Horse Whisperer

[cg]

Hello

Has anybody had any experience of using a horse whisperer and did it work, was it useful?

I don't think I believe in it, I think it sounds ridiculous and very far fetched.

However, I am starting to consider having one to my horse, but before I spend the money on something in my head is ridiculous but my heart says do it, I wanted to know anybody's previous experiences?

I don't know whether it is because I am experiencing a few medical issues with my boy and I am now willing to believe anything.


Any opinions good or bad thank you.

[flee]

Had experience of one years ago when a 'whisperer' did a job lot on our yard . I don't believe in it either although I do think some of the whisperers genuinely believe they're communicating . This woman had featured in some of the leading horsey magazines at the time and was being hailed as the dogs do-dahs , I like to think I'm fairly open minded ( as opposed to gullible !) and was curious to see it for myself , so when someone said she was offering a discount for visiting a group of horses I agreed to make up the numbers .
When she arrived we all followed her round from stable to stable and listened to each reading ( or whatever you want to call it ) and , to me anyway , it quickly became clear how much she was actually picking up from the owners . I've also had experience of 'mediums' and it's amazing how much information you can give away without even realising it and how much they pump you for information , whether intentionally or not ( " Is there someone special you want to discuss .? Are you worried about anything in particular ?" You're the medium - you tell me !) . In this case our whisperer didn't need to do any 'pumping' as owners were falling over themselves to tell her , and the information the horses supposedly told her was of no point or value what so ever .
So the owner would say " This is Patch , I've had him for 15 years since he was about 7ish . He's lovely , really kind and steady . I just want to know if he's happy really ."
The whisperer strokes Patches head ,stands silently looking thoughtful with her head cocked slightly to one side as though listening , nods her head a few times and announces in a soft faraway voice
" 24 summers . Patch says that he has counted 24 summers , he wants you to know that he is 24 , not 22 . He says that he can't keep up with the other horses anymore when you all go out for a ride and they gallop . He says he tries his very best , he tries so hard , but he can't keep up . Patch is really afraid that you will get bored with him and you won't want him anymore . You'll get rid of him and he couldn't bear it because he loves you so much and he's so , so sorry he can't keep up with the young horses ."
Patches owner promptly bursts into tears , throws her arms around his neck and promises him that she loves him too and will never , ever sell him .
Cue murmurs of astonishment . However no one points out to Patches owner that she has owned him for 15 years and never had any intention of selling him , she only ever potters around the fields with him and does not do group canters , never mind a gallop , and who knew horses could count ? And by the seasons of all things . I'd have trouble keeping track of my own age using that system . And what does it matter anyway ? what useful information has just been gleaned from that ?
The other 'readings' provided lots of equally useless and unverifiable information .
"She says her name is Rose ( there is a nameplate on the stable door ) , but you call her Rosie ( this is how the owner addressed her ) . She would like you to call her Rose ".
" He says he used to live in a small , dark stable . It was cold and there was a man who shouted at him ".Prove it .
" She doesn't like having to come in at night . She wants to stay in the field ".True . And for every other horse on the yard also .
How could you prove any of it ? And even if you could , the majority is just useless , trivial , unverifiable speculation . Never mind Horse Whispering , more like Horse Gossiping !And my main point of contention is why , if they claim to be able to communicate so deeply with horses , you could not then 'reason' with the animal ie. " Flee says that if you stop kicking the stable door at feed time you can have extra carrots " , " If you stop messing about when Flee rides you in the school you can do 30 minutes work instead of 45 , and have an extra hour in the field" , and even why you couldn't break a horse in by explaining the process and then getting them to watch other horses being ridden .'Believers ' just say " It doesn't work like that." Why not ? If you can ask a horse a question and it can give you the answer then you are having a two way conversation , are you not ?
When it was my horses turn to meet the whisperer I decided to keep quiet , he was a recent purchase ( 6 weeks ) , bought from a dealer as a potential eventer , and I didn't know that much about him .The horse was an absolute dope in the stable but proving somewhat ' exhuberent' to ride . I was well aware that I was getting 'pumped' for information and things weren't going too well when it wasn't forth coming. Ahh but human nature is an interesting thing - after a few long and awkward silence during which my horse , apparently , was not communicating , one of the observers at the stable door , presumably trying to be helpful , mentioned that he was an ex-racehorse .
Cue whisperer
" Slow . Slow . He keeps hearing the words ' He's too slow' . And he's at the sales again . Oh , he hates it . He hates going to the sales . He can't go fast enough like the others , and they sell him again and again . It's loud and noisy and he doesn't know where he's going . He's so scared".
As she was leaving I asked her if she could tell me how he had acquired the scars on his chest and under his elbow . She replied immediately " He was afraid of the man who bought him . He didn't want to go in the horsebox so they beat him and he fell off the side of the ramp ".

