A conversation with Jaffa in person
Most of the time, I communicate with animals at a distance, using their photo a bit like a telephone number to connect with them. I prefer to work from a photo for several reasons: there are fewer distractions, I can be sure that I’m not accidentally reading clues from the environment or their body language, and of course, it makes distance no object for people who want to work with me!
I recently had the pleasure of breaking that norm and having a chat in person with a lovely Arab ex-stallion called Jaffa. I already knew him a little because I’ve been spending time with his herd, being a second person to give them some love, attention, and handling experience for the youngsters.
I had tried to connect with him on a communication level the first time I met him. I remember seeing an image of a horse on a hill, mane and tail flowing in the wind. His owner couldn’t place the hill, and I assumed I was experiencing performance anxiety—wanting to make a good impression on this lady I was meeting for the first time, who was kindly going to let me work with her horses. Nerves happen to all of us at times—even after 15 years of communicating with animals, they can creep in when you least expect it.
This time, there was a different quality in the air, and I knew it was a good time to try again. I had just watched Jaffa and his owner working together, and there was a palpable sense of calm between all three of us. We were relaxed, connected, and it felt like communication was just a small step away. When I suggested we give it another go, Jaffa seemed more than ready.
He began by sharing an image of himself, mane and tail flowing dramatically, looking every bit like a proud Arabian horse—a lot like the hill image I had seen previously! The message that came with it this time was clearer: here was a horse showing me that he knows he is majestic and really very special (and honestly, he is!). Jaffa then turned his attention to his herd, sharing a few complaints about “the others” and singling out Grace in particular for not being respectful enough. Grace is a sweet mare, and his owner confirmed that he does seem to like bossing her around a bit more than the rest. I suspect he has a bit of a crush, and she’s just not that impressed by him!
We shifted the conversation to his health, focusing on his recurring bouts of colic. Here’s where I remind you, dear reader, to always consult with a vet if you have concerns about your animal’s health. If something comes up in a communication, do check it out with a vet, as we animal communicators can’t diagnose or treat animals by law. When asked what helped his tummy aches, Jaffa shared the image of a white powder mixed into a paste—something his human confirmed she gives him during an episode. It’s good to know he feels that this helps! He also requested fresh nettles to be cut and left to dry so he could eat them. A little research afterward revealed that nettles have anti-inflammatory properties, which may be why he was drawn to them. Animals often know what they need—or at least have opinions, if we tune in and listen.
I’m always curious how horses feel about being ridden, and his owner wanted me to ask him about it. Jaffa said he enjoys being ridden but was quick to point out that his person tends to “faff” too much for his liking! She does like to do a little liberty work to see how he’s feeling and connect before getting on, but his message was very much, “Will you please just get on with it!” He also expressed a desire to be the priority when it comes to work, especially if his human was working with multiple horses in a day. He wanted reassurance that if he wanted to come in and do something, he would be heard. This was absolutely in keeping with the boss man we see him being day to day!
I asked Jaffa how he would make it clear when he did or didn’t want to be ridden. It came as a surprise to him that I wasn’t always in “communication mode,” and both his owner and I would appreciate clear body language to let us know what he was or wasn’t up for.
It was lovely—and a bit of a relief—to be able to connect with Jaffa in person. He mooched around the school while we were chatting, standing with us and relaxing some of the time, and looking lost in thought at others. When I’m receiving information like images, I like to close my eyes to “see” better, and I was delightfully surprised at one point by his velvety nose giving me a nuzzle. Working with Jaffa was a beautiful reminder of the importance of timing, connection, and presence. Sometimes, you just need to wait for the right moment—and when it comes, magic happens.