When Hollis Angus heard her beloved horse, Niles, would never regain his health, or soundness, she turned him out on a farm in Montana. While Niles surely enjoyed his time in the open spaces of the western state, Angus missed him terribly. After less than two years, Angus needed Niles back.

“Even if I could only pet him, I’d be happy,” said Angus. “A great horse only comes along once in your life. Niles is the one for me.”

Once back home, Niles’ previous injuries had healed, but he seemed out of sorts.

“He kept getting wilder and wilder,” said Angus.

After many failed attempts at finding a solution to Niles’ discomfort, Angus contacted Tracey Scott and Dr. Annie Logan of the Center for Integrated Veterinary Sports Medicine at Crestview Farm in Harvard. Within a month, the pair discovered what five veterinarians had missed—Niles had a broken neck.

Dr. Logan treated Niles with shockwave therapy, chiropractic work and acupuncture. In three weeks, he was comfortable again and back to his old self. The Mecklanburg, who enjoys competing in all three rings at hunter and jumper tournaments, is back to jumping once a week.

“I have my horse back,” exclaimed Angus.

In addition to physically healing Niles, Scott worked with Angus and Niles to retrain their riding. “She’s teaching us both to ride better,” said Angus.

A Match Made in the Barn

Scott and Dr. Logan come from different, but complimentary, spectrums of the equestrian world. Dr. Logan is a veterinarian certified through International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, the Beijing Agricultural University in Chinese Herbs, the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy and has trained in applied kinesiology. She is the founder of Animal Natural Healing Arts, P.C.

Scott has more than 40 years of experience in the horse industry and has focused on sports training and therapy programs specifically for the past 20 years. She is the founder of Crestview Farm, Inc., Equine Sports Therapy Center and a member of the Executives Club of Chicago. Scott developed the Biomechanics Guided Training approach to identify the causes of performance problems and lameness to develop treatment and prevention programs.

CIVSM, Scott and Dr. Logan’s 15-year partnership, has helped restore soundness to horses throughout the country. Scott said their unique approach is their reason for a 100-percent success rate.

“We ask the question, ‘How do we improve your horse’s soundness and help prevent illness or injury in the first place,’” said Scott. CIVSM knows that one approach does not fit all. Their solution lies in an integrated approach that includes Dr. Logan’s healing and Scott’s training program.

“Sports medicine is typically not about healing,” said Scott. “They mask the pain and get the athlete competing as soon as possible instead of healing for longevity and long-term performance. Here, we deal with causes, not symptoms.”

CIVSM programs involve natural healing techniques, a customized diet and individualized exercise and training programs. CIVSM works with all breeds and disciplines with training and conditioning and rehabilitation and retraining.

“Horses like to feel their muscles working and to be fit,” added Scott. “Work should get easier and more pleasurable for them.”

Crestview Farm’s private, gated facility provides clients with everything they need to get their athletes back into the ring. Thirty-one fully-heated stalls, an 80-foot by 248-foot indoor arena with a 72-foot Equiciser exercise machine, a three-quarter-mile track, 75 acres of pastures, paddocks and fields, and an indoor, heated swimming pool give CIVSM the means to work year-round to get horses healthy and feeling great.

“Horses are made to be athletes,” explained Dr. Logan. “They are amazing animals.”

For more information about CIVSM, visit www.civsm.com.