Rupert - an eight-year-old warmblood gelding

Among the particularly stressful situations for the animal homeopath is the alarming statement: “If you don't get my horse right in three weeks, we'll have it shot.”

By contrast, it is not often that parents bring their little Samuel to the clinic and say: “We'll give you 2 weeks to make him well – if not, we'll smash his skull in!”

The situation with Rupert was similar. He had developed a large malignant sarcoid at the edge of the eye, only a fraction of a millimetre from the cornea. Because of its location it was inoperable, and it was clearly unbearable to leave him to suffer like that.

The sarcoid grew incredibly quickly as the three-week deadline approached.

The most striking observation at the first meeting with Rupert was that he absolutely did not want to be looked at. This applied to anyone who even stood near his left side – he would back away, rear up and look utterly terrified.
 
He had changed from a friendly, easily handled horse who was comfortable in his herd and had a close relationship with his owner into a deeply depressed animal that isolated himself both from the other horses and from people and was reluctant to be caught.

After a conversation of about 15 minutes with his owner I hadn't even been able to look at the problem I was supposed to treat. Then she was called away. She had to leave and left me alone with Rupert.
 
I tried NOT TO LOOK AT HIM, gazed out over the fields and desperately searched for a way to help this horse when I felt a warm breath on the back of my neck – for the next five minutes Rupert stood very close to me and pressed his muzzle against my shoulder. When I finally turned round, he allowed me a glimpse of his eyes. In that moment I fell hopelessly in love with this horse – in a dramatic and sentimental way I had never before experienced with any of my equine patients. The trust he gave me was something very special.
In working with Rupert, LOOKING had an important place: