My PRE Corvo is unfortunately traumatized by his first years of life in Spain and France. Having only had bad experiences with people, he is very shy and afraid. Because his head was uneven and he was stiff in his body, I had invited Joey. I was very curious to see if Corvo would let her get close to him.
Joey indicated beforehand that she always adapted to what the horse could handle. That gave me a good feeling. Joey’s calmness in body posture and actions allowed her to do an iridology at intake, an initial craniosacral treatment and a food analysis.
The iridology confirmed past trauma and pressure at the back of his head. It also revealed stress in his neck and acidosis in his head. Corvo was over sensitive to everything.
The next steps from this intake included:
Different food and minerals, supplemented with gemmotherapy
Craniosacral treatments
Trust Technique
For the above, I have given Corvo the entire past year. Somehow I hoped he would show marked improvement in his behavior after the first treatment. However, the panic attacks and severe relapses in anxiety kept coming back. With every step in the right direction also always came a relapse… Still, all in all he seemed to be improving, so we continued on the same path.
In his fearful moments, I increasingly applied the Trust Technique. Then when we were quiet together, I could put on his halter or attach a lead to him.
Joey advised me to literally put my question to him (out loud or in my mind) and visualize what I wanted to do. That’s what I started doing. To my surprise, I was able to put a lead on him, after my question and visualization!
I continued with that. I now ask everything and consult with him when we can move forward again. Meanwhile, we have gotten so used to this together that Corvo literally takes a step towards me when I am allowed to do something or continue with the exercise! As long as he does not do that, I know I have to wait. That is nice and difficult. Sometimes I have to wait a long time. But when he takes the step, he gives himself for the full 100% and that is worth an infinite amount to me!
He also indicated that the small steps I was making with him were still too big. I thought that was quite an intense message. Had I still -in all my caution and respect for him- gone too fast? Had I really gone over his limits? So yes.
And so I learn. I adapt to Corvo’s pace. The consultation we now have together and the equality in our relationship sometimes moves me. And physically? Corvo moves smoothly, is comfortable in his skin. His eyes are side by side and his nostrils are at the same height. And when he suddenly stood like a giraffe eating the twigs from the thicket (photo) I realized: he never did this before, so he could never do this!
Since Joey’s last treatment, three months ago now, Corvo hasn’t had a panic attack or relapse. So am I going to train him full throttle again to get him backed up? No. For that, this last year has brought us too many wonderful (nicer) things. I will definitely continue to make him more confident and to get him to trust humans: he needs to be trimmed or treated by a vet or dentist. But beyond that? We will see. Corvo gives me what he can, and that is always good and always enough. Whatever the outcome is or will be.
Joey, thank you for what you have brought Corvo and me!
Inès Koudijs
