16 •UPBEAT TIMES • July 2015


Summer GUIDE #2 Horses and Humans: The Beautiful World of Equestrian Connections by Dr. Anne Cowden • drannecowden@aol.com


SANTA ROSA, CA. ~ For more than 50 million years horses have raced across the landscape, much longer than humans have existed. Yet, once these two species encoun- tered each other, their lives have been forever intertwined. About 6000 years ago humans domesticated horses. In the subsequent centuries, more than 200 breeds of horses have


WAPA


WINDSOR PERFORMING


ARTS ACADEMY PRESENTS:


been created. Think Arabians, Morgans, Clydesdales, Palomi- nos. All beautiful, distinctive, with great hearts, energy, intel- ligence and spirit.


Professionals can help chan- nel these marvelous qualities to help people manage a variety of issues from trauma to anger management. To many of you, these sound like issues a li- censed therapist would handle.


You would be on the right path. However, the type of therapy, therapists’ medium and setting would is quite different. Here’s a clue: put a person seeking help with a profession- ally trained and licensed per- son in the field and a horse. An- swer: equine therapy. In Santa Rosa we have an excellent, jubilant, gifted equine thera- pist, who works her “magic” at


This Delightful Story About the


Importance of Spending Time With Your Family is Just The Spoon Full of Sugar Your Family Needs This Summer!


Friday, July 31, 7pm and Saturday, August 1st


at 2pm and 7pm.


the Cloverdale Ranch on Old Redwood Highway. She is Tif- fany McNeil, Certified Equine Interaction Professional. Her goal, among many, is to cre- ate a connection between horse and a person. This can take place with one person inter- acting with a horse or a group. There is no rid- ing involved. It is the process of a living be- ing connecting with another living being with different outcomes for each person In a session I observed, women sat in a circle to start


the two


hour class. Tiffany led them through relaxation ex- ercises and yoga stretch- ing. Relaxed, they talked about what they wanted out of the session. We then walked out to meet and greet the chosen horse, Itchy, a dark brown/black horse with a gentle nature. The horse trainer held onto the reins while


one student brushed Itchy under Tiffany‘s instruc-


tion and encouragement. The horse responded willingly and a connection was made. If you wonder how we observed this authentic connection, horses are great detectors of fakes. This horse seemed to actually be smiling. The horse’s energy was transmitted to all of us,


awakening feelings and many emotions: heart, soul, emo- tions, safety, body awareness, all seemed to interconnect. All of the students seem to be truly transformed by this pro- cess. They all said how impor- tant this experience had been


... continued on page 19


IBS • CHRONIC DIGESTIVE DISORDERS


Find the root cause and Treat it naturally!


Shows held at the Windsor Community Center on Adele Dr. in Windsor More Info: www.windsorperformingarts.net • 707-838-3341


16 • July 2015 • UPBEAT TIMES


North Sky Clinic 5 Keller St. Ste. A7


Petaluma, CA 94952 707-782-6500


Dr. Melissa DeForest, N.D. www.northskyclinic.com


Mention this ad for a 20% Discount! The language of friendship is not words but meanings. ~Henry David Thoreau


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32