Joshua Last week I worked with a lady over the phone, she had called me because a horse that was stabled along hers was having problems. One of these problems was that the horse was quite aggressive and had bitten her quite badly, which naturally had shaken her. We began to tap round the short cut points as Susan described the story of Joshua. Joshua told me how he had been bought by a family who hadn’t fully understood the needs of a horse like him, bought from the stud that bred him and a horse that was destined for success in the show ring. All the time Susan described the story, we tapped at least a full round on each new fact, sometimes a little longer if it felt there was strong emotion involved in the telling. Susan told me how sometimes Joshua would be left without a rug in the winter, kept a little short of food and worked in a saddle that didn’t quite fit him. These things were not done to him because his owners were cruel, heartless people, only that they didn’t really understand Joshua. Gradually his behaviour deteriorated until his owner’s daughter didn’t want to ride him anymore, and another family took over his care. His behaviour improved to some extent, but he still appeared angry and defensive, especially around food.
We began to talk directly to Joshua- even though you were left in the field when it was wet and cold, you are a stunning horse. Even though they didn’t understand what you needed, you are a gorgeous looking horse. Even though they made you really angry because they just didn’t know enough, you are great horse.
Susan then moved on to talk as if she was Joshua, and we began to offer Joshua some slightly more positive versions of his story.
Even though I was cold and wet and muddy, they just didn’t know I needed something better, and charlotte and Susan both do their best for me now. Even though I was hungry, I always get enough to eat now and love going to shows with Charlotte. Even though I’m sometimes angry at people, maybe the way I get angry at them isn’t helping either them or me, maybe I could try a different way because I’m a cool horse really.
T he last full round I had a mental picture of a horse, stood in his stable with his ears slightly out sideways, looking a little perplexed!
Susan said that she felt a warm glow had enveloped her and Joshua and we tapped a round or two on holding onto the feeling and letting the cold hard feeling go. We both felt that the energy had altered and Susan could see Joshua being calm and friendly with people.
We finished up the phone call, and I promised to do some tapping for Joshua by proxy later that evening. I began by tapping a picture of Joshua in his stable, still enveloped in his warm glow. He looked calm, content and relaxed. I took the picture back to when he was first purchased from the stud, and immediately, he became agitated and angry.
Even though they took me away from everything I’d known, I know I’m a special horse. Even though I deserve better than this, I’m a special horse .Even though it’s ok for those fat woolly ponies to be ignored like this, don’t they know that I’m Special? Even though my life has turned upside down and I was always told I was Special, they just don’t understand that I need more than this, because I’m a superb horse. Even if they don’t really understand me, surely they can see I’m special? Even though I’m APPALLED at my circumstances, and really feel angry at how life has turned out, I know I’m a special horse .Even though I get angry when I think what my high expectations led me to believe I can now accept that these people only did what they thought was right. Even though I expected life to be better than it was and I was so appalled when it wasn’t what I thought it should be, these people were only doing what they thought was best, and people in my life now are trying hard to get it right.
I felt it was fine to leave it here, as Josh had begun to think of a ‘reframe’ and was happy to leave him ‘thoughtful’ as he was whilst tapping with Susan. I had no perception of him as a nasty, viscous horse, just as one whose expectations of his future had radically altered, due to changes of circumstances. Susan had told me that, surprisingly, he was always really well behaved in the show ring – but now it made perfect sense! He was made to show off in the show ring, his whole upbringing had been geared towards the primping and preening necessary to show, whereas many horses really HATE this sort of life, especially if it is forced on them after an upbringing involving freedom and a lack of fuss.
From this one session, Joshua's story is much improved. He is far less aggressive, although he still sometimes flicks an ear as if to lay them back, or twitches a leg as if he thought about kicking, but now he very rarely follows it through. He went out hunting on the first day of the season and behaved impeccably - in the words of his first owners, who didn't know we had done some work for him. They were impressed that Joshua had changed, despite no knowing how! Hopefully Susan will continue to tap for him, for her distress at the bite he gave her, and his story will now have many chapters telling of his good behaviour.
Click here to read about a success story for Jack, who suffered from gastric ulcers.