The Foals Naming Ceremony

ROTHS Foal Gentling clinic, Ray of Light, CT – Naming Ceremony by Barbra Richards

 

I hope this warms your heart as much as it warmed mine.

 

I sensed a weariness from the handlers as they had just put in a 12-hour day for which most of it I had the privilege of observing. There was also skepticism sensed and questioning looks as the ceremony started, but Janet Kraft’s beautiful opening piece played on her harp provided a centering space for everyone present and it drew me closer to my connection with Spirit.

 

The first amazing part was when my mind wandered into the spectator’s reactions, I found I actually had the presence of mind to pull back into my Center and focus on speaking to the horses. That’s when the magic began!

 

After the third Foal was officially named, I noticed a more accepting reaction from the spectators and by the fifth Foal, chills were spreading across my body. To my surprise, before I even reached out to everyone for a repeat of a name, their voices were strong and forthcoming and they were sitting in front of me with smiles on their faces and tears in their eyes.

 

The eighth and last horse was my favorite as I had gone out to Ray of Light Farm again after our visit and Bonnie told me the foals had arrived but not to get too close. So, up the hill I went and saw them all huddled together eating and drinking. Believe it or not, a white Foal poked its head out of the barn and proceeded to come right up to me at the fence, not blinking, steady stare all the way. It reminded me of my first encounter of the white horse I shared with you previously. I had my daughter standing next to me and she couldn’t believe it either.

 

When I went up to this white horse in the ceremony, I said, “Charm. This is Charm.” She again came right up close and I leaned in and looked into her eyes. I saw and felt her Spirit and mine become One.

 

There was a vague, non-distracting mind picture of Anna Twinney from Reach Out to Horses running up in front of me kneeling on the ground and snapping pictures, but what once would have been a complete focus breaker became an invitation of, yes, if you can capture this moment, please do.

 

Frank Weller from Equine Animal Rescue Sanctuary was capturing everything on video and was grinning from ear to ear when I walked back to the spectators to share my next step of talking to the horses as a group. Again, to my surprise, I was greeted with an unexpected burst of applause.

 

I turned then to address the Foals for the last time. I could tell they were genuinely affected as they stood peacefully and attentively as Janet played her harp and sang her last beautiful melody. As I slowly walked through the center of their stalls, I thought I died and went to Heaven. The energy in that barn was palpable.

 

There you have it, my first Naming Ceremony, a memory I will forever cherish.

 

It’s rather ironic. I gave myself to the Foals and they in turn have given me back my voice.

 

Love and Light,

Barbra Richards, Paws, Prayers ‘n People

www.pawsprayersnpeople.com

 

Australian Shepherd Dog motivates deaf PMU horse during colt starting

Petey, a 2 1/4 yrs old former PMU foal, saved from the Canadian slaughter house is featured in Anna Twinney’s 4-part “Foals in Training” DVD. 20 months later he returns to participate in the ROTH Holistic Horsemanship course at Ray of Light Farms in Connecticut to experience his first saddle in order to advance his training, build muscle & increase motivation & connection to all life. Petie, diagnosed as deaf, lives in a silent world, comfortable around humans. The silent ROTH methodologies communicate with him in a language he understands and yet the key to success is to reach the horses where they are…what motivational secret does Anna come up with to help her students’ success this time? Unconventional, but highly effective!

From Feral Foals to Foals in Training ROTH’s Daily Video Diary ~ Days 4 & 5

Day 4:
Anna Twinney of Reach out to horses brings her unique methodologies to gentle 8 slaughter bound Canadian foals and 2 former nurse foals. Within just 3 days, and only a few hours you witness the progress each student & foal makes. Through understanding herd behavior, dynamics and the whisper Anna is able to translate the nuances thereby teaching others to capture the thought of the foals. Personalities begin to show themselves. Recognizing the tries, the whisper and the individual learning styles is key to gentling untouched foals. Its here you learn to meet the horses where they are through resistance free, kind & gentle ways.

Day 5:
Anna Twinney of Reach Out to Horses presents a unique and exclusive foal gentling class to 10 rescue foals saved from slaughter houses. With her unique approach of combining traditional horse whispering with energy and animal communication she shares the 4th day of a 6-day program with you in her daily diary. From feral foals to foals in training its time for you to open your heart and let these foals touch you as they have us.

