JENT Testimonials

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Our vets told us our chasers were sound to run but we knew there were physical problems with them. Dianne showed us things about our horses that explained so much - the differences in shoulder heights, the crooked spines, the variation in muscles from one side to the other. They changed dramatically with her work and follow up training. She worked on 3 of our 3yo youngsters too. When I broke them in they did nothing associated with the usual reactions of horses tacked up for the first time, and no bucks at all.
Eoin Fenton

My TB Jock had attacks for 2 days full on once each month for 3 months, where he would stretch out his neck, grind his teeth, open wide his rear legs and try to bite his swollen sheath while swishing his tail up and down. He was blatantly trying to get me to do something down there. Had 3 Vets out at different times. No joy at all. They didn’t know what to do, just took blood tests. Since you ‘rescued’ us, Jock is doing well. Thank you for your insight into the problem with my ponies penis! I did some research on smegma & beans and decided to do the clean myself instead of getting a vet. Jock was a dream patient and I managed to get most of the job done. Took 3 hours, what a patient pony! He seems happier in himself a lot more relaxed (stoned even). I had another go today, he seems to produce a lot of crap up there. Thank you for going out of your way to see him, I know Jock is very appreciative for the relief and as a mother I'm sleeping better at night. I would love Jock to see you in May when you come back to Equestrian Centre to start treatment on his sore back an that back leg you didn't like. Please book me in.
Arnie Richardson

The long road back Rosco as he is known is a 16.1hh Brown/black Part Arab. He was 6 yr old when my sister in law who was not using him said I could ride him if I wanted. As I liked his movement and expression I moved him home to Cooma to start work. He had been broken and given a basic education at about 4 yrs, then he was basically turned out and only trail ridden on occasion. He always had a nervous disposition after being broken and had become difficult to catch except at feed time. In the December of 2001 Rosco moved to Cooma, he often cantered disunited which I put down to being out of balance due to immaturity at being ridden. We went to an Arab beginners Show at Hall ACT in the Jan/Feb of 2002 and won many ribbons and champions during the day. Two weeks later Rosco got out of his paddock took fright at something ran through a ringlock fence pulling the stakes out of the ground, breaking the wire. He was wearing a rug which snapped its chest strap and leg straps. It appeared he had come down and completely rolled over. When I caught him he was a quivering mess. He was given time to calm, and at this stage I had only ever used chiropractors with horses and so we called the chiro in. He came, he cracked and he left. Rosco continued to be frightened and nervous and even more difficult to catch. At a local show a few weeks later I rode him and to go into a canter was traumatic for the horse and he would hollow his back and panic, obviously in pain. The chiro felt the bones were right, there was nothing he could do. It was then that someone suggested this person Di Jenkins who does bodywork horses and has had success with complaints of soreness and the like. The first time that Di saw Rosco she described him as a horse with four flat tyres and still being driven. During the hour that she worked on him some of his tension and nervousness subsided and he relaxed with relief. The long road to his recovery was just starting. Di ended up visiting Rosco and other horses in our stable from then on. Rosco was nearly a permanent booking every 4-6 weeks but with every time we were working through the problems. Shoulder, pelvis, back, wither, neck, knees and hocks. Slowly but surely some were not recurring each time and we were seeing improvement. Something I also find reassuring is the fact that every time Di came she also had new methods which she is continually learning to try and assist the horses. During this time I also started have riding tuition to make sure that my riding wasn’t of detriment to his recovery. This assisted but we had many problems, both of us to work through. As he was always nervous and held his muscles tight he seemed to keep hurting himself every time he was ridden. Di gave me work programs for Rosco to try and help strengthen him and build him up. We would lunge one day, ride straight and some hill work (trail ride) one day and schooling, flat work another day and keep cross training in this method. I was also shown places to massage or hold to help release tension. Improvement is slow. Early in my visits I was just happy to see the difference Di’s hands could make but I never really kept a diary. I did keep her sheets but not a diary if a further injury had occurred or if he had pulled a shoe or anything. I do now, something little means nothing at the time but can be the root of a problem later. Twelve months on and visits became not as urgent but we were finding recurring problems, ones which if solved could help us move past to the next level. One of the first recurring problems that needed attention was the saddle. A new saddle eased the recurrence of the problem. We also at the time changed farriers to a man more attuned to competitive horses as apposed to a bush farrier. Luckily for me he is a man who doesn’t take offence to suggestions from the horses therapist. This balanced him out a lot more. Di was always concerned that Rosco was still such a nervous horse. He didn’t trust, he always thought it would hurt rather than seeing if it would. This nervousness obviously worked against him as he was tensing when ridden and therefore damaging muscles by holding them so tight. We did put this down to the fact that he had hurt for so long but still he was very jumpy. Di made suggestions of warm up methods but he was always cold backed and obviously frightened. Transition to canter always posed a problem. This was something we continued to work through with my riding instructor. Di suggested we change his feed, break it down to see if there was something that didn’t agree. Rosco at the time was fed Lucerne chaff, oaten chaff and processed pellets (non heating). There was no grass (due to drought) and very little hay (due to drought). We changed to mostly oaten chaff, a little Lucerne and bran, dolomite and mineral supplements. Within a month Rosco’s nervousness was subsiding. He was becoming more trusting, easier to catch and much less nervous. We have now formulated a feed combination which keeps him cool and maintains weight. After another accident in the fence where we felt he got a leg caught, pulled back and probably sat down. Di found there was manipulation required that she couldn’t do so she then referred me to a manipulator who has great results with people and animals. Work was done and he suggested as many others had, to work him in a trot up and down hills to build muscles in his rump. We have plenty of hills and this is what we do a lot of but it has not built up his rump area. Another suggestion was to lunge over poles and slowly raise them to caveletti height to assist with the horse relearning to use his hind leg muscle as he was dragging himself along by the front end. This has improved his movement. We were still having a recurring soreness in the saddle area and finally I managed to get the saddler who Di had originally referred me to. He came made adjustments to my saddle so that it cleared the wither and didn’t pinch and also sat over Rosco’s shoulders as he is a very broad strong horse. The new freedom he found was incredible. Until today we hadn’t had shoulder problems for some time, the saddle area is free of trauma, the rump is muscling up and rounding. My riding instructor was so impressed last month that she commented that she could now actually see the horse using his back muscles and driving with his hind end, something he hasn’t done before. We now have true extension. Her previous description was that he was like 2 horses the front and the back and there was not connection. Rosco has gone from a very nervous frightened animal to one who trusts and now is happy to be caught by most and occasionally he will even let me catch him at times other than feed time. His saddle is properly fitted to rider and animal, his farrier pays particular attention to various aspects of his movement and he occasionally requires a chiropractor. Mostly he just loves to have Di’s hands relax and work muscles which are not relaxed and doing what they should. His mental state is improved through the change in feed and his rider has also attended workshops and purchased books, and enjoys trying to learn as much as she can from Di whenever she visits. This coming competition season is bound to be ours. It has taken over 2 years from the first injury but perseverance has taught us a lot and now I have a disciplined calmer horse and he has a rider much more attuned to his abilities and problems.
Noelene Whiting

