Tick-Borne Illness

Spirit was ready. She self-loaded calmly, let people stand behind the trailer and scratch her butt while she ate her hay, let me hold her steady when she wanted to back out, accepted the butt bar moving behind her. My friends and I were taking a bow, very pleased with ourselves for a slow, steady, successful training adventure.

We assembled the following day to Put Up the Butt Bar - for those of you without previously-feral horses, this is a BIG deal. I led Spirit to the trailer and...she reared up her head, planted her feet and said NO. I went back to basics, exploring the inside of the trailer, letting her stand on the ramp, showing her the hay up front. NOPE. I led her in a circle and brought her in. She looked at me with wild eyes and backed out. This went on until she finally stood inside and heaved a sigh. Grateful for this one quiet moment, I backed her out and quit.

This was not bad behavior or regression or past trauma, this was anaplasmosis. Tick-borne illness is now everywhere and one of the number one reasons people call me. Owners say "She's gotten dangerous and I have to sell her." "He's old and tired and I'm worried he's at the end of life." "My horse has needed so many joint injections." "We just can't connect." I get quiet in my mind, do a body scan and feel the creeping sensation of a tick-borne infection.

Spirit is on doxy and we will get back to Butt Bar Day soon. So many animals are sick and undiagnosed. I encourage you to call your vet if you suspect a tick infection.

And don't forget the Body Scan in the Audio Course! Here is a coupon in honor of keeping our animals safe: SAVE50 (50%off)