Dear Carla,
Where to start? This is probably going to be a long one.
First let me thank you for visiting with my precious Boy. His kind
and gentle spirit has been such a comfort to me from the first moment
I laid eyes on him.I'm so glad he reached out to you to give of himself for
comfort.He is always checking me over when I come to the
barn,reaching out and checking my "status" so to speak.I found him after I
had lost my previous horse under tragic circumstances and he
has been truly the healer of my broken heart.You see now why I was so
interested in helping him with the insect problem,because his response
was so unnatural and extreme considering his basic personality.
Before I had heard about you, I was discussing with another horse friend my
concern and confusion about his worsening behavior about flies. At the time
I told her I felt like he had "an almost primordial
fear" of the flies beyond his basic discomfort with them.Also that I
had a hard time having the heart to try and correct him under saddle
when we were last riding through buggy areas and he was jigging and
tossing his head feeling like he wanted to bolt.The reason I felt bad
scolding him or using rein and leg corrections is because I felt two
distinct personalities almost "warring" with each other.I couldn't get
a connection to the one who was panicked but I definitely felt "my King's"
agitation and remorse over the "other one's" behavior.I kept
hearing the words "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry" over and over,and I knew
he was trying to control it but couldn't.Your visitation with him explained
so much.
I started him on garlic the day I got the e-mail.(I had used garlicin the past
as a supplement with my other horse but don't remember
why I got out of the habit)I know well it's immune support properties
and it's beneficience as a feed through for insect repellent,so DUH
why I didn't think of it in this case I don't know.I also ordered the
fly string attachment for his bridle,it should be here anyday.I'll e-mail a
picture as soon as possible.Have'nt been able to ride him since
we talked because we have had rain every day until yesterday.We are
very hot and steamy right now and of course insect ridden after all the
rains. I feel that he will be better when we do ride out again.
He is his usual calm and happy self right now inthe barn.By the way,
I spoke to him about you after I got your e-mail. I went in to the barn and
said "Did you meet Carla today?(putting the picture of you from your website
in my mind)His head flew up and ears pricked forward
and he looked out and around almost as if he expected to see you.I
believe he liked you very much.Maybe you should visit with him on your
own time so to speak,so he can "recharge" your batteries.I believe he wants
to see you again,but not about his problem,he wants to give you
something.I feel wierd telling you this,you are the animal communicator
after all,but I just wanted you to know,you were welcome
to visit him any time and don't need to report back to me.
Two places on the tape I cried without restraint when listening to.
One was when he reached out to you,because I know firsthand of his large and
loving heart.The other was when he said he wanted to be taught to kneel
because he knew it was hard for me to get up on him.
I am 46 yrs old,overweight,short,and creaky kneed.I use a mounting block to
spare him having his saddle dragged on,but some days even
with the block I need assistance mounting when my left won't cooperate
As soon as Lori is fully settled in,she's going to help me with the
clicker training to try and do it. I always hesitated to try that,I
felt he could learn to do it easily but hated to ask him then to rise
from that position with me on his back.But if he feels he can do it then we
will.It would be helpful when riding away from home on trails
because that can be a challenge,finding mounting blocks "au natural"
Re: the R hip. About a year and a half ago,he was kicked in rhe muscle area
right in the center of his hip by another horse.It split
the fibrous sheath surrounding the muscle and the muscle bulges through like
a hernia. It is the muscle,according to the vet,which makes it possible to
lift the leg and stride out in the forward reaching stride. I didn't ride
him for 5 mos. while the split healed.
