10 year old Riding Club mare. Bell’s stride had signifently shorted, she was rushing jumps which were long and flat.
Visit 1
Bell was very tight through the hamstrings, shoulder and girth area gave a big reaction, she tried to lei down when I touched this area.
She began to relax more throughout the balance, though had a very tender poll, & tight through the neck. She was very sleepy once I had finished her head, so I left it at that.
Visit 2
Rear end was nice and loose. Shoulder’s and girth had improved a little. Her neck was much better, the poll was now only tender on the off side. I addressed areas of concern.
Owner commented that her riding had improved.
Visit 3
I performed an advanced balance, with a little more work to the top of the neck, head and ear’s. As these were the only area’s left giving any concern. She is more relaxed, her stride is not so choppy. Bell now competes regularly on riding club show jumping teams. She also enjoyed hunting this winter.
Dolly had begun to shake her head while working on the flat, and stiff to turn to the left. As Dolly was beginning her International career, these little things became more noticeably as her workload increased. Exercises and stretching were not a benefit at this time.
Visit 1
I performed a basic body balance. Dolly was tight over the near thigh and stifle area. Both shoulders (more to off side) & girth area were very tight. Pain through the neck and her poll was very tender. (no pain to teeth or TMJ) Dolly relaxed and went off to sleep after working on the neck and shoulders.
Visit 2 ~ 1 week later.
I performed an advanced body balance. No reactions to hindquarters, & shoulders were much better. The top of neck and poll were still tender so I performed advanced area of concern moves to this area.
Dolly ’ s head shaking stopped, she became loser & freer in her work. She could now achieve a lengthened stride. Dressage greatly improved.
5 year old show jumping mare. Achieved great success as a 4 year old on the show jumping circuit, especially at Balmoral & Dublin were she had been placed.
She became nappy & unwilling to perform as well. This turned to stopping, rearing & generally grumpy and unable to ride.
Visit 1
Observation ~ well toned horse in good condition. Muscles felt soft & supple. Pain in shoulder area, slightly tender in kidney area, no other problems. I performed an advanced body balance as her problems were confined to one area.
Kelly was nervous & wary to begin with, though quickly relaxed. She showed pain over her shoulder & girth area, (she tried to kick and bite several times). Once I had addressed this area, the mare put her head down & went to sleep. Her owner commented that she had never seen her so relaxed. 10 mins later, she was ready for more, (lots of licking, yawning & a huge stretch.
Visit 2
Kelly’s owner commented that she had been in better form, her urine had been very dark for a few days after my visit & her bedding was very wet and smelly.
I performed more advanced moves over the kidney area, shoulder & neck. Kelly was much more relaxed during this visit & generally quite dozy through-out.
Kelly returned to the show jumping yard were she was happy & relaxed in her work. She had great success for the rest of the se ason.
Heather McReynolds was asked to visit a very poorly four week old Connemara filly foal – it was thought the foal would not survive beyond a few days.
Visit 1
The foal was scouring very badly and her tongue and mouth were ulcerated which meant she was unable to feed. She was very weak and kept falling over on attempting to stand. The vet had been treating the foal for five days with antibiotics and anti inflammatory drugs. Blood tests had shown that the kidneys were not functioning correctly resulting in a huge build up of urea.
Heather attempted to complete The Equine Touch™ basic body balance and found that the foal was in a lot of pain in the rib and loin area.
Jay is a 19 year old thoroughbred who thinks he is 4. His owner Deirdre has had jay for 4 ½ years. When Deirdre began riding Jay it became apparent that he had a few problems – particularly with his head. He was extremely fast, kept taking off and was always above or behind the bit and shoke his head a lot. She was told he was dangerous and had better find another horse.
Deirdre was determined to solve his problems as he was a sweet horse when not ridden. She discovered that he had a tooth growing into his cheek (despite 6- monthly checks from another dentist) and problems with his poll and pelvis. No wonder he was sore!
Visit 2
The foal survived overnight so Heather returned to attempt some more basic body balance moves, giving very long breaks for the filly to process, discovering once again that there was soreness throughout the whole body. The little one became very tired and lay down, allowing Heather to make moves on her head and neck and the foal fell asleep with her head on Heather’s knee. As Heather sat with the foal, the mother constantly licked Heather’s hands, pushing them back to her baby!! After the body balance the filly’s
urine was clear and she drank a little from her mother. The vet administered the last of the antibiotics. The filly was strong enough to be allowed out into a small paddock for a short walk and appeared much more alert and was suckling well.