We first started using Di over nine years ago when we bought my part bred arab mare Jaffa. Over the years we have had Di treat all our horses for a variety of lameness issues with great success. Recently Jaffa became really sick, she was falling over, having seizures and was even unable to put her head down to eat. She lost a lot of weight. My usually quiet horse started to freak at having rugs on, and hated being left alone while we took our other horses out riding. I had accepted I would no longer be able to ride her, but it got so bad that I was worried she may not survive and she is only 17. The Vet was unable to provide any answers as her symptoms were so varied and suggested we get Di out for the tension in Jaffa’s neck and shoulders from the falls during her seizures. I hadn’t thought of Di for this horse till it was mentioned. Di treated the sore neck and shoulders but also offered to treat the other problems. Di treated Jaffa using red light, acupuncture without needles, and after one treatment we noticed an enormous difference in Jaffa, she has not had a seizure or fall since, is again eating, has gained weight and is much more like her old calm self. She has not fully recovered, but the difference has been amazing. She still has a few treatments to go but the outcome appears much more promising.
Megan Bondietti

Since you treated her I have been doing so much with Myst that her head is swimming. No – not really, but we have been out every day – brisk walking with her alongside and not dragging at the grass, walks through the paddocks and up and down the hills and gullies, trot poles on the sand arena, ground games and trotting and cantering in the round yard. I’ve been concentrating on working acupoint ST36 because she seems to want it. She stands quietly, head lowered, eyes closed wherever we stop – even near grass. The first time it took forever, but today only a couple of minutes before she yawned and sighed. LI 16 doesn’t seem to be very important to her. She almost shrugs me off. She’s moving well and her breathing is so much better. She’s happier, more engaged and enjoys checking out all the other horses. We visit JW and she’s ok about him now and Jimmie came back to the paddock on Sunday. Kerrie made up some Bach Flowers for her – Clematis, Dog Rose etc and Myst stands with her mouth open when I unscrew the bottle. She has a sparkle back in her eye and this morning I put the bareback pad on her and climbed aboard after a bit of trot poling -absolutely no reaction to the girth and happy and free at the walk and trot. Isn’t that great? I am so pleased with her and for her. It’s good to have her back. I’m really glad you found the problem – sometimes I think I’m too close to see the wood for the trees.
Sandra Burr

