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Horseytalk.net Special Interview
Giles and the New Messiah
How a nervy and jumpy character qualified for the Badminton Grassroots
Regional Final
Giles is a 17.2hh 17 year old Warmblood who was bought from Beeston market in Cheshire for £1500 by his doting and loving owner Melanie Seller. A nervy and jumpy character from the ground, Giles is a bit more taciturn under the saddle and does not like to over exert himself un-necessarily.
He was originally from down South, very smartly bred and sired by Glucksfall - a Grand Prix Dressage Stallion, but his associates have concluded that at some point in his career he was over pressurised and had subsequently lost all enthusiasm for the job. One of the giveaways being that he does not work particularly enthusiastically in a school and only perks up when out on a grass surface.
Therefore it was decided that a change of scenery was called for and that Giles should pursue Eventing as his chosen career. Jon Lowe, a local free-lance instructor and rider was subsequently offered the horse to compete.
Recently Jon felt that Giles was just not quite right, he wasn't performing whatsoever, and so the Vet was called in. Giles did eventually go lame and nerve blocking was suggested after exhaustive tests proved to be inconclusive.
Bruce Hewett the Equine Osteopath who has a far reaching reputation happened to be on the yard a few days later, and was asked to look at Giles. Bruce spent literally five minutes in the box with him, came out and said "Okay, he'll be fine now".
Ten days later he was still improving, his work was impressive and he felt
rejuvenated, and so he was taken to Malpas Horse Trials. There he posted a
23 Dressage Test (from a previous best of 44) and jumped an immaculate
double clear to win, and qualify for the Badminton Grassroots Regional
Final. Melanie was beside herself with joy at the enthusiastic
transformation
The change in the horse, his attitude and his work has all been solely attributed to Bruce's treatment because nothing else in the management of the horse has changed at all. Hence Bruce's nickname 'The New Messiah' previously his pseudonym had been Bruce Almighty!
Bruce Hewett
The ex-lumberjack, carpenter, actor and saturation diver who is
known as
"The New Messiah"
Bruce Hewett the Equine Osteopath originally wanted to be a Lumberjack. Certainly at 6ft 4" and of a powerful build he is designed for such a lifestyle. He has been married for eleven years to Tina and has two children, Katy and James aged five and one. After enduring his school education and sporadic intervals as a carpenter and 'treading the boards behind the curtains' in Theatre, Bruce qualified as a Saturation diver. He travelled extensively throughout the world to the Middle East, Far East, India, Norway, Denmark and all around the UK. His work took him away for ten months of the year and involved many huge construction projects as well as the devastating Piper Alpha disaster where he recovered bodies.
An accident offshore introduced him to the world of Osteopathy. The usual range of medics had been unable to get him back to work, but it was an Osteopath who eventually did. This triggered a decision in Bruce to change his career path, and he subsequently decided to study at the European School of Osteopathy in Kent gaining a Bachelor of Science with honours in Osteopathy.
In 2006 having treated humans extensively Bruce decided to study for an additional Post Grad Diploma in Animal Osteopathy, having seen that his future lay with horses thanks to a lifelong fascination and admiration of them.
Fundamentally Bruce had always loved horses, ridden them, enjoyed them but due to the nature of his work had never been lucky enough to become an owner. Now that he is able to fulfil that ambition he finds that ironically he cannot because he is dedicated to looking after other horses that need him and already belong to others.
Bruce's unique approach and the results he achieves bear testimony to his
traditional Osteopathic Training and an element of Chiropractic teaching.
Combined with an in-depth understanding of the function and biomechanics of
horses and humans, his intuitive and instinctive feel surpasses what he has
been officially taught.
The combination of empathy, understanding and knowledge has garnered him extraordinary testimonials from leading figures in the horse world. He has even been nicknamed 'The New Messiah'. Bruce travels extensively throughout Europe, the USA and Canada, treating Showjumpers, Dressage Horses, Racehorses, Eventers and Bloodstock. Basically any horse that requires help. From state of the art yards, to the most traditional and classical of establishments that may previously have chosen to shun any type of 'alternative therapy' Bruce's skills are welcomed and needed.
Based on his decades of experience and study if a horse is relaxed and content, treatment can take as little as twenty minutes. There are of course cases where more time is required, all horses are different, but without exception owners report that the patients are always happy to see Bruce come back. That speaks for itself. Clinics are now being booked and developed at different venues throughout Ireland as Bruce has an existing relationship with Ned and Ann Kearney in Dungarvan having successfully treated some of their youngstock before the Tattersalls Newmarket Sales in November 2011.
For further information please visit www.equineosteopath.co.uk
or Facebook:
Bruce Hewett or +44 (0) 7736 423 798