2001:11:12 11:09:25 Fraz and Vanessa schooling at home

Lower level dressage, hacking & fun

Fraise du Bois is a horse with a huge heart and kind soul. During the season of 2001 he was on his way to the FEI levels in dressage with his partner Vanessa Krikava. He was capable of brilliant work and was completely focused on his task. During the 2002 season Fraise began exhibiting discomfort in his poll and neck. He was brought to Mid-Atlantic Equine center in NJ where a clinical exam and xrays revealed that an old injury to the poll (probably sustained as a yearling or two year old) had created a calcification which caused irritation to tendons, ligaments and nerves in that area. Also the first and second vertebrae did not fit together as they should. Although the prognosis was almost hopeless, a whole host of treatments were tried (shockwave therapy, meso-therapy and accupuncture). Nothing worked. Fraise is now being offered as an elementary level dressage horse who would love to go out on hacks and be loved and appretiated by a special person. He deserves only the best since he gave everything he had despite his discomfort. It appears that a much more open frame seems to work for him which is why training or first level dressage may be suitable.