Meet Bertie, a spirited horse on his fourth week of box rest, feeling a bit down. His owner, concerned about his changing mood, called for help. Here's how we turned things around and brought joy back into Bertie's life.
Identifying Stress:
Bertie's anxiety was palpable - alert, frantic, and exhibiting cribbing. Unsurprisingly, his history revealed a predisposition to anxiety. Our goal?
Reduce anxiety levels both inside and outside the stable.
Getting Acquainted:
Our horse empowerment sessions provided good enrichment time for Bertie and enabled us to understand him more and to help him calm his nervous system. Initially full of nervous energy, he calmed down and relaxed, allowing us to connect purposefully. In addition to the horse empowerment sessions, short walks were introduced, under veterinary guidance, this revealed some anxiety, especially around farm animals. Adjustments were made to his routine, enriching his stable time, and walks continued as part of his rehabilitation.
Better able to cope:
By the third session, Bertie was a different horse – relaxed, happy, and coping well. The owner noted significant progress despite four weeks in the stable. Reduced anxiety levels allowed us to build his confidence for the future and enabled him to access ongoing training to support him further.
Measuring Success:
We track progress with pre- and post-session scores. Bertie's owner saw a remarkable shift:
(on a score of 1 - 10 with 1 being very anxious and 10 being not anxious)
In the Stable: Pre-session 7, Post-session 10
Out of the Stable: Pre-session 1, Post-session 7
Owner's Testimonial:
"After health scares and hospital visits, Bertie was anxious and jittery on box rest. Carey's considered and gentle approach transformed him. Now, he's calm, confident, and even playful. Thank you, Carey, for giving us tools for our rehab journey." - KD
Empowering Horses during box rest:
At One with the Horse, we provide a holistic approach, to empower your horse, especially during challenging times like box rest, supporting their emotional well-being and happiness. Helping them to be relaxed, happy and contented, and better able to cope. Whether on box rest or restricted turnout,
book a session
to support their journey.
Ready to learn more?
Book a discovery call
for personalised assistance. Let's embark on this journey together!