  I went for it. I swung my leg over him and suddenly, that little part of me that wondered if I might ever have the gift of riding him, was singing.  And not just a soft singing, it was a full blown chorus line of singing.  

And as we rode around the pasture that day, experiencing an all new part to this relationship that was made in the stars, he did not buck.  He did not crow hop or show any signs of my being at risk.  He took care of me like I had always taken care of him.  

I rode him two more times in the next month but that day was his true gift to me.  It was his thank you for never giving up on him.  

His health and mental state continued to deteriorate over the next few months, even after discussions with the vet and making adjustments, doing some lab work, and making adjustments.  We reviewed all the possibilities.  I told my vet that it almost seemed like he had Alzheimer’s or dementia based on his behavior at the time.  And one day, he showed aggression to me.  I knew what decision I had to make that day.  Because in all the hours upon hours of training and panic and anxiety, he had never once showed anger toward me.  I knew that he was neurologically and physically deteriorating and his quality of life was suffering.  

Magic Begins and Ends

I made that horrifying call to my vet and set the appointment for her and her husband to come two weeks later. Around the same time, I agreed to take in a feral Peruvian Paso mare.  I only had one other horse at the time, a rescued Palomino half Arab/half Paint stallion.  I think the Universe knew that I might have given up on horses entirely if a mare named Magic hadn’t needed me right then.  But I think Scout knew it too.  

The two weeks until the appointment gave me time to say goodbye. He put his leg in my lap, and in my sons’ lap, and he shared breath with me over and over..  He set his head on top of mine as he had done so many, many times.  As for me, I cried.  I cried at the unfairness of it all.  I cried at only having him a few years when I hoped to have him for many years. I cried at not being able to save him.  I cried for the stress I had endured in trying to save him.  I cried for the horses he had forced to be his best friend and for their inability to have peace with him there.  Because at his very essence, he WAS peace.  And he had brought ME and many others so much peace.  It all seemed so ridiculously contradictory. 

Two weeks later, on that no good, terrible bad day that I said goodbye, the vet said, “You did the right thing.  You set him free.”  Why did I feel so imprisoned then?  Imprisoned with grief over losing the only soul mate I’d ever had, and only having him a few short years at that.  Who knew a soul mate might be a horse and not a human? 

Two days later, that rescued Palomino stallion kicked me to get away from me and to get to Magic, the new mare.  She put a “spell” on him apparently as he had been around other mares and showed no signs of aggression or “typical” stallion behavior.  That kick broke my collarbone requiring surgery, collapsed my lung and fractured several ribs.  I spent five days in critical care and it took me months to recover fully.  

A New Heart Horse Story

But 11 months later on February 27th, 2022, I welcomed Fyre, a golden Palomino colt, to my herd when Magic gave birth. When he was about a year old, he lifted his leg and put it in my lap for the very first time. Maybe I have a new heart horse story now.

The greatest teacher I ever had was a horse named Scout.  He taught me that magic is real, compassion always wins, and that life is worth living even when it seems cruel and unforgiving.  He taught me that while it seems some things are not fixable or in the least bit fair, there is always, always a gift hidden in those things.  It may just take some time before you see the gift.  In my case, it took 11 months. 

*All names, except mine, Jester’s, Fyre’s and Scout’s, changed for confidentiality purposes.

All photos copyrighted to Julie Bradshaw. Some photos taken by artist Stacey Lizette.

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Do you need a space clearing? Or need your home cleansed? Find out more from a professional who has been doing it for almost two decades.

What is a Space Clearing or Home Cleansing?

A space clearing is a form of energy clearing done to clear out old, stuffy, heavy, or even evil energy or spirits from a home or business. Wherever people or objects congregate, energy needs to be cleared periodically.

Why You Might Need a Space Clearing?

Although the reasons can be as individual as the situation or people in the home, below are some of the more common reasons you might need to get a space clearing.

• Spirit Activity: You, your children, or your pets are noticing lights flickering, things being moved when no one has been in the room or house, a sense of being watched or someone being in the room, the sounds of people walking, talking, or doors opening and closing, or even physical interaction from spirits.
• Selling House: If you're moving and need to sell your old house, clearing out your energy from the house and property will often help the house to sell faster. Whether buyers know it or not, they respond to the energy of the home and any energy that is in the house. I've done space clearings for houses that hadn't been shown or weren't getting any offers even in very hot markets, and often the same day or the next, that changes.
• New House/Home: If you're moving into a new house, apartment, etc., doing a house cleansing prepares it for you to claim it as your own. You don't want the former resident's energy there impacting you. I've even seen that the construction crew building the home can leave energy that impacts future residents. Starting fresh with your energy sets you up for success!
• Antiques/Property: Although it is more common with antiques since they have been exposed to many people, truly any object can hold or contain challenging energy. If you or another resident find yourself avoiding an object, a piece of furniture, etc., you may want not only the object cleared but the whole house. I've cleared everything from furniture to stuffed animals to knives and guns.
• Drama/Illness/Injury/Death: If there has been a lot of fighting, stress, illness or injury recovery or of course a death has occurred in the space, it would be beneficial to clear it. All of these situations create a great deal of heavy or “negative” energy and can weigh down those living, or working, there. In the case of a death in the home or space, whether the death is natural, a suicide or unexpected, it is beneficial to check the space and insure the person's soul has fully crossed over.
• Everyday Life: Doing a regular house cleansing keeps the energy flowing well in your home and surrounds you with positive energy. After every clearing, I put protection around the home and property and charge it up with good energy. This could apply to businesses as well!

What Happens During a House Cleansing?

What is involved in having a house cleansing done? It's very easy and requires nothing more than a Zoom or phone call. I don't even have to be present in your home and can do this for you no matter where you live in the world. I do all my space clearings long-distance or virtually. This saves us both time and saves you money!

Most space clearings require a 1-hour session with me. I ask you about the space itself. For instance, I ask about number of rooms and bathrooms and how large is the house, business and/or property. I inquire about outbuildings, detached garages, storage buildings, etc. I ask about relationships with neighbors and any history of the property that you are aware of. I of course ask why you are wanting or needing the house cleansing and any relevant details. I ask about each person that lives or frequents there and about any pets and their relevant behaviors or conditions. One of the things I've always done is check and if necessary, clear all residents of the home.

Once I have all that information, I do the actual work of checking and clearing the house, the property, the neighbors if necessary, the residents and pets. If there are spirits or entities present, I clear them permanently so they will not return. In some cases, houses or properties have a portal present where frequent numbers of spirits are coming and going. I am able to close those portals.

