Peter F SDE

Experience Description

​I had a shared death experience with a much loved horse.

Ever since I was a six year old, bouncing excitedly on my seat at the cinema, watching as the cowboys galloped across the dusty American plain, I have wanted to ride. At last in my thirties, the dream became a reality. Admittedly the riding school arena was not exactly the Wild West, but it was a start. For my first lesson, the instructor held the horse on a long lead rope and I sat in the saddle and bounced around him in circles. I was nervous, uncoordinated, sweaty and hooked. I booked more lessons.

Fortunately my wife, Polly, loved riding as much as I did, even though she fell off more frequently. After a few years experience, the next step was owning our own horses. We went to view a horse we had seen advertised. Imagine the magnificent animals you see as statues, that was Indy. A beautiful, white, gelding, seventeen hands tall. Who could not fall for such a grand horse. Polly rode him around the field and we agreed to buy him.

When we started to work with Indy, we found him to be difficult, stubborn, angry and potentially dangerous. It was then that we realized that the marks , indentations, on his rump, must have been made by a whip. A previous owner had beaten him. Perhaps frustrated by Indy's independence, he had tried to beat him into submission. Sadly this happens all too often. A desire for quick results and an attitude of 'I must be obeyed', has destroyed the cooperation and trust of so many horses. Indy was forever afraid of long sticks even on one ride backing away in panic from some small boys with their fishing rods.

We believed that with calm and gentle patience we could find the gentle soul hidden behind the fear and anger. It took a long time but we eventually built a bond between us, where he trusted us and expected us to take care of him. He would stand quietly, untethered while we brushed him, cleaned his feet, or changed his rugs. We were friends at last.

But Indy always retained a strongly independent attitude. I was used to leading him by his lead rope from the field to the stables. On one occasion, as we quietly strolled together across the field, my thoughts wandered. Suddenly his huge head thrust down in front of me, his chisel like teeth brushing my fingers as his powerful jaws snapped round the lead rope, snatching it out of my hand. I was startled out of my day dream. I could not believe that Indy had tried to bite me and indeed he hadn't. Then I realised that he was continuing to walk calmly beside me with the lead rope dangling from his mouth, taking himself into his stable. I am sure he had a smug look on his face. After that incident, I did not bother with the lead rope again.

One day, Polly rode Indy into the arena having set up a few low jumps. She approached the first jump at a controlled pace, folded her body ready to compensate for Indy's expected movement as he sprang over the jump, but instead of the flowing action of the jump, she was thrown forward as Indy stopped dead in front of the jump. As she recovered, he carefully and slowly picked his way, high stepping over the jump poles stopping again on the other side. He had made his point, the jump was so low it was an insult. Polly nearly fell off laughing.

Although as a character Indy could be entertaining, and we had developed a good relationship with him, his stubbornness remained a problem. If he did not want to do something, he would point blank refuse. We knew that Queen Elizabeth had introduced a new training method to be used for her own and those of her Household Cavalry horses at Buckingham Palace. This involved using the horse's natural behaviour to make a bond between the rider and horse and did not allow the use of a whip. I had met one of the Household Cavalry trainers, Richard Maxwell, who, having left the Household Cavalry was now training civilian horses.

Maxwell agreed to help us with Indy and Indy went to be retrained. A few days later Maxwell informed us that Indy would never be the sensible riding horse we had hoped for. Indy was always going to be unpredictable. We had grown to love him and believed he was happy with us, so rather than sell him on to an uncertain future or have him slaughtered, we kept him as our giant pet.

Now that we had ceased to demand anything of him, our relationship changed. This is difficult to describe but while we were riding and we were two separate characters, but when all demands were lifted, it felt as though we were much more in tune. Certainly I thought I developed a better insight into how he thought and felt. Later when we took in two unwanted and abused fillies, this closeness of mind developed with them also. It seemed as if, because we asked for nothing, we could just relax and know what the other was thinking. This was a revelation to me. We were communicating as equals and this contributed to the dramatic events at Indy's death.

