Sam is the sensitive soul of our small herd of Clydesdales. He is the self-appointed boss of the herd. When out hacking, he is always happiest leading from the front and, if he could bellow “Follow me!”, I believe he absolutely would.

He does, however, have one Achilles’ heel — cows. He simply does not trust them. I’ve tried many times to play mediator between Sam and our cattle, but it’s hopeless. His fear of them is very real, and nothing seems likely to change his mind.

Our meditation sessions with the heavy horses actually began because of Sam. After suffering a hoof injury, he became extremely wary whenever anyone tried to pick up his foot. Around that time, I discovered James French and the ideas behind the Trust Technique — that simply becoming fully present with animals can help them feel calm, safe and more receptive to new experiences.

We quickly realised there was something very special in it. The horses’ responses were consistently positive, and it soon became apparent that this was an experience worth sharing. We began inviting guests to spend quiet time with these gentle giants and experience their calming presence for themselves.

Sam especially seems to enjoy both the group sessions and one-to-one experiences. He is unfazed by the number of people and is often the first horse to respond. Of all the herd, he is by far the most sensitive to his surroundings and, at heart, I think he is a bit of a worrier. Because of that, I believe these sessions benefit him just as much as the people who spend time with him.