Keeping Harley Happy......

Has it really been 4 months since my last post?  A lot has happened as far as Harley's soundness issues.  I am happy to report that Harley is now sound for trail riding, but no jumping.  I'm sure he's okay with that :)  He still doesn't like going in a ring, but since I can ride him on the roads, that's fine.

His Pentosan injection once a month for his ringbone made him sound on soft footing, but not on the trail.  Thanks to my friend Molly, who suggested Previcox, a pill (like bute but easier on the tummy) 3 times a week for whatever else may hurt has made him trail sound.  This combination, along with Cosequin ASU, Devil's claw, and white willow seems to make all the boo-boos feel better.  He is sound about 90% of the time and enjoys his trail rides around the ranch to see his friends and try to mooch treats from people.  He's such a social guy, and he just loves visiting.  When it gets to the point where he's not sound for riding, he'll be retired and live in pasture with other retirees. 

It's been an interesting 4 years since I bought Harley, and I haven't done the riding I had hoped to do (yet), but I have learned more from him than I could ever have imagined.  AND from my amazing trainer, Jane Guzman.  It's incredible what you can learn from watching and listening, when you can't ride.  I'm very much looking forward to using all the information I've absorbed, and doing some jumping before I'm too old!  So, the search begins for a second 4 legged money sponge.....

Retirement time?

Harley is almost completely sound now, physically.  Mentally, he is not doing as well.  Since I can only ride him on good footing because of the ringbone, and not on hard ground, that means riding in rings.  He hates being in a ring.  So now I have a dilemma.  Do I make him work in a ring, which makes him angry and potentially unsafe, or do I let him retire to a nice big pasture, hopefully in a place that has some trails that aren't really hard ground?

Or do I wait and see if his attitude improves?  Is he really angry, or just being uncooperative because he doesn't want to work?  Or is he feeling pain and only showing it when we are in a ring?  Or is his feisty attitude a result of a new supplement I started him on a few weeks ago, to help with his legs?  And, is it the supplement that has made him so sound, and if I take him off of it to improve his attitude, will his lameness return?  Or is he just being feisty because he feels better? 

Going to let him loose in a ring so he can run and buck, maybe get some of it out of his system, and hopefully he won't come up lame afterwards.  Will also take him off the new supplement and see what happens.  Film at 11.......

The Treatment Program

2-25-12:  Harley has new shoes which are rolled in the front, and we are gradually raising his heels.  He has received 2 rounds of Shockwave therapy on his left front pastern and 1 on the right.  Today he got his second shot of Pentosan.  This evening, 10 hours later, there was a marked improvement in his left front!  Hoping and praying that the combination of treatments will bring him at least to a point where we can walk, trot and canter on good footing.  Not sure if there will be any jumping in his future, but that's okay.  If he's improved this much after only 2 shots, he may be sounder than ever before after the next 2 loading doses.  Then he goes on monthly shots.  Hard to tell if the Shockwave has helped, since he was on Bute when he got his first treatment, and had already started the Pentosan when he got the second treatment.  But throwing everything at his legs hoping one or the other or both will help. 

Film at 11..........

Ringbone and Navicular.......dang.........

1-20-13:  Harley's lameness issues became more chronic over the past couple of months, although he was almost always sound walking straight. The lameness only showed up when he turned sharply. I had the vet out to do his teeth a week ago, and Harley came out of his stall quite lame. 2 days ago, the vet came back and did nerve blocks on his front feet/legs and took x-rays. Harley has some navicular changes in his right front foot, and ringbone in his left front pastern (due to his toeing in on that foot). There is also some very slight ringbone in the right front.  So much for the sore shoulder theory. The good news is that with Bute, Pentosan and corrective shoeing, Harley will be much more comfortable.