6 weeks later I managed to trace his owner from his passport . She had bought him directly from a point to point yard as a 5yo old to hunt , he had raced twice . She had owned him for 4 years but was giving up hunting due to hip problems and had part exed him for a horse for her son . The scars had been acquired when he decided to jump sideways over a 6ft hedge to join the hunt who were on an adjacent road .He had never been through a sale ring .

If you ever get the chance to watch a 'reading' then do it . Watched with clinical dispassion it is a fascinating exercise in human emotional manipulation and blind faith , but as a medium for 'communicating' with animals ..... well , this may come as a surprise but I'm not entirely convinced !

[cg]

May 26, 2016 15:03:46 GMT flee said:

Had experience of one years ago when a 'whisperer' did a job lot on our yard . I don't believe in it either although I do think some of the whisperers genuinely believe they're communicating . This woman had featured in some of the leading horsey magazines at the time and was being hailed as the dogs do-dahs , I like to think I'm fairly open minded ( as opposed to gullible !) and was curious to see it for myself , so when someone said she was offering a discount for visiting a group of horses I agreed to make up the numbers .
When she arrived we all followed her round from stable to stable and listened to each reading ( or whatever you want to call it ) and , to me anyway , it quickly became clear how much she was actually picking up from the owners . I've also had experience of 'mediums' and it's amazing how much information you can give away without even realising it and how much they pump you for information , whether intentionally or not ( " Is there someone special you want to discuss .? Are you worried about anything in particular ?" You're the medium - you tell me !) . In this case our whisperer didn't need to do any 'pumping' as owners were falling over themselves to tell her , and the information the horses supposedly told her was of no point or value what so ever .
So the owner would say " This is Patch , I've had him for 15 years since he was about 7ish . He's lovely , really kind and steady . I just want to know if he's happy really ."
The whisperer strokes Patches head ,stands silently looking thoughtful with her head cocked slightly to one side as though listening , nods her head a few times and announces in a soft faraway voice
" 24 summers . Patch says that he has counted 24 summers , he wants you to know that he is 24 , not 22 . He says that he can't keep up with the other horses anymore when you all go out for a ride and they gallop . He says he tries his very best , he tries so hard , but he can't keep up . Patch is really afraid that you will get bored with him and you won't want him anymore . You'll get rid of him and he couldn't bear it because he loves you so much and he's so , so sorry he can't keep up with the young horses ."
Patches owner promptly bursts into tears , throws her arms around his neck and promises him that she loves him too and will never , ever sell him .
Cue murmurs of astonishment . However no one points out to Patches owner that she has owned him for 15 years and never had any intention of selling him , she only ever potters around the fields with him and does not do group canters , never mind a gallop , and who knew horses could count ? And by the seasons of all things . I'd have trouble keeping track of my own age using that system . And what does it matter anyway ? what useful information has just been gleaned from that ?
The other 'readings' provided lots of equally useless and unverifiable information .
"She says her name is Rose ( there is a nameplate on the stable door ) , but you call her Rosie ( this is how the owner addressed her ) . She would like you to call her Rose ".
" He says he used to live in a small , dark stable . It was cold and there was a man who shouted at him ".Prove it .
" She doesn't like having to come in at night . She wants to stay in the field ".True . And for every other horse on the yard also .
How could you prove any of it ? And even if you could , the majority is just useless , trivial , unverifiable speculation . Never mind Horse Whispering , more like Horse Gossiping !And my main point of contention is why , if they claim to be able to communicate so deeply with horses , you could not then 'reason' with the animal ie. " Flee says that if you stop kicking the stable door at feed time you can have extra carrots " , " If you stop messing about when Flee rides you in the school you can do 30 minutes work instead of 45 , and have an extra hour in the field" , and even why you couldn't break a horse in by explaining the process and then getting them to watch other horses being ridden .'Believers ' just say " It doesn't work like that." Why not ? If you can ask a horse a question and it can give you the answer then you are having a two way conversation , are you not ?
When it was my horses turn to meet the whisperer I decided to keep quiet , he was a recent purchase ( 6 weeks ) , bought from a dealer as a potential eventer , and I didn't know that much about him .The horse was an absolute dope in the stable but proving somewhat ' exhuberent' to ride . I was well aware that I was getting 'pumped' for information and things weren't going too well when it wasn't forth coming. Ahh but human nature is an interesting thing - after a few long and awkward silence during which my horse , apparently , was not communicating , one of the observers at the stable door , presumably trying to be helpful , mentioned that he was an ex-racehorse .
Cue whisperer
" Slow . Slow . He keeps hearing the words ' He's too slow' . And he's at the sales again . Oh , he hates it . He hates going to the sales . He can't go fast enough like the others , and they sell him again and again . It's loud and noisy and he doesn't know where he's going . He's so scared".
As she was leaving I asked her if she could tell me how he had acquired the scars on his chest and under his elbow . She replied immediately " He was afraid of the man who bought him . He didn't want to go in the horsebox so they beat him and he fell off the side of the ramp ".

