Big Nick!

Nick, a Saddlebred, Tennessee Walker mix had never encountered another horse until he was 2 ½ years old. His dam was a milk mare, he had been rescued from slaughter, and by the time he was 5 days old he was living in Northwest Ohio being raised by humans and in the company of ponies and goats. He was sold and spent a short time at another boarding facility before being diagnosed with EPM at the age of 2 ½.

His previous owners were being advised to euthanize him by the owner of the other facility, and that is how he came to The Healing Barn. He was treated for 3 months using Marquis and started using Hilton Herbs before his arrival to The Healing Barn. He is now 6 years old and has been at The Healing Barn for 4 years. I met Nick just before he was moved and I am his third and current owner having purchased him in November of 2006. He was visibly weak and lacked confidence and vitality when he arrived. Nick had never seen another horse being trained or ridden. The barn is designed so all the horses have visual and physical contact with each other, satisfying their emotional need to be in a herd. The riding arena is also visible from all of the stalls. When Nick arrived he had no idea how to behave around other horses and at first had trouble figuring out his own species. His transformation has been truly remarkable.

The other horses as well as Corri, Nancy, and Allen became his teachers. Their knowledge, experience, and most of all patience is what started to transform this "diamond in the rough" into a horse to be proud of. Because of his breeding, traumatic birth, prior life experiences, and EPM Nick has anxious tendencies which are easily solved with Confidence Plus. His strength, immune system, and vitality have been restored by Echinacea Plus and Multiflex. Nick and other horses are turned out all day everyday and encouraged to play and let their personalities shine. It is relaxing and entertaining to watch a robust game of "halter tag" or "grab the ball and run." Being here at The Healing Barn is about a lot more than just riding.

Nancy, Allen, and Corri also help us be good two-legged friends to our four-legged friends; giving us encouragement and advice when we need it most. Nick is now 6 years old, 17 hands tall, and around 1300lbs. His coat is healthy and shiny, and most importantly his disposition, mental, and emotional outlook are healthy. He has come a long way from his humble beginning as a "THROW AWAY" foal, and my relationship with him and the The Healing Barn has transformed my outlook on life.

Sincerely, Sally Keller Toledo, OH