Dr. Doug Butler working on a foundered horse at Israel Clinic in 2010

I was invited by Guy Karsh, a former student, to go to Israel to do a clinic for farriers and equine veterinarians. My wife and I traveled there and gave a two and a half day program the last part of November. There were 30 farriers, 27 vets and 33 horse owners in attendance at the programs. There are about 30 to 50,000 horses in Israel with 50 to 60 farriers and 50 to 60 vets that work on horses. There are 7.2 million Israelis. They are 0.1% of the world’s population.

The ranch where the event was held was a beautiful oasis garden just outside of Tel Aviv. It was owned by a gentleman named Arik Raizner, who was very kind to us. The venue was perfect.

The clinic emphasis was on Founder and Limb Length Disparity. Guy constantly reminded us, “We are making history,” for this was the first time such a thing was ever attempted in Israel. It was very well received. The mornings were occupied with lecture and discussion. A delicious lunch was served, and in the afternoon we did hands-on shoeing.

The first afternoon, with the farriers and veterinarians, we did demonstrations on foundered horses. We were fortunate to work with veterinarian Amos Frishling, using his digital radiographs. Both horses were improved after we worked on them, and there was good discussion and interaction.

The second day, with the farriers, we talked about balance. Several brought horses with problems that we were able to solve, working together. The farriers had modern rigs and were knowledgeable. I was impressed with the horse owner’s level of horse knowledge and concern for their animals. One horse that we did had previously fractured a navicular bone. I made and fit some bar shoes and was able to see a very positive change in the horse.

The third day, we talked about balance and answered horse owner’s questions. Many farriers came again, too.

I was very impressed by the Israelis. They are a happy and committed people. They are happy to be in their homeland. And they love their families. They are modest. They eat healthy. They believe in being prepared. Military service is compulsory – 3 years for men and 2 years for women.

The first day after our arrival, we toured Jerusalem with Guy and Dr. Rachael Shuster, a former student of mine at CSU and now a horse vet in New Jersey. Her mother lives in the old city, and she was raised there. Guy had connections with the Jerusalem Mounted Police since he shoes their horses. We started our tour at their stable which is inside the old walls right below David’s Tower. The stable is very old. They employ a young trainer whose full-time job is to train and keep the horses fit.

Most of the police horses are large warm bloods, especially Friesians and Hanovarians. The police ride Western saddles made in the U.S. and carry a lot of riot-suppressing equipment in their saddle bags. The horses and riders are protected from rocks by various pieces of armor and helmets. They are shod with rubber shoes and some have steel plates to protect their feet from caltrops that may be thrown down by terrorists during a riot.

Jerusalem is a divided city – meaning that there are different quarters that are dominated by different religious groups. We first visited Golgotha, or the place of the skull, where Christ was crucified. It is outside the old city walls and not far from the Garden Tomb, where many church authorities agree that His body lay until He was resurrected. Others believe that Christ was crucified in a place that is now within the city and He was placed in a tomb on the site of the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

We passed through Stephen’s Gate (where Stephen was taken outside the city and stoned by Saul – Acts 7) and began our walk on the Via Delorosa (Path of Sorrows). This is the traditional path that Jesus walked as he was imprisoned, condemned, scourged and where he carried the cross to Calgary. There are 14 points on the Via Delorosa. It starts where Jesus is condemned by Caiaphas and ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. At each of the points there is a church as a monument to the event said to have occurred there.

We then crossed the valley and went into the Garden of Gethsemane, which is at the base of the Mount of Olives. Some of the trees are more than 2000 years old and would have been there when Christ prayed, as he worked out the Atonement for you and me.

The next day we went north to Galilee. We passed through the Valley of Jezreel where the Battle of Armageddon is to take place. It is a rich agricultural valley, the most fertile in Israel.  Our guide was a man from a kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. He was in charge of banana plant propagation on a large plantation.

A kibbutz is a community of people who share resources. No one owns land and all that is produced and sold goes into a community fund. Each family receives a stipend and they usually all eat together at least one meal a day. Rules vary for each kind of businesses the people of the kibbutz own. Persons coming into the kibbutz must wait a year and show they have good character. Later we visited the famous artist blacksmith Uri Hofi, who also lives in a kibbutz.

At the Sea of Galilee, we went to the area where it is believed that Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and the fishes. Nearby the Sermon on the Mount was given. Where the sermon occurred was probably about a mile outside the city on a hillside. Last, we went to Capernaum, on the northern end of the Sea of Galilee. There is a church built over the top of the remains of the home of the apostle Peter. His home was next to the Sea and is very close to the remains of the synagogue where Christ preached (Mark 1:21).

After the clinics we traveled south to the Dead Sea. Guy had lived near the Dead Sea when he was younger and had shod horses for Itzik, the man who ran a horse riding concession at the Kalia Kibbutz that owns the site of the Dead Sea Scrolls at Qumran. Itzik was very knowledgeable about the Essene people who were apparently like monks who wrote and copied biblical manuscripts on to scrolls. The prevailing theory is that many of the scrolls found here were apparently taken from the temple library in Jerusalem to hide them from the Romans before they destroyed the Temple in 70 A.D. Copies of all of the books of the Old Testament have been found here, except the Book of Esther. Itzik wonders if the Arc of the Covenant isn’t still hidden nearby!

Last of all, we went to Masada. This was the stronghold of the Jewish Zealots who held out against the Romans until 73 A.D. We went up on a cable car to the top rather than walk “the snake path.” The ramp made by the Romans to breech the fortress was clearly visible. There were many storerooms and cisterns to hold supplies of food and water. Herod’s palace was built here in 37 B.C. and is hung on the side of the mountain where he felt safe for a time. Soon after his death in 4 B.C., the Romans took it over. Before the Romans could breech the walls and force the Jewish people into slavery, the Zealots killed their families and themselves. Israelis soldiers are sworn in here with the words, “Masada shall not fall again!” The horses that were used in the Hollywood movie “Masada” were shod by Guy’s father.

Near Guy’s house and property is the ancient city of Geza, inhabited at the time of King Solomon 3000 years ago. There is also a beautiful forest and park nearby where his family can ride their horses.

Even though we thoroughly enjoyed the weather, and were treated royally by our hosts Guy and his wonderful wife Liat, we were very glad to get back to the United States. We now have a new appreciation for Biblical events. We, more than ever, recognize the importance of family ties. God bless all of us to remember the true spirit of Christmas brought to us by Jesus Christ, the Son of God.