6 weeks later I managed to trace his owner from his passport . She had bought him directly from a point to point yard as a 5yo old to hunt , he had raced twice . She had owned him for 4 years but was giving up hunting due to hip problems and had part exed him for a horse for her son . The scars had been acquired when he decided to jump sideways over a 6ft hedge to join the hunt who were on an adjacent road .He had never been through a sale ring .

If you ever get the chance to watch a 'reading' then do it . Watched with clinical dispassion it is a fascinating exercise in human emotional manipulation and blind faith , but as a medium for 'communicating' with animals .....

That was a brilliant read flee, have you considered writing a book, I would definitely read it!!

On a serious note, I agree that I don't believe and I think the whole thing is bonkers! But I am trying to do everything for my horse and this is one of the last things I have thought of. I have people telling me they are great and their horses are completely different afterwards, but how!? The Lady I want to use as 100% 5* feedback on her facebook page. But I don't know if I have gotten to the desperate stage and I will believe anything, this horse whispering being one of them?
I just want an answer to one question which at the moment the vet or physio don't seem to know.... £40 a go, to be told a load of nonsense which could actually have a huge impact on what I do. I think your right and the whole idea is mad and probably not wise!

[chloesmum]

Wow Flee that does sound like some sort of 'horse physcic' and agree with you I would be sceptical!!!
However I thought a genuine horse whisperer was someone like Monty Roberts who used natural techniques to manage horses? Maybe I am confused|
Have had no experience myself however our very special boy, Stanleygrange Puppeteer sadly no longer alive was apparantly seen by a horse whisperer when he was a youngster.
We were told his story by Andrea Charlsworth that when he was a youngster he was very difficult and nervous to handle and I believe it was another very well known producer who was having this person out that persuaded a very sceptical Jerome to let him try. The HW did something in handling him so Snip was eventually backed and became one of the top intermediates in the country.
We only knew this story after we brought him, he always needed to be stroked on his neck and not patted. He was always quirky but the most beautiful, elegant and loving horse we have had the pleasure of owning so I am glad there was a Horse Whisperer or we would never have had the chance to own him.
But have to agree I don't think I would want a horse medium!!! although I would love to listen to what they thought was going in Jacob's mind sometimes!!

[flee]

May 26, 2016 16:47:58 GMT chloesmum said:

Wow Flee that does sound like some sort of 'horse physcic' and agree with you I would be sceptical!!!
However I thought a genuine horse whisperer was someone like Monty Roberts who used natural techniques to manage horses? Maybe I am confused|

I totally agree - there are horse whisperers and there are horse whisperers . Actually , if I'm honest I don't even like that phrase and I don't think the likes of Monty Roberts et al ,would even refer to themselves as that . Natural Horsemen maybe ? Monty Roberts is a god and I fully agree with and embrace his methods . All our ponies do join up as a bare minimum .It's commonsense , logical, horsemanship not telepathic psychobabble .
I got the impression from the OP that the problem was medical , rather than behavioural , and that she had been down the route of conventional diagnosis and hit a brick wall and that , in desperation , she was considering the sort of whisperer who rocks up , asks the horse where it hurts and then tells you he's got shooting pains in his chest/a blinding headache/ buzzing in his ears .
Forgive me if I was wrong .

