Velvet's Recovery

Updates

5/12/08

Velvet continues to progress. She is calm and well behaved. She was eager for her oils and we seem to have her energetic system balanced. Our goal now is to continue to work on the pain in her left fetlock and to help her understand how to behave around humans, especially vets.

We will be trying a new product called VivoZeoComplete 2 in1 for horses soon that is being donated by Dr. Erin Kamzow. She contacted me after reading Velvet's story with an offer to donate the product for Velvet and I am very excited about the potential this new product holds for her. You can read more about the product on their website, www.VivoAnimals.com After we have had a chance to use the product, I will report our findings.

We also are using new relationship building skills recently learned at a clinic with Cynthia and Tony Royal. Cynthia trained the famous movie horse Blanco, who played "Shadowfax" in Lord of the Rings. Their simple way of relating to horses using "Horse Culture", is loving, respectful, fun and gets fast results. The small amount we have used of their techniques have taken us much farther than years of learning of other natural horsemanship techniques. I encourage you to check out their website and order the DVD's at www.IMAGINE-DiscoverTheMagic.com

2/20/08

Velvet arrived on 2/2/2008. She trailered beautifully and has been getting used to her new (although temporary) home and the horses who are adjacent to her. Soon she will be mixed in with the herd.

My initial analysis indicates imbalances in the Small Intestine, Kidney, and Spleen meridians. Based on the kinesiology and her issues my primary concern is a kidney yang deficiency. This is being addressed with essential oils to break up stagnation, stimulate blood circulation, dispell the wind, warm the internal cold and dry the dampness. She is definitely of the Water element as am I ;-). In addition to the oils that are being offered to her, I have made a gel for her fetlocks to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and break down the excess bony growth.

For her nutritional needs we have put her on a small amount of plain oats, a digestive aid, an herbal PMS product (to help her with her heat cycles )and Uckele CocoSoya oil. She also gets lots of organic grass hay and has access to free choice minerals and loose Redmond salt.

Her Story

Saved from slaughter only three years ago, a 5-year-old Rocky Mountain mare named Velvet continues to fight for her life and needs your support. Let me share her story with you.

Velvet is suffering from osteochondrosis (OCD), a condition in horses that manifests in a variety of ways, often times very painful. For Velvet, it is a bony growth predominantly on her left hind fetlock and a bit on her right hind as well. Overexertion in the pasture brings her pain when she should feel pleasure.

Alt

hough OCD can be treated by veterinarians, Velvet is very fearful of vets and has protected herself in dangerous ways. Based on my communications with her, I believe her condition is not genetic but the result of a trauma that occurred to her when she was quite young. She was “manhandled” and hog tied by a few cowboys. That experience not only caused the trauma resulting in the OCD, but also created a very deep fear in her when she perceives several people are “ganging up” on her.

Velvet was living at the St. Francis Horse Rescue but came here to the Equine Renewal Center at Open Heart Ranch February 2, 2008. I have begun to treat her OCD with essential oil therapy, support her system and release trauma through cranial sacral therapy and am working with her to help her trust again. (Note: Essential oil therapy has been shown to be successful treating OCD to the extent that visible changes were seen in the x-rays.) This is Velvet’s only chance right now. If we cannot improve her fearfullness so that she can be treated by vets and manage her OCD, she will not be able to be adopted. If she cannot learn to be safe around vets, she will need to be euthanized.

How You can help

I volunteer my time at St. Francis using communication, oils and cranial sacral therapy to help the horses but Velvet requires more intensive daily attention. Unfortunately, I cannot keep her here without compensation to cover the expenses. So I am asking you to help me give Velvet a chance at life. Help me to right the wrong that has been done to her by sending your sponsorship for her to the St. Francis Rescue. She will need to be here for a minimum of three months but more likely, five to six months.

You can send your sponsorship directly to St. Francis Rescue but please note that the donation (which is tax deductible) is for Velvet. Their website is www.stfrancishorserescue.org. Phone: 715-592-6622, Address: 7548 Boulder Lane , Rosholt , WI 54473. If you are able to help Velvet, please let me know. You can contact me at: wendy@wendywolfe.com or 715-824-2319. You can also email me for a copy of this letter to forward to others who may be able to help.

Velvet, St Francis Horse Rescue and I thank you dearly for your consideration. We can’t save them all…but she is one we can save.