Free Magazine
October 2016 Volume 4 Issue 10
CindyPichette.com
Equine Therapy Dave Scott KalCommodore.com
W
e often feel a need to rush judgement on others, perhaps in anticipation of them judging us. I know I have caught myself forming
an opinion of someone in the past, before getting to know him or her. Why do we do this? I think because deep down we feel insecure. When we finally get to that point in our life where we
just don’t care what others think, we let go of a lot of needless stress and suddenly we see life differently. Curiosity got the best of me when a friend was telling me about how a lady and her horse had helped her with anxiety. The horse seemed to sense her emotions and assisted her in finding that peace she had been longing for, for many years.
Norfolk Hub, The Magazine 23 Market Street, Unit #9, Box 1501 Port Dover ON N0A 1N0 Phone: (519) 429-2567 Publishers: Dave & Monica Scott editor@norfolkhub.ca www.norfolkhub.ca Any reproduction of this publication without permission is prohibited. Opinions and comments within this publication are those of the writers and not necessarily that of Sports Norfolk or the Norfolk Hub.
My friend explained that the first time she went, this horse walked right up to her and gently nudged her in the chest. That is where her anxiety usually starts, in her chest. It was all that my friend could do to hold her ground and when she turned and walked away, the horse followed. Through her experiences with this horse, her fear, anxiety and sadness (her sense of mourning) were finally released and a simple bond was formed! This horse had a past with its own anxiety and sadness and seemed to recognize the same in her. A date and time was set for Kal and I (Awesome photos Kal – thanks!!) to head for SonFlower Stables in Otterville. Our goal was to visit with Mary and find out more about how her horses were helping folks both young and old. Mary Howe simply put, is a person at peace with herself, who above all else wants to help others. The vibe at the stables is peaceful, relaxing and very inviting. That is what Mary and her landlord, Mel, strive for. Mel smiles as she explains that this is a place to help folks who are struggling, to come and find themselves; to find peace and calmness!
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In the first fifteen minutes of our conversation Mary laid it out for me. She is a suicide survivor who has taken her second chance at life and dedicated it to helping others find peace within their mourning. She saw that her own life was the backdrop she could reference to help others. In taking control of her destiny, Mary became a Grief Edu-Therapy Grief Specialist – Licensed and Certified. (Edu-Therapy™ Solutions provides a unique training, which encompasses the principals and techniques of Edu-Therapy™ – a Cognitive Behavioural Process to Grief Resolution. The training is both insightful and personally meaningful as the process naturally connects the mind, body, and spirit and is taught in concise steps that are easily repeatable. Developed in the early 90’s, this process is the most effective method in training those who work with broken hearts, relationship issues, or survivors of abuse and trauma.) At first I was a little surprised, not many folks will talk so openly about their personal battles from their past, but Mary was very up-front. She had nothing to hide and I commend her for that! Like I said earlier, we all get in a rush to judge. I felt with Mary, what you see is what you get! She loves to quote John Lennon, her favourite being, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” It speaks volumes to her. As for the horses, they have held a special spot in her life since she was five years old. I believe these beautiful animals are a symbol of the way Mary wishes to live her life, as a nonjudgmental, helping, caring member of our community! Mary uses her own life experiences and the horses to help others. That is the other factor in this equation, the horses. Mary firmly believes horses have the capability to sense and mirror different emotions within others. I found the following information on a paper written by Emily Jaderberg that tends to back those thoughts with reference from Partners in Healing: Highly Social Mammals – Human-Equine Alliances for Learning. The horse as a species is a prey animal. Their survival highly depends on having a sensitive limbic system and being able to feel limbic activity and autonomic nervous system (ANS) arousal in other herd-members. For example: The ANS signals a “fight-or-flight” response when a predator comes around, and when it is safe to rest. This is why social mammals attune to each other – for validation or concerns, reassurance and comfort. To feel a sense of belonging and to depend on each other is essential for highly social mammals, whose brains rely on the regulating power of relationships.