Indy aged and one spring the vet informed us that Indy had a heart problem and his days were numbered. Later in the summer, I was in the barn that was open to the field. The horses were grazing the grass in the sunshine. The two girls together and Indy on his own. I paused and looked up to watch them and thought how beautiful they looked in their glossy summer coats. The perfect pastoral scene. Then, horror struck I watched as Indy crumpled and fell to the ground, not the gentle bending and lowering to be followed by a lazy roll, no, this was a totally uncontrolled collapse. My great big beautiful horse was reduced in seconds to a gasping heap. I was about to rush over to him suspecting that this was the end that the vet had forecast when he struggled back onto his feet. He made the forty yards across to me and collapsed again on the bare concrete forecourt of the barn. My mind was a whirl of grief and panic. I knew this was the end for my giant friend. I was distressed that he was laying on the hard concrete and for some stupid reason I wanted him to die on the soft grass. I pushed him and shouted at him to get up, and he struggled to his feet. My mind was spinning, competing thoughts crashing around in my head. As I watched in helpless turmoil, Indy stood tall and erect, head held high and erect, not at all the old dying horse he had been seconds before. He seemed to be staring out into the distance beyond the confines of his field. Then bursting through my thoughts I heard clear and loud a voice in my head saying,

'I am a fit young stallion, I will race across the plains.'

I believe that at that moment Indy was seeing past his death and into a new life. He was energised, every sinew of his body appeared transformed. He trotted off across the field, moving with the elegant fluid movement of his youth. I was amazed watching him float across the grass, poetry in his high stepping action. My wife had just entered the field, seeing her, Indy galloped towards her at speed, fearing that he would be unable to stop she stepped behind a tree. He skidded to an abrupt halt and collapsed. His last run. I dashed over to where he was laying, my wife was kneeling beside him. Without raising his head, he snickered a greeting to me. A gentle horsey greeting sound he always used to express his pleasure at seeing me. I knew he was glad I was with him at the end. He made no further effort to move but lay stretched out on the grass till he sighed his last breath.

Had someone who recognised my love for Indy and saw my fear and grief, given me comfort by allowing me to share what Indy was experiencing and to catch a glimpse of the life he was passing over to and to understand that he would be happy there.

What have I learned from this experience? I already knew from thirty years of caring for animals, where I have sought to establish an empathetic relationship with them, that animals can communicate across species telepathically. It is an ability that we humans share, you probably experience some telepathic communication with your pets.

If we learn to listen to the other creatures we would realise that we share the same love, hope, fear and grief. Then we might not lock millions of animals in sheds, be careless of their lives and inflict terrifying slaughter on them. Other animals instead of the terrifying slaughter queue, would have the natural peaceful end that Indy had. Unfortunately for them, we hold the lives of millions of animals in our hands and are unwilling to listen to their cries. For me, I am grateful to Indy for showing me a better way. I hope we will be reunited one day.

Background Information:

Gender: Male

Date of NDE: 2015

NDE Elements:

At the time of your experience, was there an associated life-threatening event? Yes
I had a shared death experience with a much-loved horse. Ever since I was six years old, bouncing excitedly in my seat at the cinema and watching cowboys gallop across the dusty American plains, I have wanted to ride. At last, in my thirties, the dream became a reality. Admittedly, the riding school arena was not exactly the Wild West, but it was a start. For my first lesson, the instructor held the horse on a long lead rope and I sat in the saddle bouncing around him in circles. I was nervous, uncoordinated, sweaty, and hooked. I booked more lessons. Fortunately, my wife loved riding as much as I did despite her falling off more frequently. After a few years of experience, the next step was owning our own horses. We went to view a horse we had seen advertised. Imagine the magnificent animals you see as statues; that was Indy. He was a beautiful white gelding, seventeen hands tall. Who could not fall for such a grand horse? My wife rode him around the field and we agreed to buy him. When we started to work with Indy, we found him to be difficult, stubborn, angry, and potentially dangerous. It was then that we realized the marks and indentations on his rump must have been made by a whip. A previous owner had beaten him. Perhaps frustrated by Indy's independence, he had tried to beat him into submission. Sadly this happens all too often. A desire for quick results and an attitude of “I must be obeyed” has destroyed the cooperation and trust of so many horses. Indy was forever afraid of long sticks; on one ride he backed away in panic from some small boys with their fishing rods. We believed that with calm and gentle patience we could find the gentle soul hidden behind the fear and anger. It took a long time, but we eventually built a bond between us where he trusted us and expected us to take care of him. He would stand quietly, untethered, while we brushed him, cleaned his feet, or changed his rugs. We were friends at last. Indy always retained a strongly independent attitude. I was used to leading him by his lead rope from the field to the stables. On one occasion, as we quietly strolled together across the field, my thoughts wandered. Suddenly his huge head thrust down in front of me, his chisel-like teeth brushing my fingers as his powerful jaws snapped around the lead rope, snatching it out of my hand. I was startled out of my daydream. I could not believe that Indy had tried to bite me, and indeed he hadn't. Then I realized he was continuing to walk calmly beside me with the lead rope dangling from his mouth, taking himself into his stable. I am sure he had a smug look on his face. After that incident, I did not bother with the lead rope again. One day, my wife rode Indy into the arena having set up a few low jumps. She approached the first jump at a controlled pace, folded her body ready to compensate for Indy's expected movement as he sprang over the jump. Instead of the flowing action of the jump, she was thrown forward as Indy stopped dead in front of it. As she recovered, he carefully and slowly picked his way, high-stepping over the jump poles, stopping again on the other side. He had made his point. He was showing her that the jump was so low it was an insult. She nearly fell off laughing. Although Indy could be entertaining and we had developed a good relationship with him, his stubbornness remained a problem. If he did not want to do something, he would point-blank refuse. We knew that Queen Elizabeth had introduced a new training method used for her own and the Household Cavalry horses at Buckingham Palace. This involved using the horse's natural behavior to build a bond between rider and horse and did not allow the use of a whip. I had met one of the Household Cavalry trainers, Richard Maxwell, who, having left, was now training civilian horses. Maxwell agreed to help us with Indy and Indy went to be retrained. A few days later Maxwell informed us that Indy would never be the sensible riding horse we had hoped for. Indy was always going to be unpredictable. We had grown to love him and believed he was happy with us, so rather than sell him on to an uncertain future or have him slaughtered, we kept him as our giant pet. Now that we had ceased to demand anything of him, our relationship changed. This is difficult to describe, but while we were riding we were two separate characters. When all demands were lifted, it felt as though we were much more in tune with each other. Certainly, I thought I developed a better insight into how he thought and felt. Later, when we took in two unwanted and abused fillies, this closeness of mind developed with them also. It seemed as if, because we asked for nothing, we could just relax and know what the other was thinking. This was a revelation to me. We were communicating as equals, and this contributed to the dramatic events at Indy's death. Indy aged, and one spring the vet informed us that he had a heart problem and his days were numbered. Later in the summer, I was in the barn that was open to the field. The horses were grazing in the sunshine, the two mares together and Indy on his own. I paused and looked up to watch them and thought how beautiful they looked in their glossy summer coats. I appreciated the perfect pastoral scene. Then, horror struck as I watched Indy crumple and fall to the ground in a totally uncontrolled collapse. My great, big, beautiful horse was reduced in seconds to a gasping heap. I was about to rush over to him, suspecting this was the end the vet had forecast, when he struggled back onto his feet. He made the forty yards across to me and collapsed again. He fell on the bare concrete forecourt of the barn. My mind was a whirl of grief and panic. I knew this was the end for my giant friend. I was distressed that he was lying on the hard concrete, and for some reason I wanted him to die on the soft grass. I pushed him and shouted at him to get up, and he struggled to his feet. My mind was spinning, competing thoughts crashing around in my head. As I watched in helpless turmoil, Indy stood tall and erect, head held high. He was not at all like the old dying horse he had been seconds before. He seemed to be staring out into the distance beyond the confines of his field. Then bursting through my thoughts I heard clear and loud a voice in my head saying, “I am a fit young stallion. I will race across the plains.” I believe that at that moment Indy was seeing past his death and into a new life. He was energized; every sinew of his body appeared transformed. He trotted off across the field, moving with the elegant fluid movement of his youth. I was amazed watching him float across the grass, poetry in his high-stepping action. My wife had just entered the field; seeing her, Indy galloped towards her at speed. Fearing that he would be unable to stop, she stepped behind a tree. He skidded to an abrupt halt and collapsed. His last run. I dashed over to where he was lying; my wife was kneeling beside him. Without raising his head, he nickered a greeting to me, a gentle horsey sound he always used to express his pleasure at seeing me. I knew he was glad I was with him at the end. He made no further effort to move but lay stretched out on the grass until he sighed his last breath. Had someone who recognized my love for Indy and saw my fear and grief given me comfort by allowing me to share what Indy was experiencing? To catch a glimpse of the life he was passing over to and to understand that he would be happy there. What have I learned from this experience? I already knew from thirty years of caring for animals, where I have sought to establish an empathetic relationship with them, that animals can communicate across species telepathically. It is an ability that we humans share; you probably experience some telepathic communication with your pets. If we learn to listen to the other creatures, we would realize that we share the same love, hope, fear, and grief. Then we might not lock millions of animals in sheds, be careless of their lives, and inflict terrifying slaughter on them. Instead of the terrifying slaughter queue, other animals would have the natural peaceful end that Indy had. Unfortunately, we hold the lives of millions of animals in our hands and are unwilling to listen to their cries. For me, I am grateful to Indy for showing me a better way. I hope we will be reunited one day.

