“There’s only one thing we’re still dealing with,” Remmy's owner mentioned. “He paws terribly when standing in cross-ties.” Immediately, I had a vision of Remmy in the barn aisle, held by cross ties – two ropes attached to the walls, clipped to his halter. I responded, “No wonder he’s upset when stuck in cross-ties for two hours.” At the same time, Remmy’s owner added, “I knew he had been left in cross-ties for hours with the last trainer.” We shared a moment of realization and concern. I spoke, “This horse was made to stand in cross-ties for two hours…” “Yes, after his rides,” she confirmed. I could feel Remmy’s experience in my own body. “Imagine being ridden hard, then stuck in cross-ties while the sweat dries, leaving you itchy and unable to move or reach for water after an intense workout. It’s no surprise he’s distressed.”

Show notes available here:https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/101-left-hanging-out-to-dry

 I was doing something mundane, like the dishes, when I felt a proverbial tap on my left shoulder. With it, a horse I knew, Topaz, came into my mind.  "What about the rib?" he asked me. Topaz and his person had been on the phone with me a week prior. Topaz was worried about going into the wash stall. When I tuned in to him, he told me, "Slippery, slippery!" Due to an old injury, he was concerned about slipping. During that call, Topaz also pointed out that a rib on his left side was out of alignment. His person, a veterinarian and chiropractor, said she would check and fix it.  So, I was surprised to hear from Topaz asking about his rib while I was doing the dishes a week later. I knew his person would have checked it right away, but Topaz insisted, "What about the rib?" So I texted his person:  Topaz is nudging me. I wonder if you checked out his left rib cage and if you noticed anything. She answered:   Yes, I did and it was ok. I can check him again tomorrow. I answered:  He keeps pointing to his left side, and I wonder if anything is stuck there. Just keep an eye on it. The next day, I received a text.  Guess who had a rib out, left-hand side #cantmakethishsitup  Being genuinely heard means that the one listening is mindful of receiving it. My animal clients don't just reach out to me like that.  I have good boundaries around that. I am present with the animal during our phone session. After that, I am present with something or someone else.  I am not an open channel. Can you imagine? I would lose my mind if I heard animals coming in left and right. Animals wouldn't do that out of respect.  But Topaz knew his person could help, so he was persistent. In that case, I will listen—closely—because listening builds trust.

Show notes available here:https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/100-the-art-of-listening

The dog wanted to show me his favorite place: I saw a lake, nature, and pine trees. The dog expressed how much he loved the scent of pine needles. 

The dog's person was not impressed. He said, “I don’t know what the dog was talking about.” Next, the man asked me what his dog's favorite spot in the house was. I saw the dog in the bedroom, covered by something that made the space dark and cozy.  Maybe he likes to be under the bed, I wondered. The human said, "Nope."  It turned out the dog was happiest under a blanket on the bed.  That was close enough for me. 

But, more importantly, why did the guy ask?  He knew the answer.

"What is my dog's favorite treat?" he asked next. "It's small and dark brown," I answered, "I’d say it looks like a liver treat?"  "No," the guy said, "it's a duck treat. 

Considering the variety of dog treats available, from cream-colored milk bones to green teeth-cleaning treats, cubes of cheese, and hide-free chew sticks, my description of a small brown treat was spot on. Does the dog know the difference between liver and duck? Was it maybe duck liver? Who the heck cares? And more so, why are we talking about things the man already knew?

This was the first time I offered my money-back guarantee.  The guy declined.

There is more ... time to tune in!

Show notes available here:https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/99-it-ain-t-a-parlor-game

Are you breathing with our therapy horses? Breathing? You might think right now. We don't have time for that. The parents will complain if the student is not on horseback within the first five minutes.  I get it.  Twenty-five years ago, I ran a traditional program: We quickly got the rider on the horse to maximize the time on horseback. I changed the program when I realized that horses were often little more than vehicles for getting the job done.  We integrated more bonding time and more opportunities for the riders to get to know the horse by seeing the world through the horse's eyes. They transformed as we added more mindful interactions to our students' lessons. They became not just more compassionate and understanding but advocates for the horses.  And our horses? They were not just happier; they were thriving. Their well-being became a testament to the effectiveness of our approach.  And our board of directors? They were not just pleased; they were impressed. The vet bills went down, and our safety records soared. Join me to explore the world through your therapy horse's eyes. 

