In October 2004 I began reading Kim Meeder’s book on an aeroplane onroute to England. I only read a few pages before I had to stop as I could not see the words for tears. The book was called 'Hope Rising' and in the first chapter Kim described an incident in which a boy had begun to learn to trust again, because a horse chose to connect with him. Looking back, I recognise that that was the day that the seed of Heart to Hand sprung into life.
I had had experience of the power of horses to heal the human heart. The day I took ownership of my first horse, a young Thoroughbred named Histor, was the day in which I felt it for myself. I had always struggled with a deep sense of insecurity. It felt like life could knock me over. When I got Histor liquid cement was poured into that unstable base, and I became more like one of those 'weeble wobble' toys, which, because of their solid base, just spring back up again when you try to flatten them.
I had had experience of the power of horses to heal the human heart. The day I took ownership of my first horse, a young Thoroughbred named Histor, was the day in which I felt it for myself. I had always struggled with a deep sense of insecurity. It felt like life could knock me over. When I got Histor liquid cement was poured into that unstable base, and I became more like one of those 'weeble wobble' toys, which, because of their solid base, just spring back up again when you try to flatten them.
Balance describes a state of equilibrium, or stability and steadiness, which is maintained despite movement.
After Histor became part of my life, there was a fundamental shift in my concept of myself as a worthy, beloved person. I was the owner of a beautiful horse named Histor; a gift of a God Who understood and valued me. And that made all the difference. All my life I had longed for a horse of my own, and now I had one. Histor was named after his sire, Historian. His dam was Fair England. Even the names of his parents were full of meaning for me. I knew that he had been crafted by heavenly hands; crafted just for me. And how wonderful he was; Histor was my deepest longings encapuslated in warm breath and a glossy chestnut skin. I felt like I had one of the world’s greatest treasures in my care. I still feel that way, fifteen years after he died.
After Histor became part of my life, there was a fundamental shift in my concept of myself as a worthy, beloved person. I was the owner of a beautiful horse named Histor; a gift of a God Who understood and valued me. And that made all the difference. All my life I had longed for a horse of my own, and now I had one. Histor was named after his sire, Historian. His dam was Fair England. Even the names of his parents were full of meaning for me. I knew that he had been crafted by heavenly hands; crafted just for me. And how wonderful he was; Histor was my deepest longings encapuslated in warm breath and a glossy chestnut skin. I felt like I had one of the world’s greatest treasures in my care. I still feel that way, fifteen years after he died.
Because of my own experience, I understood the truth of the narrative in Kim Meeder’s book of a life-shifting encounter between a broken-hearted young boy and a horse.
I have been privileged, since that long ago day when I became the owner of Histor, to have had many horses in my life. There was one-eyed Queen, the riding school horse who taught me to ride and whom we subsequently bought and gave a well-deserved retirement; the adorable Section A Welsh ponies Candy and her foal Tiffany, bought for my little girls to enjoy; Blaine, imported from Ireland as a 13th birthday gift for my daughter Kerrin; mischievous JJ the New Forest pony; Waznot the Dales pony; and Tim the show pony (we called him Timmy Tiptoes because he was so fine and delicate). Pippin, a Section B pony and the first Blue Roan we had ever seen, stole our hearts from us and left us bereft when he died, aged 24. Maesstro (Feisty Meisty) the Arab and Aragorn the WelshXColoured horse were given as gifts to my two younger daughters. Zulu the Friesian, Charlie the Cob and Dora ('Dora Explorer') the Warmblood came for training with Kerrin and taught us all a lot. Cloud the Connemara pony came to us after a narrow escape from the knacker and is still very much with us, well into his twenties. And then there are my two Highland ponies, Teri and Jock, both of whom delight my heart, and who have made me into a dedicated lover of the breed.
We always enjoyed sharing our horses and ponies with the people who came to our home. Cuddles, grooming, groundwork and riding were on offer, and the children learned to teach whatever they knew. It was a wonderful rich season, and it is a period of our family life that we look back on with great fondness. It was sometime during this season that I first mentioned the idea of 'pony interaction' in a conversation with a good friend, Catherine Edwardes. I told her my dream of creating a safe environment in which people could interact with horses. We were already experiencing the joy of sharing our ponies with visitors. I could see how valuable such interaction was for everyone involved. And I had never forgotten that story in Kim Meeder's book.
