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About the Bach Flower Remedies - Nicola Beeb, Registered Practitioner

The Bach flower Remedies are a complete system of flower essences that target negative emotions. They are made from non toxic plants, flowers and trees and are completely safe for adults, children and animals alike. They have no side effects, you cannot overdose and they can be safely used with both allopathic and homeopathic mediation.

Star of Bethlehem

The beauty of the remedies is the gentle way in which they restore balance to the mind and body. The remedies are prescribed according to the emotional state of the client, they are not directly prescribed to treat physical problems. Dr Bach believed that thoughts, feelings and beliefs could have a direct physical consequence and that by restoring the harmony of the mind and emotions the bodies natural defences could work to maintaining and restoring the persons physical health. For example, as many of us have experienced stress and tension can cause physical symptoms such as headaches, ulcers and digestive upsets.

How can the Bach flower remedies be used for horses?

The short answer is the same way they can be used for humans! It is important to identify the emotion behind what you are treating with anyone concerned and our animals are not the exception. If the remedies are not working - its because you haven't truly identified the problem and therefore not used the correct remedies.

Rock Rose

It is also important to assess who actually needs treating - is it really the horse? Or does the owner need help also? For instance: If we have a horse that spooks on bin day it is possible that the rider will anticipate this behaviour and become nervous of going out on bin day anticipating that the horse will shy. The horse feels the rider tense up, take up a strong contact, grip with the legs and hold her breath (all typical nervous reactions of a rider). The horse being a herd animal starts looking for the danger (that the rider has inadvertently suggested to him by her bodily reactions) and becomes even more spooky and inclined to flee. So now we have a situation that has escalated. At this stage both horse and rider will have become more nervous each losing their confidence, by treating the rider for her fearful anticipation of her horses reaction and the horses spooky fears we can restore this relationship to balance and have them hacking out happily even on bin day!

Impatiens

With all animals (not just horses) it is very important to consider the animals natural behaviour and needs. Retaining an awareness that the animal thinks differently to you and exploring what that mean in terms of the animals reactions and problems. For instance a horse that is labelled as being aggressive may actually be dominant or could be defensive, each of these would require a different approach. When prescribing the remedies it is helpful and in some cases vital to consider past history. It is important that traumatic events in the past are dealt with as well as the resulting behaviours. The importance of finding and treating the cause is not to be underestimated, whilst we could treat the symptomatic behaviours it would be not be as conducive to a long term solution nor would the results be as effective.

Cherry Plum

It is important to be clear at this stage Bach flower remedies do not profess to be always a cure all. In some cases, for the horse it really will cure the problem, others will benefit from the Bach flowers whilst in a remedial / retraining program, they become a valuable part of making the horse more receptive, trusting, confident etc. But they cannot make a saddle fit properly, negate the need for the chiropractor or cure unbalanced feet. They will however, help with a fear of being ridden due to a past problem with the saddle or give confidence to a horse that his back will not hurt anymore once he has had the physical problem resolved!

Clematis

So in what circumstances can Bach Flower Remedies be useful for horses?

Basically in any circumstances that involve emotions! Below is a list of just a few of the examples where the remedies have proven to be effective for horse and rider situations:

• Fear of travelling
• Moving to a new home
• Spooky / nervous behaviour
• Perceived aggression
• Dominant behaviour (to both humans and animals)
• Horse and Rider bond
• Bullying behaviour - Victim or perpetrator
• Training and concentration
• Loss of a companion
• Apathy and depression
• Stress i.e., pre competition (both horse and rider), box rest, etc.
• Box Rest
• Support during illness (deals with the frustration, depression etc of being unwell)
• Stable Vices
• Loss of confidence
• Napping
• Hyper Behaviour (in the box or ridden)
• Weaning or traumatic labour and birth
• Competing problems
• Rearing / Bolting / Biting / Kicking

Rescue Remedy

By far the most well known is Rescue Remedy! It is a combination of 5 remedies - Rock Rose for terror and panic, Clematis for faintness, unconsciousness and feelings of a 'floating mind', Cherry Plum for fear of losing control or panic, Star of Bethlehem for the effects of shock and pain, and Impatiens for irritability, tension and pain. Rescue Remedy is excellent for emergencies, accidents and injuries. It is also useful for interviews, hospital appointments, dentist, Dr or vet visits. Arguments, shocking news, panic attacks, childbirth, stress, performance nerves, grief or bereavement. It can also be given to animals waiting for the vet or after accident or injury. However, Rescue Remedy will only work if the remedies contained in it, are the remedies you actually need. Each remedy has a specific purpose and if it is not required it will have no effect. If you find that you take Rescue Remedy and are not feeling the benefits it is because you need a more specific prescription designed for your own feelings and emotions.

I would recommend that everyone has a bottle of Rescue Remedy in their first aid kit. As a rider, you could use it for pre competition nerves, stress, accident, supporting the system during illness and also during box rest, it is a very versatile treatment and good for short term help.

Rescue Remedy

The other remedies….

Due to the complex nature of feelings and emotions it would be impossible to give a list of remedies suitable for each particular problem, it imperative that we treat the individual considering such aspects as their personality, likes / dislikes, reactions and history. It is important as horse owners that we also address our own emotional problems as well as those of our horses. This will help us to maintain (or build) a truly harmonious relationship where outside disturbances play no part. This is a truly holistic treatment and a practitioner will take all aspects of yours or your horses life style into consideration.

Here is a small list of useful Bach Flower Remedies for horses:

• Olive - For tiredness or exhaustion i.e., after a hard ride
• Gorse - Good for horses depressed on box rest or having lost a companion
• Walnut - Moving yard, adjusting to new circumstances (i.e. owner / horse)
• Star of Bethlehem - Weaning, moving, loss of companion, bad history, accident
• Vine - For horses who try to dominate and can be bargy
• Vervain - Horses who get hyper, also good for bargy animals
• Crab apple - Good for compulsive disorders (box vices) or following / during illness
• Larch - For confidence (helps with fear of failure)
• Mimulus - For fear (of known things)
• Aspen - For fear of unknown things
• Agrimony - For those who put on a brave face
• White Chestnut - For the horse that tends to worry (can be very useful for stable vices when combined with Agrimony)

For more information on Bach Flower Remedies see: www.bachflowerremedies.net

The site of Nicola Beeb - Bach Flower practitioner the author of this article.

The official website for the Bach centre

This has a great deal of information and some helpful links. www.bachcentre.com

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