Case Studies

EDWARD

Edward is a 15 year old cob who squeals with delight at going hunting and jumping – literally!! Edward’s owner asked me to look at Edward after he felt he was just not his usual self.

There was no squealing with delight, loss of interest and more disturbingly he had started to refuse jumps. The owner wondered if maybe he was just feeling his age, but could I have a look, none the less.

On observation of Edward he was very sore all over but particularly in his back. I used various techniques to alleviate his muscle spasms and adhesion, helping him to regain suppleness throughout. I also observed Edward’s saddle and how his owner rode him, both of which needed a little ‘fine tuning’!

A week later I returned to look at Edward, whose muscles felt a lot softer and needed less attention. Edward’s owner had commented that he felt the Edward had got that sparkle coming back in his eye. I returned for another two sessions to ensure that Edward’s muscles were free from spasm and adhesions.

Edward was last seen very much back to normal, squealing, jumping and thundering across fields!

SHORTIE

Shortie is an exuberant 16.1hh 7 year old event horse. The owner rang to ask if I could find anything, she felt that he was not working correctly behind. This had not been helped by the fact he was kicked in the field and had reared up in defence. He also had had a poisoned foot, which had been masked by the antibiotics for the cut from the kick.

As the owner felt worried from where Shortie had been kicked he was sent for an X-ray and Scanning to check for any skeletal damage, to which he came back clear. The Veterinary had diagnosed deep muscle injury.

I found on my initial treatment that Shortie was very sore and tight through his hamstrings and through his adductor group of muscles. He was also running on three tracks and was not following through from behind, especially on his right hind. Over a period of time, these have been gently massaged to ensure that on healing, there were no adhesions left to cause any further trouble later.

With the Veterinarians clearance, Shortie was sound enough to be worked. He was given some gentle remedial exercises to help build up his muscles correctly.

Shortie is now feeling and moving a lot better, he is working on two tracks again and is also following through and tracking up from behind properly.