Comments on: My horse, Martyn, loves a good massage

By: Teresa

Teresa — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:36:32 +0000

Thank you for sharing the photos of Martyn getting his message. Our dogs are older and get hydrotherapy at a local HipDog facility. Maybe he can swim in a pool or pond?
On a lighter note, here is a fun video on Fresians vs humans soccer game on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AesfgUWRQD8

By: Dr. Ray Derman

Dr. Ray Derman — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:42:28 +0000

A Fresian is such a wonderful and proud horse, Martha! How lucky you are to have them as your friends! Marytn is still such a young horse, I feel his issues may respond to an equine chiropractor, such as myself. I have worked extensively on Fresians with great success in the Mid-Atlantic states. Please visit my website at http://www.horse-chiropractor.com and read some of my testimonials. Kind Regards.

By: Jane Bryson Thomas

Jane Bryson Thomas — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 00:59:58 +0000

Dear Martha, I want to help that handsome hunk of Fresian, Martyn. I am a Horse Masseuse, a Certified Equine Massage Therapist. I do my work at the Houston Police Department Equine Unit on their 38 hard working horses. I've massaged horses with this,and similiar problems to Martyn's with great success. Please visit my website for further information. I would be delighted to massage all of your horses (Martyn first!) gratis, Martha, to show you that this wonderful therapy really works! Martyn will benefit with the results and you will be pleased as well.

By: Linda Ann Lindsey-Wong

Linda Ann Lindsey-Wong — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 23:45:16 +0000

Hi Martha,
Martyn is a handsome boy, I being a horse owner myself knows how we love our horses.Martyn is lucky to have a loving person like you to care for him.
Has Betsy your stable manager considered starting Martyn on SilverLining Herbs?Suggested powders #18 Joint Support and #37 Kidney Support is reccomended for horses with rheumatism. I can get a broucher out to you if you lie more information.

By: Edythe Jane Ludlum

Edythe Jane Ludlum — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 17:44:36 +0000

Here's a website that pertains to an earlier comment made by Stacey. He has done a lot of work on Fresians in NJ and NY.

By: delia

delia — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:18:12 +0000

Sally, great info you have given here even if it might not apply to Martyn(I don't know that for a fact) but maybe for other horses..this is the very thing that happened to my horse, she was misdiagnosed and I lost valuable time treating her. Short toe and reveresed shoe made it worse for her, I would like to have tried barefoot trimming. Laminitis can start out looking like something else, even my Vet was fooled, although that's what I thought it was to begin with.
This might not make it to the post here, but I hope at least someone in Marthas stable can read this.

By: Sally

Sally — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 00:19:33 +0000

1.) I have owned horses for 40 years and never had one as young as 13 w/rheu. It will show up on x-rays but can also be mistaken for temporary swelling on a sprain, flexion problem or worse, early laminitis. Make sure to x-ray hooves, also, as laminitis will manifest itself up the leg, but starts in the hoof as a result of cold, rain, too much sugar, obesity and occasionally, a bad farrier job.

2.) In any event, diet is critical. Have his blood drawn to test for insulin resistance. NO SUGAR, that includes carrots, cubes, apples, mints, carbs, sweet feed (give him low sugar senior feed and all the hay and water he wants, NO GRASS) and lots of hosing if there is heat. Have blood drawn for insulin resistance which manifests itself in lameness related to laminitis, but rheu is strange at this age.

3.) Make sure he is not favoring any other foot, or that one will have problems next, then you will really have a problem. Remember the misery Barbaro suffered b/c his good feet could not handle the extra weight shifting.

4.) The best solution I found for keeping weight off a lame leg or hoof is as follows:

i.) Buy a sheet of the pink styro insulation that is stiff, about 3 inches thick and is used to insulate walls. Cut 2 large round pieces for both back hooves. Put one on the frog as an orthotic and place the second larger round cutout on top of the first and then use duct tape to hold all four pieces in place. A sharp knife can be used to trim the styro so its roughly the same shape as his hoof.

ii.) Then use duct tape right up under and over to hold stryro in place, to about half way up his leg so its stable and tight. The first layer becomes an orthotic and the second takes the weight and pressure off the hooves and legs and shifts part of it to his front end. These can stay on for 3 days and then changed if no improvements.

5.) This is used at the tracks now, routinely and although it sounds a little primitive, its commons sense, is inexpensive and it works great. This saved my horse's life, we were ready to put him down, but decided to try this, we were desperate. We did it for two weeks, and he is completely recovered, but we had him lose 75 lbs and have kept it off.

Fresians are heavy by breed and tend to carry too much weight, note broad backs, fat below the mane and apple rumps, which although look nice, is not healthy for the horse.

This happened to my 32 year old three years ago and I just came in from giving him his evening feeding and getting my kiss and hug!

Good Luck and hopefully banamine, massage, rest and proper shooing can get him through this. Also, horse owners tend not to notice that their horse is just too fat! Losing 100lbs may be all that is needed for the long term. Short toe trimming always helps. PLEASE KEEP US UP TO DATE ON MARTYN'S HEALTH. GET WELL MARTYN!

Good luck, my oldest ever stayed with us to 42 and I'm sure Martyn has many happy healthy years of love to give and receive ahead of him.

By: Teresa Touey

Teresa Touey — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:17:51 +0000

Martha - Betsy and Gelbu are so inspiring in their dedication and committement to Martyn. And you as well.

I love Martyn. I so get his love of massage. It is so good for injuries. These pictures are truly special and touching.

We need to include massage in our health plan coverage in any reform of our healthcare system. It is a great preventative as well as restorative procedure.

By: celia stock

celia stock — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:52:48 +0000

Martha

Read your comments regarding Martyn and his ailment. Only thirteen,just a youngin'. Too young to have that crippling disease.
Metabolisms are so different that simple changes
can sometimes offer anti-inflammatory qualities
and so aid,coping with pain.There are some herbal concoctions that can help his condition.
Sometimes a change in diet. If only they could
speak english. They can talk,but humans dont
always understand.Martyn is lucky to have two
good friends like you and Betsy.Please give him
my best wishes,a smooch too,if you have the time. celia

By: Judy

Judy — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 18:43:52 +0000

Martha, I have raise horses, poor martyn. You know 13 is not that old in horse years. I have known some to live to 35, with good care, such as you give your animals. Seems like maybe martyn is been struck by a genetic hand down of early rheumatism. Do you know of his parents maybe developing this same thing early? Its certainly linked in humans and other animals like dogs, to be genetically predisposed.
Hope he feels better, its terrible living in cold country wih rheumatism.
Your horses are beautiful, Martha!