A Happy Equine customer (with a horse on the critical list)

 October 2011

As I arrived back from the dentist (a couple of weeks ago) after having had a minor operation on my mouth, the phone rang. It was Friday after 5pm and my mouth hurt, but for some reason I picked up the phone. The person had just placed a large order and wanted to collect it as soon as possible, as her horse was on the critical list in an equine hospital. All orders are put together on an individual basis to keep them as fresh as possible, so the next day I spent several hours packing it up so she could collect it Saturday afternoon.

It was thought that her horse may have been suffering from poisoning but it was unclear, he was not responding well to treatment, and it was thought he wouldn’t make it as he was going down hill fast. When she got to the vet hospital that evening (Saturday) the only thing he was interested in was green clay and peppermint, taking the former orally and inhaling the latter. This was then followed by licking a few grains of food (which was a break through since he was on a drip and previously had no interest in eating).


I received the following email.
I am very pleased to say High Flyer is now home and on the mend after taking the green clay and peppermint, thanks to your help with Applied Zoopharmacognosy. I went back the following morning (Sunday) with a bag of Pure Easy feed and nearly got mugged by him! Apparently the vet had gone in at 4am to change fluids & found him with a mouthful of hay, so she grazed him in hand first thing and he was very interested in a long stemmed coarse grass, came in & had breakfast & when I got there about 10am, was on his 2nd feed of the day! I offered again and this time he went for the barley grass, as well as the clay, but wasn't really interested in anything else, although he did start to drink again, so they took his fluids off. He also wolfed down 3 handfuls of the Pure feed I give all my horses, which has pre- & pro-biotics, in preference to the molassed coarse mix the vets had.

I took him back out to graze in hand and he went back to that same grass, which I'm sure is Cock's-foot grass, and ignored everything else. Vet seemed  surprised that he didn't want the newly mown lawn grass! Left him to rest and came back in the afternoon, which went the same way as the morning, and he maintained the earlier improvement. Vet took him off the critical list that night, although wasn't prepared to let him home until liquid dung had ceased!

On Monday, again only interested in barley grass, and then produced perfect dung! Vet announced he could come home Tuesday if he maintained overnight - which he did, and I was able to collect him Tuesday evening!

Since then, he's just gone from strength to  strength, turned out for a few hours a day, eating like foods going out of fashion & amusing everyone with his playing with his barley grass, which he wants most days. He also got quite enthusiastic about the peppermint oil, licking several drops off my hand, and a little German Chamomile. He's not too keen on the marigolds, either dry or damped, so it will be interesting to see his reaction to the macerate when that arrives.

Many, many thanks for your help!

October Course Review Small Animals (Dogs) Cambridge

This was another great 4 days where we all learnt so much from the animals in order for them to help themselves back to a healthier way of life.  It was a smaller group than usual as at the last minute for various reasons several students were unable to show up. Those attending really enjoyed the small group of 6, so I have decided to reduce the class size to around 6/7 for future Small Animal courses to be held at Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary.  The Small Animal courses are very popular with over 36 students attending training in the past 6 months. The Canine Workshop at Tilly Farms in February 2012 is also fully booked.

On the first day we worked with 2 dogs, who we followed up with the following day, as well as seeing another dog on day two.  All the dogs stole the student's hearts, but I will write about Boss, since I am able to include a clip below. 'Boss' is a young dog around 2 yrs old, staff /boxer mix. He was one of the shelters longest residents.

A comment from a staff member “we have never seen him lay down in his kennel, although he must do at night we never have seen him”.

Boss selected lots of calming oils and shortly afterwards lay down and closed his eyes. Over the next 3 days when we went to take a look at him in his kennels, he was mostly laying down sleeping wagging his tail if he open his eyes to look at us. One passer by described him as ''the most chilled out dog in the shelter'. However sometimes when he saw us he would jump up and wag his tail so hard  his hind would swing too!  On day 3 of our visit he had been reserved. The other 2 dogs were also re homed the following week.

Boss: 5 mins compilation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X38eCEtav0Y

Autumn course review Equine

As you can see, I have finally set up a bog, which many students have wanted me to do for a long time now. It has been a busy year with an incredible amount of interest in zoopharmacognosy, with fantastic results that students and graduates are experiencing with animals self selecting what they need to put themselves right.

