Case #1
Peace N Promise, aka Peace, is a
nine year old Thoroughbred mare owned by Dancing Oaks Farm in Little
Compton, RI. She had been plagued with forging for approximately 4 to 5
years. A former barn manager where the mare was once boarded commented
that she tore shoes off every time she was turned out. An exaggeration,
I’m sure.
Peace was first visited by us in
late April, 09. At that time, it was noticed that she was forging, and
that her scapula was quite loose, with little muscle development deeper
into the scapula (sub-scapularis). She also was narrow across chest area
and during gait analysis, was found to be working from her elbow at the
walk/trot instead of shoulders. The owner stated that the farrier was
coming the next day to trim her rear feet in the hopes of rectifying the
forging issue.
At this time, we performed Peace’s
first wellness, evaluation and exploratory massage, with the next
massage scheduled for two weeks later.
On that next visit, it was noted
that the horse was still forging. I asked the owner to longe her again
and observed that at both the walk and trot, she was still moving
entirely from the elbow with the scapula and humerus virtually locked
up. When walking, she forged with every step.
Work was started on her beginning
with the neck, biceps/pecs, deep into the anterior scapula groove as
well as the rear of the scapula, in and above the elbow groove area.
Extensors and flexors of the leg, Lat. Dorsi, withers, SP-9, and both
spinatus muscles were also worked. Methods used were Sports massage,
Myofascial release, and deeper tissue work along with the use of
acupressure along the Bladder Meridian and Reiki.
The final step included the use of
stretches to both forelegs, both forward and rearward, with 3 to 4
second holds at the end of each stretch sequence.
When Peace walked out of her stall,
she was not forging and till now, four and one half months later, is
still not forging. She has been progressing slowly with her chest
broadening with every visit as well as her stride becoming more
lengthened.
Maintenance work is performed on her
each month with noticeable improvement to her muscle volume, tone, and
general disposition.
Submitted by Doris & Ron
Equissage NE / NY
Gracie—Case #2
Gracie is a 10YO Thoroughbred Gelding whose owner stated that between
the last massage in August and the current session in September, he
would no longer take his left lead.
We watched him longe on the long line and he in fact would not take his
left lead.
At this time the horse exhibited no signs of lameness. We proceeded back
to the barn for bodywork.
Our strategy was to loosen up everything on the left and right sides of
Gracie that were involved in propulsion, then work the back and hind end
more on the right than on the left, but to still try and maintain some
balance. The entire massage took about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
After the bodywork, we asked the owner if he could ride the horse for us
and he obliged.
The horse took his left lead immediately upon being asked. We watched
him go to the left and after about the second or third trip around the
ring, it was noticed that when Gracie arrived at a particular spot in
the ring, he showed a slight head-bob indicating the left hind was off.
We asked for a reversal of direction to the right, and when Gracie went
through the same spot that the head-bob showed up, he was sound. This
was now a different problem. We asked for reversals a couple more times
and each time Gracie went to the left, at this one spot only, he showed
us a slight head-bob.
We recommended that the owner call his vet for further investigation.
In a follow-up telephone call five days later, the owner stated that he
had his farrier out to re shoe Gracie, and that when trimming for the
fit, the farrier opened an abscess.
Once the abscess had healed, the horse was ridden again and there was no
lameness nor a reluctance to take his left lead.
It can only be assumed that the pain from the abscess was what made this
horse not want to take that left lead. The head-bob observed was barely
noticeable, but the pain was apparently enough to cause Gracie
discomfort going in that direction.
Submitted by Doris and Ron
Equissage NE / NY----- April 2011
