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Issue # 02 Welcome 2009  
Natural Path
Happy Winter!
 
As we navigate our personal path to Health and Harmony, sometimes following our animals' lead and sometimes bringing them along ours, I hope you will consider us as a companion by your side. The information we provide comes from the core of Nature. It steps away from aggression and lives exclusively in the intention of Compassion. It really is the basic force underlying each action that nourishes the Balance in our lives.
 
Take time to feel your feelings,
Katharine 
 
Communication with your Horse
 
Natural PathDon't be a Predator
 
Many horse owners understand fully that horses are PREY animals and that they react as such any time that their instinctive "radar" is triggered. But often, humans are not aware that they are actually getting results by acting like the thing a horse fears - a predator. We have the eyes set in the front of our heads, the mannerisms and often the scent (if not vegetarian or vegan) of a stealthy meat eating hunter.
So sometimes people discover that they can influence horses with relatively aggressive body language. Now, if this emulates a mother horse teaching her foal or elders in the herd showing the youngster what is appropriate behavior, Great! If, instead, you are moving and acting as if you are going to kill your horse if he isn't responding to you, not so great.
You see, to "line up" with your horse's shoulder, step slightly forward to stop or back him; step toward his haunch to move him forward, and so on, this is communication with him. To chase him, to throw things at him, to rope him, to throw him, all of these actions are predatory. In an emergency situation, you may have to be aggressive to "get it done" if he has to get in the trailer before the deadly brush fire or flood arrives. But these are exceptional circumstances!!
Remember, LOVE IS THE ACTIVE PROMOTION OF THE WELLBEING OF THE LOVE OBJECT. 
TEACH him, don't force him. Spend the time to communicate with him so that he understands you.
 
If you are PASSIVE, your horse will IGNORE you!
If you are AGGRESSIVE, your horse will FEAR you!
If you are ASSERTIVE, your horse will RESPECT you.
Recipes
 
Natural PathPEOPLE
 
Your health is as important as the health of your animals because they depend on you being there to care for them. If you live a very busy life, you can prepare healthy food ahead and freeze it for meals during the week. It is wonderful to gather special foods from Nature - almonds, pumpkin seeds, dried cherries, dried blueberries, currants, coconut, flax seeds, carob chips, honey, granola, papaya chunks, walnuts, hemp seeds, soy nuts and the like to keep in individual containers and add to fresh goat milk yogurt for breakfast or snacks.
You can buy red, yellow, orange and green peppers, eggplant, zucchini, onions and tomatoes that you slice up and roast in quantity in the oven or on a grill. Then freeze them in zip bags to use a little at a time, sliced into rice or pasta or rolled up in corn tortillas for enchiladas.  For these veggies, add a little olive oil for roasting. Roast chili peppers whole until their skin bubbles, freeze them and peel later as you thaw them under warm water at the tap (wash hands well, they will be spicy). Roast garlic whole and just squeeze the roasted clove to remove the skin.
If you bake bread, ALWAYS add flaxseeds, hempseeds, wheat germ, etc. to boost the nutrition. Think of how you could make everything that you put on your plate really nutritious and stop eating empty food without life force.
Make fruit burritos by lightly baking sliced peaches and apples to soften, add a little ghee and honey with cinnamon powder, then roll them in whole wheat tortillas and bake low for just a few minutes. Serve with natural ice cream or yogurt.
 
HORSES
 
Make your own horse treats. Combine 1 cup flour, 1 cup dry oatmeal, 1 cup grated carrots or apples, 1 teaspoon sea salt, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons corn oil, 1/4 cup molasses and 1/4 cup water. Mix well and form the treats onto a cookie sheet, then bake for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.
Customize these with dried herbs for therapeutic effect - peppermint or anise for digestion, thyme for anti-parasite, etc. Just add a little water with the dry herbs.
I once made treats that were TOO herbaceous - put garlic and mint and rosemary, etc. and they tasted bad (nasty cookies). I had a colt that picked at your hands constantly (he'd been orphaned at birth) and I found that giving him "nasty cookies" cured it!! They were safe, just tasted awful.
 
DOGS
 
Make healthy dog biscuits - so many store bought ones are full of artificial colors (these can cause hyperactivity!), artificial flavors (these can be toxic) and preservatives (some of which are actual poisons).
Combine 1 cup broth, 1/4 cup ghee (or butter or margarine), 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 cup dry milk powder (goat milk is best), 1 egg and 3 cups of whole wheat flour (you can add flaxseeds for some of the flour). Mix well and roll, then cut like "cookies". Bake at 325 for 45 to 55 minutes.
 

  BRING THE BALANCE BACK

Natural Paths is a division of Dharma Horse, providing downloadable manuals and information to help you make decisions about the health and wellbeing of all the members of your family. We believe that animals are our treasured family members, deserving of our attention, love and care of the highest order, with impeccable intentions. We do not think they should be manipulated, but should be shown how to respect us and our boundaries with kindness.
 
Be the person your dog/horse needs you to be.
Sincerely, 
 
 

Katharine Chrisley
Natural Paths