[sarahp]

Always difficult to know where to go between pure science and flee's variety of horse whisperer. I know pretty much where my own lines are drawn, both for horses and humans, but I'm sure we all have different ones.

[smalley]

We had a whisperer out to see my horse who was suffering from suspensory damage, I can't remember exactly what prompted it but I think it was something to do with the fact she broke out of her stable within 24 hours of the vet prescribed box rest so needed other ideas! We were pretty skeptical, he looked at her and said that her shoes were too tight (we'd had remedial shoeing done at the advice of the vet) and that they were hurting her and she was compensating for this which is why she kept getting injured - or something along those lines! He suggested we took off her shoes, trimmed her toes right down and turned her away for a year. She'd had the same problem a couple of times but since having her shoes off she's stayed perfectly sound. I do think though that by 'horse whisperer' it was probably more just years of experience and natural horsemanship?

[cg]

May 26, 2016 18:28:47 GMT flee said:

May 26, 2016 16:47:58 GMT chloesmum said:

Wow Flee that does sound like some sort of 'horse physcic' and agree with you I would be sceptical!!!
However I thought a genuine horse whisperer was someone like Monty Roberts who used natural techniques to manage horses? Maybe I am confused|

I totally agree - there are horse whisperers and there are horse whisperers . Actually , if I'm honest I don't even like that phrase and I don't think the likes of Monty Roberts et al ,would even refer to themselves as that . Natural Horsemen maybe ? Monty Roberts is a god and I fully agree with and embrace his methods . All our ponies do join up as a bare minimum .It's commonsense , logical, horsemanship not telepathic psychobabble .
I got the impression from the OP's problem was medical , rather than behavioural , and that she had been down the route of conventional diagnosis and hit a brick wall and that , in desperation , she was considering the sort of whisperer who rocks up , asks the horse where it hurts and then tells you he's got shooting pains in his chest/a blinding headache/ buzzing in his ears .
Forgive me if I was wrong .

Flee you have hit the nail on the head there! That's exactly my problem. I have been down every avenue. Don't get me wrong the horse Is rideable under instruction from the vet, but personally I am still not 100% happy and I thought as a last resort I could get one of these odd people (no offence) to listen to him!

Don't get me wrong I am so sceptical and think its as nuts as you all do, but I hear lots of good reports and think its £40, so all I have to lose is that right? But I don't want to waste my money, or do I do further medical digging such as MRI scans? Or just give him turmeric and hope its fine !

[Toaster]

Some horse whispering is just common sense and experienced insight BUT many horse owners these days are sadly lacking in these so it's not surprising that some horse whisperers have good reputations - perhaps it's a necessary service needed by the hoards of numpty owners about these days!

Facebook must be the single biggest gold mine of information for the less scrupulous not to mention the word of mouth recommendations 'my friend Sue would like to book your services, she is having terrible trouble with her pony refusing fences'

And of course some are just plain vague!

There have been a couple of incidents where I know that no information has been given (a fake name has been used) where I have been surprised at the results however not enough for me to reach for a fifty pound note and book someone (not that I have seen a fifty since I bought ponies...)

The comment that serves as a constant reminder for me not to put my hand in my pocket is one from another forum. Horse whisperer spends ages with a horse in silence only to declare boldly 'he doesn't want to race, he wants to be a fireman'

[gillwales]

I had a friend who used a " healer" on her broodmare, she had had a vet out who had advised her it was laminitis, but she shut her ears to this, eventually called in this "healer" who manipulated the poor pony for over an hour until she took the only course open to her and laid down, the outcome was that she was pts when the foal was 2 weeks old. The "healer" had given all of the spiel saying she had damaged various muscles in her back and shoulder and that he would need to attend her again once she had foaled, basically by that time she was totally crippled so I managed to persuade my friend not to put the poor thing through it again. The fact is that your Vet will have trained for 5 years to be able to give you the diagnosis , he/ she would have also been one of the brightest students of their year. Don't get me wrong a Vet is not a god , but then neither is any layman, including Monty Roberts and his followers. ( I have put my tin hat on there! ) What confirms all of this to me is that all of the above will happily part you from your hard earned cash, when I find one that refuses payment of any kind I might have more faith. Use your head not your heart.

