I took one look at the old horse I was to work on and my heart sank. He stood like one of those circus elephants on a little podium, with his feet nearly touching and for most of the time his head was just about eighteen inches off the ground. He had back legs that were absolutely straight – no flexion at the hock and a large lump on his back in the lumbar/sacral region.
Figure 1 before and after stance
My husband had recommended me to the owner (thanks Jim) and she seemed to have such high hopes. My instinct was to depress her expectations - after all, I thought, there’s only so much I can do, but I just said I’d see if I could make him more comfortable.
I didn’t intend to do much more than a basic body balance on that first session. He’d done lots of processing, lots of shuffling round with his feet and at the end of it looked much more relaxed with a softer outline on his back. I was happy with that. But he wasn’t.
Figure 2 before and after left back
While I was observing him he moved his back end round till he was touching me. Thinking he was just trying to turn round, I moved away, but he shuffled round and backed up to me again. So I took the hint and did some work on his hindquarters. Then he zoned out and I wrote up my notes. When I looked at him again I was quite amazed at what I saw. I looked at his owner and she was looking at him with tears streaming down her face.
Figure 3 after his 3rd session
After his third session he is not all that far off standing square and his head is no longer down at knee level.
Figure 4 before and after right back
He is now pottering about quite happily out in the field and his quality of life has improved enormously.
ET at its miracle-working best. Thanks Jock.