The Magic of Therapeutic Sessions at Mane Chance Sanctuary

Jenny Seagrove is one of the most talented actresses and has been continually garnered with love and appreciation for her acclaimed acting skills. More recently she added another feather to her cap by establishing a real home for abandoned and ill equine named Mane Chance Sanctuary.

''Mane Chance came about in desperate circumstances in 2011 when a friend rang to say she couldn’t afford to feed her large collection of animals, many of which she had rescued.’’ 

''It was one of those life-changing moments when you find a real purpose. Setting up a charity – a massive adventure.” She discussed how a phone call helped her find a purpose. 

''I called a friend who found Monkshatch Garden Farm, where the owner let us rent the 47 acres we needed. A year later, we were offered it for sale.’’ Setting up the farm was not a hassle-free process.

On a borrowed farmland, with the help of philanthropist SimrinChoudhrie, Jenny set up the center to rescue abandoned horses. She said, ''I had to sell my flat in London and ask Simrin, who has been amazing, to chip in.’’

Beyond this, the team at Mane Chance has been nurturing the animals with extra care and love by providing them regular therapeutic sessions. The management got Mr. James French, pioneer in trust technique and his partner Shelley Slingo to join the system. The technique includes mindfulness and tapping the relationship between horses and people.

''When all this began, I knew the horses would need therapy,” she says. “I asked James French, who I had known through his work as a reiki master for 20 years, and who is a renowned animal communicator, to help out.’’

''It’s about getting the limbic system – the part of the brain associated with emotions and memories – of horse and human - in sync,’’ Seagrove concluded.

Seagrove gradually noticed that the animals were not the only one affected by French’s treatment and affection. ''We had groups of children and volunteers here, some of whom had their own issues and a rapport and trust was building between some of the horses with the humans who seemed to need them the most.’’ 

''We’re at the start of a very big journey to see a new purpose for horses in society as healers, but you have to start somewhere, says Seagrove.’’

Children with special needs and abilities are now regulars at the sanctuary and are affected largely by the technique. Horses are termed as “healing herd” now, thanks to the wonderful initiative led by Seagrove and French.