Show notes available here:https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/98-through-the-eyes-of-a-therapy-horse

It's important to understand that animals, just like humans, may not necessarily like each other. We don't always get along with every person we meet, even if we share the same workplace, school, or family. This is also true for horses, who are often brought together in small spaces without much choice. Each horse has its own history, experiences, and needs that must be met in a domestic setting. Sometimes, these needs are complex and cannot be easily met. The same can be said for our pets. In this episode, we will explore how to ensure everyone gets along.

Show notes available here:  https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/97-let-s-all-get-along

As pet owners, we face various challenges and questions about our furry friends. Some of these questions may include when to take our dogs to the vet for diarrhea, what causes watery poop in horses, and how to deal with the bellies of anxious or sensitive animals. We all have seen the headlines on social media:  :: Diarrhea can be particularly dangerous for puppies, elderly dogs, and immunocompromised animals.  :: Diarrhea can result in the loss of electrolytes and dehydration.  With so many questions and uncertainties, it can be overwhelming to know what to do and when to do it. In this episode, I will guide you through a simple approach to finding answers and solutions to these and other animal-related issues.

Show notes available here:https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/96-when-should-i-be-concerned-about-diarrhea

Do you deeply care about your animal and their well-being? Do you constantly check the weather, scour for life-saving supplements, research the perfect blanket, or only plan vacations when the right house sitter is available? I understand where you're coming from. Been there, done it. However, there is another side to this story. We must accept that we are not always in control of other beings' journeys, which can help us find peace and understanding. In this episode, we'll delve into this topic further and explore how to learn to let go and trust the natural course of things.

Show notes available here: https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/95-when-we-know-better-we-do-better

How do you facilitate a workplace conflict when the clients are equines? Two herd members, Dutch and Tango, were unhappy about the donkey's presence in their program. They considered him a distraction from their real work. However, Pedro, the donkey, felt he could serve as a greeter, easing people into the program. When I suggested assigning Pedro as a purposeful herd member to greet people and create a bridge into deeper work, neither horse was excited about that option. Listen in to see how to resolve workplace conflict.

Show notes available here: https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/94-resolving-workplace-conflict

I wondered why I was so tight. I could feel every muscle in my body pulling in one direction or another. When I walked, my Achilles felt tight; when I sat, my hip flexors felt tight; when I turned my head, my neck felt tight. Was this what it meant to get old? Then I felt Scout's wet nose touching my hand. Scout, our dog, had been lying on the other end of the sofa but had now crept along to engage me in some petting. I reached up to his neck and started to massage it. He licked my arm in response. Then I got sidetracked watching the show, and moments later, Scout nudged me, reminding me that I needed to be more focused. I took a deep breath, grounded myself, became aware of the tension in my body again, and wondered and wandered off in my mind again, thinking I needed to take a muscle relaxer or do some stretches.

I wondered why my body felt so tight. Every muscle was pulling in different directions. Walking made my Achilles feel tight, sitting made my hip flexors tight, and even turning my head made my neck tight. Was this what getting old felt like? Suddenly, I felt something wet on my hand and realized it was Scout's nose. Scout, our dog, had been lying on the other end of the sofa but had now crept over to get some petting. I began to massage his neck, and he responded by licking my arm. However, I soon got distracted and began to watch TV. It wasn't until Scout nudged me that I became aware of my body's tension again. I took a deep breath, I needed to either take a muscle relaxer or do some stretches to alleviate it.

As my mind took off again, Scout nudged me again. This time, I closed my eyes and took three deep breaths. I could feel my mind getting quiet, tuning out the rest of the world. Reaching around Scout's neck to the withers, I suddenly became aware of a word … Vitamins.

Show notes available here: https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/animals-curb-our-internal-chatter

See the visual I used as the icon for this podcast episode? Take a look at it. You see a woman taking a walk with her animals. While they are all on the same path, seeing the same things, the woman is distracted by her thoughts instead of being in the moment, experiencing nature and the company of the animals. The woman is physically there but not present. 

It is an excellent reminder that you might be standing, sitting, or walking next to your animal in physical proximity; a leash or lead rope might physically connect you, yet you might not be present and in the moment at all.  

There is no question that it is hard for humans to stay present for long periods. That's just not how we are designed. Our mind takes up most of our time, but being present and tuned in to our senses and body makes life much richer. The cool part about animals is how often your animal helps you and invites you to be present. Tune in to explore how animals pull us into the now.

Show notes available with all links mentioned here: https://www.mindful-connections.com/post/92-mind-full-vs-mindful