I first wrote in detail about Star, a horse that my daughter is working with at the barn where I board Donut, in this post. At that time, I wasn't really sure what the future held for Star. She was clearly in a lot of pain, and she had recently been brutally attacked by another mare in her herd. Over time, she healed from the injuries caused by the attack. She was examined by a vet, who prescribed Equioxx (an arthritis medicine) and Cosequin (a joint supplement) for the pain issues she had had before the attack. The vet also suggested that a visit from a chiropractor would be a good idea.
Thankfully, Star's caregiver agreed to do all of those things, and the changes in Star since January have been nothing short of miraculous. Gemma and I started out doing some hand-walking and groundwork with her a few days a week. Over time, Gemma started riding bareback and I would walk with her and Star around the farm. Then Gemma started putting a saddle on and walking her over some ground poles and flower boxes, and I started introducing Star to in-hand work.
Now, it is almost unbelievable to see Star. She can be ridden at the walk, trot, and canter by Gemma. I had a lesson with her with the same instructor that I used when I was riding Nimo. We did some in-hand work to start with, and Star was so spunky that we graduated to doing some work on the lunge. My instructor actually recommended that I start riding her because it would be easier to do the more advanced balance and collection work with her that way.
So I've gotten on her a few times now. I'm just walking her for about 20 minutes around the farm, and I even took her on a slow trail ride with a few other boarders several days ago, and she did well. She normally has a huge bubble and needs lots of personal space, but I noticed that her bubble has shrunk considerably and she is able to tolerate horses being near her much better than she did in the past.
My next step is to gradually increase her workload and start asking for more balance at the walk and trot. Assuming she handles that work well, I will be working with my instructor on a regular basis to see how far we can advance her balance and coordination.
My heart is so full every time I look at this wonderful mare. It used to be that when she was in the round pen, where she had to stay after her attack because she couldn't go back out with her old herd, she would try very hard to ignore all people and pretend to be invisible. Now, she is able to be out in a field with several other horses (different than her old herd). In fact, Donut is one of her herd-mates now. Donut would dearly like to make friends with her, but Star is still a bit wary. But none of the horses are bullying her and they all treat her with respect and give her the space she asks for. And when Gemma or I come into the field to catch her, she will now walk up to us with a happy expression.
Star's transformation is one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. It is a testament to how resilient horses are as well as to how finding the right combination of medications and therapy can significantly improve a horse's quality of life. I look forward to continuing to work with her as long as we are able to.
And who would believe this mare is 24 years old?!
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