Horse Rehabilitation

Occasionally we are in the position to take in horses for rehabilitation.

The can be done in one of three ways.

Gifting

This is where the ownership of the horse is signed over. Once the horse has reached the end of its rehabilitation it will either become a permanent resident or be re-homed with a suitable person. This will be under a permanent loan contract as we DO NOT sell horses.

Weekly Basis

Under this arrangement the horse will come to stay here on a week to week basis at a set cost per week. It is then up to the owner how long they want their horse to stay depending on the individuals needs and progress. It is advisable that horses come for at least a month, as they first need time to settle into their new surroundings. It is advisable that the horse’s owner then spends a day or two with their horse and myself so that we can work through any changes and guidelines that will enable the horse and owner to work better as a team on return to their home. During your horses stay it maybe the case that other therapists would greatly benefit your horse Chiropractor, Osteopath, Kinesiologist etc. If this appears to be the case I will discuss with you a plan of action and why I feel it is the right route to progress down along with the relevant costs.

Residential Stay

This involves the horse and owner staying here together. Each day I will spend time with you and your horse helping you to develop a heart felt connection and understanding with your horse. During this time we will also look at various ways of tackling behaviour and riding problems or any other concerns that you may have.

Facilities

The horses here live in as natural environment as we are able to provide for them at this time. We have three summer paddocks of various sizes along with a 5 ½ acre winter field. Horses are able to live out 24/7 either having access to a 14x16 field shelter with yard or two 16x16 open stables, we never lock horses in. Grazing is available all year round though often in the summer the small ponies move into a paddock with less grass that is then supplemented with hay. Our horses are fed on Simple Systems natural feeds. For safety reasons if at all possible we do ask that metal shoes be removed although obviously there are always exceptions where this cannot be done. Our horses and ponies are trimmed every 4-6 weeks by a non-invasive barefoot trimmer. Previous to this I used a farrier but found that some of my horses were having problems with their type of trim. All of my horses and ponies are sound trotting on stone or road (the proof is in the pudding as they say). Horses are ridden in treeless or reactor panel saddles. Fields are poo picked daily and someone is always on site over night.

Why Rehabilitation?

Many people have problems with their horses. These can take many forms such as dominance, behaviour problems, stress or communication problems between horse and owner/rider. It’s a simple fact that many horses just need time to unwind and some just need to live in a natural herd environment for a while to let go of stress of forget old behaviour patterns. Others may have been too heavily tacked, heavily ridden or misunderstood in which case we will work through these problems. I often find that what is seen as a behaviour problem by many is just a lack of understand towards an individual horses personal needs. Often the more sensitive the horse, the worse the problem. Here we allow horses to be themselves warts and all.

Would I take in your horse?

That depends on several factors. Firstly would your horse benefit from being here?

Even if it would benefit from being here I am the right person to help this individual horse with its problems?

The horse is always my first priority. Before I agree to take on any horse I will first need to access it and talk through a plan of action with you. If I am not the right person to help your horse I will do my best to point you in the right direction of someone who can as I feel I am helping no one least of all the horse by biting off more than I can chew.

Whilst in an ideal world I want to get the horse back on track and home with its owner sometimes it’s a sad case that the horse would benefit from being with someone else all together. Any horse that is gifted to me will never leave here unless I am 100% sure that it is being re-homed to the right person. In saying that all horses that have come here have stayed for good accept for Texas who was returned to his previous owner through his own choice once he was ready.

What horses will I not take?

I am unable to take on truly dangerous horses. There is always a risk of injury with any horse but as I work mainly alone I have to be aware of my own safety. In saying that what some may term a dangerous horse to me might just be misunderstood horse.

I am unable to take in horses solely for retirement as this blocks up available places for other horses in need. If you wish to retire your horse please be aware that there are many adverts going around asking for companion horses. The British Horse Society have warned of many horses that have gone missing after being re-homed after owners replying to some such adverts. If you choose to re-home your horse through such an advert please investigate fully before committing yourself and your horse.

Past Rehabilitation Cases

Polly

Polly is a 14.3hh Welsh x Arab mare. Polly is and will always be a permanent resident here. I was asked to have Polly six years ago. She was looked after fantastically and had a good life style yet she was suffering badly from stress. This had caused her to loose hair around her face and all the way down the backs of her front legs. She was suffering from photosensitivity and would get sunburnt if cream wasn’t applied. She also had nerve damage in her back. Within three weeks of arriving Polly’s hair started to grow back (she has never lost it since) As soon as she arrived we started her on homeopathic treatment for her photosensitivity. Within six weeks and ever since she has been able to go out in the sun with no problem. I found the cause of her nerve damage was through lead poisoning. Using homeopathy we were able to remedy this and the nerves have completely repaired and all of her muscle has returned. At 24 years old Polly now looks live a 15 year old. She can still get stressed in some situations but is 85% improved and is a valuable and much loved member of our herd though a bit of a Diva!

Hope

Hope was a beautiful Miniature Shetland and one of the most loveable ponies I ever met, but also the most abused. I was asked to have her six months after for was bought from a fayre. She was being loaded onto the meat wagon at 24 years old 4 months in foal and with a full bag of milk. I was asked to have her as her owner felt I’d be able to give her more time and attention. Six weeks after Hope arrived with me she gave birth to a stunning filly foal that is a permanent resident here. Within weeks of Hope arriving it was very obvious that what Hope needed was space to be a pony with no stress and to live out her life with the only foal she had never had stolen from her. Hope never totally gave up her fear of humans in the eight years she was with me until the day that she was put to sleep. The two hours we spent together before the vet arrived were the most special I have ever experienced with her. In those 2 hours it was as if she knew that soon it would be over and that if she wanted to let go of her fear before she went then now was the time. For the first time in 8 years Hope came to me and allowed me to cuddle her. Hope was put to sleep aged 33 due to a hard life and her failing liver and kidneys.

Texas

15.3hh Blanket spot Appaloosa

I was recommended to Texas’ owner by her saddler. Texas had an old suspensory ligament injury and was suffering from depression. Texas was signed over to me through ‘gifting’. I still don’t know to this day what it was that Texas got from me or my other horses here. When he came it was decided that he would stay with me permanently. Almost three years later Texas informed me that I had given him exactly what he came for and that he was ready to return to his previous owner. This I can say shocked me as much as it did her! As it turned out his previous owner was in a good position to take him back so it was agreed that she would come and visit him to satisfy herself that this was what he wanted. We both stood by the fence as she called him. He looked up and stared at us for a few moments and slowly walked over. He stood in front of me for a moment just looking at me as if saying his ‘thank you’ as he then turned and walked to Sue. At which time I made my exit and went and put the kettle on to give them time for a cuddle. Many people asked me if I was sad to see Texas leave as he had become a huge part of my life and helped me for many years before he even came. My answer has to be that yes I am sad to see him go and yes I do miss him. But part of me always smiles when I remember the day I did what was right for him. Texas helped me so much the least I could do for him was give him what he now needs most and I have to admit that that is no longer me.

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Please note: Holly Davis, The Texas Highway and Texas the horse are not associated with any other animal communicators regardless of such claims.