Amy on arrival

Amy, a 7 year old, 11.2hh strawberry roan Welsh Section A mare with chronic laminitis came into our care at Horsehay Farm on the 28th July 2001. In her owners words, "this is her last chance". She contracted laminitis during the previous summer for a short time and appeared to recover. However, in February 2001 she contracted severe laminitis again, this time in all four feet. The cause of the laminitis was unclear as she had limited turnout and she was not over-weight. Her hind feet recovered within a month, leaving dire problems with her front feet. An X-ray on the 14th June 2001 revealed there had been a 15 degree rotation of the pedal bone of the front feet, relative to the dorsal hoof wall and separation of dorsal wall as shown by visible air shadow. There was a 5 degree rotation of the pedal bone in the hind feet and remodelling at the tip of the pedal bones.

When she arrived she hobbled out of the trailer and stood in the typical laminitic pose with both front feet stretched right out in front of her and she was unable to put weight on either front foot for any period of time, resulting in her rocking from one foot to the other.

She found it almost impossible to walk and could only turn by pivoting on her hind quarters and hopping - similar to a quarter pirouette. She was very reluctant to put any weight on her front feet and was clearly in pain. She was very depressed and uninterested in her surroundings.

On closer examination of her front feet, when we removed the tape, we could smell they were obviously infected.

The previous farrier had resected the front of the hoof wall, revealing severe necrosis of the laminae, but she had made no improvement.

We scrubbed all four feet and prepared a green clay with Seaweed Absolute (Fucus vesiculous L.) and Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) essential oil and covered the infected areas on both front feet. We then wrapped the feet with Gamgee and Vetrap.

The clay cleared the infection within two days. Using kinesiology to assess, four oils were selected for Amy to inhale - these were Seaweed Absolute (Fucus vesiculous L.), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) and Juniper Berry (Juniper communis). When we offered Amy the oils (diluted separately in a base oil) her reaction was cautious - briefly sniffing them before turning away.

From my experience, animals coping with constant chronic pain often shut down to the outside world, losing the will to get better and becoming introverted, trapped in their own suffering.

Working on an emotional level, Neroli (Citrus aurantium) and Rose (Rosa damascena) essential oils were selected and these were offered to Amy. With time and patience Amy started to accept the oils. This is when we really started to notice a difference in her attitude, whinnying for hay, and looking much brighter in herself.

Working closely with remedial farrier, Barry Payne, and vet, Claire Mansell of Bourton Vale Equine Clinic, we cautiously and very gradually reduced the Equipalazone and Acetyl Promazine(ACP). Barry lightly trimmed Amy every two weeks, gradually changing the angle of the hoof wall. Her front feet were wrapped with Eucalyptus hoof dressing, ¼ inch thick leather pads and Gamgee to provide padding.

For a month Amy was progressing slowly. Then suddenly she went downhill for no apparent reason. She became depressed and could barely put any weight on her front feet again-we called Claire at Bourton Vale Equine Clinic. On her advice we increased the Equipalazone and ACP again and we were almost back to where we started. We continued relentlessly. She seemed to have good and bad days, typical of laminitis. Her stable had a rubber matting flooring and a deep, clean bed of shavings and during this critical period, she was not taken out of her box at all. She was fed handfuls of soaked hay throughout the day, and a handful of Hi-Fi Lite, and also strips of fresh willow branches and leaves from the tree outside her stable. Willow is a natural pain-killer and also provided variety in Amy's diet without being harmful to her.

We re-tested Amy using kinesiology, on a weekly basis and other oils offered during this time were Garlic (Allium sativum), Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) and Cinnamon Leaf (Cinnamoum zeylanicum). We also gave Amy regular acupressure treatments which she enjoyed - a big thank you to teachers, Nancy Zidonis and Amy Snow, and also to Jane Evans, who put her skills to great use!

Then finally the day arrived. On 19th September Barry Payne came for his fortnightly visit. Amy was more comfortable and he felt that everything had started to settle down in the feet. He felt the pedal bone had started to reattach to the hoof wall so it was safer to remove more of the sole, making it more concave. Amy amazed us all as she marched across the yard with ease!

As she was able to stand comfortably and bear weight on both front feet, we no longer needed to pad her feet so we were able to apply a Carrot Seed (Daucus carota) hoof oil daily, to encourage healthy hoof growth.

She continued to improve dramatically and we gradually built up the time of walking her (with Equi-boots on), from a couple of minutes walk down the drive to a 15 minute walk around the farm. She progressed in leaps and bounds, literally. She became very lively and cheeky, often leaping around on the end of the lead rope!