Di was extremely professional and assured me immediately that if she could not help she would tell me straight away. The look in Aime's eye said it all and after three weeks of treatments and lots of leading at a walk and then riding at a walk Aime showed no sign of having been injured in the right shoulder. The irregularity has disappeared and on Sunday we competed for the first time. As this was her first trip out I did not ask for much in the laterals but I was very happy that she gave me a little more than what I was actually asking for and all without any irregularity. I am so happy that my horse is very happy and sound that Aime is now, and will remain, on the maintenance program which Di conducts. I honestly believe that if we ask our horses to perform at their best continually then we must start to treat our horses as if they are top class athletes and not as if they are machines. Dressage riders continually refer to feel… well I think, we as riders, need to start to listen more to our horses. Aime's injury is a common one, it is not unusual, and had I been a stronger rider I could have pushed her through to the point where she may have permanently broken down.
Ruth Henderson

I have a 17.1hh thoroughbred Duey that was diagnosed with stringhalt two years ago. He is now almost completely recovered but it has been a very long road. Upon being diagnosed, no one could tell me definitively how this condition developed. There was no weed in his paddock and everyone had an opinion on how to make this horrible condition go away, and I tried it all, to little effect. The stringhalt led to massive weight loss, due to stress, caused by his total loss of confidence. He couldn’t walk, trot or canter correctly. He became nervous of things that had never in the past bothered him. He was very aware of his inability to run from danger. I contacted Di to provide him with some relief through massage; this was the beginning of his recovery. Di addressed the wide range of problems that had arisen from the stringhalt through massage, acupoints points, advice on feeding and general equine knowledge. She looked at the horse in his entirety, not just the stringhalt. His stringhalt gradually lessened and last winter was the first winter in the 12 years that I have owned him that he actually put on weight. He is now a healthy horse. Not only did Di provide for his rehabilitation from this debilitating condition, but she also taught me a number of acupoints to address both his mental and physical stresses at the time. I had found it so upsetting that there seemed nothing that I could do to make him more comfortable. Di enabled me to be proactive in his rehab and was the only person that was positive in saying, “Yes, of course there are things that you can do to aid his recovery”. In a chorus of resounding negativity, Di was the only optimist. Thanks Di from both Duey and I.
Rachel Regan

