• New clinic series – Heal Your Horse, Discover Yourself
• Client comment – Just who needs to heal…?
• Nutritional note: The Gatekeepers
• Book reviews

We know spring is here when our furry four legged partners start shedding. This is the time to get rid of the old and grow anew; the birds singing and color coming back to the earth. Spring, the season of new growth and new dreams made in the winter blooming into life. New opportunities for our own personal growth and growth and evolution in our horses and pets through gained knowledge and then implementing that gained knowledge and experiencing the result. This becomes your personal truth, how pearls of wisdom are gained.

Just the other day a client was telling me how she took what she had learned from working with her horse into her life at work when her boss was having a bad hair day and needed someone to pick on. My client happened to be that person. She decided if she could "be the tree", as so many of you have heard me say, with her horse, she could do it with her boss also. So she was the tree, observing without judgment or emotion and let the problem be her boss’. She went home much more relaxed and content than she otherwise may have; personal choice, taking a pause and responding in a different way. This is a good protocol to remember with your horses and pets. Give them space for freedom, allow, allow, allow.

In this issue we have several guest contributors. Chris Alderman, Diana Duncan and Lynn Elston, all of whom I would like to thank for their time and effort in making this newsletter happen. I know you will enjoy their articles, a very diverse collection.

I had the wonderful opportunity to help promote my vision, empowering people through knowledge, on the Dr. Pat Bacilli alternative talk radio show for my second interview this last week. The Dr. Pat show empowers people through knowledge through interviewing a wide variety of alternative people from Louise Hay, Dr. Deepak Chopra, to local practitioners, like me. I listen whenever I can and I would invite you to check out their weekly lineup and see if there is a topic that interests you. Tune into KKNW 1150 AM Seattle. We will have these interviews up on the web site soon for you to listen to in case you missed it live, but they are also available at www.thedrpatshow.com, under the "Archives" link, where you can scroll to Dr. Seelye’s broadcasts. The links are listed as follows:

01/30/08 on KKNW – Dr. Suzan Seelye – Veterinary Quantum Healing

03/12/08 on KKNW – Dr. Suzan Seelye – What does Quantum have to do with animal health??? Everything!

This weekend starts an exciting new adventure in my journey. The implementation of my workshop "Heal Your Horse, Discover Yourself" into a monthly series of progressive mini clinics aimed at you. These will be held at FromtheMother Farm in Snohomish. The purpose is to advance clients in their own knowledge and bodywork on their horses to maintain and advance the structural alignment and health of their horse. It has been very rewarding through regular coaching to do this with several individual clients that have excelled. Now I will continue this in a group format. If you would like to join us or would like more information feel free to call.

Enjoy the newsletter. Questions, topic suggestions always welcome.
Blessings to all,
Dr. Suzan Seelye

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HEAL YOUR HORSE, DISCOVER YOURSELF

www.hopeforhorses.net

Dr. Seelye’s inaugural workshop series began appropriately at Hope For Horses with the volunteer staff that assists the organization. Briefly, Hope For Horses works directly with animal control dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and adoption of neglected and abused horses. Rescued horses are taken to pre-screened foster homes, where they receive proper nutrition, grooming, farrier, and veterinary care. When they are restored to good health, the horses are placed for adoption in carefully screened homes that match horse and owner. The average rehab time is 6 months. The organization has 15-25 active volunteers at any given time.

We generously extend our appreciation to John and Jenny Edwards for hosting the event at Hope For Horses. John, thanks for the heater in the barn, and Jenny, thanks for the coffee – it was a cold day.

A condensed session of exercises combining some Qi-gong, Tai-ji and general stretching helped to warm up participants and get the chi flowing, with a reminder that warm-up exercises are an important precursor to any work you do, as well as for your horse.

With neurons now beginning to charge, Dr. Seelye integrated the discussion session with Quantum physics, equine biomechanics and the dynamics of equine conformation. Sparks were really flying now and the energy was high with participants ready for action!

Before starting on the horses, participants were given the opportunity to work on each other to better understand the techniques and effectiveness of their energy. To accomplish this coats were abandoned, but interestingly, participants quickly realized that the gentle energy they were emitting produced a great amount of heat – hmmm, energy = warmth.

Dr. Seelye demonstrating Pai-fa, a Chinese Tui-na (pronounced
twee-na) rubbing therapy technique so participants get an idea
of the amount of pressure to apply to the horse. 









Workshop participants practice the Pai-fa rubbing therapy on
each other so everyone has the opportunity to better understand
the application and receiving of the technique for applying the
therapy to the horse.

They got it! Or as Dr. Seelye puts it more appropriately, "they found it". Well, eureka! then and the participants were ready for hands on horse practice. Three lucky equines were selected. Dr. Seelye demonstrated and explained techniques on Ike, who has been under Dr. Seelye’s quantum agenda since fall of 2007. Workshop participants were then divided into two groups to work on the other two horses

In closing the session, participants expressed their excitement to put their new found (eureka!) knowledge into daily practice and asked for another workshop in the next few months.

