History of Looker
Initial forms of treatment
Results of initial treatment and therapy
The Stabilization and Maintenance Phase
Photo Documentation
Looker's History
Looker, an 11-year old chestnut Dutch Warmblood, is one of Aleta McCormick’s many “backyard research projects.” What makes his story special and unique is that his rehabilitation program formula is the outgrowth and culmination of many years of experimental, trial-and-error hands-on work with her own horses and their injuries.
Looker was the first horse to be placed on a structured, individually-tailored, practical rehabilitation program, which was faithfully and consistently followed to the letter.
Looker was donated to O.E.R.C. late in 2003 by his owner, because he had a hind end problem, and was routinely unsound and in pain. We learned that he had been trained in jumping and dressage, but was not serviceably sound unless he received hip “adjustments” every six weeks.
At the time that Looker was donated, he was not in training and was relatively unfit. We suspected that the root of his problem was tension to and breakdown of the tissues, muscles, and ligaments surrounding his hip joints which can be caused by excessive circling during his workouts, lunging, and round pen work.
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Initial Forms of Treatment and Therapy
Looker’s rehabilitation program began in November of 2003. The foundation of his rehabilitation program encompassed the following initial forms of treatment and therapy by Aleta McCormick and Nancy Parker:
1. Daily hand-walking and turnout by Nancy Parker
2. Walking on straight lines under saddle every other day by Nancy Parker
3. Intensive, deep tissue body work (massage) sessions for three consecutive weeks, followed by bi-weekly sessions by Aleta McCormick
4. Interim targeted (hind-end) massage by Nancy Parker (rider) following workouts throughout the week Looker underwent three months of this treatment and therapy before any substantial increases in riding workout duration or exertion level were started.
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