Skunked: What’s that Smell?

We all know that Skunks use their strong-smelling spray to defend themselves. As their only form of defense, it is pretty effective in driving anyone away from them!  Evidently, the spray is composed of a kind of sulfuric acid that they can “fire” or spray from either of two independently operating anal glands.

Did you know that Skunks stamp their front feet as a warning when threatened, giving you a chance to back off?  Although I did not know this and haven’t been sprayed, I guess many dogs tend not to see or understand this warning!  They do seem to find those cute black and white critters to be irresistible sometimes!  For anyone in the country, in the springtime, it is all too often a common occurrence for your dog to get sprayed by a skunk.  If you have had the ‘pleasure’ you know it can take weeks for that smell to dissipate.

My dog Liza got skunked tonight so I got to try this recipe out once again.  and it really and truly does work.  She was pretty upset rubbing her nose on everything when she first came in the house.  I know the scent was stinging my face and I was not the one sprayed!  I put some Rescue Remedy on her first, ten grabbed the and into the bath tub she went.

Here is a recipe, it really works well to cut the skunk oils.

1 quart 3% Hydrogen Peroxide
1/4 cup Baking Soda
1 teaspoon liquid dish soap or Young Living Animal Scents Shampoo

Apply liberally, hold your nose, wash and rinse!

Here are some additional recommendations that I have successfully used:

•    Replace the liquid dish soap with Young Living Animal Scents Shampoo or Thieves Household Cleaner to cut the smell.

•    The Young Living Oil Blend Purification in a spritzer bottle and then spritzed liberally all over the effected coat and areas as needed.

•    The Bach Flower Remedy Crabapple is also quite useful when added in a spritzer bottle with Purification to cut odor as well.

•    Use the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy wiped along their back and ears if your dog is upset.

•    The sooner you wash your dog after being sprayed, the easier it is get rid of the scent.

•    The sooner you wash your dog after being sprayed, the easier it is get rid of the scent.  Perhaps the Sulfuric Acid has not had a lot of time to seep into the skin.

•    You may need to shampoo more than once.  Apply as needed.

•    Spritzing on a daily basis may also be helpful.  Use liberally as needed.

•    Diffuse Young Living Essential Oils such as Purification or Lemon in the house to cut the smells in the air

Some of this material was adapted from an article by Laura Simon, the Urban Wildlife director for The Fund for Animals in New York City. The article, “Wild Neighbors: The Humane Approach to Living with Wildlife,” available from The HSUS was also a resource used.

To order Young Living Essential Oils or the Animal Scents Shampoo, please go to www.youngliving.com/oneheartsr

Sandy Rakowitz of One Heart Healing Center for People & Animals offers a professional perspective with 20+ years experience in the field of Animal Wellness.  Sandy offers private sessions in person and via telephone with TTouch, Energy Healing Medicine, Animal Communication, Young Living Therapeutic Essential Oils for people and animals. 434-973-8864

Looking for Octavian

Have you see this horse Octavian?

Octavian

The owners from 1998-2000 would love to see him again.  They lost track of him when he was sold in 2000.

17.2+ Hand Grey Hanovarian Gelding
with a brand on his flank.

His current age is about 19-20 yrs.
He was purchased in Pennsylvania in 1998 by Colt Drew and the family had him from 1998-2000

Octavian with Colt Drew

Shown under the name of Octavian with his junior rider ‘Colt’ (Dominey) Drew throughout Central Virginia in the Equitation and Medal classes.
Octavian was sold in 2000 in Ocala.

Have you seen Octavian sometime from 2000- 2009?
Have any ideas on where to find him?

The Drew’s would love to see him again and retire him at their farm in central Virginia.

"Tavi" and Colt Drew

Any information at all is appreciated.  Did you see “Tavi” at a show, or at someone’s barn?  Know who may have owned him or where he is currently living?

Even if you do not currently know where he is located please contact them with any info you may have.

