EHPPS Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society Registered Charity No. 297893

1st January 2012


Happy  New Year! To start the new year, we’ve had a lovely message from Sam Trigwell who has fostered the lovely Violet::-


Violet is becoming a little tinker (excuse the pun!). She has no respect for electric fencing and very good at limbo dancing under any barrier! Untill I got wise she had popped under her stable guard many times and appeared next to me making her tea. She is now up to a good weight and looking great. I had to trim her feathers so I could get to the many sores on her legs and the vet gave her a jab for mites, but that's all clear and looking great. Violet and the farrier had a one way conversation and Adam the farrier is now fully in charge! Violet and Lawrence get along fine and often seen sharing a haynet or a feed bowl. Violet has taken to wearing rugs without any fuss at all, in fact she is a very warm little horse. All in all she's turned out lovely, seems happy in her new home and we have found that she can smell mints from the otherside of the field. She loves them with a passion. I'm really pleased with the way shes turned out and glad she picked us.   Take care,  Sian and Violet Trigwell

E.H.P.P.S.

Pitsea Hall Lane, Basildon

Essex SS16 4UH

Tel: 01268 584603

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12th January 2012

~  NEWS FLASH ~


EHPPS has received countless welfare concerns over the years – as have most welfare organisations we should imagine – about horses being tethered cruelly and/or for weeks on end.  We have had enough!  Tethering SHOULD be banned – there is no question about it.  Horses need to run free with their own kind as much as they are able.  It is a method that is much abused and has no place in modern society.  EHPPS will be joining forces with another well established and well run horse welfare organisation to start collecting signatures in order to start the process of changing the law.  LET’S GET TETHERING BANNED!!!  What are your views on this?  Will you support us in aiming to get the laws changed for the poor horses who spend the majority of their sad lives on tethers?


While we are on a roll here – EQUINE PASSPORTS!


Welfare centres and responsible horse owners all abided by the law – at great expense to Charities too – in getting Equine Passports.  We know the cost alone initially nearly brought us to our knees when the legislation was first put in force.


However …. we personally have never known anyone to actually police this.


It is the responsibility of Trading Standards.  


Some time ago we contacted Trading Standards at Essex County Council and asked for help/advice.  The call was made in desperation concerning a serious welfare concern.  The current animal laws couldn’t help the poor horses we were trying to retain and, as the “owner” couldn’t produce Equine Passports we thought we had found a loophole in the law.  Trading Standards told us that they simply didn’t have the manpower to police it – despite us being able to give full details of the culprit who continue to abuse the system!  


We are not, in any way, laying the blame at the door of Trading Standards.  Whoever set the scheme rolling should have thought beyond the end of their noses and sorted this out at the very start.


In the meantime, the responsible comply, the irresponsible continue to flout the law.


This is a situation that seriously needs addressing – either horses are passported and it is properly monitored by the appropriate authority – or they are not!  What is the point of a law, when it is not correctly or efficiently supervised?


2012 IS THE YEAR WHERE EHPPS ARE DETERMINED TO BE HEARD.  THE ABUSED AND DEFENCELESS CREATURES THAT WE COME ACROSS DAY AFTER DAY NEED PROPER LAWS TO PROTECT THEM.    


YOUR VOICE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO CHANGE THINGS FOR THE BETTER.  IF YOU CARE ABOUT ANIMAL WELFARE, PLEASE SUPPORT US ALL IN TRYING TO MAKE THOSE CHANGES.  THANK YOU.


11th January 2012


The piggies continue to flourish since their treatment yesterday and are full of beans - lovely to see.

Poor old Feenan has come down with an attack of laminitis.  He is being kept comfortable with painkillers and anti inflammatories.  This lovely chap has suffered so much - you can literally see in his eyes - wondering why he has been treated so badly in the past.  His scars are still very much in evidence although no longer badly infected.  Fee is one of the gentlest stallions we have come across.

 

We waved Summer off today to Lynne Bush's (Burches Riding Centre) where the team will be working to back her and do some basic schooling.  Summer is a pretty bright little madam who learns quickly and gets bored quickly.  We are sure she'll keep Lynne on her toes!


