It has been a strange year in the horse industry…as well as in the rest of society.

For me, the market for magazine articles has dried up given that one magazine (where I had a regular conformation column) folded and others either had little to nothing to cover or media was limited at events plus there were no spectators at competitions or races.

Social distancing meant that clinics and seminars were no longer being booked and the possibility for in-person evaluations essentially evaporated. (There are ways to do those things now and still meet the requirements in any given area of Canada.) Online evaluations were/are still an option, but, because many people were/are unsure of the future, those have not been plentiful.

On the bright side, I have been in touch with several clients and have received updates that make me happy for the horses as well as the clients. Here are a few of them:

– A former cutting horse that was not built to do that job is no longer constantly uncomfortable. Despite being the same color as his sire, he was not built like his sire; therefore, the training and workload he endured caused him pain. When I assessed him, it was evident that he would have had to compensate a lot in order to do what had been asked of him. Through changes in farrier work, massage and exercises designed to help him compensate easier, I’m told that he no longer lies down as much, walks with elasticity instead of rigidity and has even taken to kicking up his heels and trotting off after his sessions. Super improvement in only a few weeks! I’m so glad Goose is more comfortable now, and so are his people.

– A barrel racer that was heavy on the forehand is now earning paychecks at competitions. As a next step in the program that is based on his build, he is currently being taught how to lift his forehand after gaining the strength in his abs that allowed him to do that without tension in his back. Go Rocky!

– A Thoroughbred stallion that was selected for the owner’s private use in a small racing market may well be the leading sire in his province for 2020. Not bad considering he was not purchased as a commercial sire and has only had small crops of homebreds. The bonus is that his offspring are consistent and seem to stay sound. He has sired stakes horses and winners from age two to six.  Congrats, Vinny!

– An Arabian gelding that was idle for about a decade has improved his self-carriage and lightness through specific exercises and is now working on improving his self-confidence. Tango will soon be ready to dance.

– A Paint mare that had inflamed tendons on both forelegs due to her pillar of support emerging behind her heel is much improved. Time off, rehabilitation and a correction in her hoof angle have her going sound without inflammation or heat in the tendons. Yippee!

– A Thoroughbred mare that was selected for a client as a weanling, showed physical potential for racing, but did not settle well in a stall at the track, had her first foal to race this year. The two-year-old filly ran fourth in a stakes race first time out and is slated to return to racing next year.

– A lanky gelding that had sustained an injury as a youngster responded well. He likely somersaulted over a wire fence (based on the scars) and was stiff through his neck and shoulders plus was tight in the elbows. Stretches and exercises made him more limber and now Boomer is being ridden in comfort by his owner.

– A Thoroughbred sport horse and his owner were shown how to use the horse’s full range of motion through the entire forehand apparatus (top of scapula to knee) and is now showing movement that will serve him well in all phases of eventing. He could even garner a few admiring glances in the hunter ring. His name? Redemptionist.

– A then there’s the diminutive Quarterhorse mare that was delaying her stride behind and cross-cantering because no one had recognized her tremendous range of motion. Although she is small, she has the stride of a horse two hands taller than her. Now, with human understanding and changes in farrier work, she is smooth and quick. I think that Tommi has the potential to be almost unbeatable in pole bending.

These types of stories make me feel like what I do makes a difference, and I appreciate the people who followed the programs I suggested. Thanks to them, the results are evident.