How do you consider the content of your experience? Entirely pleasant

Did you feel separated from your body? No

How did your highest level of consciousness and alertness during the experience compare to your normal everyday consciousness and alertness? throughout
sharper

At what time during the experience were you at your highest level of consciousness? More consciousness and alertness than normal

Were your thoughts speeded up? No

Did time seem to speed up or slow down? No

Were your senses more vivid than usual? More vivid than usual

Please compare your vision during the experience to your everyday vision that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience normal

Please compare your hearing during the experience to your everyday hearing that you had immediately prior to the time of the experience sharper

Did you seem to be aware of things going on elsewhere? No

Did you pass into or through a tunnel? No

Did you see any beings in your experience? No

Did you encounter or become aware of any deceased beings? No

Did you see or feel surrounded by a brilliant light? No

Did you see an unearthly light? No

Did you seem to enter another world? No

What emotions did you feel during the experience? fear panic

Did you have a feeling of peace or pleasantness? No

Did you have a feeling of joy? No

Did you feel a sense of harmony or unity with the universe? No

Did you suddenly understand everything? No

Did scenes from your past come back? No

Did you reach a boundary or limiting physical structure? No

Did you come to a border or point of no return? No

God, Spiritual and Religion:

What was your religion prior to your experience? Christian- Protestant

Have your religious practices changed? Yes
I believe all animals have an afterlife.

What is your religion now? Other or several faiths

Did your experience include features consistent with your earthly beliefs? Content that was entirely consistent with the beliefs you had at the time of your experience

Did you have a change in your values and beliefs because of your experience? Yes
I now believe all animals have an afterlife and all feel the same emotions and in effect all are equal.

Did you seem to encounter a mystical being or presence, or hear an unidentifiable voice? No

Did you encounter or become aware of any beings who previously lived on earth who are described by name in religions (for example: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha, etc.)? No

During your experience, did you gain information about premortal existence? No

During your experience, did you gain information about universal connection or oneness? No

During your experience, did you gain information about the existence of God? No

Concerning our Earthly lives other than Religion:

During your experience, did you gain special knowledge or information about your purpose? No

During your experience, did you gain information about the meaning of life? No

During your experience, did you gain information about an afterlife? Yes
I was aware that Indy was moving onto another life

Did you gain information about how to live our lives? No

During your experience, did you gain information about life's difficulties, challenges and hardships? No

During your experience, did you gain information about love? No

What life changes occurred in your life after your experience? Large changes in my life
I now realise that humans and other animals have the same emotions. I have spent the following years campaigning against the keeping and slaughter of farmed animals

Have your relationships changed specifically because of your experience? No

After the NDE:

Was the experience difficult to express in words? No

How accurately do you remember the experience in comparison to other life events that occurred around the time of the experience? I remember the experience more accurately than other life events that occurred around the time of the experience
Sharpe

Do you have any psychic, non-ordinary or other special gifts after your experience that you did not have before the experience? Yes
I take in animals in need and after their deaths have seen 'Ghostly' cats, sheep, chickens, horses, elephants.

Are there one or several parts of your experience that are especially meaningful or significant to you? It was important for me to know that Indy was going to be happy and alright

Have you ever shared this experience with others? Yes
my wife

Did you have any knowledge of near death experience (NDE) prior to your experience? No

What did you believe about the reality of your experience shortly (days to weeks) after it happened? Experience was definitely real
It was real.

What do you believe about the reality of your experience now? Experience was definitely real
It was REAL.

At any time in your life, has anything ever reproduced any part of the experience? No

Did the questions asked and information that you provided accurately and comprehensively describe your experience? Yes
yes

Anything else to add? no