10th January 2012


Lynn Geast is a qualified psychotherapist who now also works with animals using essential oils and aromas.  Watch this space as Lynn has promised to write a detail report for us to put on our website/facebook outlining her work in much greater details, as well as the success we saw today.


However, I am so amazed at what I witnessed today when Lynn came in to the Sanctuary to work with our pigs, that I simply had to tell someone!


Sanctuary rescue pigs, Dolores and Levi, have both been extremely subdued since the death of their little companion, Babe.   Their whole demeanour has changed considerably – almost to the point of depression.  Also, Dolores got quite badly kicked the other day by our Lily when she ventured into Lil’s paddock.  Luckily, there were no broken bones, but poor old ‘Lores is certainly bruised and battered to some extent.


Shortly after Lynn arrived at the Sanctuary around mid-day today, I introduced her to Levi and Dolores, who were both dozing in their stable.  There was a slight air of despondency from the two of them.


Lynn introduced some aromas and oils to them both, but it was Dolores who took a greater interest in the whole procedure (Levi was much more interested in having a cuddle with me and a belly tickle!)  After around a 20 minute session with Lynn offering different oils, the total change in them both was clearly visible.  Dolores was particularly receptive to the treatment and was soon up and about and ready to run round the yard (causing havoc and mayhem) just as she used to!  Levi was more than happy to join in.


Later, as Lynn was leaving, Levi and Dolores came rushing over to her to say goodbye – they really seemed like their old selves.  


Lynn will be pleased to know that within minutes of her departure, they did their usual trick of getting into the Information Centre and going down everyone’s’ bags looking for treats!  I think the pair of them would make very effective safe breakers as they can get into anything!


As I say, Lynn will prepare a full report in much more detail within the next few days.  Lynn will be working with our horses and ponies in the future and, if the “pig trial run” is anything to go by, I am sure it will be successful.


In the meantime, Lynn, it was an absolute privilege to watch you at work and thank you for coming to the aid of our naughty piggies.  The most wonderful thing about today is seeing how the animals interacted with you; they know a person they can trust a mile off!


If anyone would like me to put them in touch with Lynn for further details on her brilliant work, please email me at administrator@ehpps.org.uk.   The process really does make a difference – and I’m one of the oldest sceptics around!



14th January 2012

Zoopharmacognosy at EHPPS

My name is Lynn Hedges-Geast, a trained Zoopharmacognocist, who would like to introduce this most natural, yet oldest therapy animals have used, instinctively, for centuries.  Out in the wild, animals have evolved to cope with disease, potential threats & injury, by developing solutions to restore health & well being by self-selecting & self-administering plants naturally found in their environment containing compounds (secondary metabolites & minerals that are non-food compounds) that very often have the therapeutic values required for their own medicinal needs.

Domesticated & captive animals rarely have the opportunity to select from fields & hedgerows, or to roam the natural woods, forests & lands akin to their inherent & natural environment. Applied Zoopharmacognosy therefore gives these animals the opportunity to use their innate ‘knowing’ ability to naturally self-select & self-medicate effectively.  This innate “knowing” is the key to their self-healing and what Zoopharmacognosy is all about!  

Offering appropriate secondary compounds such as algae, clay, essential oils & other natural remedies for self-medication allows the animal to be in control of its own health & to guide its own dosage for its own health & well-being physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually.  An animal may guide the treatment by inhaling it, taking it orally, or by rubbing part of its body into it or rolling around in it.  

The Zoopharmacognocists’ use of professional knowledge of the aromatic plant extracts, minerals & their therapeutic values, helps carers & owners to work with their animals to maintain naturally the health they would have enjoyed in the wild.  Each animal is individual & unique so nothing should be taken for granted.  Remedies are NEVER added to food or their normal drinking water & are never forced upon an animal. All remedies are offered at a distance and it is imperative that an animal is able to walk away at any given time.  If the animal is interested in it then it is the animal that must come to the remedy.  The practice of Zoopharmacognosy is not intended to replace veterinary care. Therefore it does not diagnose, dose or treat, instead it facilitates the enhancement of an animal's environment to help enable animals to express natural behaviour.

