Banal’s Story by Susan Clark, ET & VHT Practitioner, Northumberland Area
I found a beautiful Welsh Section D cob in a field of 40 ponies in Scotland, over 10 years ago. Apart from him being halter broken he was totally feral, untouched and very frightened.
I gained his trust with patients and time and help from the Learn to Listen Centre in North Yorkshire, they helped me with his training and taught me horse behaviour, using natural horsemanship concepts. While I was there I was introduced to Equine Touch.
When Banal was about 6 he developed behaviour problems, he became sticky, unwilling to go forward, or up and down hills and then he began to rear. His muscles and soft tissue became compromised and with that he was unwilling to track up.
Even though I used my gift of Equine Touch and had a spinal therapist look at Banal, his behaviour did not improve. What was I doing so wrong, the answer was nothing. It turned out he had kissing spine, and the behaviour problems where all pain related.
From here I sent him up to the Royal Dick vets so they could investigate further. It turned out he had bony changes in his front right and left hind feet, and an uneven sacrum. They advised he receive steroid injections to the bony changes in both feet, put on a rehabilitation plan and have a physio out to look at him.
Instead of the physio, I put Banal on an ET rehab program of my own and used my gift of Equine Touch every day. I put him on turmeric, and silica for his bony and soft tissue changes and with doing so Banal has been sound ever since. Some of the behaviours Banal showed were stomach related and putting him on a gut balancer reduced these.
With Banal now pain free he loves his hacks out. He might never compete, or complete a 10 mile ride but he is a happy horse and willing to be ridden – what more can I ask for.
Comment: Susan didnt give up on Banal and with the help of other professionals and Equine Touch, she has been able to give him the best quality of life possible. Learning the skills along the way to do much of the rehab herself certainly has had its rewards and the outcome is a credit to Susan’s determination and drive to help her horse.