FAQs about House Cleansings

• House Cleansings do not have to be done in person. I've been doing them for years from the comfort of my own home. I work with people and spaces around the world. I do NOT have to come to your home or business to do a space clearing. If you really want me to, I absolutely can, but it costs you more and takes more time for me to do so.
• Sage Often Isn't Enough. While I love burning sage or other cleansing plants such as palo santo or sweetgrass, it often isn't enough for clearing the really concerning spirits or energy. If you're only trying to lighten the energy a bit, then sage is wonderful. But by the time you are looking for someone like me or an article like this, you are likely beyond what sage can do.
• The Ghosts or Spirits Don't Come Back. Once I clear a spirit or ghost, it is gone. It won't return. There are special circumstances at times where an individual may be calling them in or back, or a portal exists or something related, but whatever I clear, doesn't return.
• If You Think Something is There, It Probably Is. If your child, dog or cat is staring up or at something you can't see, there's likely something there. If you hear or sense something, there is probably something there.
• Not Every Spirit or Ghost Is Evil or Scary. Sometimes spirits are there to share a message. Sometimes they need help being crossed over. Sometimes they are just passing through. Not every spirit or ghost is scary or evil.

There are many reasons why you might need a space clearing or house cleansing. Considering how much time you spend in your home, it should be safe and comforting above all else. If it's not, considering getting a space clearing with me.

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Are There Dangers of Using Horses as Therapy?

It seems odd to say that there are dangers of using horses as therapy doesn't it? But when I say this, I'm not referring to hippotherapy, the widely successful type of riding therapy used for people with disabilities.

I'm referring to the many people who are drawn to horses because of the peace that they bring. I'm referring to the people who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect and find themselves drawn to the magic of horses.

My Experience with Dysfunction in the Horse Community

After a 20 year hiatus from horses, I found myself dropped back into the horse community like debris is sucked into a tornado. One minute I wasn't even thinking about horses and the next I owned a Dutch Warmblood gelding that everyone in the Austin-area horse community knew, and nobody wanted. (That's him above in the photo.)

As I excitedly prepared myself for horse ownership again, I moved my horse to a local boarding barn. Unbeknownst to me, the owner of that boarding barn was an alcoholic and prescription drug addict. After a month of her unpredictability and instability, I found another boarding barn.

I moved my horse there and thought I had found the right place. And for over a year, it went pretty well. But then the owner of that barn separated from her husband and started going through a divorce. She began to severely neglect the 15+ horses in her care, including mine. I discovered that she had a track record of doing this when undergoing personal challenge.

The Drama Continues

By this time I had 3 horses (you really can't have just one.) I found an individual that agreed to let me bring them to her place for boarding. I should have known when she told me “Some people call me a bitch” that I might be in trouble. However, I am really easy going and as she was a friend of a friend, I thought it would be ok.

That individual casually asked me one day after a month or two, if I would sell one of my horses to her. I declined. It was the Dutch Warmblood, that I had turned around, and suddenly he was wanted. But he was my heart horse and I was never letting him go.

I didn't know it then but telling her no was apparently not something she was accustomed to. She proceeded to make things as difficult for me as possible. This included trying to hold my horses hostage when I found yet another boarding barn to move them to.

At the next place, just one month after I moved my horses there, the barn manager was discovered to be a meth addict and was captured on video drugging horses. After he was escorted off the property by law enforcement, I was told that the agreement he and I had for care of my horses was no longer valid. Surprisingly, he had taken great care of MY horses to that point.

My horses would no longer be cared for in the same way however. They began to lose weight and two of them got rain rot, a skin condition often related to poor nutrition. I had hundreds of dollars of tack stolen after that as well, and the deposit I had paid to the original barn manager was never returned.

I decided I was done with boarding. Via a friend of a friend, I was lucky enough to find some land to lease less than 10 minutes away from my house. A friend helped me move my horses there and I have been taking care of them myself ever since.

Therapists Need Therapy

I was shocked at the dysfunction and drama I had experienced. I had always worked in professional fields where community and support of each other was the rule rather than the exception. It baffled me that the horse community was, in my experience to that point, selfish and unstable.

I remarked to a friend one day that it reminded me of therapists who become therapists because they need or needed therapy themselves. I said, “People find horses so therapeutic, except that some of them never get the true therapy they need.”

Years have gone by and I have mostly stayed to myself with regards to the in-person horse community. I have cultivated a small group of horse owning friends, as well as a faithful online following, of those who think the same way that I do about horses. That is, that horses are valuable, cognizant, and worthy of being treated well, no matter what is going on with us as individuals.

Having participated in numerous horse groups of all kinds on Facebook though, I see that the drama and dysfunction of the horse community is alive and well. The vehemence with which people are quick to judge, lash out, and condemn will give you whiplash.

Last year I attended a trail riding competition as a visitor. I was reminded once again of the reasons I have stayed to myself as I listened to complaining, judgement and disdain in the voices of many around me. All of this brings me back to my original thought.

Dangers of Using Horses as Therapy

There ARE dangers of using horses as therapy. They come if you are not in fact working on yourself too. Because not only does the horse lose, but the entire horse community loses as well.

The danger of using horses as therapy lies in being completely unaware that you are doing so. I think people are drawn to horses for their beauty, air of freedom, and more. Ultimately, horses have this seemingly magical ability to bring deep peace to those around them. And I don't think most are aware of the horse's immense ability to do so, or even that it may be the reason why they are drawn to them.

It simply mystifies me still that with all of that magic, there are so many unhappy, judgmental, and critical horse owners. There is so much peace available to access.

Finding Peace with Horses

One of the keys to finding your peace is to make time to experience the magic of horses.

Examples could include:

• Don't just run in, saddle up your horse, exercise/ride them, and put them up. Get to know them.
• Observe them with other horses if possible. Spend time with them grazing.
• What kind of behavior do they have when they eat their feed?
• Where are they tight in their body? What relaxes that tightness?
• Read horse behavior and training books.
• Study horse anatomy, and why and how they move the way they move.
• Learn to trim their hooves yourself.
• Only have as many horses as you can do this with regularly. (This primarily applies to individuals who own horses for personal use.) I've been guilty of having more horses than I really needed, but in this case, quality is more important than quantity.
• Have a Horse Magic session with me and my horses and let me show you what horses are truly capable of.
• No matter your regular discipline or choice of activity, take some dressage lessons. Your relationship with your horse will improve.

You have this incredible being that you have the good fortune to share your life with. Treating them solely as a tool is a disservice to both you and them.

Know Yourself

While you get to know them, get to know yourself. Each person's challenges are different but here are a few suggestions:

• Evaluate your responses to your horses every time you think about it. Are you patient/impatient, angry/happy, happy/grieving, informed/need more info.?
• After you evaluate your emotions, consider how the horse responds to you. In many cases, the horse is responding not to its own emotions or body, but to yours. For horses that you spend a lot of time with, they may even be mirroring something happening in your body. It might be emotions, limiting beliefs, or even pain or a physical condition.
• If you are responding from a place of trauma, emotional pain, grief, etc. just tell the horse what is wrong. Say it out loud. Horses generally just want us to tell the truth about what we are feeling. In some cases, it may be better to walk away from the horse. You have to make that judgment call. But more times than not, the horse will relax once you've expressed what you are feeling. And that's where the peace comes in for both of you.
• If you realize that there are dangers of using horses as therapy and it is more than you or they can process, find a good therapist. (I'm not suggesting anything I haven't done myself. I have seen therapists more than once in my life.)
• Don't give up on yourself.

These are just a few ideas for your horses and yourself. You may have to modify according to your situation.

Horse Community

Lastly I want to circle back to the horse community as a whole. If you do these things, or others, for your horse(s) and you, you will begin to see that many other horses owners have issues they struggle with too. As I said, many of us come to horses for the peace that they bring. When you understand that others are struggling, you will see that kindness and compassion will take you farther than judgement and criticism.

You will see that even in competition, you can be supportive and understanding. Boundaries can always be set with those that need them, but lead with kindness. The horse community needs as much of it as it can get, both the people and the horses.

In Closing

I close by saying that I KNOW there is a lot of goodness in the horse world too. I know because of the friends I've made and the resources I have found. But the drama IS prevalent in the horse community.

I know one article isn't going to change the horse community overnight, but this topic has weighed on me for years and I just felt like it was time to speak up. If it resonates with you, I'd love to hear your thoughts or have you share it with others that might enjoy it too.

The post The Dangers of Using Horses as Therapy appeared first on Julie Bradshaw.

What are the Mice in Your Horse Trailer Seeking?

In most cases, the mice or rats are seeking food or water. They could also be seeking shelter from the elements, or a place to create a nest.

How are the Mice in Your LQ Horse Trailer Getting In?

In most cases, they are getting in where there are holes around wires or pipes coming into your trailer. This could be the hookups, plumbing or vents even.

What Pest Solutions Are There to Get Mice Out of Horse Trailers?

In my research into this topic, I've read some real horror stories about living quarters trailers being inundated with mice or rats, and destroying wiring, electrical equipment, and food. And I wanted to have a list of potential solutions to hopefully prevent mice from getting into my horse trailer. As with any list of solutions, some come with very mixed reviews.

The following solutions are ones that some swear by and some say never worked for them. All of these solutions are poison-free so won't harm wildlife or pets. I think if they work for some, you at least need to know about them. But keep in mind, apparently mice and rats have differing palates and senses in different locales. These are strictly “your mileage may vary” (YMMV) solutions. #CommissionsEarned on all below links.

“Your Mileage May Vary” Solutions for Getting Mice Out of Horse Trailers

Solutions with a Scent

• Dryer sheets. This solution is popular. Apparently the rodents don't care for the scent of the dryer sheets and horse owners tuck them in various places all over their living quarters trailer to keep the mice away. Some show a strong preference for Bounce dryer sheets specifically and others say any brand of dryer sheet will work.
  
  Unfortunately, some people say that the mice mocked them by gathering the sheets and making nests out of the dryer sheets.
  
  Personally, I won't use this solution as the chemical scent used on dryer sheets gives me a headache. I think if the chemical is bad for an animal, it's probably bad for me too. But that's just me. It really does seem to be effective for a lot of people though.
  
• Irish Spring soap. This is a big YMMV solution. Some people swear by Irish Spring soap. They hang it in their trailer during off seasons. They shave off pieces and put them in open bags or jars in various places throughout their trailers.
  
  Many others say once again that mice have attitudes and will EAT the Irish Spring soap. Some say they are even attracted by Irish Spring! I'm starting to think these mice may be poking fun at some of us. Hmmmmm.
  
• Peppermint or Lavender Oil. Used by putting it on cotton balls or spraying it throughout and around the trailer, some mice, in some locations, will avoid any areas with peppermint or lavender oil. (I prefer to use organic oils to keep it clean for use around people.) Some say application is only needed every 3-4 months and others use it more often.
  
  Still others say mice dab their tiny little paws in it and use it as deodorant before chewing through their electrical wiring or leftover breakfast. Once again, YMMV.
  

• Moth Balls. Used almost as much as peppermint oil, moth balls are a favorite for keeping mice out of horse trailers. Spread on the outside of trailers primarily, these stinky spheres work on some mice and rats in some places. The ones in the photo have solid 5-star reviews and are larger than typical moth balls for ease of use. If using large or small, one suggested use was putting them in onion bags or laundry delicates bags and draping over tires during winter storage.
  
  However, some report little to no success with them. Maybe the mice and rats are playing dodge ball with them?

Solution with a Sound

• Sonic/Ultrasonic Pest Control Devices. Using silent sound as a deterrent, some rodents will avoid areas with these devices. Thought to be more humane than poison or traps, some have had good luck with using these devices to get mice out of horse trailers. After a quick search on Amazon, there are a wide variety of these devices to choose from. Some actually go into the ground and some sit on top of the ground. Some are solar and some are powered by electric.
  
  Once again, reports vary on this method but reviews on Amazon seem to be good and the costs are low enough that it could be worth a try. Although one person in a FB group reported, “I used the sonic thing and they were hula dancing in front of it. Didn't work at all.” These mice even dance! Who knew?
  

Not As Well Known but Great Reviews from Users

A few other suggestions that are not as commonly suggested but seem to have success include:

• Placing a large sheet of plastic (like a heavy tarp for instance) on the ground before parking the trailer on top of it. The theory is that the rodents won't walk on the plastic and thus, it keeps them out of your trailer.
  
• Fresh Cab Rodent Repellent is a botanical rodent repellent that users report great success with. It comes in great smelling sachets that the user places in and around the horse trailer, typically while parked for long periods. These can be found online at Amazon or you can check with your local farm or hardware store.
  

• Rope or Strobe Lights. Some owners will place rope lights or strobe lights around the bottom of their horse trailers to keep rodents away. Rodents of course prefer darkness, so the lights deter them from coming around. This solution makes more sense if you are horse camping, rather than for long-term storage of your horse trailer.
  
• Mixture of Jiffy cornbread and baking soda. This is one of my own tips from using in my barn. If you mix up equal parts of Jiffy cornbread and baking soda (can even be 2/3 cornbread and 1/3 baking soda in my experience), and either place in an open plastic bowl or a plastic food storage container with a hole cut in it, mice and rats will eat it and since they can't pass gas or burp, it takes their life. AND it is not harmful to other animals like poison can be.

Sure-Fire Solutions to Get Mice Out of Horse Trailers

The most effective ways people report to get mice out of horse trailers can also be the most ahem….final. But for those who understand just how destructive they can be or have tried many of the above solutions without success, these solutions WORK. I have divided the solutions between those that preserve life and those that may need a little RIP gravestone.

Solutions That Preserve Life

• Secure or Remove Food. While camping, ensure that all food is secured in mice-proof containers, such as glass. When storing your horse trailer for an extended period, remove all food completely. While it seems logical, sometimes the most obvious solutions slip by us. If there is no food to tempt them, it reduces, or in some cases, may eliminate the chance of mice getting into your horse trailer.
  
• Steel Wool. The use of fine grade steel wool is a very popular solution used by many with living quarters horse trailers. Since mice most commonly use the space around wiring, connectors and in vents to make themselves at home in our home, steel wool is an easy way to say, “You're not invited.”
  
  Mice are unable to chew through the steel wool and thus can't get in. This is a safe and effective way to get mice out of trailers.
  

• Spray Foam. Used similarly to steel wool, spray foam insulation can be injected into the spaces around wiring, connectors, plumbing and vents. However, some say that unlike the steel wool, mice and rats can chew through spray foam alone. So, some suggest using steel wool AND spray foam for double protection.
  
• Bucket Trap. This is another humane method of getting mice out of horse trailers. Essentially, you use a 5-gallon bucket, an aluminum can (soda or beer can for instance), a thin dowel to put the can on (a wire coat hanger works), a piece of plastic or wood for a ramp and some peanut butter. The mouse jumps on the loose can spinning on the dowel in the bucket to get to the peanut butter, the can spins and gravity takes the mouse to the bottom of the bucket where it is trapped. You can then release the mice far, far away from your horse trailer, or otherwise dispose of them as the case may be.
  
  The “beauty” of this trap is that multiple mice can be caught using it.
  
  I found this image and step by step instructions here.

RIP Solutions

• Poison products–While I hesitate to even list this option, poison is a long-standing solution that can be very effective. Why do I hesitate to recommend it you ask? Well, the downside to using anything with poison in it comes if the rodent dies somewhere that other animals have access to it.
  
  The dead rodent with poison in its system can then take the life of a cat, dog, bird, or other wildlife that happens upon it and decides to make a meal of it. If you are going to use this solution, you must make very sure that other animals won't eat the body.
  
• Snap Traps. These are the traps that use peanut butter or some other sort of food bait to lure the mouse in to be caught in a quick snap that ends their life. However, the instant nature of the process is considered to be humane if you're going to use this method. Amazon has a plethora of choices for snap traps for mice.
  
• Glue Traps. Along with the snap traps and bucket trap, there are also glue traps. The controversy over glue traps is alive in people who find them inhumane since the mouse is still alive and according to their philosophy, shouldn't have to suffer. Some of those who used them reported finding ways to quickly put them out of their misery. But what you do with the trap after the mouse is caught is totally up to you.

I'd love to hear in the coments if you've tried any other solutions for getting pests out of trailers. (Keep it family friendly.)

This article is the first in a series of articles I will be writing as I prep to go on the road full time with my horses. (Planned time frame is fall of 2025 after my youngest son graduates from high school and goes to college.) I am starting to research things I will need to know about living full time on the road with horses. I will write about them here so that not only can they help me, I hope they can help others as well.

As a single mom of two, one with special needs, purchasing from the above links doesn't cost you anything extra and the commissions I earn help me to make this dream come true. Thank you for supporting my dream.

The post How to Get Mice Out of Horse Trailers appeared first on Julie Bradshaw.

All you need to know about horses is actually far more simple than you might expect. As a species, we often make things more complicated than they have to be.

For over a decade, I have been teaching people to trust their intuition. When I first began learning these things myself, I read lots of books, attended classes, and followed people on social media. And what I began to realize is that the experts who touted THEIR system and their way of doing things as being THE thing, were not ones I wanted to follow.

I would try their way and it didn't work for me. It made me doubt myself. Was I doing it wrong?

Follow Your Own Path

What I learned was I was not in fact doing it wrong at all. In fact, the more I did what worked for me, the stronger my intuition became.

When I got back into horses years ago, I did some of the same things. I read books, I attended classes, and I followed horse trainers on social media. I gained some great knowledge, about both what to do and what NOT to do. And I came to the same realization, the experts who had “systems” that had to be followed, that put themselves on a pedestal, that said “if you're not doing it my way, you're doing it wrong” threatened to lead me down the manure pile of doubt.

I've had stallions, geldings and mares. I've had short horses and very, very tall horses. I've had the youngest of horses to seniors. Every one of them has taught me something.

My Connection with Horses

Scout, my Dutch Warmblood gelding, who was my soulmate in horse form, taught me more things than I could possibly detail in one article. I think more than anything, he taught me that I had an innate gift with horses that I needed to believe in. From the moment I met him, we were connected. I hadn't owned a horse in 20+ years. And there was no denying that this horse, that was labeled as too dangerous to ride, and that numerous people told me not to take, was meant to be with me. I cried, I laughed, I got angry and more than anything, I loved for the short 4 years he was with me before he asked me to help him cross the Rainbow Bridge.

Every single person that saw us together, whether stranger or friend, commented on our obvious connection. Because of him, I trusted in that connection.

As other horses made their way to me, I used that trust in my connection to bond with and train them as well. Shut down horses, angry horses, crazy thin horses, overweight horses, feral horses, aggressive horses, horses in pain, and traumatized horses. I took them all in and learned from them.

The Lessons You Don't Expect

The other horse who has taught me more than I could ever detail in one article is one of my current horses, Ankh. (pronounced onk) He was just the opposite of Scout when he came to me. He had no use for people and was pretty angry a lot of the time. But he had a curiosity and playfulness at times that sucked me in. I've had multiple people tell me to sell him. I've come really close, I don't deny it, but recently I've figured out he's been trying to tell me something for a long time and I just had a very difficult time interpreting his message.

What he has taught me the most about is the importance of herd dynamics and how critical that dynamic can be to either support or break down the well-being of the horses within that herd. And sometimes that can come into play with them on the same property together, not even pastured together.

All of these horses that came to me began to heal. Some of them healed to the point of being able to go to other homes. Some could only heal so much and needed me to release them from this world. And some have stayed with me.

Training People to Train Horses

As I began to expand the work I did with my horses into working with horses owned by others, I saw that there was a great desire for people to develop that same kind of connection with their horses that I had developed with mine.

“I just want to have a better connection with them.” “I want to know if they are happy with me.” “I wish they could talk.” These are things I hear frequently.

And I used the “All You Need to Know About Horses” theory of mine coupled with neuroscience, horse behavior, and all of my experience with intuition/energy and horses to guide them. Because if you have that knowledge, you will have a better connection, you won't wonder if they are happy and you'll find yourself having conversations with them.

While a few of them raised their eyebrows at me, the vast majority were all in and discovered just how powerful and effective it was. Most importantly, they discovered just how powerful and effective THEY were.

The relationships with their horses vastly improved. But more than anything they felt more confident in themselves. Confidence begets confidence.

My Inspiration and Answer

I've been helping other horses as I'm asked by referral only, but due to a recent incident that occurred with a horse that I sold, I've decided to expand more on my training philosophies as I feel that if even one person gains something that can help their relationship with their horse, then it will make a difference.

So, all you need to know about horses is this:

Do what works for YOU and YOUR horse. Do what feels right to YOU.

Listen to your horse, not just a little, a LOT.

What I immediately hear from some of you as I type that is “I don't know what to do!”

Here are a few things you can do to start:

• Spend more time on the ground with them than you do in the saddle. I'm not saying forever, but the more you get to truly know your horse, the better the connection. There is no way to get to know them better than being on the ground with them. Walking around in the arena, the pasture, the paddock, reading a book while they are grazing, touching them if they like to be touched, just BE-ing together.
• Observe their behavior with you and with other horses. Pay attention to the smallest of behaviors. What way do they turn their head in certain situations? How are they “talking” to other horses with their behavior? How are they talking to you? The same? Different?
• Pay attention to your own energy each time you are with them. Are you tense? Are you frustrated? At peace? Feeling happy? How do they respond in kind? Horses are less likely to have a negative response to you as long as you are honest about the feelings. Don't hide your emotions. Whatever you are feeling, honor it, for yourself and them. If you're having trouble managing your emotions while training, read my article 7 Tips to Manage Emotions While Horse Training.
• Read some books. Take what feels right, what works, but leave what doesn't.
• Remember that the best expert on your horse is YOU. Experts can guide you, they can give you expertise from their perspective and knowledge, but they are not there with you and your horse day in and day out. If any expert makes you doubt your own expertise, run away. I will always ask you instead, “What feels right to you?”
• Come back and read more of my articles or follow me on Facebook (or both.) I'll be posting more and more about my training style and tips. You can take what works for you and your horse and leave what doesn't. I will never give you absolutes.

There you have it, all you need to know about horses is to trust your intuition and do what works for you and your horse. Remember you are the expert. I'm the expert on my horses and I'm still learning every single day. So, I'm no better than you are. I'm just here to remind you of your awesome expertness!

The post All You Need to Know About Horses appeared first on Julie Bradshaw.

Horses Are People Too

Ultimately, if you want to know how to get a horse to trust you, you just need to remember “horses are people too.” OK, maybe not exactly and of course there are some key differences, but if you keep that statement in mind when you are interacting with horses, you will know how to get a horse to trust you much faster than you would otherwise.

A Few Things to Think About

• I've worked with horses of many different breeds, and horses of many different circumstances and while they all show it in different ways, what most of them WANT is to trust you. (There are some exceptions, but overall I feel this is true. Primarily because a horse always wants to feel safe wherever they are. If you are part of their environment, they WANT to trust you.)
• In wanting to know how to get a horse to trust you, first and foremost is to stop thinking of horses as “just horses.” There is no “just” about a horse. There are magnificent horses, intuitive horses, inspiring horses, intriguing horses, funny horses and even serious horses, but they are never “just a horse.”
• Horses have so much more to offer than riding. Having spent the large majority of my time with my horses on the ground with them, rather than on their backs, I've come to truly know and understand them. I don't understand them only as a horse, but as a friend. One of my current geldings, Ankh, for instance, knows things about me before I know them. He has “alerted” on me for migraines. He will tell me when it is time to leave the property as he seems to know there are other things I need to do. He's not usually an affectionate horse, but he knows before I do, sometimes days before, when I am going to experience a low spot emotionally and thus becomes very affectionate. He's truly like that best friend that knows when something is wrong and calls or texts to ask about it. Except he is 900 pounds of “best friend.”

How To Get a Horse to Trust You

When you think of horses as friends, rather than “just horses”, you have discovered the key to know how to get a horse to trust you. That is why “horses are people too” is a helpful reminder of how to treat and respond to horses.

Because if horses are your friends:

• You acknowledge their need to process new places, new things, and new experiences, just like you would a human friend. You wouldn't expect a friend to move to a completely new place, city, home, etc. or even to travel to different places without giving them time to adjust, to explore the new place, to rest after travel, to mourn leaving the old place, etc. Yes, horses do need time to process change and they do have emotions. In fact, they have a rich emotional life. You therefore must honor their need to adjust if they need it. Some horses, just like some people, tolerate change better than others. But oftentimes horses are expected to tolerate change instantly and that is detrimental to the horse. Ultimately that trickles down to the owner, rider or handler.
• You recognize that past experiences, and trauma in particular, can shape who they are today. Even more so than people, horses have a memory for people, events, trauma, etc. They will hold onto memories and react to anything that reminds them of that memory accordingly, whether positively or in a challenging manner. In the same way that a friend responds to life based on their experiences, so will a horse.
  
  Using an objective view with horses, rather than taking things personally, will get a horse to trust you. You see them as a culmination of their life from the day they were born right up until the present moment. Trauma can be carried in the horse's body as tension, just like it can with people. (This is something I help clear in horses and people with my sessions.)
• You know that it takes time to get to know a new horse, just like it takes time to get to know a new human friend. When you're getting to know a new friend, do you rush them into doing something just because YOU want to do it without any regards for what THEY want? If you've ever tried to do this, you know the response can be poor. Horses sometimes aren't given a choice about what they do. (And there are times that it is necessary, but not always.)
  
  Try paying attention to what the horse likes or doesn't like. How do they respond? What behavioral signs are they showing you? Are they showing signs of stress such as a concerned eye, a lifted head, or even turning their head? Or are they relaxed, head dropped and unconcerned? Just like you have to learn what activities and experiences a human friend likes or dislikes, you want to do the same for your horses.
• You know that everyone has good and bad days, both horses and people. Some days you may get to your horse and they are a little “off” or seem different. Others they seem to be having a great day. To get a horse to trust you, you have to recognize this day in and day out. Just like you show up with your own emotions, sometimes having a good day, sometimes having a bad day, they too have good and bad days. (Not to mention horses are brilliant at hiding pain.) You respond accordingly when friends or loved ones are having good and bad days. Doing the same with a horse engenders trust. They feel seen. And really, isn't that what we all want?
• You recognize that horses have strengths that you don't. Just like your friends have strengths that you don't, so do your horses. So, when your horse looks up sharply at something, or doesn't want to go a particular direction, give it some thought before responding. What do they know that you don't? Because some of their senses are far more powerful than yours. They can hear, see, and smell things for instance that you will never hear, see or smell. They can tune into emotions, intentions, and energy even better than me, and I have done so professionally for over a decade. If you want a horse to trust you, you have to trust him/her!
• You express gratitude for them. Being grateful for your friends means being thoughtful about what they like and need. What is their “love language” if you will? For instance, Ankh, who I mentioned above, isn't super keen on being touched except in very specific areas and even then he may only tolerate it for a very short time. Touch is not one of his love languages on most days. I do my best to acknowledge that and not touch him often.
  
  But food treats? They are most definitely high on the list of rewards, as is rest. He really likes to be able to rest by himself or just with me. Fyre on the other hand, seen in the photo with his father Ankh above, would crawl in my skin if he could. He likes to be up close and personal.
  
  And of course, being grateful for them means investing time in researching the best diet, environment and conditions for them. Do they like to be stalled or do they prefer pasture? Do they do best on a forage-based diet (what my horses get) or do they do better with a commercial feed? Coastal or alfalfa hay or both? (In Texas, these are the main two types of hay.) We have a responsibility as horse-owners to provide the best care within our means for our horse friends. When they know we are invested in them, they trust us even more.

In Summary

Ultimately, creating a perspective shift in how we treat horses, how we relate to them, and how we view them overall can create an entirely new type of relationship with these animals that inspire wonder and awe in us. They give us so much, shouldn't we match their gifts?

Other Examples?

I've really only scratched the surface on this topic. What examples do you have on using “horses are people too” as a philosophy for your relationship with your horses?

The post How to Get a Horse To Trust you appeared first on Julie Bradshaw.

• Beauty: Horses captivate us with their beauty. From flowing manes and tails to gorgeous colors and color combinations, the physical beauty of a healthy horse is nothing short of magnificent.
• Size: From the smallest miniature horse to the largest of work horses, we love horses for their size. Every size holds different capabilities. Whether used as a therapy horse in hospitals or nursing homes, to move civilizations from one area to another, to herd cattle, to pull wagons or plows, or to entertain with dressage, the horse's size captivates.
• Use: The productive uses of a horse decreased with the advent of automobiles but they are still used every day by farmers, law enforcement, and businesses, such as those with horse-drawn carriages.
• History: There is no animal more involved in the evolution of modern-day man than the horse. Utilized in wars, in giving people the ability to move across long-distances, in the Pony Express, and so much more, we love the horse for the reminder of times gone by.
• Sense of Freedom: Moving from the physical attributes of the horse to the more emotional, we love horses for the wildness, the sense of freedom that they give us. Watching or riding a horse as it gallops effortlessly across a pasture, an open plain or field, lights up a part of us that wishes we could be wild again, even if just for a moment.

I recently was feeling very down about my life. While I spent the first half of my adult professional life having great success at everything I touched, when I hit “middle age”, everything seemed to fall apart. I am blessed to be “gifted” in a number of things, coaching, photography, making jewelry, and of course training anxious rescue horses, but no matter what I tried to put my focus on, I couldn't seem to get any financial traction.

And on this day, I was feeling particularly low. I wasn't making enough money to even pay all my bills. I felt restricted by my ability to do anything but have my own business due to the needs of my son with autism. My mind was in panic mode, not only hashing out all the terrible things that had happened, but those that could happen. I was the extreme of “monkey mind” that had “gone down the rabbit hole.”

Having recently rediscovered my love of journaling and the insights it brought, I grabbed my journal and pen with turquoise ink to take with me to my horses. (My horses don't live on the same property with me.) My plan was to feed the horses, hang out with them, and then do a little journaling to see if any insight came about what I should do next.

After they finished their breakfast, they roamed around a bit before following me out to stand under some shade trees. Prince, my chestnut gelding, was especially attentive. He wanted to be right next to me. And initially, he was adamant about not wanting Ankh, or Fyre, close to me. But they were persistent, as they too seemed especially adamant about being close to me. I slowly convinced Prince to let them get closer.

The Set Up for The Realization

So, there we stood, the four of us. I was leaning against a tall oak tree that was in a shallow ravine that ran through the front half of the property. Prince was on my right. Ankh and Fyre were on my left. Or occasionally Fyre was standing in front of me. He and Ankh were particularly restless it seemed, moving around each other in order to position themselves close to me without catching the disapproval of the herd leader Prince.

Slowly my “monkey mind” began to fade. I was no longer covered up in the darkness of the rabbit hole. My mind cleared and my body relaxed, shoulders dropping. The tension headache I had woken up with just disappeared. I realized I felt like I do when I go to the beach and ocean. I was so at peace. It explained to me why I hadn't felt the urgent need to go to the beach like I used to. In fact, I haven't been to the beach in several years.

As I stood there, an idea just seemed to bubble up. It was an idea for an event that incorporated a particular type of journaling and/or other creative outlets that could be done while spending time with my horses. I have had so many “ideas” that I wasn't 100% positive that this wasn't just another “monkey mind” idea, born out of desperation.

But I soon discovered, that was not the case.

The Experience

I was feeling so good and thought I should try to do some journaling just in case some other ideas needed to bubble up. My journal and pen were in the barn though, so that meant leaving the circle I was in with the horses and returning back to the barn. I wanted to grab it and come back before the horses could leave the treed area. I went at a brisk pace and hadn't made it 50 feet when I noticed I was back in “logical” mode.

Just like that, when I stepped out of that ocean of horse energy, my body and mind shifted away from that peaceful place, and into my mind. It was a noticeable and significant “re-entry” just like when you return from vacation to your own life. I went from paradise to reality in less than 50 feet.

I went and grabbed my journal, pen and folding chair and ran back to sit under the trees with the horses. Every time I tried to open the journal, Fyre or Prince came and BIT it. See the picture of Prince biting it below! They would not leave me, or the journal, alone. I literally could not write anything because they wouldn't let me open it long enough to write anything in it. I finally had to give up.

They were telling me that the idea I had been given was the only one I needed.

The Science Behind It

But the true result of the entire experience was the insight into why we love horses as much as we do.

Every time we share space with them, they are taking us out of our logical mind. The logical mind that often is filled with doubts, anxiety, self-criticism, judgement, and even choices that don't ultimately makes sense for us. The mind may encourage us to make them out of desperation or a place of fear.

But what happens when we are taken out of that place? What we feel, what we “hear”, what we experience is not our conscious, but our subconscious. Our soul even.

On a scientific note, the mind processes 11 MILLION bits of information per second. The conscious human mind, the logical mind, can only process 50 bits per second. Think about that for a second. Let it sink in.

When you are making decisions from your logical mind, you are actually making them with extremely limited information. But when you separate from the logical mind, and tap into the subconscious, you are accessing an ocean of knowledge. It's like comparing a 1/4 teaspoon of water to the entire ocean.

While there are many methods of tapping into this wealth of knowledge, many can require practice, skill, and a conscious focus (which seems ironic). Instead, one can spend time with horses, and they help you to do it much faster. Not to mention they smell so good!

