Day dreamin’

I Have A Dream Day brings focus to Heal with Horses

James French and his wife, Shelley Slingo, have spent their life dedicated to the connections humans have with animals. Over the past 30 years, they have garnered international acclaim for their methods of communicating with horses. The UK couple are currently touring North America telling their story, and were in Hillier at Heal With Horses on Saturday.

(L-R): Shelley Slingo and James French with Suzanne Latchford of Heal with Horses.

“I have a dream day” was a one-day course that brought participants from all over North America. People came wanting to discuss topics varying widely from a cat’s attitude at home, to more sombre topics like animal neglect and abuse. Participants had also come to explore the principles and ideals of the Trust Technique. The Trust Technique is a method of communication developed by James and Shelley. Through meditation and simple training, humans can make it much clearer for animals to understand their intentions. One of the ultimate goals of the technique is that these exercises will bring the focus away from animal domination, and move towards animal consideration. Trust Technique is also recognized as an effective therapy method for both animals and humans, where both parties benefit greatly from the interaction. Animals’ sensitivities to human emotions are incredibly intense and, according to French, if you try to communicate with an animal when you are stressed or distracted, all the animal sees is the stressed or distracted energy. The only way communication can be truly achieved is if the human in the relationship is in a state of mindfulness, with their mind open and thoughts clear.

James speaks softly when describing the circumstances that lead him down the path of animal communication and how he came to be a “horse whisperer” of sorts.

“Something fortunate came out on an unfortunate experience,” says James. He explains how his sister had died tragically in a boating accident when he was young, and how that accident ended up tearing apart the relationship between his parents. He recounts the feelings of rage, sadness and confusion and says if it wasn’t for the animals around him, his life may have ended going down a wrong path.

“As a kid you probably would have ended up punching everyone that looked at you wrong,” Shelley says to James. James adds “there were times that I was about as upset as a person could be, and the animals could read my energy and had the intelligence to know that I needed comfort.”

“The technique works on anything with a heartbeat really,” Shelley adds laughing. But Shelley is also very earnest with that response. Though a lot of their work is with horses, they say the Trust Technique can be applied to all animals. The couple’s work has become an online sensation over the past few years, with over nine million views of their online videos. They show James sitting in a calm state, and horses interacting with him in a very soft and intimate nature. They lean on him and nudge his face. They turn over and allow James to scratch their huge bellies. It is obvious that he has earned their trust and is connecting with them. The Trust Technique stems from all the disciplines that James has learned over his years, with one of the focal points being Reiki and the healing power of energy.

When asked about why Heal With Horses was chosen as the location for this event, Shelley says that after communicating only briefly with Suzanne at Heal With Horses, she knew that it was the right place and the right energy for the event. Animal communication and holding the animal’s feelings in regard will require a shift in perception from the general public. It’s a long road, but events like this are helping to spread the word.