Please call or email Thayer or Colt ‘Dominey” Drew with any Information about Octavian.   540-718-7813  greenwoodfarm@gmail.com

This Public Service message has been brought to you by;

Sandy Rakowitz of One Heart Healing Center for People & Animals offers a professional perspective with 20+ years experience in the field of Animal Wellness.  Sandy offers private sessions in person and via telephone with TTouch, Energy Healing Medicine, Animal Communication, Young Living Therapeutic Essential Oils for people and animals. 434-973-8864

Internet Marketing for Women Entrepreneurs

Internet Marketing for Women Entrepreneurs with Marilee Tolen is a fabulous class series that I took last year via teleseminars.  The class is geared for Holistic Practitioners.

Wednesday night, Sept. 30, Marilee is having a free teleseminar called “The Single Easiest Way to Turn Your Expertise into Income on the Internet!”  Her new class series begins soon in October.

Marilee is fabulous at simplifying what used to seem like an incomprehensible Internet quagmire to me.   She walks you through easy to understand steps on the computer that I actually had some fun with!

I was interested in learning but very intimidated by Blogging, Twitter, Teleseminars, Webinars, etc.! I thought it was going to be really hard to learn all this since I am not technically inclined on the computer at all. Some people now call me things like a computer whiz and techno geek. What a hoot!  I started The Holistic Animal Blog, Twitter, Facebook, writing new articles, and so much more through this class.

Marilee is a Holistic Nurse, fellow graduate of the Barbara Brennan School of Healing, expert with Essential Oils and has created many wonderful programs. I consider her an amazing creative force and resource on Internet Marketing!  My creative juices were fueled through this class and I love the new creative outlets for offering my services and adding in new streams of revenue!!  Since I took this class last year my business has been on the rise, sometimes with surprising new opportunities!

Here is the link to read about specifics for the Internet Marketing Class http://tinyurl.com/MT-IMM-affl

For more info on the teleseminar this week;
http://tinyurl.com/singleeasiestway

I very highly recommend both the class series and the seminar this week for any woman who is in business for herself and who wants to learn about turning your areas of expertise into additional sources of income via the internet.

Sandy Rakowitz of One Heart Healing Center for People & Animals offers a professional perspective with 20+ years experience in the field of Animal Wellness. Sandy offers private sessions in person and via telephone with TTouch, Energy Healing Medicine, Animal Communication, Young Living Therapeutic Essential Oils for people and animals. 434-973-8864

A Discovery in Wonder: Animal Communication

Animals offer new perspectives on day to day life and have many lessons to teach us.  Sandy Rakowitz, Animal Communicator and founder of One Heart Healing Center for People and Animals is offering an Introductory Class in Animal Communication at The Aquarian Bookshop in Richmond, VA on Sunday, July 12, from 2-4pm. The cost is $25.

Sunny, blind at age 36, taking an afternoon walk with Sandy.

Sandy will take you through a discovery of the wonder of seeing life through the eyes of the animals. Through lecture, discussion and some basic exercises Sandy offers an inspiring introduction to the inter-connections between species. Register early for this popular speaker by calling The Aquarian Bookshop 804-353-5575.

Sandy is a Teacher, Animal Communicator and Wellness Practitioner.  She provides consultations, classes and workshops to help people and their animals resolve conflict, assist in communication, aid with health issues and deepen their bonds with one another.  She has written many articles and was recently interviewed on Richmond Public TV by Susan Hughes about Animal Communication.  Sandy Rakowitz has over 20 years in the field of Animal Wellness. www.OneHeartHealingCenter.com or 434-973-8864

The Aquarian Bookshop is Richmond, VA’s oldest and most eclectic metaphysical bookshop.

Register for the Animal Communication class by calling 804-353-5575

Dolphin Dreaming

Dolphin Dreaming in Kona, Hawaii

I write this as I sit amidst tropical flowers & trade wind breezes in Hawaii!  Yes, it is true. Hawaii!  I am so blessed to be here with Linda Tellington-Jones, founder of The Tellington TTouch Method, helping to develop the curriculum for TTouch for People.  It is incredibly exciting.  Working with Linda is just plain joyful.  There is much time for work/play.

This morning we went out on yet another odyssey to swim with the dolphins.  Linda knows this awesome guy with the most wonderful crew – SunLight On Water – and off we went.  Today, I was so blessed to have had multiple encounters with Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins!!!!

