All that was missing from Juneau's two FEI Prix St. George tests was the background music from the song, "Gonna Fly Now," the theme song from the movie, "Rocky."

Juneau, an 18-year-old 15.2 hand Dutch Warmblood, won both tests and the FEI High Score Championship at Pinehurst last weekend with Dawn Jensen in the irons for owner Marilyn Gilligan of Columbia, S.C.

"It brings tears to my eyes to see him go," says Gilligan.

What makes Juneau's achievement so impressive is that a few years ago Juneau's original owner was told by veterinarians that he would "never return to full work, at best he will be a trail horse " after a year and a half of treating a left front leg lameness.

Before the injury, Juneau was being shown at the FEI Intermediare level and was prepping for his Grand Prix debut after several months training with Olympian Michael Poulin in Florida.

According to local veterinarian, Dr. Fred McCashin, an MRI at N.C. State College of Veterinary medicine showed that Juneau had a lesion in the deep flexor tendon on his front left leg. The injury didn't allow the horse to flip its left toe equally as well as its right toe in the trot.

The recommendation from N.C. State College of Veterinary medicine was to perform surgery to inject stem cells in the lesion. But after a year off to recuperate from surgery, Juneau still wasn't sound.

Gilligan, a professional horse trimmer, heard about Juneau through her sister Cheri Werfel of Candor. Gilligan and Jensen have rehabilitated several horses using their performance barefoot method. Gilligan came to Southern Pines to see Juneau a little over a year ago.

"Juneau was small and non-descript. It was hard to believe he was an advanced level dressage horse. I wasn't going to take him," says Gilligan. "But when I met him, he put his head on my chest so I said 'OK, I'll take him.'"

Juneau was sold to Gilligan for one dollar.

"I can't tell you how he has touched me."

"His former owner did everything the veterinarians told her to do," says Jensen. "It was worth trying a different approach. Our horses are turned out 24-7 in pastures 5-10 acres. Coupled with that, we restore healthy hoof form and function. A lot of issues come from bad hoof form. Restoring healthy hoof form and getting the horses out moving go hand-in-hand. We don't use drugs or surgery."

The Strasser Method

The method of trimming for barefoot horses popular today stems from the Strasser method. The trim is based on research by Dr. Hiltrud Strasser, a German veterinarian, who launched the barefoot movement.

Dr. Strasser's theory is that horses in a natural environment, which includes the proper amount of movement, will maintain a balance between hoof-growth and wear from normal activity or proper trimming to maintain such a balance.

This balanced approach supports circulatory function, shock absorption and therefore healthy skeletal and suspensory systems in the horse.

According to her theory, all of these functions are key elements which constitute a healthy hoof and contribute towards the whole of the healthy individual.

According to information on the Strasser Web site, "horses trimmed and left barefoot are restored to normal function after having been give up as 'hopeless and incurable' by conventional veterinary medicine."

Outside the Box

"We're outside the box," says Gilligan. "You have doctors of veterinary medicine telling owners to opt for surgery and then you have me, Joe Schmo, telling them something totally opposite.

"I'm always sick when someone opts for surgery. Everybody does the best they can for their horse. It all comes down to information. Not that I have all the answers but I have people I can call who do have answers. And not every horse responds to rehabilitation."

Gilligan became interested in barefoot trimming as a result of having a foal that needed three sets of shoes before he was six months old.

"He had deformed feet that were unfixable. He was the love of my life and he set me on a path to learn more about horses' feet," Gilligan said. "I just euthanized him in August due to a neurological problem. He was 12 years old."

Barefoot Versus Shod

"Sometimes the Strasser method is promoted as a cure-all for all problems. I think it has a sound basis depending on what type of work the horse is doing," says Dr. Fred McCashin. "The footing in a dressage arena is a very controlled footing. It (barefoot method) probably works better there than a horse galloping over varied terrain which may include gravel roads. You don't wear slippers to play soccer. "

Like anything involving horses, it's not always easy to link cause and effect. In some cases, it becomes a battle between the barefoot versus the non-barefoot people.

One thing both groups can agree on is not to give up on a horse because it takes a long time for him to come back from an injury.

"The one good thing about the Strasser method is that the horse's feet are well-cared for coupled with time off. Sometimes horses are given time off and their feet are not regularly trimmed," says McCashin. "I'm pleased that Juneau has been able to return to dressage. He is a very affectionate horse who epitomizes the horse that captures your heart."

Gilligan and Jensen hope to show Juneau to Grand Prix level. Jensen hopes to buy a share in him and perhaps someday Juneau will be her daughter's Grand Prix horse.

"Juneau is awesome. He's super sweet, super kind and tries his heart out," says Jensen, who is a professional trainer.

Gilligan's eyes tear up when she talks about Juneau.

"He's a well-loved horse. We'll let the horse tell us how far he wants to go."

Anyone interested in finding out more information about barefoot trimming can contact Dawn Jensen at 803-397-1573.