I have been privileged, since that long ago day when I became the owner of Histor, to have had many horses in my life. There was one-eyed Queen, the riding school horse who taught me to ride and whom we subsequently bought and gave a well-deserved retirement; the adorable Section A Welsh ponies Candy and her foal Tiffany, bought for my little girls to enjoy; Blaine, imported from Ireland as a 13th birthday gift for my daughter Kerrin; mischievous JJ the New Forest pony; Waznot the Dales pony; and Tim the show pony (we called him Timmy Tiptoes because he was so fine and delicate). Pippin, a Section B pony and the first Blue Roan we had ever seen, stole our hearts from us and left us bereft when he died, aged 24. Maesstro (Feisty Meisty) the Arab and Aragorn the WelshXColoured horse were given as gifts to my two younger daughters. Zulu the Friesian, Charlie the Cob and Dora ('Dora Explorer') the Warmblood came for training with Kerrin and taught us all a lot. Cloud the Connemara pony came to us after a narrow escape from the knacker and is still very much with us, well into his twenties. And then there are my two Highland ponies, Teri and Jock, both of whom delight my heart, and who have made me into a dedicated lover of the breed.
We always enjoyed sharing our horses and ponies with the people who came to our home. Cuddles, grooming, groundwork and riding were on offer, and the children learned to teach whatever they knew. It was a wonderful rich season, and it is a period of our family life that we look back on with great fondness. It was sometime during this season that I first mentioned the idea of 'pony interaction' in a conversation with a good friend, Catherine Edwardes. I told her my dream of creating a safe environment in which people could interact with horses. We were already experiencing the joy of sharing our ponies with visitors. I could see how valuable such interaction was for everyone involved. And I had never forgotten that story in Kim Meeder's book.
Fast forward a few more years and we found ourselves at Kingdom Horse, where we met Ingela Larsson Smith. In the next few years all three daughters and I were to participate in True Connection courses with Ingela. But the other lovely thing that happened when we met Ingela was that we got involved with Horses for Orphans, the charity Ingela and her husband Richard had founded. We loved listening to Ingela’s stories about the children she was working with, and we spent many hours designing and illustrating a journal for them to record their learning. The desire to go to Brazil grew as we worked on this project, and in 2012 two of my daughters and I went as Horses for Orphans volunteers for a couple of weeks and loved it. It was particularly special to meet the group of children for whom we had designed those journals. Subsequently my daughter Julie Anne has gone back to Brazil a number of times, and Ingela remains one of my dearest and most highly respected of friends.
Horses for Orphans does what it says – facilitating opportunities for orphans and street children in Brazil to encounter horses. The purpose is three-fold: The children learn horse management, training and riding so that potential for future employment is created; they learn English, a useful second language; and there is opportunity to process trauma and experience emotional healing.
Subsequently all three girls and I ended up training as Think Like a Pony instructors so that we would be better equipped to offer encounters with horses in a safe context. Think Like A Pony is a leading organisation in the field of equine therapy, pony training and children's natural horsemanship. We learned a lot from Lynn Henry, and I often find myself thinking of things she said.
It was Lynn Henry who first put the idea of equine massage in my mind with a casual comment that I had ‘healing hands and that I should find a way to use them with horses’. One passing sentence that changed my life, quite literally. It was because of this comment that I began the investigations that eventually led me to Jim Masterson. This was the video clip that I saw, and within the first few minutes of watching I was absolutely sure that I wanted to learn equine massage with Jim.
Horses for Orphans does what it says – facilitating opportunities for orphans and street children in Brazil to encounter horses. The purpose is three-fold: The children learn horse management, training and riding so that potential for future employment is created; they learn English, a useful second language; and there is opportunity to process trauma and experience emotional healing.
Subsequently all three girls and I ended up training as Think Like a Pony instructors so that we would be better equipped to offer encounters with horses in a safe context. Think Like A Pony is a leading organisation in the field of equine therapy, pony training and children's natural horsemanship. We learned a lot from Lynn Henry, and I often find myself thinking of things she said.
It was Lynn Henry who first put the idea of equine massage in my mind with a casual comment that I had ‘healing hands and that I should find a way to use them with horses’. One passing sentence that changed my life, quite literally. It was because of this comment that I began the investigations that eventually led me to Jim Masterson. This was the video clip that I saw, and within the first few minutes of watching I was absolutely sure that I wanted to learn equine massage with Jim.
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In May 2013 I did the weekend course and the 5-Day course, and then followed on with the 3 Fieldwork blocks and the required Anatomy course. It became my goal to have 'Jim-hands' and finding softness with intention became something I began to pursue in all my interactions with horses. I certified as a MMCP in June 2015. It is probably the qualification that means the most to me out of the things I have done, as it is so close to my heart.
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