[cg]

May 27, 2016 8:05:37 GMT Toaster said:

Some horse whispering is just common sense and experienced insight BUT many horse owners these days are sadly lacking in these so it's not surprising that some horse whisperers have good reputations - perhaps it's a necessary service needed by the hoards of numpty owners about these days!

Facebook must be the single biggest gold mine of information for the less scrupulous not to mention the word of mouth recommendations 'my friend Sue would like to book your services, she is having terrible trouble with her pony refusing fences'

And of course some are just plain vague!

There have been a couple of incidents where I know that no information has been given (a fake name has been used) where I have been surprised at the results however not enough for me to reach for a fifty pound note and book someone (not that I have seen a fifty since I bought ponies...)

The comment that serves as a constant reminder for me not to put my hand in my pocket is one from another forum. Horse whisperer spends ages with a horse in silence only to declare boldly 'he doesn't want to race, he wants to be a fireman'

I would like to consider myself and experienced horse woman, I am all for giving everyone advice and help until it comes to my own horse and I don't know what to do. I hope you don't think I am a numpty owner, I promise I am not!

The person in question I messaged for a quote doesn't want to know anything about the horse at all to reassure me that it isn't bo***cks.

The horse is used for lots of side saddle displays and he is doing one on Monday, that will be my real tell tale sign, he is a showman through and through and performs for a crowd, if he doesn't on Monday I will know something really isn't right.

[cg]

May 27, 2016 8:39:11 GMT gillwales said:

I had a friend who used a " healer" on her broodmare, she had had a vet out who had advised her it was laminitis, but she shut her ears to this, eventually called in this "healer" who manipulated the poor pony for over an hour until she took the only course open to her and laid down, the outcome was that she was pts when the foal was 2 weeks old. The "healer" had given all of the spiel saying she had damaged various muscles in her back and shoulder and that he would need to attend her again once she had foaled, basically by that time she was totally crippled so I managed to persuade my friend not to put the poor thing through it again. The fact is that your Vet will have trained for 5 years to be able to give you the diagnosis , he/ she would have also been one of the brightest students of their year. Don't get me wrong a Vet is not a god , but then neither is any layman, including Monty Roberts and his followers. ( I have put my tin hat on there! ) What confirms all of this to me is that all of the above will happily part you from your hard earned cash, when I find one that refuses payment of any kind I might have more faith. Use your head not your heart.

Thank you Gillwales, I agree with your Monty Roberts comment completely, I am not a huge fan, I agree join up looks great but all the parelli and waving carrot sticks around is not for me.

The problem is even the vet isn't sure whats going on. Maybe I will just call her back and arrange MRI scans so we can see whats going on. The behaviour of the horse is strange, he is fine in himself, fine to ride but stiff once he has been tied up standing for a few minutes, either to be brushed or tacked up or untacked? once he has walked the stiffness off after a few strides he is fine which is great however my argument is this still isn't normal? Does any body have any experience of this?

[Toaster]

May 27, 2016 8:41:23 GMT cg said:

I would like to consider myself and experienced horse woman, I am all for giving everyone advice and help until it comes to my own horse and I don't know what to do. I hope you don't think I am a numpty owner, I promise I am not!

The person in question I messaged for a quote doesn't want to know anything about the horse at all to reassure me that it isn't bo***cks.

The horse is used for lots of side saddle displays and he is doing one on Monday, that will be my real tell tale sign, he is a showman through and through and performs for a crowd, if he doesn't on Monday I will know something really isn't right.

No sorry! I should have made that clearer sorry - I wasn't referring to you just saying that I can see why these people have become so popular

I'm thinking more of the people that need to be told: 'the reason he is stopping at fences is because he says he isn't feeling his best as his feet are falling apart, he is itchy and his Pelham is upside down'

[chloesmum]

Sorry cg this is obviously a serious matter for you and I can see you know your horse really well and are looking for answers which can be so frustrating as they don't talk to us in our language.
So don't want to be trivial about your concerns but Toaster you have made me laugh, thank you!! A Fireman!! what with that and Flee's wonderful story I am now going to ride Jacob. I will attempt to communicate with him - i have a feeling he will tell me this:
I know you all love me but if you really loved me you would let me wander where I want to graze and certainly give me bigger feeds.
Whilst happy to wander round the village with the old lady on board (that's me!) I don't appreciate being asked by Chloe to canter in that sand school.
I would like some company, but on my own terms so long as I can just have lady friends who will oblige me that would keep me happy. I am not that fond of those silly little boys you insist on having as well.
Just to please you I do put up with that new lorry, providing I can have it all to myself with no partition and I hope you are grateful to me for this. Love and kisses Jacob (and don't forget how lucky you are to have me!)

