| Ah yes, it is truly the season to be merry, to give | | | | release his internal adhesions, raise his belly, and shift |
| thanks, and to give gifts. This year I got to pick out my | | | | his pelvis back, thus relieving the roach in his back. I |
| own Christmas gift: a baby Hughie of a horse named | | | | also aim to free up his withers, which are lower than |
| Moose. | | | | his hind end and a bit bound up. To that end, I am doing |
| To make a long story short, Moose (now named | | | | network chiropractic sessions on him once a week, |
| Fezzywig) is a 16.2 hand Holsteiner warmblood horse, | | | | and Bowen sessions (also called Equine Touch) on him |
| a 3 year-old gelding, who developed a roach in his | | | | two to three times a week. I'm lucky that I learned |
| back. I had inquired about him early in the year, when | | | | these techniques since I would not be able to pay a |
| he was for sale rather than for adoption, and passed | | | | veterinarian to work on him that often! |
| him up. | | | | Fezzywig responds very quickly and well to the |
| Then he became available for adoption, his former | | | | bodywork, although he is sensitive and often moves |
| owner not being able to help him with his roached | | | | away from my hands. When he moves away from |
| back, and I just had to take him. I think I can help him, | | | | me, he's telling me, "That's enough. I need to process |
| roached back and all. | | | | this change." He licks and chews and yawns |
| Case Study: Moose (a.k.a. Fezzywig), the | | | | frequently during these sessions, which are all signs |
| Roach-Backed Horse | | | | that his body is processing the changes. |
| So Fezzywig is a gentle giant with a giant hump in his | | | | In terms of diet, Fezzywig is getting my regulation |
| lower back. The hump in his back is pretty significant, | | | | "horse goo" made of mangosteen juice, blue green |
| although it does not seem to interfere with his gaits, | | | | algae, probiotics, and enzymes. He also gets extra |
| soundness, or movement. Other than that, he seems | | | | enzymes to help him flush out the toxins generated by |
| to have no other health issues or vices. | | | | released adhesions, and a special herbal supplement to |
| Based on my conversation with his former owner, I | | | | help him shift back into this parasympathetic "healing" |
| believe that he developed this roach as a result of | | | | nervous system. So far, he's not too keen on the goo, |
| jumping out of a six-foot tall round pen. He probably | | | | but is willing enough to eat it. |
| sustained some injury after that leap, and I believe his | | | | The Veterinarian's Report |
| roach back developed as a result of that injury and | | | | I've checked in with Dr. Madalyn Ward, a well-known |
| subsequent internal adhesions. | | | | holistic horse veterinarian and osteopath, and she feels |
| Fezzywig's bump, or roached back, is not tender at all, | | | | that Fezzywig can be made healthy again, although he |
| even when you palpate the area with firm pressure. | | | | may never fully lose that "roached" look. That's fine by |
| However, he is sensitive on his flanks and abdomen. | | | | me. There are tons of roach-back horses who live |
| His last rib is very close to his pelvis on both sides of | | | | useful working lives, and I feel that Fezzywig can |
| his body, and I believe this is caused by the roach in his | | | | definitely be helped in that direction. |
| back. Also, his abdomen is very distended and tense, | | | | I have not yet assessed Fezzywig's horse personality |
| which leads me to believe that when he jumped from | | | | type on the Horse Harmony Test website, but I plan to |
| the corral, he perhaps tore some muscles and | | | | as soon as I get to know him a bit better. This will help |
| ligaments in his belly, causing his internal organs to "fall | | | | me better assess how to restore his health, what to |
| down." This in turn puts pressure on his abdomen, | | | | feed him, and how best to manage his care. You may |
| causing it to sink and pulling his pelvis close to his last | | | | want to check out the Horse Harmony Test website, |
| rib. Hence, the roached back. | | | | along with Dr. Ward's other horse health care |
| Fezzywig's Horse Health Care Treatment Plan | | | | websites, which are Holistic Horsekeeping and Horse |
| In terms of horse health care, my goal with Fezzywigis | | | | Harmony. |