I’d just noticed my mare galloping towards me in the pasture with her right leg carried towards the center of her midline instead of under her shoulder. When I walked her on the paved driveway, I could hear a hard clink coming from one hoof. I assumed it was her left, which she’d been intermittently limping on since recovering from a coffin bone rotation she had when I’d bought her 2 years ago. Although now sound, it would still seem off when she’s go step into depressions in the ground. So I rode her in Easy Boots for the past few months.
My natural trimmer was due in a few days and he did a complete assessment, telling me it was her right hoof that was causing the dragging not the left as I’d assumed. After a complete test he determined she could not be fitted for shoes because her muscle memory was so strong she tipped over like the Tower of Pisa when her front hooves were shimmed. He also was unable to unlock her muscles with his methods of stretching. That day I learned about old injuries, perception, muscle memory. During the time of her hoof injury she had shifted her right leg under her midline to bear the weight of her perceived hoof pain. Her brain still presumed that pain was there, the leg was locked even though it was no longer needed. My trimmer explained how the muscles, nerves , and even teeth in the equine skull determines not only how the front end moves but also all the way through the back muscles. A real first step on my path to healing my mare.
I went to the internet and your YouTube videos and website was the only ones that made sense to me. Although I ordered a couple of other books that helped explain the meridians, the actual work was way beyond my physical capacity at my age (I’m being 65 this year). What you were doing seemed possible for me so I ordered the book and the DVD. I started with only the bladder meridian and watched the reactions. When I actually got some I was very surprised. Also that when it was noisy around the barn or someone would stop to watch she would shut down. When they’d leave, she’d open up again. Confident she was listening and responding I added to the front shoulder releases, then some small rotations, finally the scapula release and she kicked her ‘lovin’ it’ into high gear. She hates having her nose touched so I’m still working on the neck vertibrae but I can push now while she in turning her head towards me on her own. When finished, she is shaking like a wet dog, yawning, licking and stomping! I have a very expressive horse.
Best part of the story…I’m riding her without her boots and I find no sign of her wooden limp – she’s moving free for the first time since I bought her. Thank you – I’ve recommended you to my friends and one of them is starting your work on her horse that is showing signs of trouble in its rear hoof. I’m so grateful to you for giving us these tools.