I have often noticed that I carry tension in my neck and shoulders. After a very stressful day, I can actually feel that my shoulders have migrated almost up to my ears! It seems that I walk around in a semi-permanent state of being knotted-up. And it appears that this is also the same with our equine friends too.
River had the opportunity to be evaluated by an equine veterinarian who is also an equine chiropractor. It was recommended that as an adjunct to her recuperative regimen that River also be evaluated by this vet as he specializes in equine sports medicine and horse performance.
After an evaluation, the vet indicated that River has some areas in her poll and jaw that needed adjustment -- areas that are often impacted by laminitis as the horse tries compensate to get away from the pain in their feet. The vet adjusted River's problem areas and immediately River let out an long and very audible sigh of relief -- it felt so good! Afterwards, the vet asked me to walk River around the property at her own pace for 15 minutes. At first, River was full of energy. Ten minutes into the walk, she was almost tripping over her feet. Endorphins released as part of the adjustment had flooded into her system and she was so relaxed she was ready to take a nap!
It got me thinking about my physical state and the constant tension I feel. Just watching River being touched and adjusted made me relax. And the rain gently falling on the barn roof added to the relaxing environment! The experience watching River is making me evaluate what I can do to get to a more relaxed physical state. Constant tension brings us out of physical and mental alignment. It affects our health. Being relaxed, both physically and mentally, allows us to fully engage in life and all it has to offer. Just as being relaxed (and aligned) is helping River to recover more completely from her laminitis and become stronger as a result, so can the same concept help us to live stronger, healthier lives.
So, what can you do today to learn to relax?
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
There is only the Present
“I've had a lot of worries in my life, most of which never happened.” ~ Mark Twain
I woke up this morning in trepidation of another budget meeting and trying to figure out how be more creative with managing my resources. My stomach was churning and my neck was stiff just in anticipation of what was to come today and I had already scripted the outcome of the meeting and my reaction to the decisions that would be made. I was ready for battle! Bring it on! And meanwhile, the rest of my body joined in on the churning and aches and pains as I started anticipating all that could happen (or had already happened in my mind).
And then I thought about River. As a horse, River, doesn't anticipate the future -- she lives in the present. She doesn't worry about the past -- she lives in the present. Something that she as a horse does naturally, we struggle with on a daily basis.
Living in the present. How often the present speeds by us as we are anticipating the future! The things we have missed as we are planning out what we are going to say next as someone talks or we worry about only to have whatever we were afraid of never come to pass.
My budget meeting is yet to come today, but from minute to minute today, I'm going to focus on the present. My neck and stomach feel better already!
I woke up this morning in trepidation of another budget meeting and trying to figure out how be more creative with managing my resources. My stomach was churning and my neck was stiff just in anticipation of what was to come today and I had already scripted the outcome of the meeting and my reaction to the decisions that would be made. I was ready for battle! Bring it on! And meanwhile, the rest of my body joined in on the churning and aches and pains as I started anticipating all that could happen (or had already happened in my mind).
And then I thought about River. As a horse, River, doesn't anticipate the future -- she lives in the present. She doesn't worry about the past -- she lives in the present. Something that she as a horse does naturally, we struggle with on a daily basis.
Living in the present. How often the present speeds by us as we are anticipating the future! The things we have missed as we are planning out what we are going to say next as someone talks or we worry about only to have whatever we were afraid of never come to pass.
My budget meeting is yet to come today, but from minute to minute today, I'm going to focus on the present. My neck and stomach feel better already!
Saturday, July 20, 2013
We are all Teachers....
It has been a week now since River and I started our adventure at a new barn. Everyone has been very friendly and River is doing well. The farrier visited this week to trim River's hooves to the vet's specifications and, in 30 days, we will do another x-ray to see how River's coffin bone rotation looks -- I am hopeful for her continued improvement.
River is a very laid-back horse and while not openly demonstrative most of the time, she does love attention. Waiting for the farrier to arrive, I had River out and was spending some quality time grooming her. The barn was hosting horsemanship camp and there were a lot of young girls and boys in attendance. Many stopped to ask questions about River and if they could pet her. A few wanted to groom her, so I gave them some brushes and guidance on what to do. The children really enjoyed interacting with her, and River enjoyed all the attention!
A few children stayed to watch the farrier work on River's feet. One asked a very good question about why we take care of horse's hooves since horses in the wild don't get hoof care. Very insightful question from a young, inquiring mind! The farrier graciously explained to her why. And of course, I was peppering the farrier with lots of questions as well. My farrier is a natural teacher and, like my vet, I always learn something new from him.
All of this caused me to think about the fact that while we may not be teachers by profession, we are all teachers. We each have knowledge to impart or an example to give. I taught the children a few things about horse grooming. My farrier taught that one child and also me new things about horses. Each of us also teach by how we interact with others. By being friendly, open, and respectful with the children, I hopefully provided a good example of how to treat others.
Something to keep in mind as we go through our day. How can we be good teachers in our daily lives?
River is a very laid-back horse and while not openly demonstrative most of the time, she does love attention. Waiting for the farrier to arrive, I had River out and was spending some quality time grooming her. The barn was hosting horsemanship camp and there were a lot of young girls and boys in attendance. Many stopped to ask questions about River and if they could pet her. A few wanted to groom her, so I gave them some brushes and guidance on what to do. The children really enjoyed interacting with her, and River enjoyed all the attention!
A few children stayed to watch the farrier work on River's feet. One asked a very good question about why we take care of horse's hooves since horses in the wild don't get hoof care. Very insightful question from a young, inquiring mind! The farrier graciously explained to her why. And of course, I was peppering the farrier with lots of questions as well. My farrier is a natural teacher and, like my vet, I always learn something new from him.
All of this caused me to think about the fact that while we may not be teachers by profession, we are all teachers. We each have knowledge to impart or an example to give. I taught the children a few things about horse grooming. My farrier taught that one child and also me new things about horses. Each of us also teach by how we interact with others. By being friendly, open, and respectful with the children, I hopefully provided a good example of how to treat others.
Something to keep in mind as we go through our day. How can we be good teachers in our daily lives?
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes...
"If there is no struggle, there is no progress." ~ Frederick Douglass
River watches Titan play ball.
That quote, as well as a bunch of others on the subject of change, have been truly applicable to my life. Change occurs every day, but large-scale changes have been the focus of the last few weeks -- ones that truly caused me to struggle emotionally.
Yesterday, River was moved to a new barn. With her chronic hoof health issues, it was time to move her to a barn that could provide more focused attention on River to facilitate her recovery. I am extremely attached to the horses and people at the barn I have been at these past four years, and the decision was very difficult to make. That barn will always be a part of my life and so will the people. I will still see them, but not as often. That is the downside. The upside is that I will meet new people and make new friends, and River will recuperate and interact with a new set of equine friends as well. It is a new adventure for the both of us.
So, moving today was sadness at moving and excitement and nervousness about going into a new situation. It almost felt like being the new student at a new school in the middle of the school year!
We arrived at the new barn after a short but uneventful trailer ride. River immediately acquainted herself with the grass, while I set about unloading the rest of River's "stuff". Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful. River got to meet the barn's resident dog, Titan, who wanted her to play ball with him. While she is well acquainted with dogs, she wasn't quite sure what this playing ball thing was all about! River then settled in to a temporary stall where she happily munched hay and watched all the new goings on.
As an amazing coincidence, I met a friend and former co-worker who I hadn't seen in at least a decade! Her daughter was taking lessons there and we had a chance to reconnect and I'll be able to see her regularly at the barn.
Later in the day, as I checked in on River, she had her head over door to the stall and was watching Titan play ball. I could see the wheels turning in her head. She might master this game yet!
So, River and I are starting a new routine where new people, new horses, and new experiences await us.
Change is an integral part of life. Learning to embrace change and the opportunities it brings, as opposed to fighting the inevitable opens us up to so many amazing opportunities. How can you better embrace change in your life?
Thursday, July 4, 2013
The Three P's
So, River, my Equine Coach, has been convalescing these past several weeks, recovering from a bout of laminitis. Laminitis can be extremely serious. Laminitis and Colic -- which River doesn't have -- are responsible for one-third of all horse deaths. Understandably, I have been very vigilant and concerned. So yesterday was a big day for River -- it had been several weeks and the vet was going to take x-rays to see if the rotation in her coffin bone in her two front legs had changed. If the angle had gotten higher, then we had a bigger problem. Needless to say, I was very nervous about a dire prognosis.
When I arrived at the barn, River was happily eating hay in her stall. My vet came and set up the portable x-ray equipment. Very cool stuff -- essentially a large portable camera connected to a processor and a laptop. The x-ray takes digital images which the vet can look at right on the PC screen and evaluate.
The vet did a physical assessment of River and was pleased with what he saw. The hooves looked good. Next the x-rays. River was, as always, very agreeable -- stepping on the plates and standing still for a series of four images on each leg. A group of fellow barn buddies were there and we all gathered around the laptop to see the images. GOOD NEWS! The rotation on the bone on one leg had decreased and the bone on the other leg was stable. The vet had a huge grin and I was getting happily teary.
Next the vet had River trot -- she looked comfortable and happy. My girl looked like her old self! That is not to say she is fully there yet. A few more weeks of recuperation and weaning off the anti-inflammatories. Also some special hoof trimming and a recheck in 30 days. No riding yet. And a condition that we will have to watch closely the rest of her life.
So, even in her convalescence, River has still been coaching. She has shown me the power of patience, presence, and perseverance. Wishing all of you the gift and power of the three P's!
When I arrived at the barn, River was happily eating hay in her stall. My vet came and set up the portable x-ray equipment. Very cool stuff -- essentially a large portable camera connected to a processor and a laptop. The x-ray takes digital images which the vet can look at right on the PC screen and evaluate.
The vet did a physical assessment of River and was pleased with what he saw. The hooves looked good. Next the x-rays. River was, as always, very agreeable -- stepping on the plates and standing still for a series of four images on each leg. A group of fellow barn buddies were there and we all gathered around the laptop to see the images. GOOD NEWS! The rotation on the bone on one leg had decreased and the bone on the other leg was stable. The vet had a huge grin and I was getting happily teary.
Next the vet had River trot -- she looked comfortable and happy. My girl looked like her old self! That is not to say she is fully there yet. A few more weeks of recuperation and weaning off the anti-inflammatories. Also some special hoof trimming and a recheck in 30 days. No riding yet. And a condition that we will have to watch closely the rest of her life.
So, even in her convalescence, River has still been coaching. She has shown me the power of patience, presence, and perseverance. Wishing all of you the gift and power of the three P's!
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