C. Alderman

The classroom moves to the stall to practice the
Pai-fa rubbing therapy on willing equine recipients.

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Just who needs to heal...?

I was excited and skeptical before Dr. Seelye’s first visit. I have no tolerance for horse owners and panderers who "feel" the horse’s energy, or blame pain or behaviors on past life experiences… too anthropomorphic for my tastes! Dr. Seelye’s background in veterinary medicine and the fact that she’s actually studied for more than a six month course gave me hope that I might actually witness some truths.

I did.

The truth I discovered was Dr. Seelye’s presence, her energy and her faith in what she was doing and in my ability to learn it for myself. Hmmmm… healthcare on MY shoulders? I’m no expert. But, Dr. Seelye’s enthusiasm and Pilgrim’s ready acquiescence to her (and even my) techniques carried me through.

Pilgrim is a 21 year old Arab-QH grade horse I’ve had for 15 years. Like my 34 year old Buckskin Appy and my 16 year old Paint, Pilgrim is sound and well-behaved. Dr. Seelye’s role, to my eyes, was to help each one of them continue in their healthy, happy lives as the years pass. Dr. Seelye wanted to start with Pilgrim because her evaluation demonstrated that he was the least "stuck" in his pelvis and his attitude, and therefore would be the best subject for me to learn on.

I know from teaching Centered Riding, that what we, as students, see the demonstrator doing with their body is not usually what we end up doing ourselves. But, I figured I had a good enough handle on it to work with Pilgrim in the next week, before Dr. Seelye returned to do Bud, my senior-est citizen.

I worked with Pilgrim 3 times during that week. Without Dr. Seelye there to guide me, I realized I had NO idea when to stop something, what to look for, how to progress. So, I just did a "routine"… even though her advice of "The routine is no routine." rang in my mind. But, when you know next to nothing, the easiest first thing to learn is a routine. This was true, "fake it 'til you make it!"

When Dr. Seelye came back to do Bud, she watched me work with Pilgrim and I got a couple of questions answered. But, I didn’t bring up the biggest question in my mind, which was "What the H_ _ _ am I doing here… I haven’t a clue?"

It was 2 more weeks before Dr. Seelye returned to do Moon, the third and last to be treated. By then, having worked with both Pilgrim and Bud a couple times each week, I was ready to admit my total incapability and throw myself on her mercy. I had absolutely no "feel" for any of this, felt like I was just going through the motions, moving their bodies around with no clue as to why or what. Was ready to give up and just let them be whatever they would become.

Somehow, without addressing my admission directly, Dr. Seelye helped me shift my attitude about all of this. It became okay to be a beginner. Nothing I did was going to be "wrong" and anything I did, no matter how inept, was more likely to help them than hurt them.

After Dr. Seelye’s visit, I saw, so clearly, how my own "judge" had been operating to my detriment. No, I am not an expert at this, yet (operative word!). But, I love my horses and truly want them to stay healthy and happy. That’s enough. That inner judge, who seems to always want me to be perfect, right out of the box, would just have to sit back and wait… I was busy learning something!

Lots of tight things let go inside my mind and heart. Now, I find myself tuning more into each horse, as I move limbs or lift bellies. Having an inner conversation with them, staying within each moment… no longer worried about some end result 10 steps away.

And, amazingly, I am feeling things. I have quit looking for what is "right" and am simply receiving what "is" for each horse at that very moment; much simpler and infinitely more satisfying.

So, I guess you can add my name to the client list for Quantum Health and Healing Hearts, as much as a patient as a horse owner. Namaste!

Lynn Elston
Alpha Mare
FromtheMother Farm
Snohomish

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Nutritional Note: The gatekeepers

By Diana Duncan, physiology student

Diana Duncan is a 4th year student at the U of Idaho and plans to attend Bastyr University to further her education in natural medicine. She is taking physiology this semester and offered to share with us an article of hers based on her studies.

Cell membrane mediated transport. This phrase may be a strong reminder of high school and college biology for you and thus provide a strong temptation to skip this article. For those of you, who didn't jump for joy at the thought of biology, don't worry. There will be no test. You will not have to stay up late cramming factoids into your aching skull or squirm under the teacher's baleful gaze as you nervously scribble out answers. The goal of this article is to provide you with some information that may help you better understand the lives of your cells. I know that I have gained an enormous appreciation for the little creatures through my university studies, and hopefully this article will allow you to view your body and your horse's body in a different light.

Cell membranes are structures that surround the cell and regulate the movement of molecules into and out of the cell. It's the moat and imposing wall that protect the castle. Mammals have a specific type of membrane known as a phospho-lipid-bilayer. This consists of two layers of phosphate-lipid chains that have hydrophilic (water-loving) heads and hydrophobic (water-fearing) tails. The tails face towards each other while the heads face away from each other. This allows the membrane to interact with the water-solute environment inside and outside of the cell, but to be selective in what it lets through. Small hydrophobic molecules like hormones can make it through the middle sandwich of hydrophobic tails. However, hydrophilic molecules, with the exception of water itself, are repelled by this layer.

