Handling Dificulties

I watched Doobie deteriorate over 5 years of owning him to the point where the EPSM symptoms were very advanced and it was extremely distressing for him. He was difficult and sometimes dangerous to handle . Two months of use of the The All Weather Breather has changed my horse’s life, the muscle tightness, stiff legged gait, tension, colic and aggression have gone. He is like a normal horse enjoying herd life. I’ve never really known the true horse inside his diseased body and I am so excited about the future.

Jackie, Bristol, UK
March 2010

Puzzle has recently arrived on my yard and with more than a few issues!!! Puzzle is a delightful 16.1 chestnut wbxtb type and he told me in no uncertain terms from the very beginning that life made him pretty anxious. I left him with the herd for about 2 weeks to chill and make friends and then began very gentle groundwork with him (he has been backed but no one has been on him for 3 years) To begin with everything made him scared, cross or both but we took it all slowly. We were in the round pen and he wasn't listening and his energy levels were sky high when I suddenly thought of you.  We quietly began 1N and after a short while his breathing relaxed. We both stood there enjoying our moment together and by the end of it his head was lowered and he was the most relaxed I'd seen him.  Now we regularly have a little bit of this special time together and I'm convinced he looks forward to it. (I know I do :-) . So thank you from Puzzle and myself for showing him how to breath again.

Rosemary, NagTrader
March 2008

Let me introduce you to our 12.2 show pony "Fairy". She is the most beautiful little pony, everyone loves her....BUT....she can be so much trouble we don't know where to start! When left in her stable she rears and starts to get very upset. She tries to barge out of the stable when we go in and generally quite unruly. When ridden she runs away in her paces and then when she's had enough she shakes her head so violently that she begins to nap and nothing more can be done with her. When I try to lead her she will throw her head at me, which if my daughter leads her can cause a nasty head butt.  All this leads to a sad day at the stables, it doesn't make owning a pony fun. I have owned this pony since she was two and have always loved and cared for her, where have I gone wrong? We have had up 4 other ponies since getting her with no problems at all with them. Fairy is 14yrs now and after my daughter’s disastrous ride last night and your article I thought why not give it a go...what have we got to lose?Can we please be involved in your trial. We would love to record her behaviour to see if they improve. But after 12 years of silly behaviour she'll be a hard nut to crack!!

Jane sent a second email a few days later: I read (the 1N participant’s info pack) with interest and would love to give it a go. I did try it the other day and the first 5 mins she was trying to bite me and was trying to toss her head to move my hand away, the second 5 mins on the other nostril was similar but then the third 5 mins back on the first nostril was much better. At the end of the thirty mins her head was down by my knees!! I was nearly falling asleep with her! Now I know it must take a good few sessions before you notice any changes, but she was different after the first. We walked in and out of the stable and she didn't try and barge us out of the way....coincidence? I don't know.. because she's never done that before! So yes we want to give it a real go and will start next week.

Jane S, UK
November 2007

First of all thank you very much for your extremely interesting lecture. It all makes so much sense to me. You see, I have been practicing Hatha yoga since almost 20 years now, and have also been doing pranayama - breathing techniques. This morning I trimmed a couple of customer horses . One of them, a six months old filly has really been a problem - very insecure, hopping and fiddling around all the time.  After almost giving up I thought that I'll try 1N on her. And it worked! I am so impressed!  She immediately became relaxed, almost fell asleep, and for the first time I could lift her hooves and trim them in peace. She did not once pull them away from me.  I did it on the other horses as well, and they reacted with lots of snorting, runny noses, yawning and, well, actually farting! I would like to learn everything about the technique, as soon as possible. Do you give courses?

Ulrike Hermelin, SHP Sweden
November 2006

Mike Hollingworth is a barefoot trimmer in Yorkshire, UK with 200 horses on his books. He is also an equine Bowen therapist.

I have just started using the breathing technique in conjunction with my trim clients on some horses that would rather play come dancing when they are having there feet trimmed, I have to say that the results so far are very favourable as I know you would expect. I would rather spend 10 minutes calming the horses down prior to trimming than may be spend an hour or so struggling with the horses during trimming. I will let you know how I do with this as I work on it more, but it is looking good.

Mike Hollingworth
March 2006

Firstly thank you for spending time explaining this technique to me. It was much appreciated. Because I am always looking for ways to improve the lives of the Animals I deal with, and your Equine Breathing technique seemed simple and down to earth, I was happy to put up both your articles on the Horse website but I really did want to test it out for myself.   As I mentioned to you I was working on some health issues on 2 Stallions and at your suggestion, I thought I'd try the 1N method so downloaded your PDF notes, read them and off I went.

I tried very hard to follow each step and didn't do what you would call a 'full session' perhaps but I did manage a few minutes on both nostrils. The effect was stunning! The horse just literally dropped his head and went very dopey within minutes and last seen was hanging outside of his box, fast asleep, bottom lip drooping totally at peace with the world and it truly was great to see him like that. What had taken me some 35 minutes to do using Reiki on Saturday, the relaxation part, I achieved in under 5 minutes using 1N. I know they are two different things with different benefits, but the relaxation is so vital for healing to work whatever you choose to do.

Most of the Staff were watching and a couple of them showed interest in learning the technique which I believe can be used for so many of the problems they could run into. eg: when foals and mares are weaned; for horse and youngsters who do not like being boxed, shod etc. for Stallions who are getting a little above themselves; and medically. All I can see are benefits. The stresses these horses go through is hard to explain but by the very fact that they don't get too much time outside and have to cope with having mares paraded past them, you can perhaps imagine just a little how much this must bother them. Using this technique, properly, I am now convinced would be just wonderful for them. It was exciting from my point of view to be able to help in such a short time and with so little to think about. It is without doubt something I will constantly think about for future Consults. It is so simplistic but having had a night to think about it, am now even more excited and enthusiastic to do as much of the Equine Breathing Technique as I can and to teach it to others.

On a more personal note, I don't sleep well. I work very hard and find it difficult to switch off. But last night I sat and did the breathing exercises you described to me. I was in bed and asleep by 8.00pm! that is unheard of. So I aim to pursue the Breathing course you suggested and I will try to remember what you taught me and again, thank you for giving up your time.

Update from Samantha September 05

A pony stallion, quite a handful was dragging the trainer around the arena as she tried to get him to hold still so she could put on his roller to lunge him. I offered to help her and just thought I'd try the 1N again. Yet again, within a few minutes he had calmed down much the amazement of the handler who said she had never seen him so quiet and submissive. All this done with no force and it's so easy.  I can't see any reason why people just don't try it and see the results for themselves. I have yet to further this to getting the Breather, but what I have seen so far on these two horses and a few others, has just given very positive results without stressing out anyone or any animal. What more could you want? People are seeing the 1N and getting interested so I carry the little book with me and also the pages, I downloaded them off your site, so they can read exactly what it can do if the Breathing is used. 

It's like all things 'new' it seems too simple to be true, it just takes time for people to catch on.

Samantha, Veterinary homeopath, classical riding instructor and dressage judge