This afternoon we will be working on curriculum. Linda got yet another inspiration while out in the water so we will be incorporating it into the work this afternoon.

Fun. Awesome. What an experience. What a sublime gift for wild dolphins to CHOOSE to swim near us, to swim by us, swim back around to be with us time and time again, and to give us a show of tail slaps, leaps and jumps!

Initially when I got in the water, I was so excited I was shaking!  The dolphins were quite close, and I had my first encounter within just a few minutes of getting in the water!  Get this, 6-7 Dolphins swimming along right in front of us, a completely sublime experience.  And then two of them made some ‘Woopie!”  Swimming belly to belly they continued along their very merry way!

Linda had told me just before I got in the water to stay by Ryan, the crew with the camera, just follow the yellow fins! Linda exclaimed, she will know where the Dolphins are. Wise advise.  I was lead to so many encounters by Ryan I cannot even count them!

Linda & Sandy- Woohoo!

I can barely find all the words that describe this kind of experience.  I have heard people talk about swimming with Dolphins and have said things like “profound,” and “life changing.” I am certainly feeling the incredible magic of these playful and wise creatures who have chosen to grace us with their presence!!

With mask, snorkel and fins, I looked around watching for them to appear. Ryan, who seemed to have Dolphin Radar, turned to me, pointed and reached out her hand.  Swimming side by side, with me paddling as fast I could to keep up with her and to get closer to the Dolphins, I felt through her hands a connection to her knowledge and experience in swimming with them.  She knew things!  And sure enough, she pointed again while one swam right up beside me and right past me.  Breathtaking.  Stunning.  Awesome.  Clearly it was a choice for this being to do this swim by.  He/she was so close I could have touched them! I cannot wait to see the pictures!

Another time, they were so deep below us we could not see them directly but could hear clicks and all kinds of Dolphin calls and signals.  And then bubbles began flowing up from deep below us…  Dolphin bubble rings arising!!!  Linda has been going out with China and his crew for at least a decade and had never seen that before!  I would not have known what it was initially had I not seen Dolphins in captivity blowing bubble rings and playing with them on You Tube!  Oh the education available on You Tube!

In between sightings, I would just rest in the water.  At one point, it had been quite awhile since there was any activity from the Dolphins.  I sent out prayers to those I love, sending the magic of the waters and Dolphins.  I sent prayers for my dear friend who was recently in an accident with her horse.  I asked for a sign for her healing – and shortly after, a Dolphin leapt out of the water!  No kidding!

Today is also a special day for another reason.  8 years ago today, one of my very best friends died while we were out on a boat to go swim with Dolphins in Key West, FL.  She had a blood vessel burst in her head and went unconscious.  It was sudden, unexpected and it was of course shocking.  So today is a Healing.  Today I swam with the Dolphins for you My Friend.  Finally I got to live out the dream and desire that came out of our first class in our first year of being students at the Barbara Brennan School of Healing. Today I got to swim and live the dream.

In the quiet time, when there had been no Dolphins around for awhile I asked for a sign to show me that Barbara was present here with all of us.  Very shortly after, a dolphin leapt into the air and did a magnificent spin!  My heart welled with gratitude and excitement and I let out a very big squeal of delight.

Mahalo my dear friend, Thank you for your friendship, guidance and gifts.  Like the Dolphins, I know you are beside me still. Like the Dolphins, thank you for gracing my life.
Pictured from L-R:  Linda, Ryan, Sandy, China!!!!
If you are ever in Kona and want to be so well taken care of with the most wonderful crew, go swim with Captain Michael (aka China Mike) and SunLight on Water.  The care and love they have for these creatures is evident in every detail of what they do.  It is clear that they deeply want you to have a full and precious experience. At the beginning of our odyseey China lead a Hawaiian Prayer and call to the Spirits that was so sacred, heartfelt and beautiful. From safety to snacks, equipment and guidance in the water, they show the way and clearly have a great connection with the Dolphin!  Mahalo, Mahalo, Mahalo!