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Because of these similarities within the limbic system, working with horses from therapeutic standpoint allows the horses to relate to the limbic system in humans. Since the horse does not have a largely developed brain, it enables them to come from a nonjudgmental place reflecting others behaviours. They respond to what is happening in the moment – based on comfort and safety. The natural state of rest within the horse species
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combined with being nonjudgmental can create a healing space of calm and trust. This allows limbic revision to take place – a way for a person to safely create new neurological pathways of how to respond to certain emotional patterns. There are a few key ways how the limbic system can show up in relationship between horse and human. Limbic neuroplasticity – the remodelling of affective neural pathways and responses, which requires three stages: Limbic resonance, defined as a shared empathy in which two mammals become attuned to each other’s inner states. Limbic regulation, defined, as reading each other’s emotional cues, adjusting to each other and soothing or regulate the physiology of the other. Limbic revision, defined as adaptation to healthier template for future relationships. (reachouttohorses.wordpress.com) Now lets look and see what Mental Health Daily says as far as some of the ways Equine Therapy helps: Acceptance: Some individuals are better able to accept their own condition when interacting with a horse. Horses unconditionally accept us for who we are, making it easier for us to accept whatever diversity we are facing. Attention: Equine therapy demands attention and focus from a client for safety of both themselves and the horse. Consistent equine therapy is thought to help an individual cultivate an increased attention span. Empathy: In order to work with horses, it is important to be in tune with their moods. The horse will sense the mood of the human, and the human needs to sense the mood of the horse. Equine therapy can increase empathy or the ability to recognize and share feelings with another entity. Emotional bonding: The client and horse must form a connection in order for the therapy to be successful. This connection is established over time by grooming the horse, riding the horse, and via nonverbal communication. This bonding may increase levels of the connected hormone “oxytocin.” Fine motor skills: Some evidence suggests that therapeutic horseback riding may help individuals with various disorders improve their fine motor skills. It takes balance, flexibility, and hand-eye-coordination to ride a horse. Mutual trust: To have an effective therapy session, clients must learn to work with an instructor as well as a horse. It is the complex dynamic of trusting an instructor as well as an animal that helps people rebuild their ability to trust others. Following trauma, many people are unable to trust others, which impairs their functioning.
Nonverbal communication skills: A significant portion of all communication is nonverbal. Working with horses in equine therapy may be of major benefit to individuals struggling with poor or deficiencies in nonverbal communication skills. Patience: Individuals that are hyperactive and/or impulsive may lack patience. Working with horses requires patience. In fact, many patients do not get to ride the horse until they demonstrate patience. They may not even touch the horse initially, then groom the horse, and eventually work their way up to riding it. Respect: Working with a horse can teach others how to respect animals as well as instructors. Without first having respect for the animal and all parties involved in the therapy, an individual will not advance towards horseback riding or grooming. All activities incorporated within the therapy have potential to help build both self-respect and respect for the animal. Self-awareness: Clients working with the horses in therapy often gain a profound sense of self-awareness. They come to realize how their actions affect their interaction with the horse and vice versa. This newfound self-awareness may improve functional outcomes in other real-world scenarios. Self-control: The ability to control oneself may influence the therapy session with the horse. It is important to avoid impulsivity, hyperactivity, and acting out frustrations. By having self-control, a person is able to have a kind, successful interaction with the horse. Self-esteem: Initially a person may be fearful of interacting with a horse. As they learn new nonverbal communication skills and how to treat the horse, they often realize that there was nothing to fear in the first place. Increased competence in regards to interacting with the horse generally improves a person’s self-esteem. Speech-language skills: For some individuals, equine therapy may enhance their communication skills. Horses are smart enough to recognize many nonverbal cues as well as many speech instructions. By communicating both verbally and nonverbally with the horse, a person’s communicative repertoire is strengthened. (mentalhealthdaily.com) When asked if I wanted to meet the horses I was surprised by how calm these gentle giants were. One came over (Miss Maggie) without being called and basically checked me out, smelling me all over. I chuckled and Mary explained that the horse was basically getting to know me and the many different aspects of who I was (and who I am). It was cool, no discussion, no conversation, just instinctively getting to know one another. That brief meeting more than convinced me that these animals understand us better then we know ourselves. Mary explained that she observes and acts as a conduit with the framework being an observation sheet that is filled in and an overview drawn between the correlation of the horse’s history and the person. Wow! There is no judgement within this process but rather, support to help people in their recovery, allowing folks to come and explore who they are and discover where they can go. I understand from an article standpoint this is a lot to take in, but I suggest you visit Sonflower Stables, chat with Mary and meet the twelve horses. I think it will make your day and open your eyes as you become mindful to how horses can help you or someone you know move forward in life with a better understanding of just who you are! You can reach Mary at (519) 718-1432 and as Mary says, “Have a SonFlower Day!”
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recently had the opportunity to pace a friend for his final 12.5 kilometre lap of his first Ultra (50k trail).
