New Zealand Bowen Therapist, Helen Peart, applies this alternative healing mode to horses with huge success.
Bowen Therapy Origins
Bowen Therapy originated in Australia with Tom Bowen, who evolved this healing modality through an association with Ernie Saunders who had developed some healing capacities of his own through a hands on practice of physical manipulation. Tom extended his skills independently and was eventually offered a place from which to operate a practice by Stan Horwood. At Stan’s, he was able to further progress his learning and saw a range of patients whose bad backs and other ailments he was able to heal. He continued to develop his therapy and eventually trained several other people who went on to train others
Helen Peart treats a horse with Bowen Therapy
Bowen Therapy for Horses
In Northland, New Zealand, Helen Peart practices as a trained Bowen Therapist. She says,“Tom kept developing his knowledge and as he trained people, he was able to incorporate more knowledge with each successive trainee. My training came from Brian Smart who was trained by Oswald Rentsch, the last person Tom taught.
Bowen Therapy for Horses
“Most of Helen’s practice is with horses and small animals, although she also works with people.“I really enjoy working with horses. A horse will indicate to a keen observer what its problem is. For instance, one horse I treated turned his back end towards me as though he was positioning to kick, but some intuition came through and I realised he was pointing me to where the problem was and asking for help. They know if you are able to aid them and will try to direct you.
Helen Peart with horse
Successful Bowen Therapy for Horses
“One unfortunate three year old mare I treated had been injured over half a year earlier and I was called in as a last resort before the pet food guy got her. She only had three hoofs on the ground and was all skin and bones. At first I thought I was never going to be able to help this miserable animal but when I looked properly she seemed to be suffering in the stifle/hip and it was not unlike something that had happened to a horse of mine once. The difference was that because the injury was already several months old, the poor mare’s condition was terrible.
“Once she’d been treated, the grateful animal stood on all four feet and then trailed me to the gate. That was a particularly spectacular result and I went back only once more before she was as good as new.”
Left Goldleigh Barron
Goldleigh Stud
Helen, who also runs Goldleigh Stud (Goldleigh Barron, Golden Buckskin x Welsh Cob) is a keen horsewoman herself, and with her daughter, Christine, keeps several horses for both stud and show. As a sideline, she makes silks and hat covers, mainly one-offs with lettering or designs stitched onto sleeves and blankets. These have proven so popular, she’s now supplying them around the country.
Along with the stud, the distribution of health products from Vitamark, and the handmade silks, Bowen Therapy is one of the skills that makes owning horses and land to run them on, viable for Helen.
Resources: Theresa Sjoquist interview with Helen Peart – Oct 2010
©Theresa Sjoquist
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Theresa Sjoquist
Theresa Sjoquist