2-24-13 Update:  After a week on bute twice a day, Harley is completely sound.  Now he is on bute once a day.  He will get new special shoes next week, which will help even more.  I also now have the option of shockwave therapy, courtesy of Dr. Jenny Johnson, Harley's chiropractor/vet.  She needs to see his x-rays first, and then we will decide.  She has had very good success with shockwave treatment for ringbone, and may possibly be able to use it to treat his navicular.  I'm very optimistic about Harley's future.  The goal is to keep him pain free, and to slow down the progress of both conditions.  Either way, he will be a much happier pony!

It will be interesting to ride him once he's on his meds and his new shoes are on.  I'm just very glad to finally know what the problem is and to deal with it.  I'm sure Harley is glad too!

A Little More Progress.....

Harley seems calmer in a ring now.  I have to ride him on a very light contact, and when I ask for trot I can't use my legs, only my voice, but he has been trotting calmly in rings that before he didn't want to walk in.  We're also working in the round pen again, only now it's an open round pen, not the enclosed bull pen we used before.  He has thrown a couple tantrums in the beginning, hoping I'll feel bad and take him out.  But it's not working, and he eventually gives up and behaves himself.  He's a tester, an envelope pusher, and he has a strong spirit so he's not one to give up easily, but he's also extremely smart so I have to be smarter.  Baby steps.

Harley has also begun tormenting mares in the grooming stall next to his stall.  He mashes his face against the wire mesh and sticks his tongue through it, knowing they can't get to him and enjoying the ear pinning, teeth gnashing, hind leg kicking and squealing that he creates.  He thinks it's funny.  And considering that these are mares who try to bite his face off whenever he gets too close, it is funny :)  Never had a horse with a sense of humor before.  But then, Harley is special.....

Another Piece of the Puzzle

Harley is complicated.  Always will be.  He's like a jigsaw puzzle in a box, with pieces missing.  Some might be on the floor, under the table.  With Harley, I think some pieces are just gone.  That's okay.  I'll work with the pieces I have.  He's so worth it. 

It seems Harley has been having some tummy upset from his supplements.  He was on a hoof and coat supplement and started getting moody.  Took him off it and much happier.  So now nothing but joint meds and probiotics to keep his tummy happy. 

Still not convinced he wants to be ridden in a ring, may be too much damage done in the past.  Had a wonderful trot on him yesterday around the ranch.  Still wish there were more trails off site.  Doing some hard thinking about that.  In the meantime, my goal is to have Harley feeling good, physically and mentally.  Like this.....

Three Months of Discovery

In the past 3 months, Harley has improved somewhat being ridden in a ring.  I finally found a saddle/maker fitter who reflocked my saddle to fit Harley perfectly, and he is much happier.  I suspect that some of the saddle issues were connected to the abuse he endured from the dressage trainer who had him a few months before I bought him.  I think Harley equates saddle discomfort with the abuse, so his saddle needs to fit exactly.  Now it does. 

So, after 3 months of watching him closely, I don't know if Harley will ever be happy working in a ring.  Out on the roads and trails, he's completely happy.  When I ride him in a ring, I can tell he'd rather be anywhere else.  He's been that way for most of the 3 years I've had him.  I haven't cantered him in almost 2 years.  I want to canter my horse.  I could do that on a trail, but there aren't any near where I board him.  Big problem.

I'll give it a couple more months and see if he is any happier doing ring work.  Maybe if I can start jumping him a little, he'll relax.  Perhaps he just hates flat work.  It is rather boring, after all ;)

Decisions, Decisions...

One of the biggest issues Harley has had in the past is impulse control.  He would get upset and just explode, thinking something horrible and out of his control was going to happen.  I think what has made the most positive impact on this issue was in working him at liberty in the big ring.  He was able to make choices on his own, good or bad, without any negative consequences.  Given the choice, most horses will choose to do the right thing, although not without trying a few wrong things first ;) 

Harley began making good choices when he realized he could just walk away from me rather than circling around me.  Instead of chasing him down, or driving him into a gallop to punish him, I simply waited for him to come back.  Once he realized I was not going to run after him, or worse, punish him for walking away, he would come back to me, sometimes the entire length of the ring from about 100 feet away.  I would act like nothing had happened and just continue working him in a circle around me.  After a few quiet circles at the walk, I would call him in to me, tell him he was a superstar, and we were done.