[gillwales]

cg, how old is your horse, because I can say that when I sit for a long period of time or am inactive I am stiff to get going. And even with all of the resorces of the NHS there are times when it is difficult to say what is wrong with a person. Ask your Vet if she has talked about your horse with other Vets in the practice, one of the othes may have come across something similar. By all means have the test if it is going to help put your mind at rest or produce a better outcome for your horse, however there are some things that cannot be fixed, if this is likely then just go from day to day and see what happens.

[cg]

Haha that's ok Toaster!

I know, ive never had this problem with him and the reason it is such an issue is because he battled on honestly without really letting anyone know until it obviously got quite bad, poor boy! Hes like a Labrador in a horse body, just wants to please everybody.

Gill hes approximately 15, but he was from Ireland 9 years ago so he could be anywhere between 12 and 15 really! My vet is on her own and not a practice unfortunately, I don't want to insult her by getting another opinion, but could be a possibility? Yes I think you are right gillwales, taking everyday as it comes and see how it is. I just don't want to keep going with him if he is in pain.

[sarahp]

Such a difficult situation for you. I think how he behaves in the display will tell you a lot, and while I personally think horse whispering as in psycic communication is a lot of rubbish, it may be that your person is actually going on long experience of horses and a fresh eye, and could find something sensible to say. I do think that vets, physios and all of us look from our own perspective at a problem - the vet is looking for a medical explanation, the physio from a soft tissue damage one, farrier for a foot one etc and it may be that a wider application of mind would turn up something. I bred one years ago who was cow hocked and turned his hind feet out, wearing down the insides. When shod and broken, he went not quite right behind. Vet was convinced he had a lower leg problem but couldn't find anything, physio treated his sacroiliac a few times but was convinced that was not the primary reason. Eventually vet told me to remove shoes and turn him out but I backed a hunch and turned him out with his shoes on. I wondered if being unable to wear the insides of his hind hooves down as he did when unshod had caused a soft tissue stress in the leg somewhere, eventually ending up in upsetting the sacroiliac joint. Whatever, whether I was right or not he came back in sound and remained so.

Like gillwales I too get stiff if unmoving for any length of time which wears off quickly with movement. I'm arthritic, but unlike your vet's recommendation, I tried various supplements and while the standard glucosamine and chondroitin made no difference I did find one that does help hugely although I do now, some years after I started the supplement, take anti-inflammatories on a regular basis. It can't reverse the damage already done, but does seem to lubricate the joints and reduce pain. I did tell my rheumatologist, who says he spends lots of time injecting the active ingredient into joints, although no work has been done on taking it by mouth. I haven't tried turmeric, but I have seen a scientific article saying it does have an anti-inflammatory effect - although there is no properly calibrated knowledge of dosages and side effects and the like as there would be for any drug.

[cg]

May 27, 2016 15:04:57 GMT sarahp said:

Such a difficult situation for you. I think how he behaves in the display will tell you a lot, and while I personally think horse whispering as in psycic communication is a lot of rubbish, it may be that your person is actually going on long experience of horses and a fresh eye, and could find something sensible to say. I do think that vets, physios and all of us look from our own perspective at a problem - the vet is looking for a medical explanation, the physio from a soft tissue damage one, farrier for a foot one etc and it may be that a wider application of mind would turn up something. I bred one years ago who was cow hocked and turned his hind feet out, wearing down the insides. When shod and broken, he went not quite right behind. Vet was convinced he had a lower leg problem but couldn't find anything, physio treated his sacroiliac a few times but was convinced that was not the primary reason. Eventually vet told me to remove shoes and turn him out but I backed a hunch and turned him out with his shoes on. I wondered if being unable to wear the insides of his hind hooves down as he did when unshod had caused a soft tissue stress in the leg somewhere, eventually ending up in upsetting the sacroiliac joint. Whatever, whether I was right or not he came back in sound and remained so.