ROTH Rescues Foals from Slaughter

Anna Twinney of Reach Out to Horses has teamed up with Frank Weller of Equine Angels, Connecticut, Karen Pomroy of Equine Voices, Arizona and Ray of Light Farms, Connecticut to save 15 foals from the Canadian slaughter houses. A beautiful evening arranged at Strings Restaurant, courtesy of Tammy Cunningham and her husband was arranged with proceeds donated to the foals. Guests of honor: Susan Williams (photographer & artist), Joyce Leake (animal communicator), Tracy Vroom (cranial sacral healer), Carol Komitor (Healing Touch for animals) and Melisa Pearce (Touched by a horse – absent) all joined us to celebrate the lives of these foals. Now you too can help – donate by visiting http://www.reachouttohorses.com

Foal Simple Solutions: A Day of Donations Fundraising Event

photos by Dana Uzwiak

 Dec. 4th, 2011

10am – 4pm   

 

Ray of Light Farm
East Haddam, CT

 

100% of the proceeds go to the rescue effort.

 

Only $30 when you register before
Nov. 28th ($40 at the door).

After a week of Foal Gentling bring your foal and all your questions and let Anna fix those pesky issues.

Working with a young foal can be very rewarding.  But let’s face it, it can also be concerning at times, and a small mistake in training could result in a lifetime of issues.  So if you are struggling with your young horse, would like to begin working with them but don’t know where to begin or want to get your burning problems or questions answered now is the time!

Anna will be devoting an entire day to working with your foal, fixing issues and deepening that trust-based relationship between you and your horse.  She will demonstrate the very methods she uses to train all her foals and begin the creating of a true relationship between horse and human.

And if that’s not enough, 100% of all the proceeds of the day’s event will go towards the rescue of the foals from the Canadian Feedlots.  The very same foals who participated in the Week of Foal Gentling.  So not only are you solving your own issues but you are literally saving lives.

A win-win-win for everyone!

So if you have recently adopted or rescued a foal bring him or her to Ray of Light Farm and join us.  If you don’t have a foal then bring your questions and your curiosity and join us.  Either way, spend the day with us and discover just what makes the Reach Out to Horses’ methodologies unique and how they can help you solve your most frustrating issues and create that trust-based relationship you’ve always wanted to have.

 

Cost:  Only $30 when you register before Nov. 28th / $40 at the door.

   

For more information or to reserve your spot

contact Ray of Light at info@rayoflightfarm.com .

Reach Out to Horses, several equine rescue organizations work together to save 12 foals from the Canadian feedlots and downsize former Canadian PMU breeding farm.

Frank Weller - Equine Angels Rescue Sanctuary

September 27th, 2011 – East Haddam, CT

Equine Angels Rescue Sanctuary – CT, Ray of Light Farm – CT, and Equine Voices Rescue and Sanctuary – AZ are joining forces with Reach Out to Horses based out of Golden, CO, to rescue 12 foals and assist in the closing of a former Canadian PMU breeding farm.   In addition the proposed action plan will result in placing the remaining mares in sanctuary, gelding two year old stallions and helping to end the cycle of breeding for this Canadian farmer.

E.A.R.S. and Reach Out to Horses have already begun raising funds through sales of the new 4-DVD set Success: Foals in Training and through fundraising clinics and other events by Anna Twinney and Reach Out to Horses.  But we need your help.

 

The estimated cost for this endeavor is $16,100 so we are seeking individuals, and organizations who wish to assist in this inspiring project.  Whether it be donations, adoption, fostering or sponsoring, all assistance is welcome.  For more information, or to help save the lives of these foals, mares and stallions, contact Frank Weller, president of Equine Angels Rescue Sanctuary at 203-733-3576, or Anna Twinney, founder of Reach Out to Horses at  info@reachouttohorses.com, or click here to donate what you can to save these horses.

 

E.A.R.S. has worked for almost 9 years with these and other local farmers when they first saw the wisdom and win-win-win-win opportunities that would result if allied with the farmers. The genesis of that outreach is well documented in the book “Equine Angels: Stories of Rescue, Love and Hope“.

“The reason that this good faith alliance works is that we have spent time with the farmers and their families.”, says E.A.R.S. founder Frank Weller, “We understand the social and financial dynamics that are a huge part of their decision making process.”

