Case Studies for Horses

OWNERS REPORT

Name: Harry (Nazarim). Arab Gelding, 14.3hh, Grey. Age: 15yrs old in March 2008.

Owner: Kirsti Eldridge.

I brought Harry in October 2003. He was broken at 4yrs old and for the next few 4yrs only did in-hand showing and light hacking with his previous owner. He had not been ridden properly for over a year when I brought him. He was very weak in his body, with no basic muscle tone and not balanced at all. It took all of his first winter with me to get him to be able to carry himself correctly on the lunge and also calm down out hacking. His right rein was his worst rein, he could not canter at all on that side and really struggled to even trot with a rider on.

Jo examined him at the start of 2004 and established that he was very sore and tense in his neck and poll, which is why he fought for his head all the time, he had tender patches under his saddle, which is why he bucked all the time and had uneven muscle development all down one side, which caused him to stumble.

The first mission was to change my saddle - Jo explained that it was too long in the seat and sat to far back over his kidneys, which caused pressure points, was making him hollow his back and preventing him from building up topline.

Jo worked on him once a month for the whole year, massaging his muscles to help release the knots and working on his spine to release trapped nerves. She showed me how to do 'carrot stretches' to encourage him to stretch his neck round to the side of his flanks and down to the floor to help stretch his neck and back muscles.

The improvement was amazing, Harry became calmer to ride with less fighting, much happier to relax his jaw and work in an outline, and he could go up and down transitions without falling over or bucking.

He had built up so much in muscle and stature that, in 2006, he won or was highly placed in every in-hand showing class he went in and was 2006 Chiltern & Thames Arab champion at the end of the season. That winter we went on to compete at local dressage competitions and even won a class.

I can honestly say that without Jo's help and advice Harry would not be the fabulous happy horse he is today.

JO’S REPORT

Nazarim was bought for pleasure riding and showing and his owner found that he was cold backed and had difficulty working on the right rein; especially in canter when he would change leads or fall into trot. He was also difficult to load into a trailer, sweated up on travelling and became very tense and strong when at a competition.

When I examined him he regularly rested his left hind and it was almost impossible to get him to stand square for more than a few seconds. He was also taking a slightly shorter stride with his near hind at a walk and did not want to extend it very far forwards under his body. When I palpated his legs, neck and spine the reactions I felt were in the mid thoracic region under the middle of the saddle going back through his lumbar spine to the sacrum. He also resisted when I tried to rotate and flex the joints of the near hind limb. Due to trapped nerves in his lumbar spine and pelvis he had developed a long term stiffness of gait. Once I was able to release the trapped nerves he began to use himself more and muscles started to build up.

His saddle was too long and he was unhappy carry the weight of his rider over his lumbar spine, causing him to be hollow and throw his head around. The improvement when a shorter saddle was tried on him was both immediate and very noticeable. He became much more active and ‘bouncy’, and was able to really lengthen his stride for this first time.

The owner did report some improvement after the initial treatment but in fact I treated him on a regular 6 – 8 week basis over a period of about 6 months by which time he was using both his hind legs with equal power, was happy to canter on either rein in the arena and was found to be more settled during his endurance rides and whilst travelling. I have continued to check him over every 6 months to prevent the recurrence of his problems and to help him to remain flexible and free-moving as he has aged.

OWNERS REPORT

C & A Equine Laundry

Owner: Chris & Andrea Flood.

Jo has been treating our horses and ponies for over 4 years. From 12h pony club ponies to 16h eventing horses, she regularly visits our livery yard to ‘MOT’ them all. Whenever we have a problem we always call Jo before calling the vet. She has never let us down and always responds to emergency call outs. She is always available to offer advice on general horsecare and exercise techniques. Our horses are in work all year and Jo helps us to maintain their health and fitness.

We have a 14.2h Welsh Section D that had never stopped at a fence. We knew that something was wrong, when she wouldn’t jump a practice fence at a competition. We called Jo who came out the next day. She arranged a series of treatments, advised us to rest her for two weeks and the pony returned to full fitness soon after; within 6 months she went on to win the Blue Chip Novice Show Jumping Championship!

We have recommended Jo to all of our friends and customers at C&A Equine Laundry. Her service and friendly advice is second to none.