In the spring of 2000, a good friend of Anna's was having
serious problems with her daughter's pony. Some months earlier,
Anna had read about Julie's work as a healer and animal
communicator and thought she might be able to help the pony.
Julie was indeed able to help and Anna was hugely impressed
by her accuracy, integrity and professionalism. Julie, for
her part, was enthusiastic about Anna's work as a writer.
'People keep saying I should write a book,' said Julie.
'But I don't have the time or the inclination.'
Many of Julie's clients, it seemed, had been longing to
hear more of the remarkable encounters she had experienced
in her day-to-day life as a healer and animal communicator.
'No problem,' said Anna, 'I'm looking for a new project
in animal welfare. I'd love to write about your work.'
And so it was that Julie and Anna joined forces to produce
the book What Horses Say.
A new kind of communication
Over a two-year period, Anna carried out dozens of interviews
with Julie's clients; saw their horses and wrote up their
stories, checking and double checking for accuracy - and
read through more than two thousand case notes taken down
by owners and riders of the horses Julie had been called
to see.
To learn more about areas which might cause horses physical
pain or emotional distress, Anna listed questions designed
to get a deeper understanding of the horse's viewpoint.
Do they really enjoy being ridden? And if not, why not?
What do they feel about separation? What was their most
frightening experience?
And what do they need most from us?
Julie posed questions like these and many more to a cross
section of sixty-two stallions, mares and geldings who form
a representative part of her equine clientele. Their answers
were often unexpected, astonishing and deeply touching.
They can all be found in the ground breaking new book, What
Horses Say.
Anna
Clemence Mews comes from a farming and veterinary background
and has had a lifelong interest in horses, healing and animal
welfare. Anna's earlier career as an advertising copywriter
later extended to agricultural journalism and plays for
BBC Radio 4. She is also the author of several specialist
animal care books and an historical novel.