Sandy Rakowitz of One Heart Healing Center for People & Animals. Sandy offers a professional perspective with 20+ years experience in the field of Animal Wellness!  Sandy offers private sessions in person and via telephone with TTouch, Energy Healing Medicine, Animal Communication, Young Living Therapeutic Essential Oils for people and animals. 434-973-8864

Veterinarians Speaking out against Punishment and Dominence Training

Did you know that an increasing number of Veterinarians are speaking out against using Dominance and Punishment based techniques?

Someone recently asked me my opinion of Cesar Milan, also known as “The Dog Whisperer.” I know that this is a controversial topic.  He has a show on TV for Pete’s Sake.  So often the logic goes, “He must be good. He gets results, right?”

Punishment, Negative Reinforcement, and Dominance based techniques  are all too prevalent and widely accepted in this country, often without questioning! And now, finally, an increasing number of people are speaking out and giving their position in favor of Humane Treatment, Positive Reinforcement Training Methods with Animals.

Did you know that there is an article written by  the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior stating their position against Punishment based animal training?

Did you know that the AVSAB also has a position article against Dominance Training?

HOORAY! is what I say.  Finally some sense and a firm stance is arising from the ‘establishment’ in support of Humane Training Methods based in Positive Reinforcement rather than the use of dominance and punishment!!!

The  American Veterinarian Society of Animal Behavior has a petition to Merial, a leading “Animal Wellness”  corporation, about a proposed campaign to use the high profile celebrity Cesar Milan as their spokesperson.  This means that Merial, the supposedly ‘Animal Wellness” proponents, support Cesar Milan’s Punishment based training methods in their advertising campaign for their parasite prevention products like Frontline and Heart Guard.  Do you use these products?  Do you support Humane Training Techniques for animals? Which do you want to support?

See & Sign Petition against Merial Corporation to use Cesar Milan in their ad campaign.

Did you read the AVSAB position on Punishment based training? Click to view.

Or the AVSAB Position Article on Dominance?  They write; “This statement has been developed for the purpose of clarifying how AVSAB views the theory of dominance relationships between animals. We also hope that it helps to dispel some myths that have recently become more prevalent among some who work in this field.”  Click to view.

Please feel free to pass along this info.
Thanks,
Sandy

Sandy Rakowitz of One Heart Healing Center for People & Animals. Sandy offers a professional perspective with 20+ years experience in the field of Animal Wellness!  Sandy offers private sessions in person and via telephone with TTouch, Energy Healing Medicine, Animal Communication, Young Living Therapeutic Essential Oils for people and animals.

TTouch For You: Empowering!

Training in Review:  TTouch For You;  Keswick, VA  May 1,2, 3, 2009

This was a truly inspiring weekend.  I have been using this method for over 20 years and I am continually amazed at the power and depth that is available with this method.

Linda Tellington-Jones introducing TTouch For You!

One participant said afterwards,  “The TTouch for You workshop this weekend is one of the most empowering trainings I have ever attended. Every aspect of the weekend, from signing up to saying good-bye, communicated recognition, respect, positiveness, flexibility, clarity, lightness, and room to breathe.”

Sharing some TTouch: Instructor Debby Potts with a participant

Plenty of time for practice the Delicious & Nuturing TTouches!

Participants enjoyed hearing about TTouch history and development in addition to instruction on methods and techniques.  Filled with supportive feedback and time to experience and practice TTouches.

Practicing on themselves for self-healing and to understand what the TTouches feel like.

Practicing with eachother - empowering, nurturing and it just plain feels great!

Sign up for next year’s training

TTouch For You June 4,5,6 2010.

The Place to be!

1-800-854-TEAM to register.

TTouch For You; Relief from Everyday Physical & Emotional Issues

You are invited to join Linda Tellington-Jones PhD (Hon)
Internationally Renowned Teacher, Author, and Visionary

Bridge Between The Worlds

May 1-3, 2009 TTouch For You with Linda Tellington-Jones
$375 or  $337.50 for each family member
Bridge Between The Worlds, Keswick, VA

Work personally with TTouch founder Linda Tellington-Jones and discover the many benefits of TTouch For You! The gentle circular TTouches enhance the “Life Force of the Cells” and awaken the regenerative potential and cellular intelligence of the body. More than a physical modality, TTouch invites you to communicate with your hands and heart to bring healing and awareness – mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.  Feel nurtured and supported to return home energized, enriched and empowered.

