January/February 2012

2012 is going to be a fabulous year for Hopethruhorses, we are beginning the year by launching ‘An Investment in Emotional Health’, a huge campaign to help combat the growing problem of stress and depression both at home and in the work place. The beautiful Cotswold countryside and our gentle, kind horses provide the perfect and peaceful environment for people to come and learn how to relax both physically and mentally.

One of our special ‘in care’ boys has moved on to another life this month after coming for Equine Involvement Therapy nearly every week for the last year. We will miss him and wish him the very best for his future. We will be keeping in touch and hope to see him again.

Magnus and Caspian have survived their castration and behaved impeccably throughout. We were so proud of them and very relieved they healed remarkably quickly.

Breeze has coped with a trip to equine hospital to have a large lump removed from her ear. The hospital was fantastic and allowed her brother buck to stay with her for the two days she was there. They were so beautifully behaved and dealt with loading onto the lorry and being stabled alongside the biggest horses any of us had ever seen, admirably.

She is so much happier without the pressure of a melanoma filling her ear cavity. She had become introvert and indifferent, her personality totally changed and since the operation she is back to her affectionate and soft self.

We have had the most hideous mud to deal with during the last few weeks; the horses are very tired of the lack of grazing. We are desperately looking for more land to move them to for a couple of months, to allow their existing field to rest.

We are cashing in on research that has been done on the effects of being out in the countryside on mental health. Research has shown that young people with ADHD are substantially calmer having spent time in their natural environment and the same has been found for those suffering from depression and anxiety. Once again the environment we have to offer at Hopethruhorses is ideal for them to fully experience the benefits.

November/December 2011

This year has seen so many fabulous changes at Hopethruhorses. We have continued our work with London based charity Foundations, offering days in the country with the horses to disadvantaged and underprivileged children and young adults.

We have formed excellent working relationships with several Oxfordshire schools, helping young people with emotional, behavioural and social difficulties and have had some fantastic feedback.

Hopethruhorses has been out and about talking to the public about our work. We have talked on how Equine Involvement Therapy can help eating disorders, and how returning to our natural roots, surrounded by nature in the company of horses, can reduce anxiety and stress. This year has seen a substantial rise in the number of clients and visitors coming to see us and in the interest shown.

Today we see the launch of Hopethruhorses in partnership with Talking Horses and Other Stories www.talkinghorsesandotherstories.com.  The website is up and running and we have already had several hugely successful events. Saturday sees us on the road with the ponies for the first time at Daylesford. Magnus, MiniMaytime and Belle will be making their debut and l think they will thoroughly enjoy it.

Boris our oldest equine assistant died on 26^th November. He was 32 and after a wonderful two years with us became very ill with kidney failure. I love the idea of his spirit feeling young again, running pain free amongst the others. Boris’ companions, the three grey ponies, were clearly very aware of all that went on. They came up to me afterwards and stood absolutely still around me for more than ten minutes, allowing me to have a good cry in their manes.

We tried experimenting with the idea of a freedom livery with a new arrival called Woody. The idea was to expand our existing herd and offer people the opportunity to give their horses a free and happy life. If our horses were not used in therapy, this might have worked but the disruption caused by the change in dynamics was far from peaceful and failed to settle as the weeks went by.

We have not abandoned the idea of rescuing more horses and having a freedom livery but would like to offer it again when we have acquired some more land and can form a new herd. We want our unique original and wonderful herd to continue to offer peace and tranquillity to everyone that comes here and to graze undisturbed in harmony and peace.

We are desperate for more land and an indoor facility. The weather at this time of year makes things a little more difficult, but then that is life isn’t it? It can’t be easy all the time.

September/October 2011

So much has happened this month is fantastic. Our Talking Horses and other Stories - take a look at the website - idea has been launched with great success and the numbers of children coming from special schools is growing.

We had our first overseas client, all the way from L.A. She found the website and made the decision to come and see us for a whole week, based only on a gut feeling it was right for her. We had a wonderful week and she was an absolute delight to work with. She spent time with Angel and the two of them found so much common ground, having suffered in very similar ways, the benefits were huge for both of them.

After 3 months of trying and two false alarms Bronwen is finally in foal. The stallion is exquisite, take a look at Patros at www.cotswoldarabians.co.uk and the foal should be due next August.

Mini Maytime is clearly pregnant as well, her poor stretched stomach is going to give birth to another monster like Magnus. We have no idea who the father is as Mini May arrived here with her foal at eight days old. 

The ponies have been a huge hit throughout the summer, helping so many adults and children overcome their fear of the horses and showing children how to be empathetic, compassionate and gentle.

We have acquired two more horses, Rosie and Woody. Watching them enter the established herd has taught us a huge amount about the dynamics. The need to be accepted is identical to us and the different personalities cope in ways relating to personality. It is not all about hierarchy, as one would expect but more about establishing a role. 

August 19th 2011

Hopethruhorses work with The Foundations charity - started last year - has expanded and been a huge success this year. We offer groups of children with Autism and Down’s syndrome a day in the countryside in the company of horses. The children come from special schools and programmes in London and spend a fantastic day of complete freedom.

Testimonials and feedback from the children’s carers: 

The Haven -

‘This is the first activity they have had all summer when they have just been free and haven’t had people telling them what to do and where to go all day.’ 

Another said, ‘I have never seen Matthew look so happy.’ 