At Yarramba Trail Rides we have been using Di’s services for over three years, regularly getting her to treat two to six horses each visit according to what seems necessary. To give our own background, we combine trail riding with horse and rider education: that is we take horses for training and or retraining, and give instruction in horse control on the ground, and in ridden work , and do so from the view points of Natural Horsemanship, Western and English riding. We require our own horses not only to be safe trail horses, on often steep and demanding terrain, but also as much as possible to be athletic arena lesson horses, on which students can have the opportunity not only to trot and canter circles but also to learn to side step, perform flying changes and western stops and roll-backs. To achieve all this they must be sound and comfortable. At some time or other Di has had her hands on most of them: probably several times. From when she first started treating our horses, we realised that many of them had been working despite old pains, unevennesses’, etc, without being unsound, going back to old injuries from which they had apparently recovered, but not quite. Like wise with horses coming here for training, (breaking-in or retraining), we are quick to suggest to the owners that there could be a physical problem that is preventing the horse from performing properly, and to recommend that we get Di to look at it to maximise the training process. It was enlightening to learn Di’s explanation of how shoulders can be in trouble: not out right lame, but resulting horses learning carrying themselves so as to minimise their discomfort, and staying like this for years….After Di’s treatment, horses would canter on either legs with much more willingness, and indeed would work generally more happily. And as every horse owner knows, things keep on happening: horses will gallop around and slip over in the paddock, kick each other, and for some reason or another present themselves as unsound in the morning. Di’s non invasive system of diagnosis is fascinating to watch. It is obvious to all that her combined therapy (JENT) approach performs something that the horses quickly learn to appreciate, look forward to and enjoy: they know she can make them feel better and trust her. We have seen Di’s methods develop. Di herself works not only as a healer of horses in her own right, but as an educator, through running courses in horse massage and treatment, (some of which my partner Rosemary has attended); but apart from that her unofficial talks while treating our horses are of great value: when she is here I try to listen as much as I can, ask as many pertinent questions and take in the information. The owner becomes involved with the healing and maintenance of the horse: along with her treatments are written rehabilitation programs consisting of massage, straight line leading, and working acupoints ourselves. She has taught us stretching exercises to do with the horses legs to assist their soundness, (which has the benefit of helping them to be soft and relaxed with all leg handling, yes that is for shoeing). Indeed I have had horses come here that were very difficult with their legs that after this program, became very easy to shoe! Owning a photonic torch, and the hand books that come with it, and indeed attending a course or two on using it puts a lot of power to heal and maintain our horses health in our own hands, and indeed to help our own health. Di, when she treats horses gives directions as to which acupoints we should treat with the torch, thus hastening the healing process. In fact as part of the on going treatment of horses she has seen, and indeed for horses that develop acute problems she has given advice to Rosemary over the phone on which points should be treated with the torch, and as a rule it works. One horse that she treated had presented with two shoulder problems. After treating him she felt a second visit was ideal, but not possible with her other commitments. But Rosemary by using the torch and massage was able to complete the healing and the horse went back into work sound. Cases: really too many to list: Rhyme. An unbroken three year old quarter horse gelding. first noticed to be slightly lame in a front leg, with no apparent injury, swelling, heat etc, and with time did not improve. as soon as Di saw him she pointed out the small hollow in the muscles of the near-side shoulder, and identified the problem as Sweeney, (muscle atrophy due to nerve damage). There had been lightning storms in the area, and he must have panicked and suffered an impact injury. Di treated him and consulted Brian McLaren for the best program for healing and gave us encouraging homework to do. With Rosemary giving regular treatment with the torch, and Di keeping an eye on his progress, Rhyme returned to full soundness over several months. Mark Layton Yarramba Trail Rides
Mark Layton Yarramba Trail Rides

Di’s Holistic approach to my horse’s health & happiness Seven months ago I bought a dressage horse, Red. He was already a star, having loads of EFA points.. while I’m the learner in the partnership! Di Jenkins had treated my previous horse with much success so I was keen for her to meet my lovely new boy! Although he could do all the moves, it didn’t take long to work out why I’d got such a “bargain”. On Di’s first treatment, she identified that his shoulders were both restricting his range of movement and causing him lots of pain and discomfort, and this had also caused him over the years to significantly modify his carriage and movement to ease the pain whilst still pleasing his rider. Two treatments later he was able to move his neck and his poll substantially more freely than before. I began doing regular massage, stretching and using my photonic torch on Red to apply what I had learned in Di’s training courses. This also helped me become more observant of his musculature and the way it was changing. About this time, my instructor got involved in what has since become a quick weekly assessment. We noticed that although Red was moving more freely and forward, he was throwing me to the left and/or I was riding to the left. Both wither pockets had muscle atrophy, the left more so than the right. I had a well fitting saddle by this stage but we decided that Red needed assistance to even himself up as he was quite crooked. I decided to book a saddle fitting assessment through Di’s “Griffin Saddle Solutions”. Gill Shepherd came and carried out an assessment, she spent some hours with me and I learnt what it felt like to be “level” and have the saddle supported evenly and we started out with a pad that helped even out his shoulder differences. One of the beauties of these Skito pads is that the inside pads and shims are removable and come in different thicknesses so they can be custom built and adjusted for the individual horse. Over the next 2 months, with 4 adjustments to the saddle pad, his wither pocket muscles have developed beautifully and have now become virtually even. By this stage his neck muscles and top line have developed magnificently because he can now move so well. Red’s neck is developing on the top and the under side has become quite soft. This is the reverse of how it was 6 months ago! Red has one smaller front foot which has a higher heel than the other. He is still a bit crooked to the left so with everything else corrected; we’ve now made an adjustment for the difference in his front heel heights by using an orthotic shoe on one front foot and VOILA!! We now have a straight horse – he travels straight, I sit straight and everything feels absolutely wonderful. He is so happy now in his work and is becoming softer and travelling easier with every ride. The difference in feel to ride is quite extraordinary. It’s been a 6 month process to here, but we’ll never look back now and as his back muscles adjust to his new straightness the compensating shims in the saddle pad will be removed one by one until his back musculature is as even as his shoulders now are. Thank you so much Di.. watch out for us in the future on the competition circuit!! 6 months later.. postscript! My horse has now developed even back muscles, the saddle pad is no longer required and he travels level and happily. He’s working at a new level of comfort and performance. I recently sent some competition photos to his previous owner who thought they were “gorgeous”, she was stunned at the quality of carriage he now has. Another 6 months later again.. post postscript! Red is now wearing “normal” flat shoes on all feet and his musculature is almost symmetrical. He has a new saddle and requires no therapeutic pad under it at all. He has started engaging his hindquarters beautifully in his work and is soft and round like never before. It’s now easy for me to sit straight in the saddle and I do believe he smiles as he works! This was a real team effort between Di, Gill, the farrier and myself over 13 months in all, but we achieved results I’d never dreamed possible and the horse is so very happy and comfortable now it’s been worth every bit of it. The other fantastic thing about this course of treatment was that I could ride for the entire time while the changes were happening without any stress on Red at all!!
Jenny Campbell