• Learn and share a simple form of caring touch that activates the healing potential of the body, releases pain, stress and fear, and fosters well-being.
• Experience the unique physical, emotional, and spiritual benefits of TTouch as both giver and recipient.
• Feel nurtured and supported by everyone around you.
• Return home energized, enriched, empowered and a little more enlightened.

The TTouch Experience
Developed by Linda Tellington-Jones as a part of the Tellington Training method for horses and other companion animals, TTouch has been used effectively for humans for more than 20 years. As you practice these simple, gentle movements on yourself or others, you will realize a newfound sense of well-being, empowerment, and renewal.

Relief from everyday physical and emotional issues such as headaches, backache, chronic pain, depression, and anxiety is a common experience.  Many discover a means to enhance relationships beyond the constraints of language, finding new ways to nurture one another, and reaching new levels of understanding, appreciation, and empathy.

Participants from TTouch For You 2008, Keswick, VA

These observations are supported by a rich legacy of anecdotal evidence; hundreds of letters from people from all over the world describe how TTouch has effectively relieved a vast range of health issues, enhancing personal wellness and quality of life. This body of evidence has inspired formal research and clinical applications of TTouch in health care and education. Nurses, massage therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and physicians are successfully integrating these techniques into their practices, to manage anxiety, acute and chronic pain, and to support healthcare procedures. Many healthcare professionals experience much needed relaxation and stress relief for themselves, as well as in their patients

This Weekend of Renewal is for:
• Anyone seeking a new approach to self-care
• Couples
• Mothers and daughters
• Caregivers
• Educators

• Healthcare professionals

About Linda Tellington-Jones, PhD (Hon)

Pioneer, teacher, trainer, and author, Linda Tellington-Jones has forged new paths in the understanding and appreciation of the animal/human relationship, and has offered instruction in her gentle and aware approach to animal and humans for over 30 years. In 1978 Linda graduated from the first American four-year professional training in the Feldenkrais Method of Movement Education with Israeli physicist Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais at the Humanistic Psychology Institute of San Francisco. Prior to that training, she co-authored a landmark book on equine massage entitled, Massage and Physical Therapy for the Athletic Horse, based on the teachings of her grandfather, William Caywood. She had already been applying this equine massage for 10 years for sport horses when she first adapted the Feldenkrais Method for humans to work with horses and other animals. In 1983, building on her experience as a Feldenkrais practitioner, Linda developed a new form of gentle bodywork that activates cellular function and reminds the body of its potential for perfection. Her remarkable approach honors the mind, body and spirit of all living beings

In 2007 Linda was inducted into the Massage Hall of Fame and in 2008 she was awarded an honorary PhD from Wisdom University of San Francisco, California.  Linda has taught Tellington TTouch for healthcare professionals in collaboration with Dr. Cecilia Wendler, RN, Ph.D., CCRN, at the University of Minnesota, and has developed a 3-year certification course for professionals in Germany. She leads an annual six-day retreat in Hawaii.

Feedback from Past Participants:

“I was amazed to discover the profound transformations that took place by simply practicing, receiving, and observing all the techniques in the course of our work sessions and Linda’s demonstrations. My aches and pains, anxieties, emotional barriers, faded away as the days went by, leaving in their place a sense of space and clarity, and a feeling of warmth, openness and fellowship towards all those in my company. I was struck by the way in which TTouch affects the emotional and spiritual aspects of well-being, as well as balancing the physical body. The act of connecting to another through TTouch opens a pathway for compassion to flow. This was a most profound experience emerging from such a simple activity.”
–Angana Shroff, TTouch Practitioner for Animal Companions, TTouch-For-You Participant, 2004, 2005