First off, I was totally blown away by this man's drive. He had both legs cramping at 38k, but he continued on, there was no quit in him. For every 12.5k loop, there is estimated to be 32 hills, giving the entire race 128. These are not small hills by any means, they destroy your quads and make you pay. Downhill hurts worse than running uphill. Throw in a camber on the trail, roots and a touch of slippery grass with a little mud and you have a tough run! If the trail doesn’t get you, your mind will. Sooner or later you start to wonder... Can I do this? Am I strong enough? My friend took it all in stride. He ran with dignity in the face of pain, his mental toughness never in doubt. There was no quit! He said to me at one point that this was one of the toughest runs he ever competed in. The last kilometre had one last steep hill and I watched as he pulled himself to the top with sheer drive. Both legs were locked in cramps as he bent over almost to the ground, pushing to the edge of exhaustion as he climbed that last hill. Then he righted himself and carried on. As we neared the finish line, I peeled away but not before congratulating him. I felt emotional watching him cross the line. I know his pain and drive; it is a moment you don’t forget. Oh, did I mention Ross Coomber is 68 years old? He has run over 60 marathons and is the most humble guy I have ever met! He is a great example to the rest of us to get out and be active. He makes me think of a quote I once read, “You’re off to great places, today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so... get on your way!” – Dr. Seuss Thanks Ross, for letting me be a part of your run!
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I
suddenly felt myself awakening rather quickly from a peaceful, deep sleep and an accompanying complicated but extremely pleasant dream. I was mildly perturbed that I was being projected into a new reality. I could hear snippets of voices and then had the sensation of some bodies moving nearby. I looked up at the clock on the wall and knew that I had been gone for a little over two hours. The anaesthetic was beginning to wear off. My operation for the total replacement of my left knee had been completed.
An hour later, I was taken up to a room on the fifth floor of Brantford General Hospital to begin my recovery. I didn’t have any interest in pondering what had just changed in my life or any real interest in anything except getting through the day, hour by hour. I had an IV attached, a catheter and a breathing tube. Hospital personnel appeared frequently throughout the day checking my blood pressure and heart rate, taking blood, giving me various pills, bringing me water and broth and later a dinner. I tossed everything up, usually very quickly. On the positive side, I could feel no pain and I started to get to know my roommate, Al, who was interesting, stoic, and in much more dire straits than I was, due to a catastrophic infection in one of his legs. We talked from time to time between medical interventions and naps. The night seemed somewhat long but I had many periods of comfortable sleep. The next morning, my surgeon, Dr. James Dill, came by to see me. He asked how I was doing and I told him that I couldn’t feel my appendix (ha, ha, ha). He reported that the procedure had gone well and that my knee had indeed been bone-on-bone, with no cartilage remaining. I was in a good mood and all the staff were very helpful. The physiotherapist came around and asked me if I thought I could get out of
bed and go for a little stroll using a walker. This proved to be very easy and she said she would be back the next day to have me try stairs. They had me sit in a chair for an hour during the afternoon. A running friend of mine from Paris, Mike, was in to see Dr. Dill so James brought him up to me for a visit. Mike put the word out and I had more visits later with some of my Paris running friends. During all this time, I was talking with my roommate Al as well and trying to figure out how to help him. His pain medication was not satisfactory, he was sweating a lot and his doctor could not be located. All the nurses could offer was more of the same and he was frustrated. Finally, in the late evening, my doctor was able to help and then we went to sleep. I made it through the night and by the next day I was eating well and not feeling nauseous. About mid-day the physiotherapist returned and we walked down the hall to practice stairs. I had imagined I would have to walk down to the fourth floor and back up. However, it turned out that they only test you on a little three-step podium. Even though I didn’t have much practice in my running career stepping up to the top of the podium, I found it very easy. She concluded that I was good to go and could be released a day early. Dr. Dill came to initiate the release and set up follow-up appointments for me. I had lunch and sat around resting and chatting until my ride came in the late afternoon. I was going home. I am writing this one week after the surgery and I don’t know how my life has changed. I do know that presently, rather than thinking in long blocks of time, such as season to season or race to race, I am thinking in blocks of four hours, the time between pain pills. I do not know whether I will get to compete again or not. I have been forewarned that, from one to three weeks after the operation, I am likely to feel depressed and think that I made a mistake in having the knee replacement, as there will be no improvements and no reduced swelling or pain reduction. However, I am also advised to accept it and keep on doing the assigned exercises. In a few weeks I should feel that I am going in the right direction. I do know that the key to dealing with any situation is having a strong support system. My brother David is doing yeoman service cooking meals, doing various chores and answering the phone when I can’t get to it in time. My North Shore running and walking friends have been terrific, bringing good cheer and lots of food. Aili, my sister-in-law, and Rod are reliable back-up whenever needed. My wonderful friend Mac has organized rides and gone shopping for me. Along the way so far, I have experienced some laughs, along with some pain and I have a few new stories to tell.
