Skech in need!
I study Dressage under instruction of Leslie. She and I are now wonderful friends and support each other greatly. One day while untacking my Dressage horse (he’s a wonderful teacher), Leslie mentioned a horse she was working with. She told me that he was not moving straight and that he was having problems with his paces, even on his own. I listened intently as I rubbed Slick’s neck giving him my healing chi. I did not make any comment that day and went home pondering the situation deeply.
I called her up the next day to arrange for another lesson and mentioned Skech, the horse she was having problems with. She invited me to massage Skech after our lesson. When I met Skech and he told me all of his troubles; it was clear to see that he was a very willing horse, doing as you asked without you needing to touch him, but in much pain.
When I touched him I at once felt nothing but slabs of cement for muscles. I massaged him slowly, carefully but deeply. Skech took immense pleasure in the release of his muscles, as painful as it was. He was so badly twisted that his back and limbs were out of place.
I massaged his whole body and found many muscular problems. I did not, by any means, fix him. However, his blood circulation became so much better. His muscles were as soft as clay, not the softest but certainly better than before!
Skech was leased to the stable and returning home that week. There was no way I could “fix” him for he needed a lot of sessions to loosen him up. I was quite pleased with the results though, so was Leslie and most importantly, Skech. That poor fellow just touched my heart. I wanted to pay for his lease and take him on for another three months. Of course, that could not happen.
As I observed Leslie touching him I noticed how he moved smoother when Leslie asked him to, how he picked his feet up with more grace, how his shoulders, hips and hind quarters were more flexible. I learned much from Skech, he taught me a great deal and he is a perfect example of a horse in need. His mind was gentle enough, his heart caring but his body in more pain than any reasoning person could handle. Skech is a great example for those who tend to be viewed as “problem” horses but who are not at all “troubled” but need help in other ways.
Thank you Skech and Leslie for letting me help with my massage techniques. I will never forget the feeling of sorrow when I touched him the first time and the feeling of joy when he softened under my healing hands. Working with a horse should always, 100 percent, be a humbling experience. I was greatly humbled by Skech’s cries for help and his relief an hour later. |