Posh's Story

I have had my mare ‘Posh’ for just under two years and last year I noticed that she was slightly lame, I had also been aware that Posh was ‘not quite right’. She could not walk in straight line either under saddle or loose in the field. Posh was always shifting her weight from one hind foot to the other, felt stiff and inflexible when asked to bend round corners in the school. When being shod she kept snatching her feet out from the farrier hands and she was always resting her backside on the stable door. Lameness was becoming apparent so I decided to give Posh some time off and ten months ago her shoes were removed and her holiday began.

I saw Liz working on another horse at the stable where Posh is kept and asked her to give Posh the once over. It seemed, from Liz’s analysis that Posh’s muscles all along her back from behind her ear to tail were in spasm and tight. The spasms and tightness were causing a few problems.

Liz has been performing physiotherapy treatments on Posh for several months now with massages (which Posh thoroughly enjoys!) and stretches. In addition for between the sessions, Liz gave me some homework to complete on Posh, these included stretches, mobility and strengthening exercises. I have been busy between visits with lots of homework which I feel has strengthened the bond between us (or is it the carrots I use in the stretching exercises!)

I started riding Posh recently (her lameness has gone) and I am amazed at the difference. She walks with more feel, is supple and just seems a lot happier in herself. I am very rarely greeted by her backside resting on the door in the morning now and there is no more shifting her weight about. When my farrier shod her recently he commented, for the first time in nearly a year, on how still she was standing and what a vast improvement there was as she barely moved for the whole process.

I am so glad I asked Liz to look at Posh as she is a different horse now, a lot happier in herself and very much ‘right’. Liz is enthusiastic about her work and the animals she works with, she explains everything about the problems they have, the treatment she is giving them and is clear and precise about the homework to be done between visits.

I cannot thank Liz enough and I recommend her to anyone who thinks their horse is ‘not quite right’!