Horses for Courses!

In the wake of the televised BurghleyHorse trials last weekend, readers may be interested to know that the recent, annual Cross Country Event at Barnards Farm, Debden was also a tremendous success.

On site, Linda Branston, Equine Massage Therapist and sponsor of two classes, donated massage vouchers for the winning horse / pony and provided warm-up and cool-down massages to several competing horses giving them a crucial edge in this event, where the confidence of a supple horse with unrestricted movement is a definite advantage.

Owner/rider Malcolm Johnston was warming up his young 17.1hh Clydesdale x TB over the practice jumps but she was reluctant and hesitant, refusing and running out, getting too close to the jumps, making both horse and rider even more nervous about the forthcoming course of 21 solid jumps ahead.

Following a brisk 10 minute massage by Linda, along with the intuitive use of Reiki during which she sent the colour violet which bonds the mind with the body and the spirit (pretty essential given the task ahead), his horse, Anna, bounded away with a fresh outlook, charging towards the jumps and clearing them easily with her new found confidence. Onlookers said the difference was "instantaneous and astonishing", whilst Mr Johnston was quoted as saying "Wow! That certainly worked!"