Being allowed to make his own decisions gave Harley confidence, and removed his fears of failure and punishment.  It also made him feel safe, knowing that no matter what, nothing bad would happen.  It also taught him to respect me as the leader, because I did not react to his incorrect decisions, but highly praised the good ones.  I feel like I'm seeing the real, original, "the way he was meant to be" Harley for the first time, and it's wonderful!

More progress

It's now January 2012 and Harley is doing great!  We are working at liberty in the round pen with little or no bucking, and he is walking, trotting and cantering both directions.  Also, Jane is now lungeing Harley in the ring in small circles at the walk and trot both ways, with no explosions or tantrums.  When I let him move around in the round pen before I ride him, he is 100% better under saddle. 

Harley also got his best report ever from his chiropractor on January 18.  No adjustments in his neck and poll, his pelvis was good, just a couple tweaks in his scapula and hoof and one on his back.  The combination of chiropractic and free work in the round pen have enabled him to be loose, get the kinks out and have helped him mentally to blow off steam, canter without a rider, and just feel better all over.  I've never seen him happier or more relaxed!

When Everything Comes Together

The month of September has been full of discovery, solutions, and progress!  Harley is now working happily in the ring, and we are cantering on the trails.  He is completely relaxed under saddle, accepting leg and rein contact, and we have been practicing a dressage test that we plan to do in a couple weeks.  Harley, I'm sure, will do fine.  Me remembering the test?  Not so much...

Next week, we will start cantering in the ring, and working over ground poles.  Once that is mastered, we will begin jumping. We also plan to trailer to a local cross country facility just for fun.  I think Harley will love cantering around the field and maybe even try a couple little jumps.

It's been a challenging 2 1/2 years, but so worth it.  I've learned more in that time, than in the 40 years before that I've ridden, trained, bred and shown horses.  I've learned more from my trainer just by watching and video-taping lessons and clinics, than I ever imagined.  That makes it so much easier to apply the principles when riding, when I've actually seen it done. 

Here is my beautiful boy, after a nice haircut and shave ;)

The Benefits of Liberty Work

During the month of August, I began working with Harley at liberty, without even a halter on.  Since I don't really like round pens, we worked in a very large riding ring.  Although Harley could have gone anywhere he wanted in the ring, he chose to stay near me, walking and trotting a circle around me as though he were on a lunge line.  He has never charged me, or tried to run me over (a sure sign of a lack of trust and respect).  Sometimes he canters on his own, but calmly, and I let him as it is good for his back and works those muscles.  He responds to voice commands to walk, trot and halt.  When I ask him if he is "all done" he walks to me, follows me to the gate, and waits quietly while I put his halter on, and then walks calmly and happily back to his stall.

The liberty work has cemented the bond and relationship we have to the point where he is now doing extremely well under saddle, and we recently went over a jump.  Although unplanned and a result of Harley being distracted by people walking by carrying a jump rail, he handled it beautifully, and the canter after the jump was awesome.  We are going to start working over ground poles, which he very much enjoys.  We still do a lot of road work, and he is always completely relaxed and happy trotting around the ranch, visiting his friends, taking in the sights and stopping at everyone he sees to beg for treats. 

I've learned that you have to meet a horse wherever they happen to be, and work with them at that point until they are ready to move forward.  It has paid off tremendously with Harley, and I am looking forward to the time when he is ready to jump and even trailer to a local cross country course to have some fun!

