Equine Wellness Expo will take place on Sunday in Hadley
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For more that two decades people have flocked to the Whole Health Expo in Northampton to refresh body, mind and spirit and horse lovers want to spread the word about how equines can enjoy those benefits as well.
“What the Whole Health was for people, this is for horses/animals,” said Nicole Birkholzer of the Equine Wellness Expo.
The event, being presented for the second year, will be held Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst farm in Hadley.
All proceeds for the event will be donated to the working horse rescue non-profit, Blue Star Equiculture, a draft horse sanctuary and organic farm located at Burgundy Brook Farm in Palmer. Cost is $20 at the door, $15 in advance and $10 for Blue Star herd members. More information is available at www.equiculture.org
Birkholzer said more than 100 people attended last year’s event.
Founder of Mindful Connections that is presenting the event with Blue Star, Birkholzer said this year’s expo will be “bigger and better” with 25 vendors offering products and others demonstrating their wellness techniques.
On her connections web site, Birkholzer explains her work as a relationship coach with horses and humans and describes the expos as “an extraordinary space to educate horse lovers about holistic, innovative and spiritually-grounded equine wellness practices — from dentistry to nutrition to injury rehabilitation, and beyond.”
Birkholzer said her rescue of a Percheron gelding named Jesse helped inspired the idea for the expo.
The 34-year-old horse had an old hip injury and Birkholzer brought in people who could treat him using massage and touch therapy.
“After four treatments he was good as new,” she said. He used to be afraid to lie down, she said, because he wouldn’t be able to get back up.
“He inspired me to do this,” she said.
Expo highlights include talks by area veterinarian John Perdrizet, and Nan Martin, a rider and trainer who is also described as an “intuitive, animal empath and energy healer.”
Brenda Cunliffe, a professional animal communicator, and Casey Sugarman who specializes in psychological rehabilitation work, are among the many presenters.
Equiculture rescue horse will receive wellness treatments.
“They will get hands on treatment so people get to not only talk to a practitioner — they can see how its applied directly to the horse. They get to interact,” Birkholzer said.
“Some think these types of treatment are for Olympic level horses,” she said. “It doesn’t cost the world, it can even help your backyard pony that’s not feeling well.”
