About 3 years ago I was offered a 9 year old Oldenburg mare called Sabrina. She was a grade B show jumper, but when I went to see her I couldn't believe anyone would go and compete on her, she looked awful. She was so thin you could see all the vertebrae in her back and she had the most horrible ewe neck. She was like a robot and dejected. I took her home and - well, nothing with this horse has been smooth sailing. She was terrified of everything and sadly covered in scars. She was scared to even go over a trotting pole and as for jumping a fence, forget it.
Sabs and I took some time getting to know each other, she started to trust me a bit and after years of never being turned out in a field it was time to allow her to be a horse and not a machine. For 2 months everything was fine, she was becoming more trusting, filled out and looked much better. Then disaster struck, she got kicked in the field. The vet arrived and things were not looking good. She had been kicked on the inside of her leg just above the hock and had a large hole down to the bone. Xrays revealed a spiral fracture into the joint. Then she got an infection in the bone and was given only a 20% chance of surviving.
After 8 months of box rest she was allowed to start walking out in hand. A spavin had be found during Xrays but I was told not to worry at that stage. Slowly we started to get her fit and then she went horribly lame again. This time the spavin had collapsed. Over the next 6 months we tried everything, different shoeing, bute, but nothing worked. She ended up in Hospital for surgery. All went well and we then had a strict 6 month program to get her fit and moving. We tried everything but she just wouldn't open up and move. She wasn't lame, just not moving freely.
The came our saving grace. A friend was having Julie out to see her horse and asked if I would like her to look at Sabs. I leapt at the chance but admit I was sceptical to start with as we had already been battling for a year and a half. Sabs loved her massage ( I will always remember when Julie said " does she trip on the left rein?") quite a shock that she knew my horse did that when I hadn't said a word about her. Her sheet after the massage looked as if it should have just had the whole lot coloured in as she had so many crosses on it. Then the moment of truth, Julie told me to take her in the school and put her on the lunge. Amazing, it was like watching a different horse. She was really moving, and enjoying herself, really on her toes. She had 3 massages over the next 3 weeks and the difference in her was fantastic. Her engine was in the back where it should be and she was enjoying herself.
Sabs then had regular massages throughout her training plan and after every session there was more improvement. We then had to go back to the hospital for a check up and she got the all clear with flying colours. The consultant could not believe her range of movement and she was showing great flexion through her hocks.( They were so impressed that her case history is included in a veterinary manual) We were told, much to our delight, that there was no reason why she coundn't start jumping.
We had to tackle her fear of fences but throughout this Julie has not only worked miracles putting Sabs back together but has also been a great source of advice and support. We have had many hiccups but Julie is always on the end of the phone. Sabs now loves her jumping and we have been to our first show ( everything was very scary to start with but she rose to the occasion and got a second place)
I am a great believer in what Julie does, and I have no doubt in my mind that Sabs had been in pain prior to coming to me and her refusal to jump was because of this and the abuse she suffered through no fault of her own is wrong.
She is such a different horse now, cheeky and happy, a totally different shape and works with no problems in a correct outline.
Most important, she is happy in her work.
I can't thank or recommend Julie enough for the difference she has made to us. I have a happy and loving horse.
Once you have seen the results and your horse is free moving you won't believe the difference you can make by starting to pick up on the smallest amount of discomfort in your horse and fix them before they break!
Sabs still has regular massages with Julie and it always leads to a good laugh and a natter at the local pub over lunch.
Last bit for Julie - I can't thank you enough for giving me my horse back.
ps - my vet is pretty impressed too.
Vicky