Hemi enjoys his "Apple Water", holistic electrolytes
Renewing Health and Hope in Very Special Horses: Our Foster Care Program
The nutritional, physical, and spiritual needs of horses are often much more evident in rescue horses than horses in other situations. Their cases are much more pronounced, their call for fast action extremely clear.
However the universal laws of nutritional, physical, and emotional healing that work for extreme cases, work for all horses.
As a doctor of naturopathy, master herbalist and Reiki Master, I am in a unique position to bring horses to my healing ranch and help them on their path to wellness.
On this page I will be sharing with you the clinical case studies of the horses who come to Wellness Ranch. My intention is to educate you about holistic treatments. Here you will gain insight into the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit. The treatments outlined here are not meant to replace the advice or treatment of a veterinarian. Rather, they are meant for educational purposes only.
From the moment he arrived at Wellness Ranch, to his current watchful, caretaking role, not a day goes by that I’m not delighted to live with this wonderful spirit – Hemi’s spirit.
Here is Hemi’s story…
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June 27, 2011 – Waiting for Hemmingway
Hemmingway, our 1st Foster Horse
Hemmingway will arrive at Wellness Ranch tomorrow. His body score condition was originally a “1″, as low as it can be while still supporting life.
He is so malnourished that it is hard to tell what breed or age Hemmingway is. I will introduce nutritional support gradually and consistently, knowing that every organ in his body is under stress and needs support.
I will introduce nutritional support gradually and consistently, knowing that every organ in his body is under stress and needs support.
I connected with Hemmingway a few weeks ago. Despite the physical trauma of his obvious, long-term neglect, this horse very much wants to experience life.
And so, with my husband’s blessing, I chose Hemmingway from the current residents at True Blue Animal Rescue in southeast Texas.
We will give this horse the chance to have what he wants: A new life.
We will be drawing blood for lab analysis and the vet visit is already scheduled. While we are waiting for those results, my nutritional approach will include overall support of each of Hemmingway’s vital organs.
- Astragalus for supporting adrenals and stress
- Sea vegetables for feeding the thyroid
- Hawthorn for strong heart function
- Cat’s Claw to stimulate the immune system
- Fiber for healthy toxin removal
- Ginger for adequate circulation
- Vervain for nourishing the nervous system
- Plus a variety of whole foods and seeds
I am excited to put my hands on Hemmingway, to surround him with love and healing energy, and to show him his new digs. We have every expectation of Hemmingway’s success.
Please stay in touch, as I will be regularly updating the status of his progress as I discover and address his particular needs for healing.
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June 28, 2011 — Hemmingway Arrives at Wellness Ranch
Hemi arrives at Wellness Ranch
Melanie and her husband Dale dropped Mr. Hemmingway off this evening. He unloaded like a pro, looked around, and then checked Joe and I out. He was calm and settled, the trailer ride didn’t rattle him at all!
Examining Hemi's blind eye
Dale shows Joe and I Hemi’s left eye, ruined at some point in his life, a blue hazy orb in an otherwise handsome face. I’ll take extra care to come up on his right or at least let him know I’m approaching. I don’t see this as an issue and neither apparently does Hemi.
We walk out to his pasture and he just about runs everybody down getting to the lush green grass. We’ll rotate him on and off the grass for the next 48 hours, cautious that he doesn’t go nuts on the tender sweet shoots.
Hemi munching grass - a new experience for him
When we attempt to get close to him to take photos, he moves off, sure we are going to halter him and take him away from this utopia of greens. Melanie and I keep moving around, wanting to get our photo made with him in the background. It takes three attempts before he finally realizes he’s safe in his new pasture.
I gather information on his feeding schedule and parasite control, like a new mom with her foster child. I’m excited. No, I’m thrilled. Hemi is sturdy and has a personality under that gorgeous white mane of his. Oh, did I mention he has huge feet and feathers? Hemi may be hiding his pedigree from us, but I’m detecting some Percheron in there. He has a large, bold Roman nose – this is no shrinking violet!
10:00 p.m. I’ve done the evening check on the horses and spent some time with a flashlight out in the pasture with Hemi. He munched on some Skode’s Digestive Cookies, a lot actually, but since the cookies are grain-free and low-starch, Hemi can enjoy a handful.
Tomorrow I’ll be out bright and early to take notes on Hemi and take more detailed photos for his Case Study work. Once I have a good idea of his needs, I’ll start with the Fitness Foundation formula of herbs and spices for him. Once the vet finishes up with lab work, I’ll be able to
personalize his routine even greater. Hemi is a jewel in the rough.
All is well.
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June 29 – 30, 2011 — Vet Care, Treats, and Bonding
Hemi enjoying the peace and quiet
Hemi is settling in nicely and getting comfortable with his new digs. He has a large pasture next to the original barn, a wash rack, a huge tree with a great shade canopy, and two panels set up as a feeding area.
He prefers a pan to a bucket and he’ll eat all the Skode’s After Care cookies he can sweet talk me out of until I laugh and say, “enough!” He has horses on three sides of him and has even had a visit from the 2-1/2 month old foal Belle!
Our vet arrived last night and did a very thorough exam on him; she also checked his meridians for lung/spleen/kidney stress and found him solid. He was understandably uncomfortable with us on his blind side, but did well on his “good” side. For an elderly gray horse, we had good news in that the vet could not find any signs of the typical cancer that they get – thank you God!
Today Hemi had some raw organic pumpkin seeds and garlic granules added to his feed. The expression on his face was priceless. First we had the “what is this?” look, followed by the “yes, I can eat this” look, ending in the “is there more of this?” face that just melts my heart. Yes, old
boy, yes – there is lots of this and much more in store for you.
