Horses, Humans, and the Health Connection
By: Diana DeRosa
In 2005, my mom was diagnosed with cancer and, like any devoted daughter who was devastated by the thought of losing her “rock,” I went in search of answers. I came up with Hippocrates, a hidden treasure of health and wellness located in West Palm Beach, FL. While for my mom, going to their three-week Life Transformation Program didn’t happen, I never forgot what I heard in the orientation session we attended.
Since then, I have devoted a large portion of my life to learning about alternative methods of health. I’ve delved into healthy eating habits, essential oils, detoxification, pH balancing and so much more. Because of the knowledge gained over the years, often people will come to me for advice for simple things like a cold or more complex issues like cancer. Together we discuss things they should consider to help strengthen their mind, body, soul, spirit and their immune system. My consistent answer to everyone is, “if I were in your shoes, the first thing I would do is go and take the three-week Life Transformation Program offered by Hippocrates.”
Now 12 years later, I still make the same suggestion but when people started to ask very specific questions, it became clear that if I wanted to give them answers, I needed to test the waters. While three weeks would be my ideal, a busy lifestyle allowed me one week to see what Hippocrates is all about. Now as I look back on that experience it’s my goal to share what I call the “gift of health” to others, especially those involved with horses.
Hippocrates Can Also Help Horses
Florida in the winter is an area that has a host of horses in every breed and discipline including dressage, show jumping, reining, racing, polo, and so much more. So, it only makes sense that Hippocrates is a place for the horse people who love and care for them.
While I continue to learn about how Hippocrates helps heal people, I was not aware that in the past it also has helped horses. In fact, over the years the same philosophies that Hippocrates uses for people, it has also used to heal and improve performance in people and in horses.
I chatted with Hippocrates owner Brian Clement about that horse connection which took place back when this place of health and wellness had its headquarters in Massachusetts.
“When I was still in Boston, guests who came through the program and got extraordinary results were horse owners and some were race horse owners,” Brian commented.
One of those owners approached Brian and asked if he thought the health benefits that humans were seeing could extend to a horse. Knowing that horses are already vegans (which is the foundation of Hippocrates), he felt pretty positive that the same premise could be transferred to horses.
One of the healing techniques that Hippocrates uses is wheatgrass poultices on wounds and it was this concept that they passed on to horses. This is done by taking left over pulp from after the wheatgrass is juiced and using that as a poultice to heal whatever is under it.
There was some trial as to how much to use on a horse compared to what you would use on a human, but once that was figured out, not only did the horse’s healing improve but as Brian explained, “It was faster because the horse is a vegan. It wasn’t only the wheatgrass. We gave them a wide variety of sprouts.”
The horses loved the sprouts and clearly looked forward to their daily addition to their diet. They also used different salves with herbs to help dissolve growths. In addition, owners and trainers were encouraged to ensure the horses were kept warm when they were sleeping. The combination of all the above proved to solve a host of problems and get the horses back in action much quicker than the normal turnaround time had been for the various conditions.
“I learned a lot from that. I learned that we are not different. For the first time I gained a different respect for their intelligence. I believe that one of the horses thanked us. He got better and you could see a difference, not only in his attitude, but in his hair and mane,” Brian added.
A New Home in Horse Country
Once the headquarters moved down to Florida that part of the business ended, but with so many horses around, Brian has a renewed interest in working with horses again. He feels the best way to do that is to work with the people who own, train, ride or care for them.
Before extending the benefits to the horse, it’s important that those working around the horses understand what Hippocrates is all about and then extend that knowledge to the horse. It makes the most sense for the individual(s) to be the ones who first learn the practices of the program. Once they see and understand how the Hippocrates lifestyle and protocols can benefit them, their family and friends then they can decide what might also work for their horses. The result will be a better life for everyone.
Both Brian and his wife Anna Maria have a love for horses and if you wander around the property you will see a variety of horse statues and artifacts. “Anna Maria and I both see the horse as elegant and complete. They don’t have self-esteem problems. These large bodies running 50 miles an hour; it’s a noble image,” said Brian. “Everyone likes horses and everyone likes babies. We are universal. We perceive ourselves as global. We have 17 and 18 countries around the world. We embrace them not just for their image but the extraordinary emotions. What other species has the endless love of the horse.”
For Brian and his wife, healing horses was just an extension of what his goals are for people. Health is the most important present we can receive, and for Brian, seeing what he believes is working to heal so many, “is a gift for me. The plan I had was and is to change humanity. I took on this mission because it is that important. You can’t help to change humanity without a presence.”
Brian feels that in a way he’s had a part in knowing that more people throughout the world are Vegan than ever before. Brian and Anna Maria live a life that never stops. Last year, they spent 210 days somewhere in the world sharing their philosophy about the road to health.
When asked about the endless hours Hippocrates requires, Brian was quick to add, “I am happy to love my work. As you get older your ego tames itself. Your brain is a foe not a friend. Your heart is your best friend.”
With the horse lover in me coming out, I wondered if Brian wanted to end on one last horse moment, and sure enough he did. “In general, people who have a love of horses have a sense of warmth and humanity. Maybe they should hold that for their lives and maintain the same level of concern for their companions as they do for the horse.”
Health has no boundaries and as a long time equine journalist who writes about and photographs horses, sharing my Hippocrates experience, especially with those who are horse enthusiasts, continues to be important to me. For more about the seven articles from my week at Hippocrates and to read future articles go to http://hippocratesinst.org/a-hippocrates-guest-journey.
On the last Wednesday of each month, Hippocrates has an Open House where you can learn more about what this institute offers. They also host half hour walking tours at noon on Thursdays and Saturdays with a program consultant. It’s a great way for you to capture the essence of this place up close and decide if any of Hippocrates programs would support your wellness goals.
Keep in mind that even though your horse can’t go to Hippocrates, you can take advantage of the knowledge you gain, because many of the same protocols can also be of value to your horse. In fact, you can discuss your thoughts with one of the many Hippocrates professionals. They would be happy to guide you on how to best implement some of the things already mentioned in this article as well as other protocols, such as essential oils, massage techniques and more. These and other things could make life easier for both of you because Hippocrates is about health and healing for humans, so why not give that gift of wellness to your horse.
For more information go to www.hippocratesinst.org, or call 561-471-8876. And if you happen to know a person (or a horse) who needs some healing help, tell them about this health institute.