Like gillwales I too get stiff if unmoving for any length of time which wears off quickly with movement. I'm arthritic, but unlike your vet's recommendation, I tried various supplements and while the standard glucosamine and chondroitin made no difference I did find one that does help hugely although I do now, some years after I started the supplement, take anti-inflammatories on a regular basis. It can't reverse the damage already done, but does seem to lubricate the joints and reduce pain. I did tell my rheumatologist, who says he spends lots of time injecting the active ingredient into joints, although no work has been done on taking it by mouth. I haven't tried turmeric, but I have seen a scientific article saying it does have an anti-inflammatory effect - although there is no properly calibrated knowledge of dosages and side effects and the like as there would be for any drug.

Thank you Sarahp I completely agree! He has had everyone out to him in the last month, dentist (just routinely), farrier, physio and vet so its not like I am not trying for him, the whisperer was like another option type thing, like you are describing.

Interesting what you say about joint supplements, I may put him on one then and try and find one that works, I refuse to believe there is nothing more I can do than just ride him and see, I want to help him as much as I can. He is on turmeric too.

Even if I have to spend my last penny of savings I would, I owe this boy everything and if he needs to just sit in a field quietly he has a home for life with me but I would rather keep him going at only 15 if I can!

I will let you all know how the display goes too, and any other experience with horse whisperers would be greatly received. I messaged the horse whisperer and told her I didn't believe in it but she agreed and said she wanted to prove otherwise?

[sarahp]

Well good luck, I hope you find some way of helping your horse.

[sjw87]

Personally, I would get a second opinion from another vet. That's not to say anything negative about your vet but sometimes a second pair of eyes, especially those who are looking at the horse fresh, may see something that has been missed.

In terms of joint supplements, whilst they cannot undo damage already done, they can help to ease the symptoms and reduce further damage. Following advice on here, I use aviform suppleaze gold for both my 16 and 22 year olds and it's enabled my 22yo to come off long term anti-inflammatories.

Like other's I'm very sceptical with horse whisperers - I've never had one to any of my horses but have witnessed other people having done so. I've only ever heard them either say something which the owner has inadvertently told them or say things which are not able to be proven and don't really give a definitive way forward.

If you do go ahead then you are unlikely to be in a worse position with your horse; just that your bank account will be a bit lighter! When you say you have 'messaged' them, is this through facebook? As someone has mentioned above, beware of how much information they may have been able to gain from anything on your profile. Often things on social media aren't as private as people like to think. As an example, if you've ever posted your name, email address or phone number on an advert on a forum (such as this one), a google search of your information can direct them to the advert, identifying your username. A quick search then on your profile of the posts you've made could provide them with information that you'd never think they could know.

Call me cynical but I know that some companies do these kinds of searches on potential employees so it's just as likely that someone who stands to profit from you could do the same.

Sent from my SM-A300FU using proboards

[sarahp]

You could try asking for a referral to a big horspital, they would have lameness specialists and all the bells and whistles for diagnosis on hand which a single person practice wouldn't.

sjw87 you have put what I believe about supplements much better than I did! I personally take the human form of Cortaflex HA, and have used equine Cortaflex with success.

[flee]

May 27, 2016 10:16:05 GMT cg said:

Haha that's ok Toaster!

I know, ive never had this problem with him and the reason it is such an issue is because he battled on honestly without really letting anyone know until it obviously got quite bad, poor boy! Hes like a Labrador in a horse body, just wants to please everybody.

Gill hes approximately 15, but he was from Ireland 9 years ago so he could be anywhere between 12 and 15 really! My vet is on her own and not a practice unfortunately, I don't want to insult her by getting another opinion, but could be a possibility?

Your horse wants to please everybody and you're worried about insulting your vet ! You're made for each other LOL !But seriously - you're going to have to ' grow some ' and stop being so NICE !!!
It's your horse and your money and no vet worth their salt should take offence at you seeking a second opinion . The practice I use is quite large and I have been with them for over 20 years. We've had a couple of occasions where , even after consulting everyone else in the practice , the attending vet has been flummoxed , and I've sought a second opinion from another practice . The second opinion was successful in one instance and my own vets where most interested in the diagnosis and closely followed the subsequent treatment , for their own future experience . In another instance , after examinations and xrays , my vets told me that they could do nothing for our chronically lame foal and recommended PTS .With nothing to lose I got a second opinion and that supported my own vets diagnosis of PTS .Fortunately we didn't follow the advice of either practice in that instance and , within weeks , our lad was sound as a pound and has never had a days lameness in 12 years ( don't quite know what the moral of that example is ! Trust your instincts ?) .
Stop worrying about what other people will think and put your boy first .If your vet finds that insulting then that's her problem , but if she can't diagnose the problem then I very much doubt that she'll take offence at you trying other avenues .