“The power of TTouch for me is this: It gives me something to give to my patients when there is nothing else to give. I cared for N. for four nights, doing TTouch on him twice a shift all those nights, and he never quit saying how profoundly important TTouch was for him.”
–M. Cecilia Wendler, RN, Ph.D., CCRN, U. of Wisconsin – Eau Clair

“The TTouch has been an invaluable tool for me in my work as a physical therapist. Most important is the fact that I can teach this work to anyone – family members, friends, and other healthcare professionals. It does not take any specialized knowledge of anatomy and physiology to do the work and get the same results. It is safe, non-invasive, and cannot harm anyone. It is a perfect way to teach patients something they can do for themselves and their own families.”
–Kathy Cascade, Physical Therapist and Instructor of the Tellington TTouch Training Method for Animal Companions

Linda Tellington-Jones using Ear Strokes while participants watch.

Registration Information
Enrollment is limited to 30 Participants.  There are still a few spaces available, please call for info.
Registration is $375; Family discount and Guild Practitioner discounts are available.
To register, Contact: Holly Sanchez Email Holly Sanchez or call 800-854-8326

Tellington TTouch Training
PO Box 3793, Santa Fe, NM, 87501
Downloadable registration packet available

Local Coordinator:
Sandy Rakowitz, TTouch and TTEAM Practitioner
434-973-8864 or Email Sandy@onehearthealingcenter.com

Feel free to contact Sandy or the TTouch Santa Fe home office for assistance with transportation, dining suggestions, local accommodations and any other logistical questions or concerns.

Thanks to Kim Carneal of Enlightened Horsemanship wordsmith magician for this original posting on TTouch For You.

Thanks for stopping by!  Keep on coming back!

Sandy Rakowitz with her Elder Horses Ibis & Sunny.

Sandy Rakowitz owns and operates One Heart Healing Center for People & Animals. Sandy offers a professional perspective with 25+ years experience in the field of Animal Wellness!  Sandy offers private sessions in person and via telephone with TTouch, Energy Healing Medicine, Animal Communication, Young Living Therapeutic Essential Oils for people and animals.

Calming Horses Through TTouch: Part 3 of 3

Day 3: Thursday a.m. 4-19-07  (Click for Part 1 and Part 2)

While I waited for Catherine to come to the barn I walked up to the stall door that opens to Roulette’s paddock.  Roulette marched in to the stall, confidently stuck her nose out towards me and took a good smell with a soft eye!  So, I went in to their paddock with a flake of hay.  She was not sure of me walking around in her paddock however.  Her head was relatively low and her eye somewhat soft, but she moved away if I stepped towards her.  I decided to sit down on a tree that had recently fallen a few feet from the hay.  She came to eat, seemed not so interested in me, but did keep an eye on me.

Once Catherine came out she opened the paddock gate and stall door where they get fed.  I wanted to walk in her proximity to see how she responded.  I also wanted to see how she would be to walk near someone into the stall.  I wanted to begin to introduce moving around her in a variety of ways rather than standing at the gate and letting her run or walk herself in.
I was able to move just out in front of her and to the side to give her space, but still stay near.  I used my voice to invite her to walk, with my toning, “Aaaaaaand waaaaaaalk, and moved towards her stall.  We did 3-4 steps of walking, then an “Aaaaaand Whooooooa,” while motioning my hand as if I had a Wand.   We did this a few times right into the stall.  We were beginning to develop a relationship in motion, in proximity of one another.  It was really beautiful to see her listen, take in what I said, and figure out what to do with the information.

What had happened with her with a rope I wondered as I slowly brought the rope out of my pocket while she flew back with head in the air and eyes wide open.    Slowly I put the rope in her feed tub while she went to the other side of the stall.  Interestingly, she walked back over to her feed tub and went right back to eating.  She had no problem with the rope in the bucket along with her food.  I let the rope and Roulette sit for a few minutes while I changed the subject and went back to something that had perhaps become more familiar and safer, stroking with regular wand and a wrapped wand.

This went well so I began using TTouches directly on her body with a few Abalone Circles along her shoulder, neck and back and with some lifts to help the deeper tensions release.  I did a few Clouded Leopard Circles.  She also seemed to like these.  I worked right up to the poll, and I was able to begin ear work with my hand!

