Montana - a pasture injury

by Stefanie Reinhold

A horse and his owner had to overcome great challenges after a severe pasture injury
and how equine bodywork helped rehabilitate this horse

"His wounds were healed, the vet calls were over, the medicine was gone, but Montana was still in distress.  He would not allow me to touch his legs, he refused to step over anything, and I could not pick up his feet.  I was at a loss, and he was not getting better.  ..."
(Montana's owner Lori, 4 months after his accident)

There are the obvious and usual benefits of equine massage and bodywork and then there are the unusual and unexpected ways that equine massage and bodywork can help a horse in many other ways, such as aiding in recovery after injury and trauma. One such example is the story of Montana, a 7-year old paint gelding who suffered a traumatic pasture accident in July 08.

After physical recovery and almost 4 months after the accident Montana was unable to step over any perceived obstacles, may that be the pipe on the bottom of the entrance to the round pen, a small step, a ground pole or even a line drawn on the ground. Furthermore he was unwilling to let anyone touch his legs, resulting in lack of hoof care, since even when sedated his fear would take over and he would not let the farrier trim his feet.

<-- Montana after successful partial rehabilitation, enjoying a 'manicure' by farrier Jim Keip in December 08

How equine massage and bodywork
helped this horse overcome trauma related behavior issues

Montana's owner Lori had done all a responsible horse owner could do to help her horse heal. She diligently followed the vet's recommendations and provided daily wound care, encouragement and heaps of love to 'Monty'. Experiencing this type of injury with her horse was especially disheartening to Lori, who was a new horse owner at the time. The good healing progress encouraged Lori to think that all this could be overcome in time, had there not been a behavior problem which presented a serious challenge: Every time the horse was asked to step over any type of perceived obstacle, he would jack up his right hind leg, hop on three legs and refuse to walk on. After discussion with the vet and further observation, Lori determined that the cause must be more than physical, but rather related to the psychological trauma of the accident and the related 'muscle memory'.

I was strongly motivated to help Monty and offered my help, not yet knowing how to provide it. I decided to start by relaxing the horse through careful equine bodywork and used Jim Masterson's 'bladder meridian' technique to start. (You can learn more about this technique by viewing Jim Masterson's DVD). This was followed by a whole bodywork session, carefully skipping over any body areas that Monty was especially worried about and refused to have touched (hind legs). Faced with the task to get to Monty's hind legs, I followed the advice of a fellow Masterson Method (TM) bodyworker and decided to use a lunge whip to safely reach the horses hind legs. Unfortunately Monty associated the whip with pain so he had to be desensitized to the whip first.

After some sessions the horse accepted touch with the whip on the hind legs and I proceeded with massage strokes down the hind legs and instructed owner Lori on how to carefully get Montana used to having his hind legs touched again and overcome his trauma.

Then we started working on overcoming the fear of stepping over obstacles. This was accomplished by not coercing the horse with treats or driving aids such as whips, but rather by forcing the horse to face his fear and then make up his own mind of what to do with it. For example, when Montana was asked to step down a small step and refused, he was allowed to step out to the side to avoid it or to stand there and refuse indefinetely, but not to step back. Rather soon he learned that he could do it and thanks to Lori's never ending patience and repeated exercise he was soon able to step into the round pen, over ground poles and up and down small steps almost effortlessly.

Today, 5 months after the pasture accident, Lori rides Montana on the trail, walks him through the deep Wisconsin snow, tirelessly practices having his hind legs handled and provides the leadership this horse needs to regain his confidence. A patient and knowledgable farrier can now trim the horses feet without sedation. Goals for 09 are to fully overcome the fear of stepping over obstacles and minimize the episodes as well as being able to fully trim the hind feet without restrictions and without sedation. He still has a ways to go and episodes of 'leg hitching' and hesitation still occur, however, Montana is well on his way to be fully rehabilitated. A time well spent in view of the future life of this young and wonderful paint gelding.

"...and he was not getting better.  Stefanie worked through his anguish, and taught me how to help him as well.  He went from a wary, nervous horse to steady and confident.  He stands calm and unconcerned.  He isn’t done yet, but he’s on track to healing his mind as well as his body, and the progress has been wonderful. Thank you..."

Montana's owner Lori, December 08

Do you have a horse that suffers from pain and trauma related behavior issues? Please contact me.
Maybe we can help your horse together.

Montana's journey in pictures
- a horses recovery from a painful and traumatic pasture accident

	The horses hind end injury right after the pasture accident in July 08.
	The horses hind end about 3 months later. Thanks to the untiring efforts of vet and owner this wound healed wonderfully.
	The horses front legs right after the pasture accident in July 08.
	The horses front legs about 3 months later. Daily attention and the owner's determination and persistance resulted in optimal healing progress.
	The injury to the hind legs right after the pasture accident in July 08.
	The injury to the hind legs during the healing process. These wounds presented a particular challenge to the owner since the horse was fearful and reluctant and made wound care difficult.
	The same injury in December 08, only small scars remain, but the neglected feet are witness to the trauma related behavior issues and hores refusal to have the farrier handle the feet.
	Montana, his courageous owner Lori and farrier Jim Keip on December 13, 08. 'Monty' looks relaxed and doesn't mind the 'manicure'.
	The horse does not mind having his front feet trimmed.
	The hind feet did present a greater challenge, but after patient persistance and much reassureance by farrier Jim Keip and owner Lori, Monty agreed to have his feet handled and at least have the edges roughly trimmed. A good first step without sedation!