My Blanketing Experience

Just as the title states I'm going to go over some blanketing tips that I have learned. Weather loves to make dramatic shifts sometimes from 65 degrees one day into the 30s the next! A great idea to do is first assess your horses age, living arrangements, & current weight. Age is a factor. It is proven time & again that senior horses or those that are ill have a harder time maintaining proper core temperature than their younger healthier counter parts. You typically have to blanket a senior horse more often. There is always that exception with every horse because they don't all need or require the same things. Some horses have very fluffy coats, while others may lack it. Living arrangements play a big role in how you blanket. Is your horse indoors in a barn at night or are they outside 24/7? If they are only out during the day you only need to worry about the conditions for daylight, because the barn is always roughly 10-15 degrees warmer. Your not going to blanket as much or at all if they are kept indoors in the evening. If your horse lives the great outdoor lifestyle you need to decide if it's easier to just leave them naked to grow a nice wooly coat. If they need some help to maintain core temperature that more than ample hay & shelter can help blankets can provide that for you. Weight also plays a major role in blanketing. A horse at a great weight will probably be just fine & need no or minimal blanketing, whereas a horse that is thinner will require a little help so that their calories are better spent adding weight rather than being burned off from trying to maintain core temperature.

After you assess those 3 things you can now start planning! If you choose to leave your horse naked with just their fluff to keep them comfortable there is nothing wrong with that &  you don't have to constantly worry about the temperature swings, because they can figure it out by themselves. If you choose naked, make sure they have constant access to hay so they can maintain their core body temperatures. Having access to shelter is a must as well. Many horses do great with no blankets & are sometimes better off for it! If you are like many & must blanket even clip your horse for some reason or another you have to be well prepared. Having a wide range of blankets of many different weights is very important. Depending on your climate where you live a good range is a waterproof sheet, medium weight, & heavy weight. That is the minimum most people have. Having more than those standard is better if your able. For some horses that need minimal blanketing a water proof sheet may be sufficient to block out wind & rain/snow & they may be fine with just that! If your like many you will need more than just that. Below goes over weights & importance !

Sheets-No Fill:  sheet should be waterproof & breathable. Sheets are very good for cool fall or spring days or even mild winter days. They block out excessive wind & keep your horse dry if it's raining/snowing. They provide some warmth but not much at all so take that into consideration when using one.  

Lite/Medium-80-150 gram fill: This is one of my favorite weighted blankets. It has a lot of versatility especially if your horse lives outdoors or simply does not need a lot of blanketing. They can have neck attachments which provide added benefits. It should be waterproof & breathable as well. It's perfect for those days where you need more than a sheet but a full medium would be too much.

Medium-200-300 gram fill: Another of my favorites is the medium weight. It works great for most of the time during the winter unless it's warm or extremely cold. It provides just the right level of comfort for those that require it without being too hot. Again waterproof & breathable are a must.

Heavy-350-450 gram fill: This is for those that need a lot of warmth. It is typically used in very cold conditions or when your horse is clipped naked to the skin. I use this weight when it reaches mid to low 20's due to the fact that Ben is outdoors & still in need of a tiny bit of weight & being a senior. It is a great blanket for those that require it.

There are a lot more types of blankets, but I just listed turnout blankets not stable. If your horse is stabled during the night its a good idea to have stable blankets they provide the warmth without the added weight of a turnout. Turnout blankets should always be waterproof & breathable. Having more than one of each desired weight you think you need is another important factor. Why? You need to clean that blanket sometime or another & if you only have one & need that one your out of luck. If there is a  lot of rain/mud/snow you will want to change to a fresh blanket to ensure they are comfortable either that day or the following. Waterproofing does not last forever & having a good quality blanket will get you a lot further than one that isn't. If your horse is blanket friendly & no pasture mates chew them off then you can get away with a lower denier of blanket. The higher the denier of a blanket the stronger it is. If you have a rough & tumble kind of horse look for the highest denier & quality so your not constantly buying new blankets. You may be spending more to start but you will save a lot more in the long run. Most blanket companies will have different lines that are for different horse types so be sure to check & follow those guidelines.

My favorite blanket brands based off only my experience for Ben in particular are Rambo, Weatherbeeta, Rhino, Turtle neck, Amigo, & Smartpak. The highest quality is easily the Rambo blankets. I have a few heavy weights & sheet in the Rambos. They are pricey but truly last forever for pretty much every horse. Next is weatherbeeta. Weatherbeeta is easier on your wallet but also have many different options for your horse & their ease on blankets. I have many Weatherbeeta blankets of all sorts of weights from sheet to medium & in between & have yet to be disappointed with them at all. Rhino blankets are good, but Ben has actually had small tears in his blankets & he is very gentle on them. Otherwise they are nice overall. Turtle Neck blankets have a very unique neck line that stretches with your horse & they have a nice line of blankets that fit close to your horses body which I like. Amigo is another good brand not too pricey, have good fit, & hold up well through time. Smartpak blankets are give or take with which one you go with. I have 2 blankets from them & love one but could leave the other simply due to how it fit my particular horse. I like them well enough otherwise. These are just my experiences with the above brands & each horse is different so be sure to research & measure your horse to ensure the best fit & wear.

