THE HORSE LISTENER

The Essence of New Zealand’s Spirit Horse Festival

The third International New Zealand Spirit Horse Festival showcased alternative modalities from around the world, writes CANDIDA BAKER, who presented on horse rescue and essential oils.

Horses. Everywhere. Not, as you might imagine, as at a traditional horse show, with riders, and events and the tensions of competition, and the blaring and constant announcements.

No, these horses at Dune Lakes Lodge, are simply ‘there’. They come to the presentations, and we go into the herd for sessions, they’re present during a Grandmother’s Haka, for a Medicine Walk with Rob Pliskin, and during ancestral connection sessions with Judy Brightman, and for demonstrations in all forms of equine-guided learning. The presence of this herd is made up mainly of large Warmbloods, gentle, kind, and imbued it seems, with an understanding of why we are all there. Which, to try and put it in a nutshell is to understand horses at a level beyond the obvious.

Rosemary Wyndham-Jones, (featured in December’s HorseVibes) and the organizers of the Festival which is presented by the charity Equine Pathfinders, have created a unique event where people can come and learn more about horses as sentient beings who can teach us as much as we can teach them.

Arriving at Dune Lakes Lodge, Rosemary’s property, a few days before the Festival started, I was greeted by the two elderly ‘guardians’ of the property, 32-year-old Bailey, and 34-year-old Mary. When Rosemary moved from the UK to New Zealand some years ago it was Mary, and her daughter Jodie that she brought with her. Sadly, Jodie died a few years ago, but Mary, grandmother to many of the Dune Lake Horses and Bailey have free access to the garden and the property, with regular appointments outside the feed shed.

Presenting my work with essential oils was deeply rewarding. We chose four horses on the first day for me to work with, and I showed attendees at the session how to simply ‘offer’ the oil to a horse, so that they can choose to take it or not. Marjoram, which is always the

‘... people can come and learn more about ‘ horses as sentient beings who can teach us as much as we can teach them.

The Herd comes in for the start of the Festival

B: Flash and Colter free jumping.

C, D, E: Rosemary Wyndham-Jones demonstrates a light feel, so her horse makes a choice to follow her.

C D E

first oil I offer, because it release trauma, grief and loss had some deep results on the older horses, who lowered their heads, licked and chewed, and went into a deep state of relaxation, where healing seems to naturally occur. We worked our way up through Bergamot, for anxiety and depression to Rose, for peace, joy and love – these three oils being my go-to oils, with some lovely results also coming from Wild Orange, Sandalwood and Lemon.

But although the spiritual connection with horses is something that is central to the ethos of the festival, it was also grounded in the practical, with workshops and presentations by several Equine Assisted or Facilitated Learning businesses, and information on nutrition, hoof-care and bodywork for horses.

It was also exciting to go to a presentation on Equine Pathfinder’s latest project Wild Boys, Wild Horses, in which they have teamed up with the Kaimanawa Heritage Horses to pair youth in trouble with Kaimanawa brought in from the wild in the musters that are conducted to keep numbers sustainable.

Dune Lakes Lodge is about an hour north-west of Auckland, and as its name suggests has a lake only five minutes walk from the house, with a magnificent black-sand beach – Muriwai – only five minutes drive away. This was the third year for the festival, which offers on-site camping or cabins, a vegetarian and vegan based menu at its café, and plenty

of time to chill out and smell the horses.

What I enjoyed most about the festival was the camaraderie – a few hundred people all brought together teaching, learning and offering to one another in a serene and beautiful landscape, with the horses as part of the experience.

I had some personal magic moments – one when Mary, the elderly matriarch, chose to participate in an oil session, and made it clear that she wanted me to tell her life story – which thanks to Rosemary I knew. Her intention was clear – she wanted people to understand the wisdom that old horses can offer, and that no less than people they too have their joy and grief. Mary still feels the loss of Jodie, and it was a privilege to feel Mary’s being connect with me as we stood together and I felt her emotions come through me.

Her permanent BFF Bailey, also had a breakthrough moment with the oils. Rosemary knew that as a rescue horse, Bailey had a troubled past, and had bucked off a previous owner. Through the use of the oils, he went into a safe space of clearing through some physical trauma around saddles and riding, and came out the other side a much lighter, happier horse.

There are many, many ways to be with horses – from the highest competition level, to the mini pony lawnmower and everything in between.

For me what is of paramount importance is that no matter what anyone does with their horse or pony, their physical, mental and emotional welfare comes before anything else. That is the way to a true relationship with your horse.

Candida Baker runs a Facebook page, The Horse Listener. She is also the President of Equus Alliance G

H

F: The horses took part in the Grandmother’s Haka.

G: Akaash has a cuddle with Spirit.

H: Bailey being offered oil.

Pictures: Candida Baker