What does one of Australia’s first female jockey do when she retires?
Help horses, of course!
Angela Davison
Angela Davison can’t remember a time when she didn’t love horses – their power, noble good looks, strength and wisdom. As a child, growing up in the North of England, she was fascinated by the Romany gypsies who camped in the village each year, buying and selling horses. She witnessed many miracles as poor looking animals were purchased for peanuts, treated with herbal brews and salves and transformed into sleek, glossy, bright eyed horses which, when re-presented at the sales turned a good profit – all in a matter of weeks.
From showjumping in the UK before her family moved to Australia in the early 1970’s, Angela’s career was always going to be in the equine industry. She learnt about film work and taught actors how to look like they belonged on a horse. A chance encounter took her to the great T J Smith’s breaker, John Drennan and she started doing track work at dawn. Angela’s slight form and light hands caught the eyes of some of the training greats who gave her the great privilege of becoming one of Australia’s first female jockeys.
The spills came with the thrills of riding some legends of the track like Emancipation and Kingston Town, but a jockey comes alive on the back of a horse, so her return to work was always hastened by great chiropractic, together with herbs and homeopathic. But the body knows when it is time to quit, even if the mind and heart long to go on for ever. After a respectable 366 winners to her credit, Angela knew it was time to give something back. She had always massaged and stretched horses and been highly aware of their body mechanics, but knew she needed deeper knowledge to become truly effective. Deciding to study Herbal Medicine so she could call on a complex medicinal toolbox to help horses, Angela graduated from the Dorothy Hall College of Herbal Medicine (Sydney) in 1987, studied Craniosacral Therapy with the Upledger Institute, Florida in 1991 and 1992, and the Clinical Science of Mineral Therapy with Blackmores in 1993. She studied EMRT (Equine Muscle Release Therapy) with Ali Goward after completing her traditional Bowen training. Angela developed her own unique Hair Assessment technique in 1991 (not to be confused with any of the Hair Testing services which were to follow) which forms the foundation of her exceptional work in healing horses and continues to evolve as she allows every horse to be her teacher.
Angela had a thriving mixed human and horse herbal practise for 12 years until the year 2000 when she was ready to specialise in horses. Over 20 years as a full time Equine Herbalist, Angela has continued learning, teaching (TAFE and Herbal Horsemanship Courses) and gaining in experience and expertise.
Angela’s clients come from all equine disciplines, at all levels of their sport, as well as pleasure riders and non riders who still love and care for horses.
Angela has a lifelong love of all animals, and while she specialises in horses, her products help all other animals (including humans!)
Angela’s work represents the culmination of all her years of learning from horses and herbs and she has become a powerful catalyst – helping horses heal and move past their blocks and limitations to realise their full potential in performance and enjoyment of life.
Angela is a valued member of ATMS and HATAA
Julie Curtis
Julie has been a client of Angela’s for many years. Julie always loved animals and starting rescuing them as a little girl in regional Australia. She has been a member of The Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers (NRWC) since 1996. Over the years she has rescued, rehabilitated and released thousands of species of birds, reptiles, mammals and marsupials. As the wildlife Carers Reptile Co-ordinator, Julie specialises in Reptiles – snakes, turtles and lizards and is on call to recover snakes such as Eastern Browns, Red Belly Blacks, Carpet Pythons, Green and Brown Tree Snakes etc from scared people’s homes and gardens so they can be released into the wild.
Over the years, Julie has persuaded Angela into hair assessing and treating all sorts of animals, including ferrets, possums, dogs, rabbits, sheep and goats as well as the occasional horse!
Julie finds so much satisfaction in rescuing domestic animals and rehoming them with people who can love and care for them. She loves working at The Horse
Herbalist as all the people she speaks to have such genuine affection for their animals who are committed to finding gentle, lasting healing alternatives to repair
and restore their animals’ health.
After a long career in service industries, Julie was the obvious choice for the frontline on the phones at The Horse Herbalist. With her bubbly, friendly, personality and love of all animals, great and small. Julie loves broadening her animal understanding and knowledge and helping stressed horse owners bring their horses
back into balance. Julie is in the office on Mondays and Wednesdays and at other times of peak demand!
To The Bone
For many years I’ve had a rotator cuff problem which has given me lots of pain until I discovered “To the Bone”. After being very sceptical at first, I have now been using it on and off for 2 years and I have great results! My shoulder usage has improved enormously and I would not have the range of movement I now enjoy – it’s all thanks to this herbal product! I recommend it to anyone suffering chronic joint pain. Thank you so much Angela!
Stage Fright transformed my horse
Grace has been so much happier already, her coat is shinier, her eye is brighter . . . we had a competition one week into the treatment and her first try on the Stage Fright. The difference I had in my horse was amazing. I had a 13% improvement in one of my dressage scores from the previous week and we won all our classes that day. It was so nice to have a horse so much closer to the one I have at home. I cannot thank you enough!
Hair Testing & Herbs are routine for our Stables
Before Angela started working on my horses, I’d try about twenty to get two useful ones. In the last four years, every horse that comes in gets hair tested and then appropriate herbal treatment and some bodywork and away we go. I haven’t had a reject in four years, so we’re all happy. Angela’s work makes a huge difference.
Willy Wash makes life easier!
I have a gelding that is fairly combative at sheath cleaning time. He has just always had issues with being touched in that area (his dam also did not like to have her udders cleaned so I am not surprised). Willy Wash has taken all the drama out of this process. I don’t have to have him sedated and we are done in 10 seconds.
Amazing Results with Racehorses
Angela Davison has tested and treated a number of horses from my stable over the last seven years with amazing results. I have been delighted with the improvement – both mentally & physically, of some of my problem horses, and would highly recommend Angela’s methods of treatment.
Simply the Best!
In 2005 I contacted A.D after "Kohl" was diagnosed with a serious respiratory Infection. 17 years later, I still believe it was the best decision I'd ever made. The difference A.D made with Kohl was unbelievable. I highly recommend A.D testing and treatments to anyone. As our results over the years on many horse's has spoken for themselves. Thank you A.D for your amazing service over all these years especially with Kohl! Kohl was retired from competition at the age of 23 still sound and healthy.
Every new Horse gets a Hair Testing & Herbal Treatment Programme
I have been using and recommending Angela’s hair testing services to friends and clients for over 20 years and the first thing I do when a new horse arrives here is get its hair tested. The results give me a clear understanding of what I can and can’t feed each horse and how their joints and body systems are functioning. The herbal and homeopathic treatments for each have been extremely successful. This form of investigation and treatment is part of the holistic care that I believe every horse needs. Angela has assisted me with my own health issues as well with great results.
Filly Foal with recurring Colic
My 2 month old filly was getting weekly bouts of colic and the vets couldn’t figure out why. They wanted to operate on her to “have a look”. Instead, I brought her home and sent a hair sample to Angela and under her awesome guidance and treatment plan, the filly was right as rain in no time flat. 12 months later, the filly is looking sensational and has had no further problems. Love your work Angela.