Over the years E.A.R.S. has been able to ferret out the people who will live up to their word and those who won’t and to establish a verifiable protocol to put the mares in sanctuary. They now have trusted people in place who really care for the mares and report their condition. They know that other people are also reporting to E.A.R.S and all reporters are unaware of the identity of our other agents. In addition E.A.R.S. has created close relationships with the vets, the farm agents, the farmers and their families. The government takes meticulous statistics and we trust most of their numbers which have followed the decline of Premarin farming.

In addition to securing sanctuary for the mares and stallions E.A.R.S. will transport all 12 foals to a rescue just over the border in North Dakota. From there, 6 will go to Equine Voices Rescue and Sanctuary near Tucson, Arizona and 6 will go to Ray Of Light Farm in East Haddam, Connecticut where they will participate in the Reach Out to Horses Week of Foal Gentling Program.

E.A.R.S. and Ray Of Light Farm have collaborated on similar rescues for almost 5 years now and this will be the 3rd successful year of the ROTH Week of Foal Gentling Event.

Possibly the best piece of this effort is that this retired farm will no longer be in the Premarin farming or the breeding business all together. Financial implications are part of that decision and a as a working farm, they have other viable sources of income. That seems to make a big difference in that the farmers with other choices are less likely to pursue breeding for meat as a revenue source. As a rescue E.A.R.S. has often encountered that mindset and absolutely cannot enable farmers to breed by buying their foals. That would be a step backwards to say the least.

Click Here to Donate What You Can To Save These Beautiful Foals 

 

For more information, or to help save the lives of these foals, mares and stallions, contact Frank Weller, president Equine Angels Rescue Sanctuary at 203-733-3576, or Anna Twinney, founder of Reach Out to Horses at info@reachouttohorses.com.

Reach Out to Foals, Ray of Light PMU Foal Handling

Anna, I just watched the videos of the last days of the foal handling course. The stories of each foals journey, as well as the students, touched my heart deeply as I smiled through happy tears. Thanks again for doing this incredible work and for your compassionate heart. It was so good to see Paul with his two new friends. He is so happy. He and the foals are very lucky to have one another.

Warmly,
Kathy

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From feral foals to foals in training, Anna shares her Reach Out to Horses methods with students from around the Globe as they gentle untouched foals rescued from the Canadian Slaughter houses. As a bi-product of the drug Premarin, these weanlings have found Sanctuary at Ray of Light Farms. Embarking on their week’s training, you can witness their progress. Haltered, saddle blankets (in prep for blanketing), picking up feet & their first steps….for those interested in learning more, the new 4-part DVD Foals in Training is scheduled to be launched January 2011.

Meet 5 very special PMU foals as they graduate from the Reach Out to Horses foals in training course at Ray of Light Farms, Connecticut. Just 6 days ago they were untouched youngsters uncertain if their first touch would represent their first experience to human exposure; where their numbers were shaved on their side and coggins taken without their permission. Now they willingly approach, accept touch, halters, blankets, having their feet cleaned & being lead around obstacle courses.

Anna created a rare opportunity for her students to gentle 5-month old PMU foals, destined for slaughter in Canada, they found their way to Ray of Light Farms. Within just 6 days, Anna was able to share her unique natural horsemanship methods with those sharing her passion. Now these foals are on their way to a brighter future and you can witness their graduation day. With tears in their eyes the students present “their” foals for you to share in the magical moments. The transformation is described as a miracle, please spread the word of compassionate communication.

Wax on..Wax Off…Rub the Horse.

Taking a look at Equine Massage Therapy

 

Guest Speaker, Nanette Dieterle, demonstrates the values of equine massage during the ROTH Holistic Horsemanship course. Learn pain & relaxation/release indicators. Take valuable insights home for your own horses well-being.

It’s a Marathon not a Sprint

Trailering Techniques using food as reward!!!

 

There is an art to understanding the language of Equus, especially when it comes to trailer loading. Are you shutting your horse down? Are you using too much pressure? Are you only using negative reinforcement? Let Ima, a PMU mare from Ray of Light Farms, share her story with you through her body language. Watch the effects of positive reinforcement & where food can be used as rewar

“It’s as easy as walking out of a public toilet” – ROTH Instructor Robert Raine

TRAILER LOADING TIPS

 

One of the most exciting natural horsemanship experiences and also one of the most dangerous! Loading horses into trailers safely takes skills, experience and foresight. Not for the faint hearted. There is an art to balancing leadership, respect & rhythm with positive reinforcement and motivation.