Feedback from our Horse Therapy clients
Here you can see some of the feedback we had from
our 'Horse Therapy' clients and other visitors.
All our Therapy sessions were carried out as Random Acts of Kindness.
No payment was asked for, or received, in exchange for those who visited our horses.
Instead, visitors were asked to 'Pay it Forward' by carrying out a kind act for
some one else, either animal or human, when the opportunity arose.
May 2009
Shilo Rose and The Angel Horse
Shilo Rose, aged 2, making sure Madddie eats all her dinner!
Shilo used to come to the yard to visit her Auntie's horse ... but , once she met Maddie, she feel in love with her and would always come and say Hello whenever Maddie was in her stable!
Hayley & Maddie - Summer 2009
Maddie always helped you feel better whenever you were sad or down.
Here is Hayley having some quiet time with our sleepy Angel Horse !
In the summer of 2009 Hayley was suffering from a terrible allergic reaction which had caused her to break out in painful, weeping excema all over her body. We didn't know what was wrong and neither did the Doctors for a long time.
Hayley spent most of that summer in a lot of pain and was unable to work; she was very down and her confidence, and self esteem, were at rock bottom. Hayley said that when she was feeling particularly low and in pain she would spend some 'quiet time' with Maddie, this particular session being one of those times, and would always feel better afterwards.
( After lots of Hospital tests we eventually found out that Hayley was allergic to Timothy grass. Now we know the cause Hayley is able to avoid it !)
From Angie, Nottingham - August 2010
'Hello Dawn, Hayley and Maddie....again!
I didn't realise it would be so quickly since my last message on here that I would be writing this!
Maddie got through her vet visit with some good results for Dawn and Hayley (and Maddie too), which is fantastic! I asked the angels who have helped me these past few weeks to look after her instead of me, and hopefully it helped her!
The first thing I noticed about Maddie was just how big she was, she is huge but , you know, not one bit frightening in her size. It is not until a (please forgive me Maddie!) normal sized horse walks past her that you realise just how big Maddie is. She was not at all phased by this new woman who was approaching her, she took it all in her stride.
Dawn lead her to the inside arena with no effort and a loose reign, then let her free to do what she wanted in the arena while Dawn explained to me about horses and about Maddie in particular. We then began my therapy, Dawn guiding me all the way but leaving it up to Maddie and myself to bond. It didn't take long and Maddie stood still and let me get close, so close that I stood for 10 mins just snuggled into her neck, (skin on skin so to speak).
I asked Maddie, in my mind, for help in healing the pain I have felt since my childhood. She listened and I felt her start dropping her head as if she had gone to sleep while I stroked her. I felt totally at ease with her and cried on her neck, I started to shake, in my knees and hands, it was not fear I felt but something I have not yet worked out, but I think it was a release for me, I felt her taking my pain away. Maddie then moved a few paces away from me and even though Dawn said I could go to her again, I felt it was a conclusion to my first experience with her and that she needed to absorb my pain and let it go for me.
Dawn explained that, while I was holding Maddie, she was a total ease with me because her ears were pointing forward and she relaxed into me as much as me into her, it was a feeling hard to describe but one of togetherness!
Dawn then talked me through handling a horse and explained why she did things a certain way for Maddie's benefit. Dawn then asked if I would like to walk Maddie for a few steps, which I did even though it took a little bit of encouragement the first time. Maddie soon trusted that I was not a threat and walked by my side, stopping when I did without me even asking her to.
Dawn asked me how I felt leading her, I said I felt powerful over her, which is amazing when you think Maddie is over a ton in weight and goodness knows how many times more physically powerful than myself. I didn't want to dominate her, that is not the sort of power she gave me, it was 'empowerment'.
Dawn must have felt totally comfortable with me handling Maddie as I was allowed to walk her back to her field some 800 yards away and I felt privileged!. It wasn't until Maddie decided she like the look of some grass on the verge as we walked back that I realised just how powerful she really was as I tried to get her to stop eating the grass, Dawn was at hand to help!
My experience with Maddie was wonderful and I will definitely see her again, I know that!
My afternoon was not finished as we went for lunch and found ourselves a table for Hayley to do her stuff....an Oracle Card reading for me! I picked the first pack of cards for Hayley to start, which were Fairy Oracle Cards. Hayley chose the first number of cards using her intuition and then I chose a number after. Before we started Hayley asked me to write some words down which I felt were signifgicant to me, these were kept in a closed book until afer the reading was complete.