Moet is a 11 year old TB/appaloosa cross purchased for my daughter for Pony Club and general riding. Unfortunately, three weeks after purchasing him he slipped and went through a fence injuring his near hind and severing one of his deep digital extensor tendons. The vet advised this would not cause any disability with gait once the wound had healed. The wound was bandaged and rest was recommended for three months. In this period Moet was able to move around freely in the paddock. He was favouring his off hind throughout this period due to the injury. Moet was slowly bought back into work for about a month after the initial three months rest. He always appeared stiff in the off hind and was tracking short on this leg. He had notable medial rotation of right hind foot fall when trotting on the right rein. His canter was stiff and four beat. He was subsequently given another two months off and once again slowly brought back into work. He still appeared stiff on the off hind and was pulling on the reins when ridden even when truly going forward. In January 2007 Moet was seen by a horse therapist who used a laser on his back. He suggested riding him around the paddock for 10 mins walking on each rein and trotting for 5 mins on each rein. No canter work was recommended at this stage. These treatments went on for two months. I felt after this period of time that there was no real improvement and treatments were ceased. In April 2007 not knowing who else to turn to I sought Chiropractic treatment by a qualified practitioner. He suggested that Moet had sacroiliac issues plus atlanto-occipital stiffness. Moet had treatments for five months with this Chiropractor, showing slight improvement, but the stiffness in the off hind still continued. At the end of November, 2007 after finishing my training as an Equine Sports Massage Therapist, I worked on Moet myself. I continued to perform regular massages on Moet and could see some improvement, however, not sufficient to begin ridden work. I was fortunate to have Di Jenkins visit Adelaide in April 2008. She came and worked on Moet for one session and addressed two shoulder problems, the right being longer term than the left. She performed Neurophysiologic Therapy work and so addressed primary postural issues. Wow, I am amazed at the fast improvement in Moet since this treatment. I followed the recommendations that Di suggested afterwards, hand walking Moet for 20 - 30 mins a day and performing stretches and checking the shoulders for reaction, plus additional massage work. It is now 8 weeks since Di's visit and Moet is almost 100%. He is now able to move more freely, does not paddle with his right forelimb and is cantering with his hind legs underneath him with a three beat canter. His hindquarters are becoming more developed and his semitendinosis and semimebranous (hamstring) muscles are softening. At this point he has not been ridden. I have started lunging him and he is showing very minimal stiffness in the off hind. He is now tracking up at trot and over tracking at walk on the right hind. He is certainly happier in himself and is moving so much more freely. I know that Di has made a real difference and I applaud her for her expertise in this field.
Helen Parken

