Today, the message I’m sharing is gratitude – extreme gratitude for all that is. I am truly thankful for being able to share my experiences through this blog as well as my Udemy course. And of course, I am thankful to collaborate with my amazing co-horses. May this USA Thanksgiving bring us all together – with everyone – across the planet. We are in this together for the Greater Good.

In these times of significant change and challenge, now more than ever, we need practices, tools, and gentle wisdom to help us find our way. Techniques to help us come back to the present moment, connect to our hearts, our souls, and our life purpose.

I feel privileged and more than anything else, I love assisting people through unique experiences that allow you to feel connected to your horses.

Two months after completing and uploading my Udemy course – May 2019 – I was rear-ended in a car accident. I thought I was fine, but I was not… It turns out that whiplash and ‘coup contrecoup’ concussion can really mess up ones brain, spine and nervous system! Pain levels have been severe and relentless… The good news is that I have approached this challenge as ‘practitioner and patient’, thus gaining incredible insight into better helping ourselves and our horses heal and be healthy. I have so much insight and experience to share!

The next course (out before the end of 2021) “Equine Partnered Trust” delves deep into mindfulness – approach, touch, gaining information in order to help horses who are leary of us, our energy, our presence. Recognizing horses that are deeply compliant, shut down, unable to stay present, unable to respond, unable to communicate their own responses of how they feel. For us – powerful tips for how to ‘be’, what to do and not do when we feel the situation is hopeless and helpless… how to master our feelings when we can’t reach the horse – how to not ‘make something happen’, but how to allow the horse to let go of their innate responses in order to be comfortable in the moment with us. We must help when they need dentals or hooves trimmed. Another upcoming course is advanced bodywork, as promised in Equine Partnered Bodywork. Glad I waited because the insight gained over these last 2 years is priceless…

I look forward to finally expanding my presence in Online Courses. Thank you for your support and patience during this time of healing and discovery.

Warm regards,
Nancy Horne

What was the departing message from Sasha?
“Life, give it all you’ve got!” I’m worth it, you are worth it. 

It was love at first sight. Sasha is the only dog we looked at and met, Auzzie liked her right away. She was a bit shy… Her Shelter Bio said she was 10, I saw her as perfect and brought her home.

I played a video of wolves singing – Sasha chimed in.

Walking on the road in winter

We did a lot of hiking out the back door…

The past 2 months felt like a recent descent – fatigue, heavier breathing and snoring, the part that was new was not wanting to eat – Sasha loved her food.

We spent quality time when we knew time was running out.

Auzzie wasn’t eating because he was so upset about Sasha… When I adopted Auzzie, he wasn’t bonded to people AT ALL! He simply doesn’t do well at all without another dog present. Adopting Sasha took a week to find her and Auzzie was a mess… Auzzie was found off the hwy with these dogs. No one knows where he came from.

A friend sent a Shelter post about a dog and I called right away… at this point I knew Sasha’s time was limited, I knew Auzzie doesn’t do well without a mate. I was able to meet the pup right away. She arrived at my doorstep and bonded immediately and provided good energy for us all for 18 days and then Sasha passed…

Sasha wanted one last visit to her dog kennel.

What turned out to be her last day – peaceful, beautiful, sharing gratitude for a life well lived. Heartbreaking to see Sasha go…

Weak in body – while mind and heart were still connected 100%. It was her choice to pass on her own terms if she had to go. I was with her 24/7 and made sure she had everything she needed. Auzzie snuggled with her the morning she passed, the look on her face was so loving towards him. I told her stories of our adventures and her eyes became bright and soft. I have lived with brilliant dogs that I also loved with all my heart, but Sasha was one of a kind and so meticulous, as well as all knowing. This final experience with her changed my life…

TBT as described by Dr Renee Tucker herself!
Read more information about Dr Tucker here:
https://www.tuckerbiokinetic.com/what-is-tbt?

Contact me if you would like a session for your horse! 
nancyhorneggr@gmail.com

I was finally able to halter and move Casper to the Arena on 3-23-2020. We’ve made great progress. Yesterday I was able to offer a series of acupressure points, via the tip of my wand, and Casper is letting go of tension – many ‘lick and chews’…
While still terrified, he is making exceptional progress. It will take time to get his emotions sorted out. Trust takes time…

Progress with Casper- walking straight forward on a lead rope. Don’t all horses do this? No… In answer to a question… This is about PTSD, severe – no trust when interacting if he is haltered, very little ‘try’, or curiosity, he becomes frozen in ‘brace’ – his brain telling a body part to move, gets disconnected, he CAN’T move…

Thanks to clicker training and waiting for him think and respond, this is the first time he took more than 2 steps forward – in a straight line, when asked via a lead rope. His response at the end – going internal, is him coming off adrenalin. Our continued connection – without me asking anything of him – was simply me standing there supporting him, like another horse would, while he released his stress response. The lowered head was awesome to see…

UPDATE: And this morning, Casper walked right up to me – nose about a foot from my chest… The next hurdle is to stand by his side without his spinning away. Then lay my hand on his shoulder while I stand at his side… The other hand on his back, then haunch, without him twitching and moving away… Finally, I would like to lead him to a paddock that has shelter and water. This has not been, and still isn’t possible. My wild horse. Finally Starry has a mate. He and Casper/Jasper are good together. After Mikaila met the love of her life – Yuri, she pushed Starry – ‘the other gelding’ out of the picture… We’ll see which group Rose fits best with… But for now – the last 3 days – particularly yesterday, was a milestone…