NB Just for the record - Monty is brilliant but I wouldn't touch Pirelli with a ten foot Carrot Stick .

[ikklecob]

Ok against the trend here. I had a whisperer do a reading off a photo. She knew nothing about my mare at all not eve her name. What she told me was so good I am convinced some people can do it. She told me about things she didn't like including seaweed how did she know I fed seaweed. The young lady who was riding her now needs to trust me more and be a bit gentler with her hands, my daughter a nervous rider quick to grab at the reins had recently taken over the ride. She still when knew I was coming even though the car sounds different I had recently changed my car.

Loads of other stuff too it really helped get to the bottom of her something we had not been able to do in the 6 years we had owned her.

[maxandpaddy]

I'm another sceptic but each to their own, especially if it gives comfort to the owner. Althoughhhh who knows? Over the years I've heard of/witnessed many weird and wonderful things that have no rational explanation or at least make you wonder, the latest involving my youngest son who's 7 with some learning difficulties. He's amazing, an old soul in a young body who in his words "needs to download things" before he can cope with them.

He has little interest in ponies/horses so avoids coming up to the yard with us, on the days he does he usually sits in the car with his leap pad while we quickly get things done. Other than our own 2 ponies he knows no names of the horses at the yard and takes little notice of whats going on ...or so I thought

It was a lovely evening up there the other night so he ventured out of the car, sat on the grass near my daughters old laminitic pony Toby who is now in his own limited grass patch next to the other horses (the one with sensitive feet I've had advise about on here) we did our stuff then we all pootled home.

The next evening my older daughter and I were chatting in the kitchen about something horsey and she said "I wish they could talk sometimes it'd make life far easier" ...my 7 year old son sat at the table eating a snack while reading a book didnt even look up but said ..."They can I had a nice chat with Toby last night" Oh really said I smiling what did he say? "He said he wants more grass to eat and that he misses being in the field with his friend"

"Which friend?" ...theres quite a few horses up there....."The dark one in the field to the right of him"

The one Toby wintered with .... I asked if he'd ever chatted with any of the others and he said "No they arnt interested in talking to me" then went back to his book

Now maybe yes he pays far more attention than I thought he did, which wouldnt surprise me, but it still gave me goosebumps in a lovely way.

[flee]

Some times they do come out with stuff that takes your breath away don't they ? Maybe you should take him to visit cg !

[diadem]

Is Kelly marks still on here? I hope you get to the bottom of things xx

[maxandpaddy]

May 28, 2016 9:32:18 GMT flee said:

Some times they do come out with stuff that takes your breath away don't they ? Maybe you should take him to visit cg !

Now that I would pay to watch xxx

[busymare]

I once used a highly recommended animal communicator for a very difficult situation. She told me nothing substantive and some immediately disproven but what she did say that made the situation worse was that the horse loved me and she knew that I would always look after it. Whilst I discounted the experience as rubbish that comment made ultimately putting her to sleep all the more emotional. Layering on emotional guilt was not what I needed.

I hope something can help your horse but I would tread carefully with this avenue.

[cg]

Hello everyone! Wow thank you for all the comments, they make very interesting reading !

I am pleased to tell you that yesterday was successful and my horse went just fabulously! I left the ball in his court and let him tell me when enough was enough, but he just loved the whole display and performed as his usual self, and not an ounce of stiffness all day, not even after being stood in the trailer for an hour, fantastic!!

He was slightly stiff this morning in the field but I was expecting that, but nothing too drastic and he was very happy in himself, maybe I have found the trick to managing it! I am so so pleased.

I will put him back on a joint supplement and give the horse whispering a miss I think. Thanks so much everybody.

[chloesmum]

Great news cg - so glad it all went well for you and your horse. When our old boy came back into work following a year off due to a fracture many years ago we found Vetrofen to be excellent, I believe the now do Vetroflex which haven't used personally but have heard great results may be worth looking into.