This is where carrier proteins come into the picture. Carrier proteins are proteins embedded in the cell membrane that are responsible for carrying molecules across the cell membrane from the extracellular fluid (ECF-outside) to the intracellular fluid (ICF-inside). They transport molecules that cannot pass through the membrane because of either their hydrophilic quality or their size such as vitamins and minerals. This is only mode of cell membrane transport, but an incredibly essential one. Think of them as the gatekeepers for the cell, letting in people with the proper paperwork and keeping at bay those who wouldn't do the castle any good. Sounds a little bit like bureaucracy, huh?

Each carrier protein is specific for one, sometimes two, related molecules. Cells need carrier proteins to get iodine for thyroid functioning inside. They also have carriers for amino acids, glucose, potassium, sodium, and many other molecules. So each of the gatekeepers only works with one kind of person trying to gain entry. However, these carriers lead a dynamic existence. If you have more people knocking at your castle gate wanting to see the king, the king-being the benevolent ruler that he is – will appoint more gatekeepers to handle that particular paperwork. This is analogous to a cell that is constantly being bombarded by alcohol molecules building more carriers for alcohol. Thus, the cell can remove the alcohol from the blood more quickly, and the person requires increased amount of alcohol to achieve the same effect. We call this tolerance and while carrier-mediated membrane transport is not the sole cause, it does play a central role in tolerance formation.

So, a cell can build more carrier proteins if needed. But what if you don't use the ones that you have? I think we've all heard the famous adage, "Use it or lose it", and that is exactly what happens here. If no one knocks at the castle door for a certain service, the gatekeepers who would normally greet them are no longer necessary and can be fired to keep the overhead down. Let's say that a person eats a diet rich in nutrient-poor refined carbohydrates and low in nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. Their cells get all the glucose they can handle, but their carriers for nutrients such as magnesium, selenium, B vitamins, calcium, and phosphorous aren't being filled very often, if at all. Over time, if these carriers are consistently unused, they will die off. Then, even if the some of that nutrient does happen to be present in the bloodstream, the cell can't import it because it doesn't have the carrier anymore. If the cells are deprived of their essential nutrients they can't function at their optimum levels and this creates an environment vulnerable to opportunistic pathogens.

Wait. As it says on the cover of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, don't panic. Remember, the cell is dynamic and can build those carriers again, but this requires time and often nutritional therapy. We can hire back those fired gatekeepers, but it may require some persuasion and diplomacy. Also, this does not mean that you need to run to your nearest health foods store and stock up on supplements. If you are eating a balanced diet abundant in fresh fruits and vegetables then your cells are likely getting all the nutrients they need. Carriers can only work at certain rates and once they reach what is termed saturation levels, excess nutrients flow by into your kidneys and down the toilet drain. You are better off spending your money on real wholesome food.

Note: This is a simplified overview of carrier-mediated membrane transport. The information was presented as I have learned in my Physiology class this semester. Put down the rocks. But if, through your own research, you find any of this to be incorrect please let me know. I do not mean this to be a complete description of the topic. Also, this is not meant to be taken as professional health advice. If you suspect that you have a nutritional deficiency, first do some research and then consult a health professional.

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Book reviews

There is so much fabulous knowledge out there. I would like to share with you 2 books I have read lately.

Zero Limits, Joe Vitale and Ihaleakala Hew Len

This book was given to me as a gift from a friend and is well worth reading. It is about a psychologist who helped heal an entire ward of mentally ill criminals without ever seeing any of them professionally. He used an unusual healing method from Hawaii called ho’oponopono. It takes self responsibility to whole new heights. The technique, in part, is seeing everything that comes into your life as a part of yourself and cleansing by saying "forgive me", "I love you", "thank you". For example, if you are having a run in with your boss or significant other, say the above in your mind over and over. Certainly when I tried it for a few days saying "I love you" that much made a difference in something. It’s hard to carry negative feelings when you are saying "I love you" in your mind.

Zen and Horseback Riding, Tom Nagel

Don’t let the Zen color your thoughts. It is the most applicable book about applying the principles of posture, breath and awareness to riding horses that I know of and has a foreword by Sally Swift. Tom makes simple and understandable how to truly have self carriage on the horse through engagement of the psoas muscle, hyoid muscles and softening of the solar plexus. I recently attended a clinic of his and have to say it was the most life changing clinic I have ever attended. What struck me was how simple and easy it was to find that ever elusive "seat" I had been searching for all these years. And darn it if I can't possibly tighten my arms and hands or pinch with my legs when engaging my psoas and hyoid muscles! Another amazing thing is when I engaged my psoas and hyoid so did Wizard, my horse, to mirror me. That created lifting of his back into me and engaging his hindquarters to create throughness. Wizard had a grin for sure that day. I could almost hear him say, "After all these years of my patience and she finally got it!" It is so simple, yet so profound. Visit his web site www.zenandthehorse.com.

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