In July of 2002 I was riding my 16.3 hh thoroughbred in the arena. We had halted and I asked him to move off. He took a step, then, for no apparent reason, reared and threw us both over backwards, breaking my hip. This was very unusual behaviour for Jethro. He is a genuine horse that has always given his best so my stay in hospital was certainly a worry for I knew there had to be something terribly wrong to cause such behaviour from him. It was two months before I recovered sufficiently enough to start the search that turned into five months of worry as I consulted professional after professional. Vets, dentist, chiropractor, naturopaths, Bowen therapists until I finally came across the name of Di Jenkins, recommended to me by the dentist as well as a naturopath. I gave Di a call and she came to see my gentle giant. Within five minutes of assessing my horse, Di was able to explain what had caused such sudden and unusual behaviour and was on the way to mending the problem. Jethro had sensitive nerve pain in the back from a soft tissue injury in his shoulder which was causing him intermittent excruciating pain when I moved in the saddle. As she talked, telling me the behaviour and changes in movement this type of injury would cause, I realized Jethro had been carrying this injury since before he came to live with me. His action, his girthiness, his short strides and his problems with working on the bit were all symptoms of this injury. He also had a habit of disuniting, even when free lungeing in the round yard, and he was very uncomfortable working on the left rein. The change in Jethro was immediate. Di's recommendation for follow up treatment was to walk him in hand for five days. The first day we set out at a reasonable walk for Jethro but it wasn't long before he understood the change that had taken place. His stride lengthened, slowly at first but by the end of thirty minutes he was walking so well that I was left stumbling along beside him in a half run that I could maintain my balance only by holding onto his wither and allowing him to pull me along. The following day, I took the easy way out, mounting my other horse to lead him out. Even then it was a task to keep up with his new length of stride for I was riding a fifteen hand horse that had trouble keeping up with Jethro's new found range of movement. Since then, he has gone from strength to strength. He is now happily working on the bit, able to come through from behind. His tail is swinging nicely, he is light on the forehand, soft in the rein and balanced in all his circles. We are getting transitions on the markers every time and he is now a pleasure to ride instead of being the effort he used to be.
Lynda Clancy

SIGNALMENT 14yo Australian Stockhorse gelding HISTORY This horse had previously been used for farm stock work such as mustering. He was bought approximately 3 years ago for use as a pleasure horse. I started riding him approximately 12 months ago. During this time I increased the amount of dressage training the horse received in order to try to improve his balance and in particular his canter (discussed below). PROBLEMS This horses canter has been unbalanced, rushed and “on the fore-hand” since I began riding him. The horse was unable to trot down a slope without becoming unbalanced and falling on his forehand. The horse was unable to maintain a canter for longer than a few strides, before breaking into a rushed trot on both reins. My view at this time was that there are undoubtedly behavioural issues, associated with this problematic canter. ‘Upward’ transitions from the walk to the trot were also difficult for the horse. When asked to trot from the walk, the horse was unable to maintain a frame and rein contact, and would throw his head up rushing into the trot. Additionally, the rider was continuously being pushed over to the left of the saddle. Every few strides the rider had to push down hard on the right stirrup in order to bring the saddle back to a central balanced position. ASSESSMENT & TREATMENT BY DI JENKINS Di has seen the horse on two occasions. During the first treatment she identified marked asymmetry in the dorsal scapulae - R raised and jutting laterally, and also of the long back muscles. Myofascial injury and pain was identified in the horses right lateral distal shoulder area, lower neck, wither pockets and back bilaterally. Di treated the horse a second time and identified an improvement in the myofascial injury to the shoulder. The horse was sore along the areas lateral to the thoracic spine, particularly on the right hand side . However, the problem of the saddle shifting to the left was resolved following the treatment by Di and then a chiropractor, with the assistance of a custom fitted pad under the saddle OUTCOMES Following these treatments the horse moves more freely and comfortably under saddle. His balance has greatly improved and transitions and trotting up or down slopes are now easier for the horse. His upward transitions have improved markedly. He no longer tosses his head into the transition and is better able to maintain a frame and contact during the transition and the rest of his work. CONCLUSIONS I am a Veterinarian myself and am well aware that veterinary science does not have all the answers. As a Vet, we are trained that lameness is a primary cause of poor performance (which I agree with) and to examine bones, joints, ligaments and tendons as a source of the lameness. These examinations undoubtedly are valuable. However, I believe there is more to poor performance than lameness associated with joints. Horses are athletes and should be treated as such. It is logical that horses can injure muscles and other soft tissue during exercise just as people do. Stimulation of Acupuncture points and other soft tissue work may not be completely understood, but is well recognised as being a useful treatment for many conditions. It is interesting to note that there is not a single professional athlete these days that does not utilise regular soft tissue treatments. When an owner presents a horse to a Vet for poor performance, and lameness can not be identified on veterinary examination, the Vet will often propose the deficient performance is due to behavioural or training problems. While this may of course be the case in some instances, it would not be in all. Both professional and amateur riders invest a lot of time, money and emotion into training their horses. As such when a Vet cannot adequately diagnose and treat the problem of poor performance being experienced, they are obviously going to continue to look for answers. A lot of people have found those answers in the effectiveness of treatment offered by Di Jenkins. My horse now moves more freely and happily. This is good for the horse but also for the rider. It is extremely frustrating as a rider to train a horse when you know he has a problem and is not comfortable or happy, but is not clinically “lame”.
Amy Little BVSc (Hons)