I was invited by Sue Allery at EHPPS to introduce Applied Zoopharmacognosy with 2 pigs, namely Dolores & Levi, who have both been extremely subdued, almost to the point of depression, having recently suffered the loss/death of their little companion, a Piglet called Babe.  Since Babe had gone, their whole demeanour had changed, especially Dolores.  Additionally, Dolores got into the paddock where a horse had kicked her & she sustained bruises over her body, fortunately with no broken bones.  


I met them both as they were dozing in their pen.  I took a little time to introduce myself to them to which Levi got up but Dolores didn’t budge.   Both Sue & I could feel a heavy sense of sorrow when we walked in.  I began offering first Angelica Root (helps with opening up to the healing process, stimulates immune function & other therapeutic uses) which they both inhaled at a distance, especially Dolores.  I decided to introduce emotional oils such as Rose (helps with trauma, deep emotional wounds, nurturing & other therapeutic uses) immediately there was a great interest in this as she got up & was inhaling deeply as she moved her nose right next to the bottle.  I wanted to introduce Yarrow (helps with release of trauma & wounds of the body & heart, anti-inflammatory & other therapeutic uses.)  As I did so she inhaled both these very deeply as she got up & moved around her pen.  She turned her back, drooped her head, snorted & was almost in a trance-like state for a few moments as she was thinking & processing with these oils.  I gave her every chance to process as long as she needed to.  Levi at this point was also inhaling the Rose & Yarrow but not of the same intensity as Dolores, who responded quite differently by going to Sue for a cuddle & belly rub (wanting tactile reassurance, comfort & nurturing whilst perhaps processing these oils? Maybe.) Fascinating their two very different reactions & responses.


When it was appropriate,  I offered Dolores further oils such as Neroli (sadness, deep emotional pain, depression, separation & other uses) Linden Blossom (physical trauma/abuse heavy emotions) there was no particular interest here, she went straight back to inhaling deeply the Rose & Yarrow again, walking away with the same responses as processing again took place.  I could clearly see by her responses that Rose & Yarrow were the ones that most interested her at this time, so I worked only with these oils for as long as she wanted to continue to inhale them.  Again she came back inhaling deeply & walked away, turned her back, head down processing & releasing in the same way.  


When she next returned she went straight to my box, sniffing the bottom section of it where I keep the macerated & fixed oils.  Held in there were; Comfrey macerate (bruising, soft connective tissue damage, cartilage, tendons, ligaments & other uses ) Arnica (Shock, emotional & physical Bruising, muscular pain & inflammation & other uses) Calendula (tissue repair, sadness & comforting & other uses.) The Fixed oils such as GrapeSeed Oil (supports the skin, joints, blood vessels and muscle, connective tissue & others) Sunflower (slow healing wounds & other uses) Safflower Oil (inflammation & other uses.)  There are further oils, but too many to mention.


If I hadn’t been aware of Dolores making headway to my box, I could have carried on offering other essential oils & she may have self-selected for emotional & physical such as Sea Buckthorn (tissue regeneration & other uses) Seaweed (Impaired movement, loss of movement & many other uses) Carrot Seed (Cell damage, immune stimulant, wounds slow to heal & many other uses) German chamomile (inflamed conditions internal & external, anxiety, tension & more) Roman chamomile (anxiety related issues affecting physical & more) Immortelle (bruising & more) etc.  But the art of Zoopharmacognosy is to take it slow, be patient & let the animal guide you at all times.  So, taking this as Dolores’ cue/signal to me for her interest in these remedies perhaps for bruising & her physical aches & pains, or just wanting them in general, I then offered her these various other macerates & fixed oils, and if appropriate maybe I could return back to the essential oils later.


