November Practitioner of the Month....Ashley Diane Currie

Name: Ashley Diane Currie

Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA and I have the pleasure of working on horses and humans all over southern California

Certifications Through Angel's Animals: Current certifications are Craniosacral and Holistic Equine Nutrition, and according to my husband it is only a matter of time before I sign up for another one! Spoiler alert, he's right.

When did you decide that you wanted to work with animals? For most of my adult life I had been a part of an industry that did not value me or feed me emotionally. I had come to the end of my rope, and decided I needed a huge gear shift. As a child you couldn't get me away from animals, and I was always a horse girl, through and through. I did a ton of research, and sort of stumbled onto equine massage and bodywork. I took my first class and never looked back, I was completely hooked. When I realized that I could give back to these amazing animals and that through my giving I still receive so much - forget it, how could I ever think about doing anything else?

What animal influenced you the most growing up? Oh man, this is like asking me my favorite movie and saying I can only choose one! I'll go with the first horse that jumped into my brain, Dushka. Dushka was a flea-bitten grey Arabian mare I rode while I was a teenager. She was fierce, unapologetic, stunning, and kind. She required me to earn every step forward and had no problem making me step back. I couldn't understand at the time exactly what she was teaching me, but I know I am a better person for her. What I wouldn't give to go back with the knowledge I have now and treat her like an absolute queen! My practice and my relationships with horses are still influenced by her, and I think they always will be. I absolutely hope they always will be.

What animals do you currently own? At the moment I have a velcro dog named Churchill who is a pit/cattle dog mix. He is a 65 lb bundle of nerves and love who refuses to let me enter a room (bathroom, bedroom, whatever) without being right next to me. I am working on my husband (at times more subtle than others) on getting more animals, and as he has already remarked that he thinks when we're older we'll be like Jon Stewart and his wife with a rescue farmer somewhere, I think it might be working.

What makes your animal nutrition practice stand out? Along with nutrition I also offer massage, bodywork, kinesiology taping, craniosacral therapy, and most recently custom herbal blends that are tailored to each horse individually.

What message would you like to share with potential clients? This is not a job for me, this is a calling. My agenda is simple, your horse feeling as good, as supported, as healthy as possible from the inside out. I am enthusiastically dedicated to your horse's health, and to your relationship with your horse. I will use every contact I have, every resource, every gut instinct for your horse, and if it's something that I cannot get to the bottom of, I will find someone who can.

What message would you like to share with others who are thinking about pursing a career in animal health? Focus on the animal. The animal is your priority. Become an expert listener. Listening gently will open you up and open up your talent like nothing else.
- Practice as much as possible. Even if it means you are doing sessions for free. When I started I spent months doing sessions for free. There is nothing like an intelligent pair of hands, and the only thing that can train your hands is having them on an animal.
- Remember that YOU CAN help! You will a hundred percent feel imposter syndrome (I still feel this way at times!), but take a deep breath, re-focus on the animal, and move forward with compassion for yourself and the animal.

Visit Ashley's Website