Animals: Alfie

Alfie, a six year old 14.1hh pony who had been owned by the same lady since he was six months old, had been lavished with attention, growing up to be a very sociable, placid and loving pony. Although he had experienced some 'non-specific' back-problems at the age of four (during the period he was being backed), he was now happily accepting a rider and being schooled to a reasonably high standard. He was also enjoying and doing well at dressage, show jumping and cross-country.

As Alfie was a second pony and a little too small for his owner he was taken on a full term loan, to another yard, in October 2000. In July 2001 he was suddenly and unexpectedly returned to his owner - the only explanation rendered was that he had bucked, the loaner had fallen off and presumably lost her confidence. However, when Alfie actually came 'home' he was almost unrecognisable, his temperament had changed so much. He was so fearful he had become almost unmanageable. It was extremely difficult to console when he was on a lead rope and backing him was completely out of the question.

Alfie was sent for a week's assessment and treatment with a chartered equine physiotherapist and a behavioural therapist. The intention was for the behavioural therapist to assess and calm him and the physiotherapist to work with any possible physical problems. Unfortunately, Alfie's distressed state meant that the behavioural therapist could do very little with him during such a short period of time (and he certainly couldn't be backed) and the physiotherapist was limited in terms of the physical manipulations she could achieve with a pony that was so agitated. When Alfie returned home from his treatment he was still so anxious that he wouldn't stand still, you couldn't pick his feet up and he looked constantly terrified with wide, frightened eyes and flaring nostrils. Alfie's owner was terribly upset, she had no idea what had happened to her pony and didn't know what else to do to help him.

On the first day of Alfie's treatment he was inconsolable. Although he was tethered outside his stable, he paced back and forth, constantly on "red alert". He had clearly lost his confidence in people and felt that some form of danger was imminent. Because physical contact is unnecessary with EFT it is a particularly valuable form of therapy in situations like this. I was able to follow Alfie around as I worked with his energy field and although it was initially resistant to my approaches, by the end of the treatment it was beginning to respond allowing some energy blockages to be released.

On the second day, the treatment began in the same way but after fifteen minutes Alfie began to calm down. He stopped pacing and my connection with his field intensified. Ten minutes later Alfie's head began to droop and there was a lovely heavy, tired look upon his face - he was now so relaxed he was nodding off to sleep!!!

The following two days also went extremely well and on the last day we were able to pick each of Alfie's feet up and manipulate his legs without resistance. We tacked him up and led him around the yard and three days later he quietly accepted a rider. Since his treatment, Alfie has been fine and has resumed his schooling, has won a dressage and show jumping competition and has had a lot of fun out hacking and going around a cross-country course.

Yvette Richards