Personally. I believe they are even able to do it to a certain extent by seeing them in pictures, in movies, in videos, etc. I've had many people tell me my horses have brought peace to them solely from the pictures I share of them. Horses inspire just by being them.

The Real Reason We Love Horses

But what if they do more than inspire? What if the reason we love horses so much is because they are a switch that can take us from our conscious mind to our subconscious mind, or soul, just by being in their presence? Think about the possibilities!!

My experience confirmed that. And looking back on daily experience with them for years confirms it as well.

I didn't realize that the idea they gave me to host events with them held an even deeper meaning. Each event will give attendees the opportunity to experience this switch from conscious to subconscious mind for themselves.

I pondered the idea of holding the events on Saturday mornings but in the end, decided on Sunday mornings. The time will vary depending on the temperature outside. (Summer/high temperatures will mean earlier mornings for instance.) As long as there are attendees signed up, they will be held even if the date is a holiday in most cases. And rain or shine. Check this page for all the details on Soul Sundays with Horses!!!!

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Regaining self-worth after trauma can be a multi-faceted issue. I'm not here to tell you I have all the answers. But I have at least one, and it only takes 25 minutes.

Sometimes you just have to start with one tool, especially when you've experienced significant trauma.

I experienced significant trauma myself from 2014 to 2021, with a heavy focus around financial challenges. I thought once the constant “emergencies” themselves finally came to an end that things would get better for me financially. And while they did improve somewhat, not remotely to the level that I needed them to be.

I have studied trauma responses in both humans and horses in an effort to help my son with autism, his brother, my rescue horses, clients and myself. While I'm no neuroscientist, I've read enough books, medical articles and attended enough trainings to consider myself educated. This enabled me to come up with the below.

After the worst of the challenges had passed, I realized that I continued to have what I would call a “freeze” response to many responsibilities related to finances. I also realized that it created a cycle of shame and guilt, and that over time it had robbed me of my sense of value. I wasn't valuing myself in the way I had most of my life once the trauma really settled into my body.

Freeze Response

Physically, the freeze response, along with the more commonly known fight or flight responses, occurs in the cerebellum of the brain. During the call, which was done in video format, I shared this image so that you can see where the cerebellum of the brain is located (in case you've forgotten your brain anatomy.).

This is where the most intense trauma responses occur and I focused on this area in the meditation, but also on the brain as a whole, as trauma responses vary from extreme to mild. As the responses move away from extreme, the part of the brain responsible for the responses changes from the cerebellum to other parts of the brain.

I have always been a very driven, focused and successful professional and after experiencing years of trauma and stress, I began to lose my drive, my focus and even my success. It was sneaky and subtle, and took me years to figure it all out.

I don't want it to take years, or one minute longer, for you to figure it out.

Regaining Your Innate Value

I think regaining your self-worth after trauma, and more specifically even, your self-value, is the catalyst for finally moving on from trauma. When you realize that you are NOT the trauma, that you have so much innate value, then you can leave it behind you. I explain why I think value is even more important than self-worth in the call before the Release Trauma meditation.

Once I was finally ready for this freeze response around finances to come to an end, I began to see the connection between the trauma, the shame and the loss of value.

It also occurred to me that there was a family pattern with financial emergencies, shame, and a trauma response. So, it wasn't just me, but it was in my ancestry too.

Release Trauma Guided Meditation

I did this “release trauma” guided meditation for myself. In addition to releasing the trauma from my body, it was just as important to me that it included taking back my VALUE.

It was so immediately effective that I knew I had to share it with the world. Regaining self-worth after trauma can have so many positive and reverberating effects!

There is much greater detail in this call and guided meditation. When I wrote this meditation, it was very very important to me that attendees and anyone listening to the recording later, felt SAFE. Trauma is not something to be taken lightly and I took it very seriously when writing the meditation.

After doing this call live, I asked the attendees to share what they experienced after the meditation (not included in the recording for confidentiality purposes).

Every single one of them said they “felt an overwhelming sense of peace and tranquility throughout the meditation and afterwards.“

This is the best testimonial I could have received! From trauma to tranquility…in 25 minutes. (The call is a total of 45 minutes but the meditation itself is only 25 minutes!)

Just 25 minutes to release your trauma and regain your self-worth and value after trauma! Go get yours and let me know how it helped YOU!

The post Regaining Self-Worth (andValue) After Trauma appeared first on Julie Bradshaw.

If you visit virtually any active and large social media group devoted to horses, you will find recommendations for pool noodles used in a plethora of ways. I decided to create a list of pool noodle hacks for horses and barns to that horse owners can reference this list for ideas and for sharing with other horse owners.

Tips for Using Pool Noodles

• You may need to cut slits in them in order to get them to fit what you're using them for. Use a serrated knife, box cutter or utility scissors.

• You can cut pieces off for smaller jobs.
• Pool noodles can be located beginning in the spring, and throughout summer, in a wide variety of stores such as Walmart, Dollar General, Target and yes, pool supply stores. If you need them outside the usual seasons of fall and spring, Amazon usually has them as well.
• However, f you can't find pool noodles, need something narrower, vertically pre-cut, with adhesive or not so bright in color, use foam pipe insulators as a replacement. You can get them at most hardware stores. They are dark gray in color, pre-cut, are thinner, and usually have pull off adhesive strips to attach.

Pool Noodle Ideas to Use in Horse Trailers and Trucks:

• Place on dividers and butt bars to provide cushion.
• Put under dividing/tack room walls to stop shavings from getting into your tack room, or into the first stall if you are using it as storage.
• Place temporarily on trailer handles to prevent horse injury while tied.
• Add them to the kickstand back door stop to keep it from rattling while hauling.
• Put on the shafts of driving carts if hauling in a truck to prevent scratches to the truck.
• Use on HiTies (if using.)
• Use on saddle racks to protect saddle panels and flocking. The rounded edges provide a much more gentle experience for that expensive saddle.
• Any place you or your horse run or bang into frequently, LOL. This is often metal but may include wood or other hard surfaces.

Pool Noodle Ideas for Use with Horses

• Attach to ground using tent pegs and use as obstacles. Place in arenas to walk or jump over.
• Hang vertically from a tree or bar, and walk around and through. Attach horizontally to posts for jumps, obstacles or desensitization.
• Pool noodles can be used in horse enrichment activities. For instance, hang several together with a treat ball, horse popsicle or hay net. The horse has to work to get to the food/treat and it is always moving.
• Use to introduce a foal, or any fearful horse, to touch. Check out: How to Train a Foal to Like Touch
• If a foal gets injured on their lower leg, a section of pool noodle can be used to protect and support the leg. (Get your veterinarian's approval before using this tip.)
• Protection for other wounds/injuries, such as this ingenious use of slices of pool noodle to keep a young horse from bumping and rubbing a medication line for continues medication delivery to an eye.