Training Scale Refresher Courses

The Classic Training Scale is like an escalator.  It goes both ways, up and down.  Sometimes you have to take a step or two, or three, back as you move up the scale from Relaxation to Rhythm, to Contact and Impulsion, and finally to Straightness and Collection.  Harley reached the beginning stages of contact, and yet we have gone back to reinforce his relaxation in areas where he hadn't quite gotten there.  Although he is relaxed in most situations now, including riding on trails, it has always been difficult for Harley to relax in any riding ring, in a round pen, or on a lunge line.

As I mentioned in a recent post, Harley has improved dramatically at liberty in the round pen, where he no longer runs around frantically, bucking and squealing, but can now wander quietly and enjoy our time together there.  A few days ago, we had a HUGE breakthrough in one of the rings where I had turned him loose to stretch his legs and, hopefully, get some exercise.  In the past, he either stood by the gate, or walked to the other end and back and wanted to leave.  When I had tried to move him around, he became upset and raced around, bucking, kicking, skidding into corners, and getting more and more worked up as he ran, until when he finally stopped, he was shaking and sweating, and was difficult to lead back to his stall.  A few times he actually pulled muscles and was lame for several days after an outburst.  Because of that, I ceased any attempt to make him move faster than a walk.  But he needed to be able to gallop around and use the muscles we aren't using yet during rides.  Once again, advice and examples from my trainer, Jane Armour, worked magic.

I turned Harley loose in a large ring, and he quickly walked down to the other end.  I hung up his halter and lead on the fence, and walked that direction.  He came to me and began following me, hoping to go back to his stall and eat, but I just talked to him and walked away.  He followed me a ways, and then wandered off on his own to explore.  At one point, he was walking parallel to me, so I decided to use some gentle lungeing cues to see what he would do.  He looked over at me, and I pointed to my right, clucked to him, and said, "Harley, Trrrrrotttt!"  He looked like he was unsure what I was asking, so I repeated the cues, and off he went at the trot in a large circle around me.  I said "Good boy!" over and over, and then he began to canter.  My first thought was, "Oh, no, here we go with the mad tearing around again," but he didn't take off.  he cantered quietly, so I kept telling him what a good boy he was, and then asked him to trot, and he did!  Then he slowed to a walk, went to the rail, and looked over at some horses who were going by.  I walked towards him and asked him if he was "all done" which is how we end our round pen sessions.  He turned and walked calmly over to me, I patted his neck, and we walked together to the gate.  I haltered him, led him out to have some grass, and then took him back to his stall.

This might not seem like a big deal to most people, but those who have dealt with an abused horse, especially one that has been beaten in a round pen or with a lunge whip as Harley has, will understand what a tremendous amount of trust it took for Harley to not react negatively to my cue.  In the past, my attempts to get him to trot or canter at liberty in a ring was, to him, me driving him away from me which he took as punishment, and it frightened and angered him.  Rather than wave my arms or the lead rope at him, or clap my hands, or chase him, I simply asked him to move, and it worked.  One more puzzle piece has slipped into place.

Best Chiropractic Report Ever!

Harley received an excellent report from his Equine Chiropractor, Dr. Jenny Johnson, on June 8.  The issues in his poll and neck are almost completely resolved, his walk and trot were nearly perfect, and the few adjustment that were needed were minor.  Schooling him properly, having a saddle that fits, and doing our neck and foreleg stretches have worked very well.  He also received a good report from his farrier.  His feet are strong and healthy.

We continue to work on transitions, and he gave me an almost textbook perfect walk to trot transition yesterday, quiet, seamless and accepting contact.  Of course, he still becomes distracted fairly easily, and will probably always be that way, but that's Harley.  As long as he comes back to me and does not fight, I'm happy. 