Waiting for breakfast
Hemi patiently waits for me to bring him breakfast. From our large picture windows we can see him amble up to the fence and look for us. The cats, Layla and Squeek, are finding him quite interesting as well.
I think Hemi has figured out that he’s going to be treated with kindness and dignity here.
All is well.
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July 3, 2011 — “Apple Water”Electrolytes and Water Play
Hemi enjoys his "Apple Water", holistic electrolytes
Hemi continues to make strides. He is drinking better and now has his own bucket of “apple water”. Not apple juice – apple water – my holistic version of electrolytes. I use a 12 quart bucket, add 2 teaspoons of pink salt, and a generous splash of Bragg’s Organic Apple Cider Vinegar to it. Voila, “apple WATER”.
The horses suck this down on hot days like today, with temperatures maxing out over 100 degrees.
Between the pink salt and the apple cider vinegar they are getting all kinds of mineral support, critical when sweating on a daily basis. I don’t put anything sweet in it – no need to tax the insulin response.
Hemi feels so much better after his water play
We had a visitor from “Team Hemi” today – Sara Rietsch of Sara Rietsch Massage Therapy. She spent some time reminding him who she was (they met last week) and assisted me with some gentle water play for him.
It’s nice to have a wash rack, especially one that’s covered, so I brought Hemi under the shade of the wash rack and we introduced the water to him. Remembering to honor his blind side, I first spent a lot of time on his “good” side, going slowly, talking low and gently, allowing the
quiet flow of water to bathe him in cool relief.
Sara then took the hose to his blind side and Hemi allowed her to give him more of the nice cooling water massage. He seemed to be enjoying the attention so much that I took it a step further and started combing out his beautiful mane.
Nap time! All the soothing, loving attention put the big boy to sleep! Taking him back out to his pasture and giving him a Skode’s After Care Cookie treat made his day. And what did he do afterwards? What every horse that just had a bath does – he had a nice roll and grunt session in some dirt!
Tonight Hemi will start on his personal recovery program with my Dr. Cassie’s Equine Solutions: Fitness Formula. In addition, he is receiving a blend for parasite control, an aromatic and tasty treat in itself.
All is well in Hemi’s world today.
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July 4, 2011 – Watermelon Party!
We decided to try something new this year – a yellow watermelon! I have to admit, it did taste different than the red variety, but still sweet and tasty, especially on a hot summer day.
Hemi did NOT know what to do with this weird looking, weird tasting, and weird textured goodie – so he decided the others could enjoy the melon and he would have some more apples instead!
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July 8, 2011 — Hemi’s New Job: Belle
Socializing: 3 month Belle with senior Hemi
Bringing Hemi to Wellness Ranch has been such a blessing on many levels. First of all, the grand old man is full of love and wants to share it. He appreciates attention and will give back 10-fold in return.
Watching him look for me, make eye contact, and then plod over to greet me just fills my heart with joy. That Roman nose searches out for treats and goodies and he very politely takes what I offer him in return for a gentle rub of his head and neck.
He is enjoying his herbal combo which I give him by the handful anytime he is close by and he chortles in pleasure when he hears the sound of a couple of alfalfa cubes dropping into his pan.
The second blessing Hemi has brought us is the gift of gentleness, especially in the form of working with young horses. This week Hemi got a new job: socializing baby Belle.
Hemi is the perfect calm presence for a 3-month old foal full of energy and charisma. He gives her the subtle cues – ear signals, a lifted leg warning – and she’s responding beautifully. Sara, Belle’s dam, is also in the pasture with them and will give a quick check to see where her baby is and then return to blissful solitude!
Hemi seems to like this new part-time job and Belle will learn how to respond in acceptable ways. If he’s tired and she’s full of energy, he lets her know! At the end of the session, Belle and mama go back to their own pasture and Hemi gets his pasture back to himself. At the end of the day, look at them – looking at each other, ready for another play date!
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July 24, 2011 — Bonding with Hemi
Hemi enjoys attention
Hemi is enjoying the positive attention.
There are several ways to bond with a horse, and Hemi and I are doing our best to think of all of them. We’ve done the food thing, added the treat thing, and have the “sit and watch the grass grow” thing going on. It’s been rewarding both physically and emotionally to watch him progress over the weeks and I think I’ve found his favorite “thing” to do with me.
You’re probably guessing that his favorite thing to do involves food, and I did too. But now that Hemi realizes his food comes on a regular basis and he gets plenty of it, he’s found another way to get to know me. Water.
Getting started with Hemi's bath
Hemi allows me to catch him and walk him into the wash rack. He gets a bit fidgety at first, wondering what’s coming next, but as soon as the cool water hits his big feet he does a little shuffle and settles in.
I start with his “good” side, the side with the eye that has the better vision, and quietly talk my way through his feet, legs, chest, neck and onto his body. He watches me, turning his head to see my hands rubbing him gently.
Hemi and Belle get dressed up for the holidays!
With a bag of horse treats and some silly reindeer ears, we wanted to make Christmas magic for Hemi and his pasture mate, baby Belle.
Merry Christmas from Hemi and the Herd!
Hemi has brought me so many blessings, and he continues to bless those who come to meet him and spend time with his healing energy. We wish everybody – man and beast alike – a happy and healthy 2012.
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Happy New Year from Hemi!
My fabulous Hemi continues to amaze us with the progress he is making both physically and emotionally. He is actually RUNNING and PLAYING with baby Belle and enjoying every moment of it.
I will have my camcorder at the ready to video his latest antics – stay tuned!