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Putting
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the
Preparing the garden for winter is of prime concern so it gets a good start next season. Knowing that the spring soil will be too wet to let me onto the beds, I am planning ahead by getting rid of any mess, tidying what is left and putting away everything I won’t need until spring. Annuals that are frostbitten can be pulled out. It breaks my heart to toss out what I convince myself are perfectly good pots of annuals that could keep going for a week or two if it remains frost-free but how I regret cleaning up slimy coleus. One of my favourite jobs is edging. Grass is a cool weather crop and even when there is not much to see above ground you can be sure that the roots are making headway underground. Edging now will keep the garden tidier and means I won’t have to attend to it as early in spring. Another job I love is getting back on the perennial weeds. I love to dig out dock and clover... knowing that these also are early growers. They can often be found next to the base of perennials, overlooked from previous weeding. Dandelions are a source of early spring nectar for bees so I don’t go at them with a vengeance. Perennials do not really need to be cut back. In the natural world leaves and twigs and stems fall where they may, but we prefer a tidier version of nature. Characteristics of different plants require that they are cut back at different times of the year. Those that harbour insects and disease and those whose foliage becomes a slimy mess are first to be trimmed. Others can be trimmed before winter with no ill effects and reduce the spring clean up. Removing of Hosta foliage prevents snail and slug eggs from overwintering. Phlox, helenium and monarda that had powdery mildew, iris with signs of fungus and columbine with leaf miner damage are better off with the dead foliage removed. Do not put these in the compost as it may not get hot enough to kill the pathogens.
W
e had a long Saturday of rain a while ago and my garden, so long starved of water, sprang to life and green.
Finally. The summer is gone but I can now enjoy the fall colours.
Perennials that benefit from cutting back are those whose upper growth will turn to mush over the winter. Baptisia, brunnera, ground clematis, daylily, hollyhock, hosta, Japanese anemone, ligularia, yarrow are all better trimmed now. Some plants break dormancy early. Columbine, daisy and nepeta are more appealing in spring if cut now. Others like black-eyed susan, coneflower, gaillardia, peony and sage are done to reduce the spring tasks. Some perennials should be left until spring. Alchemilla, asclepias, aster, bergenia, buddleia, caryopteris, chrysanthemum, dianthus, geum, heuchera, lamb’s ear, lavender, lupin, poppy, Russian sage, sedum perform better when left untrimmed over the winter. Others, balloon flower, perennial hibiscus and leadwort, are late to shoot and leaving them will identify their location. Some plants fare better with winter protection. Penstemon, some coreopsis and agastache are not reliably hardy but covering them after frost with some soil may improve their chances. Just like patio sets, tomato cages, stakes, rings and ornaments last longer when put away for winter and I know where they are when I need them. Tools get hosed off and dried in the sun. Confession: I never get around to sharpening and oiling tools but I brush out emptied pots (see coleus above) and will wash them 814 Cockshutt Road, Simcoe, ready for planting next year. 1 km south of Renton 519.428.4607
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Flu
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inter will soon be here and with that comes flu season.
Influenza - or the flu - can include symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, mild to severe body aches, and headache. While the flu can be serious even in people that are otherwise healthy, it can be especially harmful for young children and people who have long term health conditions. The flu is an airborne virus and can also be transmitted by touching infected surfaces or objects, and then touching your mouth or nose. The Flu Vaccine The flu vaccine is safe and is the most effective way to protect you and your family from the flu. Studies have found that the flu
vaccine can prevent up to 80% of influenza in healthy adults and children. It is now available as a shot or a nasal spray. Flu Prevention Tips 1. Get your flu vaccination earlier in the season. It takes a couple weeks to achieve full immunity. Specialized pharmacists can administer the flu vaccine at the pharmacy. 2. Wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 3. Stay away from people who are sick. If you are sick with flu-like symptoms, stay home. If your child is sick, try to keep him or her in a separate room from others in the household. 4. Contain your coughs and sneezes. Cover your mouth, and nose with a tissue
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hortcuts are easy and quick ways to do something and there are times when every senior is tempted to use them.
These times are usually when the senior feels relaxed and comfortable, those senior stiffness and aches have faded. The senior feels more like forty-eight than their real eighty-four years! Shortcuts such a taking two stairs at a time or using both arms to carry something are so easy to do. But shortcuts and seniors are just not compatible. Our body parts and their capabilities do not have the mobility, agility, strength and balance
of those younger years. So when we are feeling young and energetic, we need to think about those years of use and how to treat ourselves. Doing this is not silly, because the shortcuts we used for so many years can now often lead to serious accidents! These accidents can end a life or end the lifestyle that was enjoyed before the shortcut was taken. Thinking about what is to be done and taking time is the “action motto” for all seniors. Here are some suggestions. 1. Always wear supportive footwear. 2. Take time to put on those eyeglasses. 3. Carry only one cup or glass of anything at a time 4. Always have “one hand Now for a quiz - Match the place with free for the ship,” this the province. Enjoy the travel! means use the wall, back 1. Rogers Pass a) New Brunswick of a chair, cane, walker, 2. Manitoulin Island b) British Columbia friendly arm, etc. 3. Hartford Covered Bridge c) Saskatchewan 5. Carrying ‘things’ in a 4. Cypress Hills d) Quebec shopping bag with handles 5. Montmorency Falls e) Ontario is much safer than in two arms. How did you do? 1b; 2e; 3a; 4c; 5d Good!!
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The Art of Steelheading
F
or the average person, hearing the term Steelheading sounds bizarre. “You’re doing what this weekend?” Anglers know this is the term we use for the act of angling for a migrating rainbow trout, or steelhead. There’s also a term we call ourselves “Steelheader”.
A steelhead is more commonly known as a rainbow trout that spends its’ life in freshwater and saltwater. If the steelhead is from the west coast it is born in freshwater, then smolts out of the freshwater river and into the ocean. It lives in the ocean until it reaches maturity, usually 2 to 3 years, and then returns to its natal river where it will spawn. It then returns to the salt water to hopefully return the following year to reproduce again. In the Great Lakes, the fish are of course living in freshwater whether in the spawning river or living in the lake for 2 to 3 years. Steelhead are anadromous which means they return to the original river in which they were born. We are fortunate in Ontario, and in this area in particular, that we have many rivers that support steelhead. Tributaries entering Lakes Erie, Ontario, and Huron as well as Georgian Bay are all good bets. Norfolk County has Young’s Creek and Big Creek which have good populations of migrating rainbow trout. The general and least complicated technique to catch steelhead is the split shot method. Attach a hook to your monofilament line and about 18” above the hook add split shot. How many or how big you ask? Just enough that the split shot ticks bottom but not get hung up. The secret is to get the bait near the bottom of the river. A 7 to 10 foot spinning rod equipped with a spinning reel with a smooth drag is the equipment required. Monofilament in 8 pound test is adequate. You can suspend your bait offering under a specialty float designed for steelheading. A lot of successful anglers will use a centre pin rod and reel. This method uses a float and many split shot staggered below the float to the hook. These rods range from 11 to 15 feet in length and use a centre pin (float) reel. The main line attached to the centre pin is 8 or 10 pound. To that you attach a tippet of 6 pound test monofilament. The use of a centre pin outfit will generally increase your odds of a hook up by 50 percent. Why you might ask? You can present your bait in a much more natural drift and for extended distances. The method we enjoy most is fly fishing. We prefer to swing a fly rather than use the indicator (float) method. We can use longer twohanded fly rods covering more water and allowing us to swing the fly at the proper depth. There is nothing like the adrenalin rush you receive when you hook a chrome steelhead on the fly and the fish makes long runs and leaps down river. Talk about exhilaration! No matter the technique you use, keep all terminal tackle to a minimum. There is no reason to fish with steel leaders and big swivels here. The most common baits are fish eggs, either single or a cluster tied in spawn sac material, dew worms, flies and trout beads. A bonus to steelhead fishing is the opportunity to catch other trout and salmon species such as, brown trout, chinook salmon and coho salmon while on the river. We cannot stress enough to examine Ontario’s fishing regulations. Many rivers have extended seasons, fish limits, gear restrictions, sanctuaries, various season opening dates and more. Please pay attention to these regulations. The bonus to fall steelheading is cool, crisp days and the changing foliage. What a great time of the year. Becky and Larry can be reached at info@friendsonthefly.com
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