I was amazed at how hugely significant the cards were to there I actually got goose bumps. Hayley talked through my cards wonderfully and explained each of them to me.... all significant to me, none of them meant nothing to me. Amazing! After the cards had all been explained I shared the words I had written down beforehand. The cards that had come out related to the words I had written before the cards were read. For such a young woman, Hayley has a very mature head on her shoulders....just wonderful!
My whole afternoon experience has left me feeling fantastic, filled me with confidence, for the trials I still have to face and left me with hope for the future. If you get the chance you must go and see "The Angel Horse" Maddie, and her loving, caring and devoted carers, Dawn and Hayley....my angels!
Thank you so much! Much love, Angie xxxxxxxxx
Lexie and The Angel Horse
May 2009
7 year old Lexie with Maddie - May 2009
'We have met The Angel Horse ! ' .....Once you have met her too you will realise just how much of a special place Maddie has in the hearts of Dawn, Hayley and eveyone who knows her.
Maddie has an instant ability to calm you and you can't help yourself from listening to her. Maddie loves to love and be loved. You can't help but feel your stresses drain away in her presence and she has a unique way of interacting with children.
You guys have come a long way together and a stronger bond between a family I am yet to see.
Maddie is a gentle giant who will forever be an Angel Horse to me and my family and we cannot wait to see her again soon ! Love you guys!'
Bridget, Darren, Lexy and the two little Lers !
Summer 2010
Maddie saying 'Hello' to a family we met on one of her Therapy In Hand Walks
in the local park!
Maddie doing what Maddie did best .... and this family really enjoyed meeting her !
Keira and The Angel Horse
November 2010
6 year old Keira with Maddie, Sunday, 7th November 2010
Keira was scared of horses apparently ..... so we suggested her Mum brought her to meet Maddie. After only a few minutes Keira had forgotten about being frightened and was happily brushing Maddie's mane and making it all pretty with glitter and hair clips!
Although we didn't know it at the time this was to be Maddie's last Therapy session. Maddie crossed the Rainbow Bridge just 8 days after these pictures were taken.
When Maddie went to Heaven Keira and her Mum sent us a lovely message which
Button's Therapy Work
Meet Button, one dangerous and unrideable horse .... or so she was until she was given that which she hadn't previously had, that which is free but sometimes the lack of which costs us all .... what is it? Time.
Button and Hayley playing - barefoot, bitless, bareback & beautiful !!!
If you've visited Button's page you will already know know about the many challenges Button has faced, and conquered, since she arrived in August 2010.
Since she arrived Button has been allowed to be a horse with very few 'human' demands placed upon her. She has gradually been introduced into gentle ridden work, mostly slow hacking and very little flatwork. She has also been walked out in hand on her own and with other horses to allow her to enjoy the countryside without having to be responsible for a rider on board. She loves to stop and say 'Hello' to people too just as Maddie did.
Button is blossoming into a completely different horse from the one she was last year. She is a classic example of our guiding principle of 'less is more'. She is gentle, kind, forgiving and completely honest. She loves to meet people, and is indeed another true Angel Horse.
In May 2011 Button started to work with children, as Maddie loved to do. Our friend's son is 5 years old and he is Button's Number 1 fan! He loves to come and see her. He stands with her in her stable and finger paints her with glitter gel. She is completely accepting of him and stands quiet and still while he hugs and talks to her. Button is so good she dosn't even need her headcollar on.
Here is our lovely Button being finger-painted with glitter by her No 1 fan!
Horses know all about 'intent'. Where Button was once fearful and dangerous in the presence of a human with a rigid and punishing agenda, she is soft, calm, gentle and loving with a small child who she knows means her no harm.
The question is - who is really healing who here ???
To read Button's full story please click here
What makes an Angel Horse ?
Dawn and Paddy May 2011
See Paddy's Story here
We believe that horses are like us. They are the sum of what happens to them, both the good and the bad. We believe that often the broken horses make the best Angel Horses. That's because they know what it's like to be lonely, sad and afraid.
They know what it's like to feel isolated and unheard, and they know how it feels when, even when they try to communicate, nobody listens, and often nobody cares. They are our best teachers and our worst mirror. If there's a problem with your horse have the courage to look at yourself first.
All of our horses had 'people problems' when they first arrived. Maddie's physical health was appalling and she never really recovered, but her emotional state was stable. Button was the complete opposite to Maddie, her physical health was amazing but her emotional state was terrible, and Paddy's problems were about 50% physical and 50% emotional.
However, with love, patience and time they all improved beyond recognition. If you hear when your horse speaks you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish together. You'll really find you can heal each other, and if you've read this far then you're definitely on the right track!
Every horse is an Angel Horse .... just because
you can't see their Angel Wings dosn't mean they don't exist!