Neck or no neck? I have everything from no necks to wugs (extended neck) to full neck piece & use all of them. On quiet non windy days where it doesn't get too chilly I will choose a no neck blanket. On days where its peaking into the chilly range with some mild wind or even a touch of rain I go with the wug. If its just cold & if there is any wind or rain or snow I easily choose a neck piece. Some people never use neck pieces, but I feel they have a big importance in the comfort of your horse. Necks are very susceptible to arthritis just as any other part of your horse. Keeping that added shield over it provides warmth which helps ease the muscles & keep them from becoming stiff. Ben's massage therapist is always making sure I keep Ben's neck protected on cold, windy, rainy or snowy days to ensure he doesn't become stiff & uncomfortable.

There Is always the exception to all the above I have already written so always keep your horse in mind when reading. Again this is based off my personal opinion & experience in blanketing through the years. I am not an expert nor do I claim to be.

4 Months Later

Another Succeed test run to check for any possible ulcer activity & it's very clearly negative! Not a hint of any lines nothing! Ben has been off all ulcer medications for about 4 months now. This in and of itself is a very big accomplishment due to the severity of the ulcers he had coating his GI tract. I could not be more pleased with how he has been doing lately with everything. With him being out 24/7 & daylight much shorter I was a little concerned with how I was going to manage with everything in the dark & how he would handle it as well. With the help of lanterns & flashlights & Ben's quick learning nature we have it all figured out. His routine is the same with the addition of artificial light! It has been a learning curve having him out all the time but nothing makes me happier than seeing him happy & that is where he is happiest. The benefits I have seen with him out all the time are unmeasurable. He has better muscle tone than he had while being ridden & shown....go figure? He kept telling me he wanted out & I finally listened.

He has fully completed his Adequan loading period & his joints are doing great! He is sound & gets up much better after rolling than he did previously. He does not take an oral joint supplement just receives the Adequan. Less is best when it comes to what you put in, but what you put in is very important. I have made one change with his diet. Due to a brief backorder issue with his Fiberforce feed I had to buy a bag of the Cavalor Strucomix Senior & add that in. I am so glad I was forced to do that because it has made a major change in Ben's weight. As soon as he began it the pounds & muscle began pouring onto him! I have taken photos every week to compare & it is truly a huge difference. I spoke to many people about the Strucomix Senior as to whether it would be safe for him to eat considering his sensitive GI tract & it is. The entire Cavalor line of feed is really amazing & how they make it is even more interesting. It looks different than any other feed because it is different & for the better. It is not irritating his GI tract at all & I know that by how much hes improved & testing him 3-4 weeks after he had been eating it. I can't say enough good things about the feed.

I feel that Ben improved even more with his GI tract when he started the Chia seeds & Flaxseed oil because it provides a nice coating & has anti-inflammatory properties to it! They also help with weight, joints, skin, coat, & hooves so an overall great product! I feel that he is at currently on the perfect management finally. It wasn't easy to figure it all out with his ulcer history, but I was determined to make it all work somehow. Below is his current routine & I do not plan on making a single change unless an issue arises!

Cavalor Fiberforce 2 Quarts given 3x's a day

Cavalor Strucomix Senior 1 Quart given 3x's a day

Chia Seeds 2 ozs given 2x's a day

Healthy Weight (cold compressed flaxseed oil) 1/3 cup given 2x's a day

Assure Guard 1/2 scoop given 2x's a day

Assure Plus 2 scoops 1x a day for 1 week every month for sand removal

Western Alfalfa hay ranges anywhere from 5-14 pounds a day (1-2 flakes)

Grass Hay free choice in nibblenets

24/7 turnout

Retired & enjoying life

I post all the details in case someone else is looking to make some changes for their horse whether they think they have a problem or just want to make things healthier! I feel much more comfortable going into the winter months with how everything is now!

The reflective season

Time passes by & things appear to be well. Ben seems content with everything with even a spike in energy level with the cool airs arrival. I have decided to add Adequan to his current regimen starting with the correct loading dose of 1 injection every 4 days for 7 doses. Prior to adding the Adequan he had some creakiness & would sometimes need more than 1 try to get up after a roll. After the 3 injection I noticed a change. He started getting up on the first try which had been an issues for many years now for him. I also have not heard any creaking which is really great! Another bonus with giving an injectable joint support is no need to worry if they ate it all or like the flavor! You know they are getting the exact amount they require every time. A major perk or Ben was that it was one less thing his GI tract now had to worry about absorbing or digesting! I did have Ben on Adequan years ago but I did not load it like the manufacturer had recommended which was a mistake because I do not feel it made the same impact as it does now. The Adequan has fully replaced his previous oral joint supplement & actually ends up being more cost effective after the loading dose.