‘I just wanted to take the time and write how much I enjoyed my experience today with you and your beautiful horses. I never knew how small a baby pony could actually be and I also had never fed a horse before either, what an experience! I was so amazed to see how the children changed around the horses, they really do have a positive effect on the children and I will tell other carers about what I saw too. I believe more children should have the chance to spend time around horses and in the country; there is something that it brings out in them that just does not happen often in the city’.

 ‘We loved it and it was great to meet you all. You will be seeing Haven very soon I am sure’.

Cambridge School - Hammersmith -

‘The Harmony with Horses programme was a fantastic opportunity for our students to gain not only the sensory and emotional benefit of working with the animals, but also to be in a countryside environment that many of them will never have experienced. The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience, and the staff, horses and dogs at the farm were great. The sessions brought out the calm, caring and compassionate side of our students and they were transfixed by the animals, the way they moved, felt, and especially enjoyed grooming them. They also learned about what it means to have another being to care for, and were very interested in the care of both the horses and dogs’.

‘We all had a fantastic time (even CJ) so thank you for both days’. J

August has also seen an increase in the numbers of young people, many with eating disorders, depression and anxiety problems. The horses teach us to think more as they do; being in their company quietens the mind and their responses to us teach us how to manage and free ourselves of destructive thought.

‘Thank you so much for today, I had a fantastic time and feel I have so much more to learn from you and the horses, I do feel as if I am now looking through different eyes and feel more peaceful and unstressed than ever before.

I'm fine just been really busy, I was going to email you about something that happened yesterday and how the horses have really helped.
 
Yesterday at work I had to write up something that brought back bad memories and feelings and really I felt like just going home at the end of the day but was meant to stay for a training talk, I just thought myself back with the herd and what would a horse do, so I stayed for the training a was fine, I realised that there was no real threat to me and the feelings I had were from a past event not now.

I am totally amazed that it still works even when I've not seen them for awhile, it's so powerful!’

The Hopethruhorses centre has been open to anyone who wants to come and visit us to find out more about what we do. We have had a stream of children, young people and adults enjoying the company of our very special horses and the beautiful surroundings in which they’re kept. If you’re reading this and would like to pay us a visit, please do.

We have been trying for a foal with Bronwen  - my very extra special horse. She went to the Cotswold Arabian stud for a natural covering which didn’t work. We then tried artificial insemination at home and for various reasons that did not take either. I do hope Bronwen takes this time, it would be so exciting. Take a look at the stud website at Patros, he is stunning and has an amazingly sweet nature too.

Bronwen’s absence still bothers her son Wynner. We know our horses so well and they are given so much time and individual attention that the slightest change in their behaviour or energy is noticed immediately. We then work on getting to the root of the problem, however slight so we can help them through it.

Breeze is having trouble with her teeth. She was born with an overshot jaw and this causes problems with her entire bite. A visit from the equine dentist will help her out and she is such a lovely kind little pony she never complains.

Magnus and Caspian the two mini Shetland ponies have been an inspiration to many since their arrival in May. They are given confidence to the timid, given pleasure to the down hearted and taught gentleness and kindness to those who might be inclined to behave otherwise. Magnus has grown ridiculously big but has retained a sweetness that touches the heart.

Ebony and Angel have begun their work as therapy horses. We have given them time to heal their own emotional wounds and their experiences have given them a sensitivity and empathy which works wonders with the vulnerable people who choose to come here for help.

The rest of the herd are fighting fit, if a little on the plump side. They have all shown us time and time again the amazing healing power of the horse.

June 23rd 2011

Mini Maytime and Magnus have given so much pleasure to so many already. Magnus the foal is incredibly friendly and totally fearless and having been the tiniest addition has grown into his name - we think his father must have been a shire horse, he is almost as tall as his mother at the tender age of 6 weeks.

Magnus did not take kindly to being an only child -their size and our previous experiences with the herd, meant we have had to keep them separately. He became frustrated and irritable and his easy going mother made no effort to help him out.  It is very unnatural for a foal not to have a companion of their own age to play with.

Two weeks ago I found a mare and foal for him. The foal, Caspian, made Magnus - even when he first arrived, look like a baby elephant. The two of them quickly become firm friends and Magnus is a much happier little boy. While looking at the mare and foal I spotted a tiny year old miniature Shetland filly, who was so bedraggled and depressed, I couldn’t leave her so she has come to join the ever growing mini herd too.

The little yearling was so moth eaten I had to rename her Belle to boost her very low morale. She is now beginning to live up to her name and is blossoming under our tender loving care. She is so pretty under her matted baby coat and incredibly gentle. Magnus loves her and that is good enough for me.

Bronwen has returned from the stud and watching her re-establish herself in the herd was a remarkable spectacle. The whole herd danced, it was a beautiful and completely free of aggression. The new comers - Maytime especially, were obviously quite confused. They have not had the chance to find their true position within the herd, so her return confirmed their sense of insecurity. Comet our fabulous herd leader remained at the centre of the circle of dancing horses, watching quietly and remaining quiet and calm. He is not one to show signs of excessive emotion.

In the last two months the work we do here has gathered momentum. We have children and young people from several schools now, as well as the youngsters brought to us from London, through Foundations. Several adult organisations including those involved in Domestic violence are showing their support and bringing people to us to find solace in the company of our horses.