Angie and ‘Star’ (West Yorkshire)
My beloved Yorkshire Dales cob called Star received a severe injury to his hind fetlock back in February 2011. After having all the test’s, x-rays and nerve blocks at the vets, the prognosis was that due to the severity of the injury and also due to bony growth, his fetlock would never repair, surgery was not an option and I would never be able to ride him ever again. I was also told he will always be lame. I asked for a second opinion and all the test results were sent to a professor at Liverpool, he agreed with my vets and said nothing could be done.
As Star was only nine years old and had never had anything wrong with him before I was convinced there must be something that can be done. A friend of mine through the Western Horsemen’s Association called Clare LLoyd offered to give Star cold laser treatment to see if it helped, this was accepted by the insurance company and some progress was being made. Not long after the cold laser treatment started, Clare attended a seminar and met Beccy, where they discussed Star’s problem and Beccy saw his x-rays. Beccy contacted me and went through what she could do to help Star with his recovery. She was very understanding and no pressure at all to start and we arranged for a consultation.
Beccy drove a long way to do this assessment and spent many hours re-balancing Stars back feet. I was amazed at Beccy’s knowledge and how dedicated she is to what she does and rehabilitating the horse. Beccy convinced me that she could get Star back to being ridden by continuing with the cold laser from Clare, a change in his diet and keep his feet balanced. It was good to listen to Beccy, she gave me hope that Star would come right even though the vets had said it would never happen. I continued with the cold laser and Beccy came back to rebalance Stars front feet too once his shoes were off.
On Beccy’s 3rd visit which was 13th July 2011, Star had his treatment, was trotted on gravel barefoot and was pronounced sound ! It was just like a miracle. Beccy advised me to start walking him in hand for 20 minutes every day or whenever possible for the next six weeks, gradually introducing him back to his western saddle. He remained sound and on 20th August 2011 I sat on him and rode him along the farm track and back, he felt very comfortable (see photo). I have ridden him on five more occasions since then gradually building up the time on him. On 22nd September I hand walked him out of the farm and into a local country estate. On the return I rode him back to the farm gate and he was still sound and seemed very comfortable.
I am honoured to have had Beccy’s expert advice and treatment and would highly recommend her, even if that the vets say there is nothing more can be done. She gives you faith and hope that there is alternative treatment that really does work !
Thank you Beccy.
Angie Kirtley.