I coiled the rope around the wand and was able to stroke her head, neck and back with the rope attached with no problem. I gradually let the end of the rope uncoil, so that it dropped down slightly on her neck on the off side.  She briefly picked up her head, but then immediately resumed eating with a soft eye!

I continued this process of stroking down her neck and back while uncoiling the rope gradually until the rope reached to down below her neck.   I was able to drape the rope and then while stroking the wand along her neck and back the draping rope was part of the stroking.  Once or twice, she started to move backwards, then stopped herself.  This was beautiful to watch.

I switched back and forth from stroking with the rope and wand to just using TTouches along her body. I was able to use Abalone Circles down her jaw!   I was able to move with the flat of my hand over her eyes while stroking with my hand.   She seemed to love this.  I kept stroking over her forehead and down her nose, along the sides of her face and muzzle.  Once again, we were in new territory as this was totally a first for her.  Catherine was just astounded that this could happen, and so quickly.  She also commented on just how different the filly was from the 1st day, just 2 days before.
I was able to work the corners of her mouth doing the beginning of mouth work.  I found a cold spot on the bridge of her nose and she was super sensitive here.  The wonderful thing was that she could experience something that was not as agreeable, let me know with a slight head nudge or have a slight flip of the head, but not bolt away!  I saw this as major progress.  I think it really showed how the flight reactions were diminishing, the trauma and fear releasing, and a calming response was developing instead.
With the padded wand I did some circles all along her left side of her neck with no reactions at all. In fact, her eyes closed half way instead and enjoyed it!  I was able to begin Abalone Circles down her left front leg all the way to her hoof!  Another first time in allowing herself to be touched in a new place and in a new way, and with no reactions.  I then walked with her out to the paddock.  We walked about 3-4 steps, stopped and began walking again. We repeated this about 3-4 times until we were outside in the paddock.  She was listening, curious, attentive and listening beautifully to simple cues and no halter or lead.

I wanted to integrate moving with her as just another way of being with her.  This felt like a powerful way to introduce very basic steps towards leading with this filly.  She has not been used to being around people or having direct physical contact with people.  She is in some ways like a feral or wild horse, dog or cat.  She is not used to the way that people move around, how we think and how we use words. It was all new.
This type of situation really showed me once again the full power of the TTouches. Catherine is an experienced horse handler and has raised many wonderful foals.  She is very caring and offers very good and positive experiences with horses.  Yet regular handling with a knowledgeable handler for the 3 weeks prior to receiving TTouch produced minimal results.  Catherine had not been able to touch Roulette all over her body.

I believe the TTouches clearly helped to speed up and profoundly influence the abilities of this filly to learn, to let go of old traumas, and to find positive & trusting ways of relating and being with people. For 3 weeks, none of this had been able to happen.  Within 3 days, and with only 3 sessions of no more than 25 minutes each, the filly had begun to calmly and in a relaxed manner allow physical contact with her entire body, all over her back, hind end, neck, legs, her poll, ears, and all over her face and mouth. She began to walk with a person, and not go into flight patterns of reaction or flight.  She was able to have a rope and wand stroke along her body where previously she was terrified of ropes.  And, she became curious and enjoyed the TTouches.  My experiences with her have been very inspiring and it was a wonderful way to begin the mornings!  And, it was a great honor to be so trusted by her!

The week after my visit, I received an email from Catherine;
“Sandy, your help with Roulette was invaluable.   I can put a halter on her now, while she is eating, of course, but I do think she is making bigger strides since your working with her.”

And then a month after my visit, I received an additional follow up from Catherine about the filly; “ Roulette is making great strides, I really think that your work with her broke through her fear patterns so she could begin to learn.  I lead her now in and out of the stall.  She doesn’t mind pressure on her head and pretty well follows me.  I am working on picking up her feet. So far only the fronts have been off the ground but she hasn’t freaked out at any touches. Please do let me know if you are coming by in the near future…Roulette would love to show off her new skills to an appreciative audience.”

