EHAL Magazine - August 2016

Everything Horses and Livestock Magazine

RED FRED..........

While at Equifest in Topeka, Kansas this last Febru-

ary, I talked with a gal that had concerns about her

barrel horse, Red Fred’s diagnosis.

Owner, Jennie explained how the calcium deposits

and bone spurs were causing him pain and interfer-

ing with his performance.

The results of his Ultrasound lameness examination

done last fall were as follows:

Chronic LF & RF Ligament Desmopathy.

(Definition: Any disease of the ligaments.)

The ultrasound of the RF suspensory ligament

showed a chronic tear and calfication in the sus-

pensory ligament in zone 2B. The LF suspensory

ligament showed calcification in zone 1B.

Prognosis:

Poor for barrel horse,

Treatment:

None suggested.

Recommendations and Instruc-

tions:

Retire from barrel racing. The calcification

means there has been chronic tearing of the liga-

ment. The re-injury rate is high because mineral

does not stretch. Unfortunately there is no treat-

ment. I would turn the horse out to pasture.

As we were talking, Jennie and I decided to set an

appointment for an Energy Balancing Therapy ses-

sion to assess his issues for March 9, 2016.

Red Fred is a very pleasant horse to work with. He

is a 14yr old gelding who’s main job has been barrel

racing. His past time or hobby is pleasure riding and

helping with team roping activities.

Session March 9, 2016 - 2 hours:

Energy Balancing Therapy on all seven energy

centers both sides; he had several small releases of

blocked energy in these centers. Next I did Pho-

tonic Therapy on basic 9 standard points and on

the tendons of both front legs where I could feel the

abnormalities. Then I massaged the muscles along

the cervical area of neck both sides this enables

the horse to stretch his neck downward with greater

ease. Then I released the biceps brachii muscles

on both sides to help increase the range of shoul-

der motion and flex the elbow, they were tight and

restricting movement.

Next I prepared for Acupressure Massage on the

Bladder meridian. I use the Bladder Meridian for

investigation because it includes 12 Association

Points, one for each meridian and they directly

affect the organs. They also offer information to

help identify where the imbalance resides and if

the imbalance is acute or chronic. These points

help balance and regulate the flow of Chi energy

throughout the horse’s body.

Step One:

Is opening the meridian using my hands

with fingers relaxed and palms in full contact with

the horse to apply some pressure starting at upper

neck stroke down along the Bladder meridian from

the neck over the withers then the meridian runs

about 2-4 finger widths off the spine along the back

and over the croup, gliding along the rump down

the gluteal muscles and hamstrings. Follow the

rear of the leg to the hock and stay lateral all the

Photo courtesy of Inspire by RJ

August 2016

EHALmagazine.com

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