It has progressed from an elongated area about ten inches long with
a hard bulge,to one about 5inches with a soft bulge.The vet has told me it
may never close completely.The area itself does not seem to be painful to
him but I have noticed that he sometimes stands with it at an odd angle and
his stride on that leg is somewhat of a lift and throw out in a circle. It
is the reason,I feel,that he sometimes stumbles,because I feel the stumble
from back to front as opposed to
a front end stumble when we ride.Oddly enough when we ride regularly
it seems to get better as the surrounding muscles tighten up and seem
to provide more support.I felt his point of hip on the right side near
his tail after listening to the tape and there was a hardness in that
area. I tried a little energy transfer with my hands and it softened
up so I will continue to do so.He is due to be shod this week so I will also
address the problem again with my farrier. He has already
been very helpful.Currently he squares off the toes in the back to speed up
the breakover point as he tends to drag that R foot over more
slowly until fully warmed up.It seemed to help the stumbling.I get them shod
every 6 weeks,but I can always tell he's staring to do it in
the last week before shoeing when his feet are longer.
Re:jumping the log and dragging the sack. At first I thought "Who's
horse is she talking to.?"I have never asked him to so much as step
over a log much less jump and haven't dragged so much as a hay string
behind him.Then I remembered what the man I bought him from had told me a
bout his early years.(I got him when he was 5 yrs old)Jack bought
him when he was 3 from a friend of his who owns a large cattle ranch
in S.Texas.This man has his own breeding program and specializes in
working cow horse and ropers. ALLof his colts are "broke" to ride at
about 2 1/2 yrs of age.They do lots of "sacking out" with objects such
as feed sacks and dragging tires,etc.They are also ridden out onto the
ranch on a regular basis with older more experienced horses to get them used
to the ranch life.(I don't know if you know much about Texas
but cattle ranches in South Teaxs are pretty wild and wooly terrain.
After King was trained to saddle ,Jack's friend called him to let him know
he had a horse that might be nice for Jack's wife (who was an
absolute novice)The friend knew that they were looking and told them
about this big,pretty colt he had who was unusually gentle and willing
and who was really "too pretty" to put into the working ranch remuda,
and did Jack want to come look at him.He did, and they had him for 2
yrs.,but the wife was never more than an occasional rider and Jack de-
veloped severe heart problems and had to cut back on his horse
activities,which were national cutting horse competitions,and they needed to
find a home for King.I met them through a friend who knew I
was looking for another horse. After the sale was completed Jack insisted on
bringing him to me so he could see where and how he would
live, and we continued to keep in touch occasionally.A few months after I
had him Jack told me one of his friends asked him "How's old
King doin?"Jack told him he envied that horse because he was the only
feller he ever knew who got to go to heaven without dyin' first.
So as you see,King's experiences as related are very legitimate.I can
imagine at the age of 2 1/2 he was very proud of himself for dragging
scary things and jumping a log.Everyone who has been around him always
seems to be touched by him.I thank the Lord daily in my prayers for
sending him to me,and this is the last home he will ever have.I hope
for us to grow old together.
Now in regards to our other Beloved Beast. I would like for you to visit
with my husband's horse "Cowboy"Also a Palomino,Qtr. Horse,gelding. Age nine
yrs. Pesonality totally different from King,
but I bet you'll have a blast talking with him. My main concern with
him is that when he is bored,excited,or impatient,he lifts his head
and does this thing between a suck and a swallow,repeatedly.Harmless
it seems,but it bothers me because it resembles cribbing or "wind-sucking"
although he doesn't grasp an object to do it.Also it causes
him a pre-colic type bloat from time to time because he fills his stomach up
with too much air if he does it too much.He had two traumatic events in his
otherwise pampered and beloved existence.One
when he was very young at the place where he was born.The other a few
years ago when he witnessed a tragic event.I'm not being detailed here
because I want to know if he will mention them on his own or if either
or both have to do with his "nervous habit" Hopefullky some healing can be
evoked.
I will sign on your website after this an make the payment for his visit.
Also, forgot to tell you, I was already giving King a combination of
herbs called "Relax Blend" primary component, Valerian.But I was giving
him only a small maintenance dose and increasing it only if we were going to
go somewhere. I have him on a larger daily dose and that seems to help too.
Well,I warned you this would be long.Can't wait to hear from you again on
the subject of Cowboy.You have been a blessing to us.Lori
also sends her regards.Harley and her new colt Jag have a wonderful
home with geen pastures to play in.Till we speak again.
Love, A