Again Dolores & now Levi (who had also been pushing the bottom of the box at this stage) both showed interest in only the Grapeseed Oil.  Offering this in a scoop, this was ingested by both Dolores & Levi.  After approximately 15ml of ingesting, Dolores started walking about & noticeable by Sue & myself, she seemed much lighter and brighter in herself. Not just emotionally, but physically lighter on her feet. Levi also took about 5ml.  (Because this oil also has other various therapeutic uses, perhaps it was of interest because of something else, who knows, but again whatever he wanted to ingest it for was fine by me, he wanted it, he received it.)  As mentioned before we do not diagnose, we help facilitate enhancement of an animal's environment to help enable animals to express natural behaviour.


It seemed to me that both Dolores & Levi were signalling to me that they had had enough now as they both walked out into the yard, walking around & did not come back to the pen & showing no interest in the box, Sue, me or the oils!  Thus here ended the session.  

It is very fascinating to me & never ceases to amaze me how an animal can instinctively self-select & self-medicate the remedy it needs to help heal itself!  Dolores may have been sad, may have felt depressed & Neroli was of no interest, she went for the more Rose instead, her own self-selection & self administration.  Furthermore, her nose nudging & inhaling the bottom of the box may have been a signal telling me; “I don’t want any emotional or other essential oils, I’ve got that now, I want a nice fatty/fixed oil that can help my physical wounds and/or other things.” Maybe.  In any event, she showed intense interest in only Grapeseed oil & none of the others, her own self-selection & self-administration.


When I was about to leave EHPPS that day, both Dolores & Levi came running up to me with their ears flapping leaning and standing around me as if to say goodbye.....How lovely!!


“The proof of the pudding is in the eating” as they say... It seems that after I left both Dolores & Levi were “back to their old selves” being the naughty cheeky pigs they used to be, and, I hear, continue to do so.  I have since enquired with an update on Dolores & Levi, it seems that even though Sue has offered Dolores the Rose oil since, she has simply walked off with no interest to inhale at all.

How lucky & privileged I am to be able to help animals in this way.  I am also very fortunate & very lucky to have been trained by an amazing lady, Caroline Ingraham, Ingraham Academy in Bristol, www.ingraham.co.uk who has dedicated 25 years or so of her life to this wonderful work.  I sincerely hope that I may continue to be fortunate enough to continue to help animals to help heal themselves wherever I possibly can.  Thank you Caroline for getting me this far, and thank you Sue for allowing me continue to work at the EHPPS.  Long may we have many more success stories such as this!!


16th January 2012


Veteran pony, Poppy (who is young Cherokee's dam) went off to join a smashing foster family today as a companion for their five year old horse.  Poppy was originally placed with EHPPS by the RSPCA following a successful prosecution of Poppy's previous owner.  Having spent most of her life as a brood mare, and a seriously neglected one at that, our Pops must now think she's in seventh Heaven.  We wish Poppy and her family all the best for the future and we just know the family will fall for this delightful mare's charms as we all did.

Poppy and Cherokee

19th January 2012


WHEELBARROWS R' US!

A huge thank you to all those people who came to our rescue and donated their unwanted wheelbarrows to us.  Our equipment certainly takes a lot of abuse with the amount of work expected, so little wonder that everything soon falls apart!!  One lovely lady had a little win and spent the money on two brand new barrows as well as some water buckets.  People's generosity amazes us and, at times, certainly brings a lump to the throat.  We thought we'd have a photo opportunity today and was just setting up for the picture when our Jake tipped backwards straight into the mud  - well he DID sit in the barrow the wrong way round!

 

Photos from left to right:  Eddie, Lisa, Jasmine, Jake, Bev, Sarah, Helen and Sajedha - and of course, the photo of Jake carressing the mud!

SCARLETT EHPPS

It was a sight to behold yesterday when we saw Scarlett playing and interacting with Harley, Ben, Georgie and Billy!  We don't think this delightful little mare has ever had the opportunity for play with others.    When Scarlett came to us she had a serious crib biting problem, which didn't help the frequent bouts of spasmodic colic she was suffering.  We decided to double rug her and let her live out.  The difference in our lovely girl is amazing.  She is relaxed now, there haven't been any bouts of colic and we are so happy to see a sparkling, relaxed mare who is enjoying mixing with her own kind.  Forget the wind, cold, mud, rain etc. - working with these horses is truly humbling and the best job in the World!