HorseWorld Autumn 2011
The courses this autumn have been brilliant with animals teaching so much to the students. I could not have asked for a better selection. One of the horses we worked with was Doug, a young pony who had just been gelded. He had been rescued due to neglect. He was so dangerous that, they were not sure that we should work with him. If his aggression continued he would have to be PTS. We were not allowed to touch him as at the very least he would aggressively try to bit anyone. He circled the stable frantically until he was offered vetiver, which he took approx 1 ml by mouth.

A constituent in Vetiver, Khusimol, prevents V1a  receptors being activated by vasopressin in the hypothalamus (activation of V1a receptors in this part of the brain is associated with aggression in males), which may explain the calming effect on male aggressive behaviour.
 
Each student held an oil. Doug stopped by each oil that he wanted and presented his head for  them to be applied, namely valerian which activates GABA and Neroli.

He led back to the field much more calmly. The next day we worked with him in the field, he could have stayed away from us but came up to the students and gently worked with them selecting what he needed to help himself back to physical and mental health. He licked several oils from my hand  and did not try to bit once, allowing himself to be stroked. Within 24 hrs there was no longer a problem touching him, leading him or walking out with him. You had to have been there, the change was truly unbelievable.  Today he continues with the same calm behaviour.

Fiona was a great teacher too. She was a gypsy horse who at first showed no interest in anything I was doing and just wanted to escape. Until we made her a pain alleviating gel, which we applied to her previously damaged legs. When she realised we were there to help her, she held each leg out for the application of the gel and then pointed to her hind legs. The students were very moved by Fiona and her personality, which emerged from this shut down horse.

The Small Animal class update to follow shortly

Bristol 2nd yr degree animal behaviour & welfare students visiting Holly Hedge & Applied Zoopharmacognosy

Holly Hedge is an animal sanctuary located in Bristol specialising in cats, dogs and guinea pigs.

 Last week 18 Animal Behaviour and Welfare degree students from  Bristol University Vet School came to visit the Sanctuary. I was asked to introduce Applied Zoopharmacognosy with a demo and explanation. Time was limited but it went across very well with students wanting to learn more, so are coming back next week so see a full session in practice.  Hopefully Tom will be able to do a talk at the university to explain the scientific mechanisms involved, which they were also very interested in.

I have just began doing some volunteer work there and had great success with the dog I worked with. He had been the longest in the kennels having been there for the past 7 months. Shortly after working with him he was re homed.

 I  hope to be holding future courses and cpds at Holly Hedge.  Groups will be small. If anyone is interested please contact the office. 

A fearful Golden Retriever

Ingraham Student, Anne Brown sent the following story of her success with Caty:

At the vets Caty always goes into a panic, screaming & trying to escape from any exit (including windows!) On this occasion Caty reacted as she always did and went into a panic.  Once inside the treatment room  Caty  tried to escape through the window, however Mrs G finally managed to get the bottle of Linden blossom out of her bag and offer it to Caty.

The result was almost instant! Caty sat in front of Mrs G and inhaled the aromatic chemicals, she then licked a small amount from her hand, calmly sitting and looking at her.  The vet asked what she was doing & she proceeded to tell him about their visit to me and using the essential oils. Caty remained calm for the rest of the visit, even waiting while the bill was settled, when usually she would be heading at speed for the exit door! The vet seemed very interested  and open to Applied Zoopharmacognosy. 

                                               

This is such a fantastic result I just had to tell you about it!

Australasia accredits The Ingraham Academy of Applied Zoopharmacognosy

8th October 2011

The International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT) has over 3000 members in Australia and New Zealand, and is one of the regions fastest growing professional bodies.

Caroline is therefore very pleased to say that with the hard work of graduate, Michelle Hubbard, the IICT has given its professional seal of approval to Zoopharmacognosy and established the Ingraham Academy and sole trainer in this field.

Australasian graduates can also apply for professional insurance cover with OAMPS.

African Pigmy Hedgehog

28th September 2011

Christina Lines, a student of the Ingraham Academy, who works at an animal charity in Cambridge has recorded a short film on her mobile of her work with an African Pigmy Hedgehog. Citrus oils seem to be the order of the day.

Academy graduate works wonders in Hungary

22nd September 2011

Elenor Goold reports from Hungary that outside of Budapest there is very little help for the animal shelters. Zoopharmacognosy however is making positive headway and achieving positive results in extreme circumstances.