Joni the Rescue Horse

In the vet's opinion, Joni, starved and neglected was just barely hanging on when Ginette found her and rescued her, but plenty of good feed and proper care and affection brought her back from the brink.  Trouble was, because of her history there was a very troubled horse still inside and when she was fit enough to be ridden again she was too scared and troubled to tolerate a rider.  After being bucked off, Ginette, who is a very experienced rider but no bronc stomper, knew the mare needed lots of help.

In the meanwhile Bob had been having extended conversations about horses with his chiropractor, who happened to be Ginette's husband.  That led, eventually, to Bob's meeting with Joni.  When he traveled to her barn to meet with her and Ginette, he took along Phil Hearn, from the UK who was attending Bob's four week course.  Joni was locked up mentally, emotionally, spiritually and physically from nose to tail. Bob did the preparation and ground work, spending a lot of time freeing up the atlas joint (what Deb Bennett dubbed "head twirling") the hind quarters and the mind.  This caused the jaw, neck and top line to relax and get soft.  He also helped her get over some of her fears about flags and movement, and let down and relax around humans.  He worked to reach the entire being of this troubled little horse.

As she began to feel better inside the transformation outside became obvious.  She let down, dropped her head softly, began to lick and chew and show that she was a happier horse.  Bob supported her as Phil put on the saddle and stepped away.  She accepted that with confidence, and the freeing up of the atlas and hind quarters was repeated. As she learned to move with a soft, relaxed mind and back under the saddle it became apparent that she was ready for a rider, and Phil stepped on.

She walked off Phil petting and reassuring her while he stayed relaxed in the saddle.  The first ride she was still pretty unsure about Phil being up there and scooted out a time or two, but he just stayed relaxed and went with her, with Bob coaching him.  When she was ready they began to repeat the lessons she had learned from the ground.

 Bob flagged Phil and Joni to help him bend her, once again working to assure that the hind quarters, atlas joint, jaw, neck and top line stayed long and not contracted or stiff.  This kept her mind open and curious.

The third day, after Phil's third ride, Ginette got on and had a nice ride, walking and trotting the mare.  Ginette had a huge smile on her face and the horse stayed happy and relaxed.   In three weeks Bob and Phil worked with Joni four, two hour sessions.  As of the latest report the mare is going quietly on trail rides.