Equine Massage Stories, Pg. 5

5.) The Diamond That Finally Sparkled

By Pat McFerren

The colt was all legs when he foaled at one am early in May. For a few minutes we wondered if there was a body attached to those long chestnut legs, but with a bit of help the mare finally pushed him out. Well bred, he was by Diamond Prospect (Mr. Prospector), a Graded Stakes winner in Europe and out of Sensualist by What A Pleasure. We named him King of Diamonds. “Diamond” grew at a tremendous rate and was an accident waiting to happen. Because of a bone chip in his right hind fetlock, he had to be withdrawn from the Keeneland summer sale and surgery was performed to remove it.

After six weeks of stall rest he was pronounced sound and we decided to keep and campaign him ourselves. So that we might monitor his progress and soundness closely, he was sent to a nearby training facility to be broken. The center was owned by the veterinarian who had performed the surgery. Already 16 hands and still growing, we wanted to be careful not to put a lot of stress on both his physical and mental health. After being broken as a yearling, he came home to be turned out for some R&R before going to the training center for more serious work.

After six weeks in training, we had the call every breeder and owner longs for. “Go ahead and nominate King of Diamonds for the Triple Crown.” He had previously been nominated for the Breeder's Cup and Florida Stallion Stakes, but this was icing on the cake.

Diamond's workouts were brilliant, almost always posting the best time of the day. He flew to Florida to start his career at Gulfstream Park. Unfortunately two weeks after his arrival he came down with a respiratory infection that ended not only his two year old campaign, but all the Derby hopes as well.

Diamond did make it to the races, but never lived up to his potential. He was a morning glory and hated running with other horses. He became nasty and was nicknamed “Jaws” at the track. Finally, at five, he was retired and came home to start a new career as a jumper. His attitude changed immediately and he loved his new job. When my daughter went away to college she took him with her and he was successful in the show ring, but soundness problems seemed to plague him. No one could figure out what the problem was. X-rays and ultrasounds were always negative.

When I decided to become an Equine Massage Therapist I didn't realize at the time Diamond would become my first and one of my most successful clients. When I sat in class learning the movement problems which relate to the various muscles in the body, a shock went through my mind. Diamond exhibited all the classic symptoms related to the hindquarter muscles: hind leg scuffing, limited reach and extension, tension in the back, limited flexion of the stifle and hock. After graduation I immediately flew north to work on him. His glutes, hamstrings and quadriceps were overdeveloped and after three deep massages he became a different horse.

Now he moves freely with beautiful long extension in both front and hind. His back is round and his attitude is wonderful. This has been particularly gratifying for me because of the attachment to him. Because of a divorce he is the only horse my daughter and I still own. All other breeding and racing stock was dispersed causing me great heartbreak.

Owners and trainers need to be aware of how overtraining can ruin an exceptional horse's career. Every horse is an individual and must be treated and trained as such with respect and kindness.