The pet Iâll never forget: Merlin the therapy sheep
When Merlin came to live with me, his only job was to clear the weeds from my fields. But his calm, affectionate nature has made him a vital part of my therapy practice Merlin the sheep came to me by chance four years ago. A friend of mine had a lamb she was bottle-feeding, but she couldnât look after it any more so she asked me if I could take care of it. I live in Moortown, Leeds, and rent about three hectares (seven acres) of land in Eccup, a small village nearby, where Iâve kept horses for about 13 years. I needed some help clearing the weeds that the horses wouldnât eat and sheep seemed like the best solution because theyâll eat anything â so I said yes. The lamb was called Bambi and when I came to collect her, my friend offered me another lamb, Merlin. Shortly after, Bambi died and it was just Merlin left. It wasnât long until he started to show his special powers. Iâve worked as an equine therapist for eight years, helping people with illness, depression and grief. My practice involves outdoor therapy and my horses are my usual assistants. My clients visit me in the field, they stroke and cuddle the animals and it eases them into a state of calmness that allows
Source: For the complete article, please visit the original source link below.
