Christmas Contest

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1) Naomi's George

This is the story of George and not just one angel but a whole lot of angels that have helped us both and without them I surely wouldn't have George in my paddock safe and well today. George is of unknown breeding but looks mainly QH and is now 21.

George came into my life just over 2 years ago, I certainly didn't need another horse and went to look at and ride him for a friend who was thinking of buying him, from the second I got on him I knew I was meant to have him and as it turned out they had another horse for sale that suited my friend a lot better.

George was far from being a pretty horse and was a down right grump and only really happy when you were riding him, he didn't like cuddles or being groomed, 2 weeks after I brought him home he was diagnosed with a bladder stone, a week latter he was in surgery, he came out of the anesthetic and wanted to kill the vet and nurses when they tried to take his heart rate, he was very depressed and wouldn't eat. I contacted Catherine and we used some essential oils. In a couple of days he was eating a small amount and looking much brighter and looking for my bottles of oils as soon as I stepped into the stable so the vets let me take him outside for a pick. He was like a kid in a lolly shop and after that he was eating everything that was put in front of him, so in a few days he was allowed to come home.

I had contacted Tan and we gave him some homeopathic Rxs to help him with the pain and help him heal and they made a huge amount of difference to his recovery.

Everything went along fine for a while we were back riding and he was still a grumpy old man to be around but put a saddle on him and he was happy, then one day I got a phone call to say he was lame, I went straight out and sure enough he was very sore, depressed and lethargic, the vet came and sure enough he was no longer lame, still depressed, lethargic and his heart rate and temperature was elevated, the vet took blood and gave him some antibiotics, a week latter he became lame again but this time he couldn't move.

The vet came and confirmed my fears that he had foundered, the cause was Ross River Virus. The vets treatment was to put him on bute and more antibiotics but he really didn't seem to be making much progress. I had a herbalist recommended to me and we put him on a blend to boost him immune system. George would sift through his feed and pick out the herbs first and they really gave him a boost.

His feet on the other hand were a mess and even though he was getting better I was still really concerned that I may lose him. My farrier was absolutely fantastic and tried so many things to help and came to the conclusion that the only thing that may work was a set of very expensive Natural Balance shoes, so he put them on and George walked away a lot more comfortable, within the week he was walking normally and not long after he was trotting around, they didn't help with the condition of his hooves and we battled with that for a long time, but they have made him sound and today his feet are looking great.

Over time, George's attitude changed a lot, he would whinny to me when he saw me and would even tolerate cuddles but we came to a big problem he became very possessive of me and would attack any of my other horses that dared come near me and it was almost at the point where it was getting dangerous to enter the paddock, so another call to Catherine and he was very sore over his shelf of ribs and wouldn't let Catherine touch him. She did some kinesology. This was my first experience with this modality. I really didn't know what to expect and wasn't really sure that it would do anything, but I must say the results speak for themselves, and after our first session he let Catherine massage him. His attitude to the other horses didn't change a lot in that first session but after the second one he had changed a lot.

I found out a lot of things that this poor horse had been through and they made me quite sad but it has also shown me not to take him for granted and to tell him what a wonderful boy he is every day. All of the different treatments that have been used on him have really helped him but the one that I think has had the most impact has been the kinesology, peeling away all those layers and healing all those past hurts have changed the whole way he looks, I find it hard to put into words but when I first got him it was like the body was there and nothing else now it's like a light has been switched on and he's actually home.

I really can't thank the wonderful people enough who have helped me with this horse and the others who supported me through all our ups and downs, I did have a lot of others tell me I was mad spending all this money and wasting time on this old horse and sure I've spent a small fortune on him but it was worth every cent and every day I spend with him is more than enough reward.

2) Christine's Flash

Ever since I was little I have always had a dream of owning my own horse. I had to wait till I was 27 to get one, but now I have 4, and that is due to the help of some extraordinarily giving people who I met and who helped me along the way.

My horse trainer and friend, Lisa Wiseman of Topline Park introduced me to the lovely Standardbred horse, and actually gave me lessons on horse handling and riding on her beautiful property in Dungog NSW. She also started the horse (Flash) I ended up getting, under saddle for me, with no charge to me for her time or expertise. She has taught me so much, and I think was just happy to have my dream fulfilled for me.

My friends, Steve and Debbie Smith who took the time to show us their Standardbred horses and to share their experiences with me on being new horse owners, and getting a foot into the horse world. Their experiences really helped me realize it can be done, and its well worth doing!

And lastly Naomi Schofield who was so giving with her knowledge and help, and really opened my eyes in a lot of ways to things I had no idea about. I'm sure my horses would have barely survived if it hadn't been for her, especially in the beginning, and she has been a wonderful friend ever since. Who else would I call when my horse had first put his foot through a fence and bled everywhere! Who else would come straight over and tell me what to do. I was very lucky!

There have been many others who have helped me in smaller ways, and who have done wonderful things to help me in my "lifestyle change", but I think these 4 people probably made it really happen for me, and show me that I could do it. I will be eternally grateful to these angels - my life will never be the same.