THE SULIS APPROACH
Sulis is an approach – a way of thinking and acting - a method in working with horses in war, agriculture or pleasure - of bringing them to quicker recovery, improved responses, gentler temperaments and enhanced learning. The ground action and mounted maneuvers promote the ultimate in partnership.
It is rooted in antiquity, but as applicable today as it was two thousand years ago.
Bath (England), was once the healing sanctuary of the Celtic goddess Sulis. When the Roman Legions invaded Britain, they retained the local deities, but added their own gods to the list. Thus “Sulis” became “SulisMinerva” and her ‘mandate’ expanded to include protective aspects, war, retribution and agriculture.
Thus, over the millennia, Sulis became synonymous with healing, war, protection and agriculture and, by extension, the protection of horses utilized in war and agriculture.
Historically, Sulis isa method of maintaining optimum health in horses required to perform strenuous tasks over a long period of time, and a particular style of working with them based on a “partner-relationship”.
The system was common in the Middle Ages, faded away for several centuries, but reappeared in the late 1800’s where the practice was revived and used by homesteaders and farmers of European decent.
If your dafthorse wasn’t in good health, your family didn’t get the plowing done, or if your charger was not up to par, you maybe even lost the war!
It is similar to ensuring that a farmer’s tractor is ready for work (tires, fuel, oil, grease, tune-ups etc) or the exercises and psychological conditioning a soldier undergoes in preparation for combat.
With the disappearance of the horse as a “beast of burden”, the practice of Sulis once again faded from the equine world. But the need for it remains.
Bring to your mind a picture of a war horse from the Middle Ages. A knight began his training at eight years of age, progressing through the various stages of Page (where he was taught basic fighting skills, horsemanship, the code of chivalry, reading, letters, arithmetic and court protocols) through to the status of “Squire” at about 15 years old.
As a squire, he was in direct service to a knight. His duties included caring for the knight’s horse, and cleaning the knight’s armor and weapons. In the preparation for war, it was the squire’s task to arrange a “blessing” on the horse. Although proclaiming themselves Christian, the blessing was most often sought from the Roman Goddess “Sulis” at Bath England.
During these ceremonial periods, the squires would visit with each other – often for days – as they prepared their knight’s horses for the challenges ahead. They would exchange information, knowledge of horse health, tips and techniques – thus the “Sulis Approach”.
A knight wore armor weighing between 60 and 80 pounds, and carried a shield weighing about 40 pounds and his sword added another 30 for a total of about 150 pounds - in addition to his own weight of an average of 170 pounds. The horse was often armored as well, for a combined tally of sometimes up to 500 pounds that the horse was required to carry.
What muscle, joint and ligament stressors did that burden cause the horse?
With a shield in one hand and a sword in the other – how was the horse being guided? The scream of war, the smell of blood, the frenzy of battle – there had to be a deep and trusting relationship between the horse and knight.
And the draught horse, pushing into the collar for many hours in a day, pulling weights often thousands of pounds – what stressors does that create?
Farmers often guided their horses by voice, as there was seldom sufficient manpower to have one person devoted to driving and another to pitching sheaves or loading rock.
We show you how to evaluate the spine, hips, shoulders, legs, neck and chest. You will learn how to massage, stretch and manipulate each part for better performance and increased comfort for your horse.
Coupled with your breathing and focus, you can immediately see significant changes take place.
Energy, breath and manipulated movement to maximize the health, comfort and performance of your horse, and pair bonding to maximize your relationship.