Visit 3
Heather visited again the next day and this time managed to complete the full basic body balance for she found the foal was stronger and was interested in what Heather was doing. Toward the end, once again the little one lay down and allowed the head work – Heather noticed that the ulcers in her mouth were almost gone. After the body balance, mare and foal went out into the paddock and the filly cantered around and swotted flies!
Visit 4 - Two days later
There was still tenderness over the kidney area and tension in the poll and over the shoulders but the foal was much stronger and stood throughout the body balance, strong enough to spend the rest of the day in the field.
Visit 5 - Two days later
Heather carried out an Advanced Body Balance with area of concern moves for lymphatic drainage, kidney and sacrum. At the end of the balance the filly went out into the field and bucked and cantered off!
Visit 6 - Three weeks later
An Advanced Body balance was carried out with very little pain reaction. The foal was friendly, healthy, happy and had put on a lot of weight. She continued to thrive and the picture below was taken at 3 months.
Deirdre
Jay seems to be a different horse when ridden. I can take part in group lessons and dressage again. He seeks the contact and the bolting and head-tossing has stopped. He must have been in a lot of pain. There must also be a lot of other horses in a similar state!
Thanks Heather. We’ll continue to use Equine Touch.
13.2hh, 9 year old Pony Club pony had been purchased two months prior. Blue had began to stop or run out at small jumps, would not canter on left lead. He was beginning to un-nerve his young rider. As the child's Pony Club instructor, I had recently advised on a change of saddle & recommended a equine dentist. The child was also working very hard at her approach and speed to the fence and on the flat, but still was disheartened every time Blue ran out.
Visit 1
A basic body balance session with area’s of concern. Blue had painful hamstrings, neck and girth area. He was very tight over the withers, especially the off side.
Blue tried to escape (as only ponies do, he checked to see if the door was locked or not) when I worked over his painful areas. On competition, we had lots of yawning & chewing. Blue was relaxed and sleepy.
Although teeth & saddle problems had been addressed, the pony had become so tight from previous problems, that this was still effecting his work.
The following week Blue’s and rider won 2 trophy’s at a Pony Club gymkhana.
I was to visit a six month old colt foal which had been kicked by a horse and had fractured his shoulder in two places. On vet’s advice Jack had two months box rest, his food had been supplemented to help heal the bone.
When I visited Jack he was unable to weight bear on the leg, and just hopped on three legs. Jack had a lot of visible wastage to the shoulder and fore-leg. His good leg had begun to lay down new bone, and turn out as it was taking extra stress. His bad leg was almost 2 inches shorter due to the wastage. The farrier had made he little plastic shoes to compensate for the different height, and to help support the weight of his good leg.
Visit 1
I performed The Equine Touch basic body balance. Jack was very, very tight and sore over most of his body, particularly his hip and shoulder of the good side which was taking the extra weight.
Visit 2
I visited Jack a few days later as he had been soo sore. He now was bearing weight on his legs, every few strides. Jack was more relaxed and calmer during this balance, and very inquisitive at to what my hands were doing to him. In addition to the basic body balance I added some extra moves over the hip and shoulder area’s. On completion he lay down and went to sleep.
Jack was now turned into a barn area by day with food scattered on the floor, to encourage him to walk about. Previous attempts, Jack had just stood in the corner.
Visit 3 ~ 10 days later.
Jack was using all of his body and walking sound. More muscle development over shoulder. I performed an advanced body balance, with advanced area’s of concern, hip, shoulder and neck. Jack was more relaxed, again very interested in my hands. I was also able to perform some leg stretches, which was not possible before as he was not weight bearing on his injured leg.
Muscle wastage
Jack’s plastic shoes were adjusted as his leg had lengthened. He has been turned out to the field with a friend. I will check him in a few months to see how he is developing.
Last reports were that he and his friend had jumped a six-bar gate to come up to the yard as there meal time was late.
Not quite resting, but defiantly exercising himself! !