Animal Bowen Testimonial 3/21/09

I first met Dianna at a clinic she held at Nature’s Rehab in Eaton Rapids, Michigan.   I was very surprised that my friend Diane wanted to come with me because she’s a traditional horse woman in many ways. I didn’t think she could open her mind to more spiritual practices with horses. 
On the long ride home after that sunny but cold spring day, I listened to Diane process all that she witnessed, doing her best to dismiss the subjective activities we had participated in.  Apparently Diane did open  because she invited Dianna to her farm to work with an off-the-track Thoroughbred named Kansas Wind.  Not only did they save him, he ended up in Dianna’s book! 

During this visit to Diane’s farm, I was able to bring my horse, Genius, into her arena.  I listened to Dianna’s running commentary on the body language and insights into what was going on with my horse while she worked her magic.  It was lovely, but I never used her again – not because I didn’t like her work, but because my horse didn’t need anything.

About three years ago my horse developed a bucking problem.  He never bucked to get me off, he was bucking because something was bothering him.  I tried saddle fit, having his teeth done, saddle placement, various pads and still, he would buck in the canter.  Finally he was diagnosed with hock degeneration. Putting him on a good joint supplement took care of the problem for about a year and a half and then he was back to bucking. 

I can’t keep sinking money into a middle aged horse, I thought.  I need a new, younger one, to start while I’m still riding Genius.  I searched and searched all the websites.  I asked around.  How could I possibly find a great animal to replace the relationship I have with my horse?  It seemed impossible.  I almost bought a 5 year old Andalusian gelding from an old friend of mine living in Indiana, but due to a series of events and a lack of purchase money my dreamhorse was gone, and I was faced with rehabilitating my baby Genius.

I got him for a buck and a handshake from a woman who couldn’t deal with him because he was not trained and troublesome.  I saw him as a gift from God because he was gorgeous and I could never have afforded his bloodlines.  I felt an ache in my heart for my own horse having been through so much together.  Here we were ten years later.  It was the culmination of ten years improving my horsemanship and turning him into a delightful horse to ride.  I looked at him and wondered if he knew I wanted to replace him.  Would he be jealous as a started a young one?  It struck fear in my heart to think he could read me and feel my intentions to replace him.

For a handful of short rides, I tried to get him into a working trot.  Each time he indicated discomfort. If I urged more forward movement, Genius pitched himself into a buck.  It was not just one or two bucks. It was more like a springboard of one after another after another.  I couldn’t bring myself to ride him like that.  Seven bucks in a row?  Threats of more each time I let him do more than walk?  Was it his hocks?  I cannot afford to do injections!  Is it his saddle?  I thought that was taken care of already.  I felt the heaviness sitting on me.  I had to find a replacement for him.  How could I possibly get him through a couple more levels of dressage with all this bucking?

Enter Dianna. 
This is the lady I had forgotten about, but totally believed in.  I set up an appointment with her, wondering the whole time if I was simply throwing away my money on Bowen Therapy I should make an appointment with the vet.  When I told Diane,  she confirmed my doubts. She shook her head and mumbled “I just don’t get your horse practices sometimes” as she walked away.  Great.  I  already made the arrangements and was paying a huge amount for Dianna’s travel expenses and her treatment fee. The appointment was on Monday, so it was too close to cancel.  Well, I could cancel, but it would have been rude.  The whole weekend I was tormented wondering if I was wasting my hard earned money on a silly therapy.  I decided to remain open and trust my gut instinct on calling her to begin with.

Dianna arrived on my lunch hour.  My stress escalated because Diane was still at the farm doing her chores.  Shit.  I didn’t want Diane putting her negativity all over me.  Go away.  But she didn’t.  She hung around and even sat down in a chair in the aisle as Dianna put her hands on Genius.    My horse relaxed and so did Dianna. 

So here we go.  I was putting money into my middle aged horse rather than buying a younger one.  Dianna asked what was going on with me while she checked out Genius.  She made it clear she wanted to know about me and Genius and there I was, having a pregnant pause, realizing I could talk about my dilemma of keeping an aging horse or replacing him with a younger one.  It hurt to say it.  The tears welled up in my eyes as I related my fears of not being able to progress with my horse and damaging my relationship with him to start another.  She looked away from her work and made eye contact with me and said “How would you like it if I came to visit you and told you how old and disabled you looked since the last time I saw you?”  “That is how your horse feels when you think of him as anything less than whole”  Wow.  I cried harder, the tears stinging my cheeks in the cold barn.  But the flow was good.  I was unblocking the fears I had been holding onto for weeks.  Genius released too and started licking and chewing and lowering his head to the floor.  He needed me to let go of that.

As the session continued I felt the healing going on between my horse and I.  Dianna is such a healer for the inside and the outside.  Those locked up muscles in my horse symbolized the locked up emotions in me.  I know he picks up so much from me, good and bad, but here we were, both locked up and frozen in this emotional mess I had created by considering leaving him behind to start another relationship.  By the end of the session I felt our bond returning.  The distance I had felt from him was gone as he took his lip to my forehead and groomed me, hard, like I was a horse.  I had scratches on my forehead for a couple days afterward that warmed my heart when I remembered where they came from, like the soreness after a session of lovemaking long after my lover had gone.  It was all good.

I have since had Dianna back for a follow-up and then took my horse off to 11 days of regular, intensive training, in which he excelled.  No bucking or tightness, just his normal, middle aged need for a long warm-up and cool-down.  I’m delighted I never cancelled the appointment after getting the feedback from my barnmate.  I did the right thing for me and my horse.