We have also had some very good session at liberty in the ring and round pen.  Harley no longer panics, running blindly and risking hurting himself.  He walks around quietly, rolls, explores, eats whatever greens he can reach, and then comes to me when he is ready to leave.  This is very important in helping him forget his fears from the past, and making him more comfortable in the ring.  I am also learning to discern between actual fear and putting on an act so he can go back to the barn.  To which Harley says, "Curses, foiled again!"  :)

The Return of Contact

Harley is doing great!  I was concerned that he would go back to fighting contact, tossing his head, and other habits from the past, but he has surprised me.  He is keeping rein contact at the walk and trot, through transitions, and even from halt to walk.  He will occasionally toss his head for a few seconds in walk to trot transitions, but then drops his head and accepts contact without a fuss.  He seems to especially enjoy the leg yield exercises we do, when he isn't tripping over his own feet because he is rushing.  The key to these exercises is to go very, very slow so that each step is deliberate and he can organize his feet properly and perform the exercise correctly.  Harley has a tendency to anticipate and will often try to do what he thinks I'm going to ask next, and he gets it right about half of the time.  Slow and steady is the key to keeping him relaxed and focused.

It still works like magic to bend, turn, change direction when he begins to get anxious or distracted.  We will continue to work on bending right, which was difficult for him in the past, but has improved a lot with bending exercises, and with the help of his chiropractor, Dr. Jenny Johnson.  He received the best report ever after his last treatment, with the issues in his poll and neck dramatically improved.  He is now almost straight tracking right, but we will continue to do the exercises to support his development and keep those left side muscles long and supple.  We are also walking over ground poles, and a few days ago, Harley walked calmly over 3 poles without touching any of them.  Good boy, Harley!!

Back to Basics

Now that I once more have a saddle that fits Harley, we have had to return to the beginning of the Training Scale (Relaxation, Rhythm, Contact, Impulsion, Straightness, Collection).  It was necessary to work on Relaxation again, as he had become tense in anticipation of pain from the saddle, which also probably brought back frightening memories from his abusive past.  To help him relax, I did very little ring work, and just rode around on the trails and paths on a fairly loose rein, with little or no trotting.  You cannot make bad memories just disappear, you have to replace them with good memories, and a calm, simple trail ride can do just that.  And I talk to him constantly, telling him how good and brave he is, and he really responds to my voice, and to a gentle stroke of his neck.

Then, when I did ride him in a ring, it was in a very calm, relaxed manner, staying soft on his mouth, talking to him, and doing small exercises such as loops down the long side, a few serpentines, even some figure 8's.  My trainer, Jane Armour, explained to me that the best thing to do when a horse gets distracted or is looking for a reason to get excited or spook, is to keep him moving forward and give him something to do, such as turn or change direction.  This works beautifully with Harley.  By keeping him "busy" he forgets to look around, concentrates on what I've asked him to do, and then relaxes in spite of himself.

Because of Harley's past, he wil lalways have "flashbacks" to the abuse and mistreatment, but over time, these moments will become fewer and farther between as he learns to deal with situations calmly and choose to move forward and past the fear.

A very relaxed, slightly chubby, but happy Harley standing ground-tied....

A Saddle That Fits

The GFS saddle arrived, and Harley is showing no signs of any discomfort from it.  The new saddle, a fleece shaped pad, and a nice, soft Stubben girth seem to be a winning combination.  Of course, now the weather has gone bad and we have had more rain, but I'm still riding when the sun comes out.  We haven't been able to school in a ring very much, but the weather will improve and we'll be able to.

I know now to check my saddle fit every few months, and to watch Harley for signs that there are pressure points.  Checking the sweat pattern on his back after every ride will also become a regular habit, as that can show if the saddle is sitting evenly on him.  The Elite fit Harley with the gullet plate that came with it, but to be on the safe side, I also ordered extra plates that are wider and narrower in case his body changes.  Fingers crossed that, if that happens, one of the plates will make the necessary adjustment.

What does Harley think of his new saddle?  Is this a happy horse? 

Saddle Fitting - Trial and Error

After riding Harley in the Schleese for about a month now, I'm not convinced that he is completely happy with it.  Although it fits him very well, no bridging, wide enough gullet, and not too long in the tree, the design of the saddle may not work for him.  Harley is very sensitive about pressure in the withers/shoulder area, and the design of the front panels might be an issue. 

