Obsess much?? ((well maybe..just a little))

I spy a horse eating monster over there!

I looked out the window from my porch this morning to see my 2 Arabians, Kopper & Fuego carrying on, zooming around their field, rearing up, flipping around, faux double barrel kicking, grabbing at each others tails, rearing, and faux striking, more nipping at each others shoulder, nose, and flank, second verse, same as the first. I stood watching them for a good 15 minutes before I thought to snap a photo.  Of course, by this time their “wild horse on the range” antics had subsided and they were snorting at a horse eating monster they spied on the other side. 

Meanwhile, through the commotion of crazed Arabs racing and skirting around him, Dusty nibbled the frosty grass totally oblivious, as if the shenanigans were far beneath his OTTB elegance. The secret is, beneath his facade of calm indifference, it is usually Dusty, channeling his racehorse days as Precocious Leader, who is instigating race and play.
 What is it about frosty mornings that inspire zoomies in equines?? It is indeed a sight to behold and still today, their beauty and grace steals my breath. I was that horse crazed little girl….  It was thought that when I “got older” the equine obsession would begin to temper & fade… if anything.. this “phase” has only grown stronger… now I am the horse crazed woman….
 My “equine obsession” still consumes my thoughts… only now, instead of daydreaming about a pretty pony manes, I am wondering if that gelding I saw the other day with his frontalis muscles in spasm has had his teeth looked at or his feet addressed. I am thinking about how to approach this with a client, how to tell them that in order for him to have the full benefit of the bodywork, those things must also be taken into consideration… then my mind wanders into nutrition… what is that horse eating? How much exercise does he get? Each answer leads me to another question and observation.
Yes… I am indeed horse obsessed… and dog obsessed… well… let’s just say I am obsessed with animals… Obsessed with their wellness and overall vitality. I am holistically and animally obsessed and I hope this hunger is never satiated!

Hello WORLD!!

What I do!

Hello WORLD!! I figured it was time to start blogging about what I do and what better day to do this then 12.12.12!! I guess I’ll start with an introduction.  My name is Inez, I am a certified equine, canine, and small animal massage therapist/bodyworker; I am also a Reiki Master practitioner. I have a very strong interest in wellness and creating a healing environment, specifically as it relates to the animals we share our life and world with. This blog will be about the journey we take with the animals (both human and other) that share our life.  I will likely write about all things animals and all things holistic… and all things journeying holistically with animals!! Welcome! and thank YOU for joining me! I look forward to your feedback and any ideas you would like to know and learn about…. ((additionally, I may be adding posts from earlier from time to time... bear with me..))

Be at peace Princess P

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that our beloved elder feline, Kalifornia, (affectionately known as “Princess Pigpen” for her predilection of finding and rolling in assorted “undesirables”) has crossed over. I credit her with being my first feline teacher. She is the reason that I began to look more deeply into what we feed our carnivores, she is also part of what catapulted my need to learn more about vaccination protocols. Kalifornia was dx’d as hyperthyroid in 2008, and CRF in 2010. She also had a heart murmur.

Kalifornia lived a full life and was often a frequent companion as I did chores around the farm. She took her designation as queen of the 4leggeds very seriously. Kali was a very discriminating soul; she was very selective about who she would allow to share her space, time, and love with. Very, very few individuals were deemed worthy by her to enter her space, let alone, pet her. She ruled our home and farm with an iron paw and reeked havoc, dispensing discipline swiftly to any she felt crossed whichever line she drew. Kalifornia’s chosen canine was Gabriel. Before she passed, she also chose a “successor” in our youngest feline, PartyTime. We are grateful to have been her “humans” and to have received her love. I will miss her gravelly “meow” and her crooked smile. I am honored to have shared her 16 plus years she walked along the earth and will carry the lessons she taught me into every being I come into contact with. Thank you Kalifornia for being my teacher, you are missed, and you will continue to live on in my heart. -Inez

OWLS!!!!!

I’ve been “really into” owls lately…. They’ve been “everywhere” I’ve heard them in my barn, seen them a couple times on the trail, have “items” that I wear with them on… and well… my newest piece of skin art is an owl perched on a weathered book branch with the word LIFE inscribed on it… (and comes out in symbols to I love life~~ Eye=owl’s eyes, Love= red heart on owl chest, and the word life on book..) Any hoot (heehee)…. Owl is OBVIOUSLY a messenger for me… soooo….. I decided to head the call and “read” some of the message ((and OMG!!!!!!!!!))

“For the one beside whom Owl flies, the Gift of Wisdom is a life long quest and within the hearts and minds of these souls is a never ending desire to know more.  Often, they are voracious readers and will feel a little unbalanced when they are not entertaining their minds enough which may eventually manifest as physical and/or emotional ailments, hence it is vital for their sense of equilibrium to challenge their minds via new studies, reading stimulating books or taking up new endeavors that will later be fashioned from the base material of knowledge into applied principles that become another wellspring of Owl Wisdom

Meandering thoughts about balance and posture

I've been thinking a lot about balance and posture lately. Both in humans and in our animals. As I was carrying a heavy tote on my right shoulder, I began to pay attention to what was happening in my body, where I felt strain and tight, and how other parts of my body was compensating. The same thing happens in animals.. If one muscle is in spasm, the body will pull from another area to compensate.... If unable to address the problem (tight shoulder) and/or loosen and open it up, the spasm stays and before you know it, the tight shoulder adds in lower back pain. And if that is not addressed, it carries into your posture which then pulls from other muscle groups and the next thing you know you have pain in your neck, pain in your lower back, your shoulder still hurts, and you're leaning to one side because your muscles are tight.

Then, you go and ride your horse with your crooked, imbalanced self and the horse is forced to adjust his way of moving to balance you both out and the next thing you know, he is no longer rounding and collecting, he is heavy in the front and he has trouble bending. Interesting how this all relates together, isn't it??

Edited 1/17/13 to add:
And to break down the mouth/teeth/feet/body connection here's another example: you have a toothache on your upper right molar... it hurts! To "help" yourself, you may chew differently, perhaps only on your left side, the ache extends to your temples and you have a headache.. pain with every step... perhaps you crook your neck to the side a bit to avoid pressure on the tooth and temple, you're walking slower... from holding your head and neck gingerly to inside, you're sending your neck muscles into spasm.. to compensate, your body pulls from another area... diagonally from your left hind, lower back... you are bracing with every step... the compensatory action is now traveling down your legs.. because you have agitated your sciatic nerve, so now you are walking stepping in.. which effects the soles of your feet and shoes... doggone it!! Where did that bone spur come from??? Get the drift?? Soooo... the foot issue may not necessarily be the underlying problem, but a symptom of the original concern... which may be the teeth, or body... posture plays a HUGE role in this too!

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