Case Study

1. FIVE ELEMENT Case Study: Jazzminstril by Dr. Madalyn Ward
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As I delve more deeply into Five Element Personality typing, I
find myself fascinated by the factors that contribute to a
horse's behavior and apparent personality. This month's case
study, Jazzminstril, is a perfect example. I had to evaluate all
aspects of his case and decide which components were truly parts
of his personality and which were due to physical discomfort. See
if you can type him before reading the assessment at the end!

Name: Jazzminstril TF Sebek
Sex: Gelding
Age: 5 yrs
Breed: Arabian
Height: 14.3 hands
Color: Bay with four white socks ,star, stripe, and skunk tail

<> Physical Characteristics <>
Jazzminstril is a classy Arabian with type and correctness. He
can be lazy about picking up his front feet and has fallen with
his owner two times, but he is athletic when he wants to be. He
was a stallion until he was three and sired a beautiful 3/4
Arab-Pinto filly. He is considered to have Rabicano markings, and
his Arabian breeding is straight Egyptian.

<> Personality <>
This horse is immature and playful but can be temperamental when
pushed in training or in certain situations. He is very
affectionate. He will go up to new obstacles. He is low on the
pecking order in a herd of ten. He is very clean and doesn't get
his socks dirty. He doesn't mind being alone.

<> Training <>
Jazzminstril was given to his owner as a six-month-old colt who
had been handled a lot and taken for walks. He was shown a little
at halter and trained to ride at four years of age (bareback
first) by his new owner. He was a very quick learner and super
easy to train. He was shown once in 2005 in an Amateur Western
Pleasure Class and won. At his next show he had a temper tantrums
during practice, backed up and fell down, injuring his owner's
ribs and hip-needless to say he did not get to show!

<> Occupation <>
Western pleasure (show) and trail.

<> Health Challenges <>
Jazzminstril has thin skin, so flies bother him to the point that
he can forget someone is on his back! He also doesn't like his
right ear to be touched. Otherwise he is in good health, has a
nice bloom to his coat, and is an easy-keeper.

<> Diet <>
Jazzminstril's diet consists of Triple Crown 12% Sweet feed,
home-grown hay, and daytime pasture.

<> Biggest Challenge <>
Jazzminstril's biggest problems are the temper tantrums he has
when he doesn't want to work and his laziness with his front
feet, which cause him to trip.

<> Owner's Comments <>
Jazzminstril is a fun horse to ride, though not a favorite for
bareback. He was a joy to train. He always gets a lot of super
compliments when people see him under saddle.

<><> ANALYSIS <><>
Jazzminstril was a bit difficult to type. He has many Fire horse
characteristics. For instance, it sounds like he is a very
striking horse, which fits with Fire, as does his affectionate
and willing nature. He is thin-skinned like most Fire horses, and
this is the reason he is so affected by the biting flies.

On the other hand, Fire horses are rarely lazy, so I wonder if he
may have a lameness issue affecting his front feet. The tripping
makes me suspect a mild lameness issue. It is interesting and of
note that he does not like his right ear touched because both the
Triple Heater (TH) and Small Intestine (SI) acupuncture meridians
pass around the ear. It would be worth exploring meridian
blockages in that area and also that might relate to the
tripping.

It seems like Jazzminstril is a very fun horse to work with, and
I suspect his temper tantrums result from either lack of
understanding or an inability to do what is being asked. Another
possibility to explain his behavior would be sharp teeth. Fire
horses are so sensitive that any slight pain can irritate them to
the point of distraction. Saddle fit should also be considered.

I would recommend plain oats instead of sweet feed as well as
probiotics and blue-green algae to help him focus better.