However, while searching online for information about this problem, I discovered that the company that makes my previous saddle, also makes a line of saddles for horses with wide withers and shoulders.  After shopping around, I found a merchant who was selling a model very similar to my first saddle, and they offer 7 different gullet plates to "custom" fit the saddle to the horse.  I've ordered the saddle with 4 extra gullet plates, and am optimistic that one of them will fit him comfortably.

If one of these plates does not work on Harley, I may just get a western saddle and turn him into a warmblood trail horse.  No, not really, but as you can tell, owning a horse can be a very frustrating, patience-testing experience.  Be prepared to endure trials and tribulations, and never give up on your horse.  Other people gave up on Harley, and I will not.  He's so very special, and deserves to have someone believe in him and stick with him no matter what.

Saddle Fitting - The Sequel

As it turns out, my "adjustable gullet" saddle can not be adjusted enough to properly fit Harley.  He has developed so much muscle in his shoulders, that the gullet plates do not go wide enough to accommodate him.  The Schleese saddle fitter gave me a dressage saddle to ride on trial, and it fits Harley perfectly.  Unfortunately, it does not work for me, as I plan to jump Harley and need a General Purpose/Jumping saddle.

My trainer and I visited a local tack store, and they had a Schleese GP/Jumping saddle on consignment.  It is the tree width and seat size that I need.  It also has a "Flair" system, which means the panels have air bags in them which can be inflated/deflated to fit the horse.  I have heard that these can leak, and the saddle fitter said she can remove the air bags and replace them with wool flocking, which is what I plan to do.  In the meantime, I am using the saddle with a thick pad to protect Harley's back, and he seems okay with it.  But I'm not quite convinced, and I'm not sure Harley is either.  

If you have never had your saddle fitted by your trainer or an expert, I highly recommend that you do so.  It is not true that adding saddle pads or shims will make a saddle fit correctly in all cases.  Don't find out the hard way, like I did, by being bucked off, that your saddle is hurting your horse's back.  A correctly fitting saddle can also correct behavior and performance problems.  But always have your horse looked at by your vet first, if you suspect it is reacting to pain of any kind.

We'll let you know what happens with the Schleese.....

Does Your Saddle Truly Fit Your Horse?

Over the past few weeks, I've learned more about saddle fitting than I ever imagined.  There are as many views about saddle fitting as there are riders.  One thing I know with absolute certainty, is that a saddle does not fit properly makes for a very unhappy horse, and understandably so.  Harley had put on muscle in his shoulders from all the riding and schooling we had done, and I had no idea it changed the fit of his saddle.  Here is a photo of how my saddle flares out at the bottom front panel, so that when I tighten the girth and the panel is pulled down against his shoulder, the top pinches into his withers.

I have a professional saddle fitter coming out to see if my saddle can be altered to correctly fit Harley.  I am hoping it can be done, but if not, I will definitely invest in a saddle that fits him perfectly. 

Fortunately, my saddle has a Gullet Exchange System, which means that different width gullet plates can be put in the saddle to make the tree wider or narrower as needed.  When I bought my saddle, I also bought the 2 next wider gullet plates, with the idea that schooling and training would bulk him up.  There are no guarantees that a wider plate will make the saddle fit him, as the angle of the plate also has to be correct, but I remain optomistic.

The photo to the right is my trainer's saddle; it fits him much better and conforms to the slope of his shoulder.

Will let everyone know how the fitting turns out.  Meanwhile, I have a much happier horse now that I am using a saddle that does not pinch.  Harley and I are working on coming back to strength and fitness gradually and carefully.  Soon we will be back to schooling, and hopefully doing ground poles soon on our way to jumping.