Casper is smart, aware, well mannered and behaved, but self preservation is on high alert at all times. He despises being touched, and only allows his nose to be close enough. He politely takes treats, and the majority of our daily work is at liberty with rewards. 10 years old, untrusting, he is careful to not allow me to touch him, his face neck, or anywhere; his skin flinches when I’ve taken an opportunity to touch his rib or haunch. We made a lot of progress regarding trust, when I add up the little things… But I couldn’t halter, lead, touch, brush, or ask the farrier to trim his hooves. I made several attempts to halter, each time Casper said No, No, No…

Due to upcoming bad weather, I asked my farrier to help as he takes a long rope and catches the horse quickly. Judging by Caspers response to being caught, my instinct to not try was spot on. Casper turned into a wild, not even remotely tame horse- he fought to get away and he did twice – from an expert. We got a halter on him and tied the farriers rope on to the end of my 12′ lead… 20 minutes – life changing. Casper has been wearing this for 4 days now. I work with him 2-3 times a day for short sessions, the progress has been huge in just 4 days. Because of the connection he and I created, he has not pulled away from me. I stay under his brace every minute. It will only damage him more if I over face him. Being an arabian, or ?, his stamina to circle me in a round pen for 2 hours with me just standing there was an answer before I even asked a question or lifted a finger, the week I adopted him. I could tell he had been whip trained – he is a master at facing up. Even at liberty he wouldn’t walk behind, beside or in front of me. He didn’t show curiosity, unless we were clicker training.

Every ‘thing’, every ounce of progress we make is absolutely thrilling, and the next time I approach him he is 10 times more trusting. Today he followed me via lead rope, and he walked straight ahead… We truly can’t understand the trauma that has occurred, or the self preservation that goes into allowing someone to lead us when we have a halter on our head… I wish he could still be a wild horse in full control of his destiny, but in todays world as a horse, his life would be traumatic and short lived. All I can do for him is honor his spirit and work with him in his range of acceptance. In turn, he needs to follow my lead and allow me to care for the issues that need maintenance and care. We progress… and I love him unconditionally.

Casper Day 34… Trust. Confidence. Connection.
Casper is very responsive and a clear communicator. I am demonstrating how to support and guide him. His over sensing (self preservation) is a lot like my dog Auzzie. 
Yes, it is about working with the physical -asking for step forward, step back… but the bigger picture of awareness for Casper is spiritual, emotional, – Can I leave, do I want to leave? How can I pay attention to details when I need to watch everything else going on? 
He is curious, and the treats and chewing allow his body and mind to keep releasing nervous energy (TMJ motion – the most proprioceptive nerves in the body run through the TMJ) so that I can ask for calm and he can give calm. 
The more I am able to get him feeling calm, the more he will seek that place in himself, because it feels good…

Preparing an untouchable horse to stand still and allow me to touch his face. Haltering him is impossible unless forced into an area he can’t escape. Getting close to him has taken time. Casper will stand and face me, will take treats, will allow me to touch the end of his nose. I move to stand beside his neck or shoulder and he moves away… I’d like him to be OK with being touched and handled. The work I am doing is Equal Partnership, and he is beginning to connect and become a partner. When I ask too much, he leaves, when I get too close, he leaves… but today – 18 minutes total, he didn’t feel the need to leave. Haltering is the intent, when he allows me to put a halter on, I will be very pleased, snow storms and below zero temps will be coming soon, I would like him to be with the other horses.

First Bodywork session – without haltering, without touching. Results were astounding. Watch closely.

Casper Day 7 
Day 6, I moved Starry in with Casper. Starry is my 20 year old gelding, he lost his mate in 2017. He lives with 2 mares and a gelding, but he gets pushed around and feels disconnected. He is an amazing guy, but lately he has lost his sparkle. I’m hoping he and Casper end up as best buddies.

With a new horse in his round pen, Casper is thrilled… We had gained a good connection, yet after 6 days, he remained untouchable, in his mind and senses. The first goal in our partnership is to stand close to him and have him feel comfortable with this. We’ve achieved this. Next is to develop trust, and with his permission – touch him, groom him, lift his feet for the farrier.

After trust is developed, another goal is to be able to move him from the round pen to a sheltered paddock – closer to the house, off the road. A bad storm could hit anytime, and his comfort is my concern. Bonding with Starry is helpful as I will lead Starry where ever I want them both to be, and Casper will follow, he will not run off or leave.

This is an immediate relief and gives us time to follow the right path. Casper is highly sensing… his level of trust is minimal, and must be gained one step at a time. Over faced, he will back track. Yes, there are ways to ‘train / desensitize’ him, but those ways don’t honor and enhance his spirit, intelligence and integrity. Casper is special, slow and sure will win his heart forever.

In this video – Caspers level of comfort is less than it was before I moved Starry in with him. He is grateful for companionship, but is more hyperaware of everything around us. His ears are moving faster, in all directions than when it was just him and me. I took this opportunity to demonstrate his body language when I acted rudely, then how he changed when I gave him more space.