04/11/2026
This is Sunny. Humans have not been kind to Sunny in the past. She is in a wonderful home now but still carries a huge distrust especially with people who have not earned it. Even then, she still stays guarded and her body has a hard time letting go. This was my 5/6 time seeing her. I’ve worked on her both tied or just haltered in her stall/pasture. Most of the session she will want to keep her head high, muscles in neck tight and ready to run away. So today I decided to do things a little differently. As soon as I walked into the stall with the halter she went on alert with a worried look. So I set it down and worked at liberty, giving her the free choice to move or walk away when she needed to. After about 10 minutes, she breathed, she lowered her head and she relaxed and released over and over. I was able to achieve changes in the tissues that every other time I was blocked out of. It was emotional and it was beautiful.
It is so important for us therapists to listen, adapt and work with them. Not try to force something. Each time I tried something a little different and just wasn’t getting what I was hoping for. She resisted everything I offered or shut down since she couldn’t leave the chat. Today, I gave her the choice, she let me in and it was the highlight of my week. We don’t deserve these animals.
Wildfire Integrative Bodyworks, LLC