Equine Chiropractic Treatments

The last month or so has been relatively unproductive, due in large part to the southern California area receiving record rains and cold weather.  However, Harley and I have made a huge breakthrough, not in our riding, but in his physical and mental well-being.  I have known since I bought him that he was very protective of his right side, always turning to look at me even when I just combed his mane.  Over the past couple of months, Harley had become more and more girthy, pinning his ears when the saddle was placed on his back, and fussing a lot when the girth was tightened. 

Everything came to a head a couple of weeks ago when I rode Harley, and noticed he seemed very tense, not his usual happy self, and I just knew something was wrong.  Then, while trotting across the ring, Harley put his head down and bucked me off.  He had never bucked while I was riding him before.  He continued to buck all the way to the gate.  My trainer told me he was literally standing on his head and twisting his back end sideways.  Fortunately, I was not hurt, just had the wind knocked out of me and a bit sore.  After turning Harley loose in the round pen to buck a few more times, and replacing the set of reins he had broken, I got back on him.  He still felt very tense, so I only rode him for a few minutes.  The next day, he had a very sore shoulder so I did not ride him.  Over the next week or so, I noticed that Harley seemed depressed, stayed at the back of his stall and did not come to the gate to greet me.  Finally, after about a week, he perked up a little, and seemed to enjoy taking walks, but something just wasn't right.

I decided to call an equine chiropractor, Dr. Jenny Johnson, V.M.D.  She was recommended by my vet, so I made an appointment.  Dr. Johnson came out and first watched Harley walk and trot away from and towards her.  Then she did a preliminary examination, feeling all of his joints, his spine, and skull.  She found several misalignments in his vertebrae, and also his withers, a hip, and an elbow.  The most "out of whack" area was at the very top of his neck, behind his ears.

Dr. Johnson proceeded to adjust Harley, and he was surprisingly good about it.  After the first few minutes, I could tell that he knew she was helping him.  He was so relaxed when she finished that he wouldn't move, just stood in his stall with his ears up looking happier than I had seen him in weeks.  Dr. Johnson also looked at Harley's saddle on his back, and informed me that it was not fitting him properly, flaring out at the front of the flap and digging into his wither/shoulder area when the girth was tightened, especially on his right side.  He has more muscle there now than when I first got my saddle.  That explained the sensitivity on that side of his body.  We made an appointment for her to come back in 3 weeks, and she left us with instructions to hand walk only for 2-3 days, and exercises to bend his head, without moving his neck, to loosen up the poll area.  From the day of his appointment on, he has been a new horse, walking out freely, loose and relaxed, and his old happy personality was back!




So relaxed, his ankles are crossed!


Yesterday was day 4, and I rode Harley bareback.  I could not believe how relaxed and calm he was, how loose he felt, how big his stride was.  It was like having a brand new horse.  My trainer noticed right away how relaxed he looked and how much bigger his walk was.  I rode him again today, still bareback, and he was even better.  I have to have my saddle flocked to fit him, but fortunately, Jane's saddle fits him perfectly and she has graciously agreed to let me use it until mine is corrected.

Vet exams in the past had revealed no injuries so no treatment was prescribed, and several massage sessions had not made any noticeable difference. I was told he was tight in his shoulders and back, which was obvious, but the cause was never addressed.  I think massage is a temporary "bandaid" that relaxes the horse for a little while but does not deal with the root problem, so the muscles tighten up again and more massage is needed, sort of a never-ending cycle that doesn't fix the problem.  Chiropractic treatment actually addresses the problem, works to fix it, and prevents the problems from becoming chronic.  I would consider massage as a supplement to the chiropractic sessions, but only by an experienced equine massage therapist recommended by my vet and the chiropractor.
I would strongly recommend anyone considering equine chiropractic and/or massage to have your horse examined by your vet first to rule out injury or illness. Dr. Johnson would not work on Harley until I had spoken to my vet first.  I am very happy to have found a chiropractor for Harley who not only was recommended by my vet, but who will work with them as a team.

Visit Dr. Johnson's website at http://www.equineshockwave.com/vetchiropractic.html