13 Past History

Annie Lovell

I have always loved and enjoyed horses and have had 33 years experience with them. All the horses who have passed through my life have been my greatest teachers and you never stop learning.

Every horse is an individual who needs listening to. My aim is to find ways of working with them so that the relationship becomes a real partnership based on trust and understanding. I have used energy healing since my early years and felt that healing was always part of my life on all levels.

The horse who has thrown the most at me has been Zahra, our Arab mare. Nothing has been straight forward. She could not accept any new experience without being rehearsed and understanding what was needed. She had done nothing for four years, had been backed at four and a half and turned away. When she was backed again at 8 years old she ended up throwing herself and the rider on the ground. She was only the second horse this person had failed to back, she backed horses professionally and had never been thrown like it. I learnt a huge amount between then and now.

Looking back my experience as a drama and dance specialist and special needs teacher gave me a wonderful grounding for working with horses. Awareness of body language and movement and great attention to the world as the horses perceive it is really important. Every horse will present different perceptions and have had different experiences. It’s learning how to reach them as no two horses will need exactly the same approach. We must always be prepared to adjust our thinking and keep an open mind. There is no quick fix to healing horses and it may need a variety of approaches which is dictated by the needs of the horse. If you are prepared to listen the horse will teach you a way forward. I find this both fascinating and exciting.

I became a Reiki and Kwan Yin Master in 2001 and continue to develop my healing skills. I find alternative remedies very useful and successfully completed the Dr Edward Bach Foundation Course Level 1 in 2002 because I have found Bach Flower remedies extremely helpful in dealing with emotional and mental problems when dealing with horses. Bernice and I completed a healing course with Jo Howard, an amazing healer who changed my life and understanding of healing during the Winter of 2002. I also completed a Foundation Course with The Sussex School of Equine Shiatsu in January 2003 with Jill Blake to broaden my understanding and awareness.
I am a successful endurance rider and I’ve won several National awards over the years with our horses.
I‘ve taught English, drama and special needs in both primary and secondary schools in London and Bournemouth. We moved to Devon in 1976. I taught in secondary and primary schools locally and became an Advisory Teacher for ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and was an ICT Consultant for the LEA for ten years.