Pool Noodle Hacks for Horse Barns/Farms

• Put pool noodles on stall doors or overhead bars to prevent cribbing or injury. You may also need to use duct tape, vet tape or polo wraps for additional protection. (This may not work for some cribbers but it's worth a try!)
• Use pool noodles over water hoses in freezing temperatures to prevent the hose and water in them from freezing. For short distances, they could even be used in place of water hoses.
• Attach to water faucets and even pipes, to keep them from freezing.
• No bathroom at the barn, and need to sit and not squat in the stall? Get a 5 gallon bucket, a bag if you want easy clean up, kitty litter and a pool noodle. Cut the pool noodle to fit the bucket and you have a cushy-for-your-tushy seat rather than a cold flat lid like is sold for this purpose. You could even wrap it with polo wraps to make it softer.
• The gaps between pipe gates and fence panels can be a danger zone for horse legs. Cut a piece of pool noodle and insert into the gap and duct tape in place.
• Use as tires for garden carts if hubs/spokes are in good shape.
• Put on cross ties to decrease noise.
• Place a small piece on the end of the hitch of your garden cart so you don't get bruised or cut WHEN you bang your leg into it. (Because we all know it is when, not if. LOL)
• Place around the tops of t-posts (these are used frequently here in Texas with fencing) or other metal fence posts to prevent injury.
• Place around chains or pvc pipes used in stall doors.
• Put in wiring boxes or other small places where birds try to nest.
• Any place you, or your horse, run or bang into frequently, and yes, this IS worth repeating.

Pool Noodle Hacks for Horse Tack/Supplies

• Attach horizontally to a wall and cut slices to store crops, lunge whips, etc.
• Cut a section as tall as your boots and use as inserts to keep them upright.
• Slice to about 1.5″ and slip on tack hooks. It will keep your bridle crown round.
• Use on saddle racks for rounded and larger edges. This protects the saddle panels and flocking.
• Cut them and put on wire hangers to hang chaps.
• Put on bucket handles to prevent manes or tails from getting caught where the handle attaches to the bucket.

Disclaimer: These are suggestions only and should be used at your discretion and with your horses in mind.

The best pool noodle hacks for horses are the ones YOU come up with and use. I'd love to hear your pool noodle hacks for horses! Share them with me in the comments.

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While many horse training resources tell you to touch and handle your newborn foal as soon as possible, sometimes your foal really struggles with being touched and you have to take a step backwards in your approach.

Or maybe it doesn't feel right or good to you to “force” touch on them. Sometimes forcing touch backfires and makes them more scared. Whatever the reason, using a different approach can make a difference when you are training a foal to get accustomed to being touched.

Use Their Natural Curiosity

Foals are naturally curious and that curiosity can be a big advantage when you need to know how to train a foal to like touch. If your foal is struggling with human touch, try introducing something long, foal-safe and foal-proof to work on touch instead. I use a pool noodle as it serves two purposes.

1. Pool noodles can be hacks for all sorts of things (read more at Pool Noodle Hacks for Horses and Barns) and introducing them early can pay off big later on.
2. It allows them to experience touch from something other than your hand. Thus, it feels safer to them.

Teaching My Foal to Like Touch With a Pool Noodle

My 1-week old palomino colt Fyre just had not warmed up to my touch as much as I had hoped. He was still pretty unsure about it and could at times become aggressive/dominant about it. I decided I needed to try a slower approach.

I brought out an extra pool noodle that was laying in my barn. He came trotting right over when I walked into the paddock with it. He wanted to know everything about it, and for him, that involves licking and “mouthing” it.

Once he got pretty comfortable with it, I began to move it around, and just slowly moved it across his back.

It was pretty cold here when I filmed this, so he was wearing a turnout blanket. It turned out to be a good buffer for the pool noodle. He was able to experience it even more slowly than if he hadn't been wearing the turnout blanket.

Go ahead and watch the short video clip as I want to make a few points about my approach with him, and you need to see the video first.

Keep It Slow and Steady

When you are training a foal to like touch, just as with any other horse training, you have to go slow in the beginning. If you'll notice I only brushed the pool noodle across his back twice. He seemed to tolerate it well and I wanted to stop there.

He was very touchy with his legs, so I while I did touch his back leg once, I only did it once.

I kept the introduction and session short and positive. Even though he usually “comes back for more” quickly, I wanted to end things on a positive note. And I didn't want to overwhelm him.

The Science Behind a Horse's Touch Sensitivity.

Horses have senses that are far stronger, and in some cases very different, than humans.

In the case of touch, consider that a horse can feel a fly land on a single hair. Yes, a tiny fly lands on an individual hair in the horse's coat and they can feel it.

A foal's coat and skin, which is being exposed to new things literally every hour of every day, may be extra sensitive.

Certain parts of the body are more sensitive than others. The flanks, withers, groin and heel bulbs have more receptors than the chest for instance.

The muzzle area is probably THE most sensitive.

Every horse has something known as vibrissae growing around their eyes and muzzle. Around the muzzle, they are known as whiskers. These seem to have a dedicated part of the brain connected to them and they even have their own unique supplies of nerves and blood.

Vibrassae are their own sensory organ essentially! Disturbingly, it was (and still is for some) common practice to trim a horse's whiskers for cosmetic purposes. It's sort of like taking away a second set of eyes for them.

You can see the vibrassae a.k.a. whiskers on my gelding Ankh in this picture.

The vibrassae protect the eyes and muzzle by letting the horse know if something harmful is getting too close to their eyes or muzzle.

When it appears that a horse is smelling something, they are actually “feeling” it as their remarkable sense of smell picked up the scent of the item long before they got close enough to touch it.

Some horses also seem to be more sensitive to touch than others. Ankh has always been very sensitive to touch. And it seems he passed this trait on to his son Fyre (he was gelded after Fyre was conceived.)

Yet I've had others that love a deep massage and/or a good thorough scratch.

Best How To Train a Foal to Like Touch Tip: Do What Works for You and Your Foal

Some foals will respond better to touch than others. Some will get it quickly and others will take time.

Try different tools and devices if you don't have a pool noodle. Maybe try using a crop or short whip/training stick.

A soft brush may even feel better to the foal and can be a way to train your foal to like touch. It introduces them to grooming as well so that's another dual-purpose tool like the pool noodle.

Experiment with a variety of tools, brushes, materials such as halters, lead ropes, and blankets. The response they give you is good information for you and will expose them to a plethora of different things.

Every new thing they experience gives them insight and wisdom.

Have you tried any of these things with your foal or horse? What reactions did they have? Tell me all about it in the comments.

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