During the early years at Blackwood Park Equestrian Centre, I constantly observed horses having difficulties in maintaining good posture and flexibility.  This inevitably led to doubt about their soundness although they could not have been described as 'lame', in fact most passed Vet checks with flying colours.  It was apparent that hard ground, collection, and constant bending created the most obvious signs of distress and unevenness.  Most horses worked brilliantly when on the straight or jumping but changed dramatically in their willingness when it came to circle work and collection. Posture and movement inefficiencies crept into the training with deceptive subtlety.

Many of the horses showed signs of 'wear and tear' even 'old age' well before their prime. The horses were neither lame nor ill. Paddock rest made a difference, but only until bending and disciplined work were reintroduced. Many call these issues bridle lameness, cold backs, training and behavioural problems and because these dificulties are so prevelant the common theme is to accept them and find ways to work with and around them. I began a determined search to find solutions to these problems which I could see were preventing horses from reaching their true potential. 

I bred, started and competed my own horses over lots of years so I knew them very well. I also agisted, instructed and developed many horses belonging to others. I found it interesting but also distressing to observe that so many horses lost their ‘edge’ for little apparent reason. They might start to 'jack up' or lose their enthusiasm, or not want to be caught, or were happy enough when not ridden but changed their attitude for the worse under a rider.

I thought it very odd, that sudden changes in temperament often occurred, especially when the horse had been genial and obliging previously. And then there were all the horses that managed to find their way to Blackwood - the damaged, traumatised, misunderstood and depressed, the outraged and dangerous.  I realised then that solving these mysteries was the work I wanted and needed to move into.

I gradually changed my main focus from competition to horse health, to see if I could improve all aspects of ‘holistic’ care  to eliminate every possibility and discover the reasons for the changes. I studied, introduced and maintained a high standard of hoof balance, nutrition, saddle fit, riding/training methods, modern dentistry, veterinary and chiropractic treatments and appropriate fitness training. I studied anatomy and biomechanics in order to understand more, but this only succeeded in emphasising to me the limitations in movement and therefore potential that the conformation, character and training of each horse should have produced.   The horses ‘looked’ magnificent and many improved dramatically in their general health and endurance. They all tried so hard....and yet still there were signs of distress... 

I learnt from an extraordinary Vet in Melbourne Jeff Hazard, to check for symmetry and 'feel' horses all over for painful areas and to compare temperature and musculature.  And NOT to disregard anything just because no one could tell me why these were occurring.

I also met an excellent chiropractor, Rob Alexander in Victoria whose work made great differences to the movement and temperament of the horses. He introduced me to soft tissue therapy.

Over the following years I devoted my time mainly to rehabiltating horses back into a world they could trust.  This involved teaching riders and carers what was required to maintain and also how to continue building their relationships with these horses.

One thing however kept showing up, there was still 'something' I was missing. Something the horses were trying so hard to express.  Even the really confident horses had times when they just couldn't manage and stopped connecting. I observed that a negative change in a horses' demeanor whether it was performance or a sudden blockage in the training, was always preceded by involvement in an incident or accident of some kind. Often quite minor situations like paddock 'follies', springing a tight shoe, being cast in a stable or having a leg caught in a fence. Issues that are often quite commonplace. I wondered then "was it possible, that once horses hurt some part of themselves, even though it may not show up as 'lameness', that they could go on enduring pain and discomfort forever?  What if not just a few, nor even most, but nearly ALL horses were continually suffering from various degrees of discomfort and pain we could not see?'  My data proves this to be true.

As a rider and trainer, student and practitioner of different hands-on therapies, experimentation and documentation I discovered that there ARE injury sites that go unnoticed because they cannot be seen by x-ray or ultrasound, that cause predictable patterns of fascial and muscular tension leading to poor posture, performance, temperament changes and ultimately joint dysfunction. 

I realized then and went on to prove, that the temperament or emotional state of horses is primarily connected to their physical discomforts. 

This conclusion changed the course of my career and life path completely. I had found common demonimators, the missing link, the primary cause of why even sound healthy horses don't WANT to comply, that could no longer be put down to soundness or training issues or even relationship issues.  As I developed techniques to evaluate, locate and correct these issues, the evidence was obvious.  When the pain was gone the horses were MORE than willing to do whatever was asked of them and so began a level of communication I never thought was possible. The changes this work results in are humbling.  Horses are so 'grateful'. My catch cry is 'Ride the Difference" but really aware horse people can't miss it, the immediate changes in temperament are unbelieveable. Horses become their TRUE character, mentally, emotionally and more physically robust. 

It took 13 years to develop a system, JENT, that can be, proven, and now taught to others. I travelled the world to work with wonderful Vets and Practitioners, but found they were all also unaware of my discoveries. I was then fortunate to be supported by Dr Jack Murphy and accepted to present my work at the International Society of Equitation Science (ISES) conference in Dublin in 2008, an ideal platform to raise the awareness and results of this new therapy. A great deal of interest was created in JENT leading my relocation to Ireland to further carry out research and develop courses for horse owners as well as equine professionals.

My mission in life is to bring awareness to horse lovers that there is something more horses are trying to tell us that they need help with, and once eliminated enhances their quality of life and performance .