And then in November of 2008,  Catherine wrote to me a year and a half after our initial sessions, ‘I think of you often as Roulette is now so big and strong and beautiful that you would hardly recognize her.   She is a constant source of joy in my life ,  thanks so much for all you did to keep her in this world.”

May 6-10 I will be assisting at the TTEAM Training for Horses with Linda Tellington-Jones in Middleburg.   I will be once again staying with Catherine and able to see Roulette once again.  I am looking forward to seeing how she has grown and matured.  I will be sure to take some pictures and report back in a future Blog!

Thanks for stopping by!  Keep on coming back!

Sandy Rakowitz owns and operates One Heart Healing Center for People & Animals. Sandy offers a professional perspective with 25+ years experience in the field of Animal Wellness!  Sandy offers private sessions in person and via telephone with TTouch, Energy Healing Medicine, Animal Communication, Young Living Therapeutic Essential Oils for people and animals.

Email for the One Heart Newsletter – sandy@onehearthealingcenter.com  434-973-8864

Success! TTouch Demonstration at Barnes & Noble for Animal Wellness

TTouch Pracitioner Sandy Rakowitz gave a TTouch Demonstration for Animal Wellness on Tuesday April 21 at Charlottesville Barnes & Noble Bookstore was a big success!  Thanks to all who came out to join us!

Honeydew, our demo dog is a 2 year old Service Dog in Training with Service Dogs of VA.  She has tension along her back and hind end and did not typically like to be touched by strangers.

Here I had just begun to use TTouch with Honeydew. She had tentatively accepted stroking and gentle TTouches along her head, neck and shoulders, but as you can see in this picture HoneyDew has just rolled over to her off side and away from me immediately as I reached her hind end.

A recent vet visit revealed that HoneyDew had significant tension along her spine and in her hind end.  She had evidently been on the receiving end of some significant rough housing as a young puppy.

As a 2 year old HoneyDew had begun to display some restless behaviors, discomfort in lying down easily and did not like to be petted by strangers.

In this session I saw that she was very sensitive to being touched initially and showed significant tension in her shoulders, along her back and all around her hind end, hips and stifles.

Because she showed a lack of confidence, trust and comfort in being touched, I demonstrated the use of a Body Wrap  for calming and body awareness.

With the Body Wrap on HoneyDew I was easily able to continue with Ear Strokes, Mouth Work and various TTouches all over her body, legs and paws.  These TTouches help to calm, reduce tension and discomfort as well as help increase a sense of feeling more comfortable in her body.

HoneyDew calmed and relaxed quickly with the use of the Body Wrap to enjoy the TTouches all over her body.

One person who attended the Demo emailed me yesterday and said, “Just wanted to tell you that I’m already using the TTouch. My grandfather’s cat is not doing well, hasn’t been eating much, is losing weight and having chronic diarrhea. <The Vet> has done blood work, checked her over and not figured out what’s wrong. I did the ear work on her this morning and again tonight, and after both sessions (which she loved) she went in and ate better than I’ve seen her.”

She went on to write about another experience she had after the Demo using a Body Wrap, Ear and Mouth TTouches. “And, I have an 8 month old puppy that has been a total superstar up until a month ago. Now he is having problems with focus, becoming over excited in class, and his poor puppy raisers are in shock. So today when I met them at Food Lion and he was a total basket case, I went and bought ace bandages, and we bodywrapped him. It was no small feat, because when I bent down and touched him he became a whirling dervish doing death rolls and jumping all over me. Anyway, we watched him calm down over the next 20 min. and by the time they left, he sat quietly and let Jan practice putting the bodywrap on him, then closed his eyes and let her do ear and face strokes.”

Thanks for stopping by!

Keep coming back for more stories on Animal Wellness.   Please share your own TTouch experiences!
Sandy

Sandy Rakowitz of One Heart Healing Center for People & Animals. Sandy offers a professional perspective with 25+ years experience in the field of Animal Wellness!  Sandy offers private sessions in person and via telephone with TTouch, Energy Healing Medicine, Animal Communication, Young Living Therapeutic Essential Oils for people and animals.

email for the One Heart Newsletter – sandy@onehearthealingcenter.com  434-973-8864  www.onehearthealingcenter.com