And photographs, if you have any.
Horseytalk.net Special Interview
Gordon Johnson Houghton
A natural empathy with horses has led him from race riding and training
to becoming a McTimoney-Corley Animal Practitioner.
Meet GORDON JOHNSON HOUGHTON BSc(Hons), Dip. MCAM (OCEPT)
Gordon Johnson Houghton is a quietly spoken, modest, shy and almost reticent horseman. His reserved demeanour provides no clues whatsoever to his illustrious equestrian background, and the history of his family. However it is this very inoffensive and almost subdued approach that the horses he treats respond to without objection. Everything is done with the minimum of fuss and the maximum simplicity. It is this natural empathy with horses that led him from race riding and training to becoming a McTimoney-Corley Animal Practitioner.
Born in 1965, Gordon is the son of the legendary racehorse trainer Fulke Johnson Houghton, and the Grandson of Major Gordon Johnson Houghton who served with the great philanthropist and former Senior Jockey Club Steward, Lord Leverhulme.
Fulke Johnson Houghton trained champions Ribofilio, Rose Bowl, Ile de Bourbon and Double Form, as well as many notable winners for Lord Leverhulme. These included Hot Grove, who won the Chester Vase by five lengths before running The Minstrel to a neck in the Derby in 1977.
It was against this background that Gordon grew up and, not surprisingly, pursued a career in Racing having first completed his education at Eton and Bristol University, gaining a BSc(Hons) in politics.
An all-round horseman, Gordon produced a novice horse through the levels that was subsequently listed for the Young Riders European Three Day Event Squad in 1983. During his race riding career Gordon also rode forty two winners both on the flat and over fences, not only in the UK but also in Italy and Ireland.
From the mid- eighties through to the late nineties Gordon worked as an Assistant Trainer, with such iconic names as Jenny Pitman, Nicky Henderson, Tom Jones, Arthur Moore and Jim Old, gaining as much knowledge as he could before later working as a Trainer in his own right.
His huge love of horses means that he has never been far away from horses and he has always relished spending time with them, despite spending some intervening time working in the City due to family commitments. This lure ultimately proved to be too much and, despite the glitter and attraction of the City, the countryside and horses proved to be too deeply embedded in his psyche.
This led Gordon to qualifying as a practitioner of the McTimoney-Corley method.
Since 2006 Gordon has actively practised in Suffolk and the surrounding counties. Often travelling great distances to treat loyal clients who have moved out of the area. With his knowledge of all aspects of horse management Gordon is able to bring wide experience to his patients. With his understanding of fitness and training regimes, he is able to pinpoint causes and suggest management methods that maximise the horses ability to recuperate and sustain their potential.
McTimoney-Corley Animal Therapy is a method of restoring health by the gentle corrective manipulation of the bones of the head, spinal column, pelvis and limbs, thereby ensuring the proper functioning of the nerves and endocrine systems which control the natural self-healing capability of the body.
Should your horse be displaying any of the following symptoms, they may be indicative of an underlying problem that requires Gordon’s attention.
Unlevelness, especially behind.
Uneven wear of shoes.
Reluctance to strike off on the correct canter lead.
Asymmetry, such as stiffness on one rein or a disunited canter.
Difficulty bridling.
Sore areas along the spine.
Being cold backed.
Unexplained deterioration in usual performance.
Behavioural changes e.g. rearing, bucking, refusing.
Lameness after a fall, where alternative causes have been eliminated.
Uneven muscle development.
Lack of impulsion.
Difficulty in lateral work.
Head tilting.
Shortened stride.
Contact Gordon Johnson Houghton on: 07939 208255 or 01284 789572 or visit www.mctimoney-corley.com
For more information please contact: Maria Wynne at Eqwynne@googlemail.com or 07717298182
"This sweet little horse enjoyed his treatment,
the manner in which
it was carried out and some instant relief from
years of discomfort"
Absolute Horse magazine and Gordon Johnson Houghton recently joined forces via Facebook to offer one lucky reader the chance to have their horse treated, using the McTimoney-Corley method. From all of the applications and profiles received Nikki Sawyer and Steph Adamek with their new purchase 'Boffin' were chosen.
Based at a yard in Hasketon, Boffin is a 15hh bay TB gelding who had previously raced about ten times. Steph and Nikki plan to spend this season building him up and getting to know him before embarking on some BSJA classes.
Gordon Johnson Houghton is a quietly spoken, modest and shy horseman. There is nothing to give away his illustrious equestrian and family background. Born in 1965 Gordon is the son of the legendary racehorse trainer Fulke Johnson Houghton, who trained champions such as Ribofilio, Rose Bowl, Ile de Bourbon and Double Form. Gordon evented and produced a horse that was long listed for the Young Riders European Three Day Event Squad before focusing his attention on racing. During this time Gordon rode forty two winners in the UK, Italy and Ireland. He then worked as an Assistant Trainer with such iconic names as Jenny Pitman, Jim Old and Nicky Henderson before training in his own right.
In 2006 he decided to focus his vast knowledge and experience on becoming
a McTimoney-Corley Practitioner. This is a method of restoring health
by the gentle corrective manipulation of the bones of the head, spinal
column, pelvis and limbs, thereby ensuring the proper functioning of
the nerves and endocrine systems which control the natural self- healing
capability of the body.
Boffin to be a much loved and sweet little horse that had been owned by his Mother, bred by Bloomsbury Stud and trained by his sister Eve Johnson Houghton. What a very small world.
Boffin had fractured his pelvis as a two year old, and subsequently had a couple of problems. He has also not been in work long, so Nikki and Steph are working hard on building up his condition. He held himself as though uncomfortable, swung his off-hind out with restricted movement, and moved with his quarters out to the right. His off side hip also clicked on rotation both ways. He was sore in his sacroiliac, with a minor problem at C6 in his neck.
Nikki reports "Boff seemed to enjoy his treatment, he was very relaxed throughout. Sometimes he looked at Gordon as if to say "What are you doing to my back/leg/tail? How very strange!"
After Gordon left, Boffin seemed very content and almost relieved. He spent the rest of the day grazing. We have just started to ride him as he needed a couple of days to relax, which was not surprising considering the amount of work Gordon had to do on him. We are doing as much hill work as possible, and are continuing with the pole work to build up his hind quarters and make his pelvic area stronger. He was far more 'even' today as he had previously 'crabbed'. We are excited in the difference so far and are looking forward to his follow-up treatment"
It is also gratifying to know that this sweet little horse enjoyed his treatment, the manner in which it was carried out and some instant relief from years of discomfort. Gordon is visiting Boffin again in a week or so to carry out the follow up treatment.