Over the years, like many people, I have been lucky enough to take on animals that require some help and nurturing to compensate from less than good care in their early days. Previously, I was content with restoring them back to physical health, and as we can see from the accompanying photos of Cherokee (taken just nine months apart), the correct care can make a huge difference but the wholerehabilitation process has to involve the way thatthese animals actually think and feel too. 
My experiences of working with children in the care of Social Services and as a foster mother helped me realise that it is just as important what goes on in their heads as being well fed and loved. This is something that we can actually struggle with, as the temptation is to indulge them a little (or a lot in some cases) to make up for all that they have been through can usually cause even more problems for the very being you are trying to help.  So this is where we have to forget what we want and focus on what the one that we have taken into our care really needs and at the top of the list are rules and structure. Those beings that have been let down previously in some way actually need the boundaries laid out very clearly to feel safe and secure enough to make willing co-operation possible. Leaving them to 'settle' in their own way before establishing those boundaries only causes more problems. I remember being contacted by lady who was about to take on a dog that had been badly neglected and she told me that she planned to adopt Amichien� Bonding once the dog had settled in and had developed some trust in her, a perfectly natural instinct in anyone wanting to care for another being but I knew that to really help this dog she would be much better introducing 'A.B' as soon as the dog came into her home and care. The simple way to understand this to think of a 'spoilt' child and I am pretty certain that we have all seen one of those but then ask yourself, "Is that child really happy?" The answer is; never. So if you want a content happy dog, horse or child, there has to be kind and very definite boundaries to enable them to cope with all that life could bring to them. There have been many dogs that have proved this to me from Barmie, the very thin Jack Russell who had come to bite first and seek answers later to Sara, a beautiful German Shepherd that arrived at my home having been in rescue kennels for almost six months, weighing just 19 kilos, when she should have been in the region of 35 kilos. Although the overwhelming desire was to comfort and spoil them, boundaries were laid down immediately allowing them to have a structure to their lives which, in turn, made them feel more secure. This undoubtedly speeded their recovery. Fortunately for both Cherokee and me he is actually the second young horse that I have been able to help back to full health and happiness with the excellent help of Bridget Hughes, one of the Intelligent Horsemanship Recommended Colleagues and the brilliant team at Oakridge Quarter Horses, who have guided us both in the art of riding western style. The ultimate secret of success here is to take your time, just as over feeding a dog or horse, in an attempt to put weight on quickly will cause stomach and digestion problems, hindering progress, it also takes time to help the animal to feel safe, overcome its fears and begin to trust you but once it does you will experience something special. Never be afraid or too proud to ask for help from those who can really help you and have more knowledge and experience than you. Genuine people will always want to share their expertise, respect you for recognising that you have a gap in your own knowledge and give 100% to enable you to succeed, just as all of my Recommended Dog Listeners do. With the correct, expert assistance you will find the whole process of rehabilitation easier and extremely rewarding. Jan Fennell 29th August 2012 | 