This time of year brings back a lot of memories. As the brisk weather approaches the skies begin to darken faster day by day until night becomes tangled with day & leaves begin to reflect the changing of seasons. This is when it all started. This is when Ben had started on his downward spiral. All o it starting with subtle changes or signs that could easily be overlooked with someone who didn't pay attention to detail. I was never that person though. I was always very attentive to every subtle shift. Despite having the vet out countless times & following every recommendation to the T we hit rock bottom. The turning point was when had been so painful from the ulcers he soaked himself in sweat & cut up his face. I will never forget how he looked that morning. I didn't even recognize him. He was hurt, he was in pain, he was broken inside. I could no longer stand by trialing & erring this & that. I needed answers I needed to make this stop & I needed him healthy & whole again. He had been caught in a vicious cycle that had grabbed hold of him so tight it took everything I had to peel it off of him. A fight for his life. Going to the hospital saved him. Without his vet & the vets at the hospital I am afraid to think where we would be today. After having the most thorough exam inside & out literally.... a light started to shine. Though dim it was there. It was slowly beginning to cast away the shadow that had so tightly taken ahold & surrounded us for months on end. Hitting it with everything the vet had, with what I had, & with the surrounding support of all those involved we made that light shine & shine bright it did. 6 months of intense treatment & changing everything we laid that battle to rest.

I still to this day find myself thinking of it all. Especially now that the season is approaching & upon us. It's a constant chill that runs up your neck. Sometimes you can shake it other times your lost in it. That though is the exact reason I started this blog. To raise awareness to maybe save you & your horse hitting rock bottom. Stopping it before you have to fight tooth & nail just to climb back up again. Take this as a learning experience & take a step back & look at your horse & their lifestyle. Are they showing any signs? Anything change recently? Know your horse that will be your best defense. Do not be under the impression that one supplement will prevent you ever having an ulcer issue. If there was such a supplement every horse would be on it & ulcers would no longer be an issue. What works for one does not always work for another. It is always better to catch a problem early on than when your spiraling towards the pits bottom.

The sad truth of it is, is that ulcers tend to have a high reoccurrence rate. Why is that? Many reasons for their reoccurrence may include not finding the primary cause, not treating with the correct medications for the correct time frame, only relying on medications & not making any management changes from lifestyle to diet, & the biggest not slowly weaning off of medications. You cannot just throw medications at your horse & do nothing else. You'll be in for a rude wake up call shortly after you stopped those medications. Take an in depth look at every aspect that goes into your horses life & make changes according. No one horse is the same & what works for one will not guarantee to work on the other.

The take home message is know your horse, know what is normal & what isn't. Ulcers have an extremely high rate in horses of all ages from your foal to your senior & everywhere in between. All disciplines from your pasture puff, leisure hack, high level performance horse or anywhere in between. Your horse acting up? Find the reasons because 9 times of 10 it's pain related. Start listening to your horse instead of passing quick judgments on them. You will be surprised at what you may find. If you do you may find you have your dream partner right in front of you after all once you start listening.

Missing Puzzle Piece

I just recently ran another Succeed Fecal Blood Test on Ben to check for any possible ulcer activity that may be creeping up on us with the cooler temps & constant weather fluctuations. Results are he is holding nice & steady! The internal specialist has given the thumbs up & go ahead to continue doing what we've been doing! Just running that test I give myself ulcers & can hardly bare to watch it run. Once it does & the results are good a huge weight is lifted off my chest! An even better one is when the specialist is happy with his progress! Ben has been off all medications for about 3 months now. Doesn't sound all that long but considering the extent of his ulcers & the chance of recurrence this is a big deal! I find myself still having flashbacks of it all & it is not a place I want Ben or myself to go back to. The countless hours of research I have done making things close to perfect was a long journey of trial & error, but seeing him now healthy & happy makes it all worth it. Sometimes it hard to see even a hint of a glimmer of light when things seem so dark around us, but always remember it is the light that cast the shadows to the darkness.

As I have mentioned previously I had been searching on something that would put weight on Ben for the upcoming winter months ahead. Lets be honest searching for a weight gain supplement is quiet overwhelming.....what's even more overwhelming is finding a weight gain supplement that is safe for horses with ulcers. I know most of you are probably thinking why not add more grain. If you asked that you haven't been paying attention to my blog at all..... Grain is never the answer. Forage first always because that is the staple to any horses diet. When forage isn't cutting it like for Ben you need to look into safe alternatives that do not involve grain overload. Do your research & don't choose the first thing you see. Look at reviews, talk to the company about any concerns, & have a price point in mind. After doing all those things I came up with Platinum Performance Heathy Weight! It has been a miracle worker! What does it consist of that makes it so amazing? It is cold compressed flaxseed oil. The oil is loaded with calories, omega 3 , & natural vitamin E. I can't even make up the results they speak loud & clear for themselves. Since the day after he started the oil his appetite spiked from barely eating 1-2 flakes grass hay a day if I was lucky to eating 4-7 per day!!! That doesn't include his alfalfa but he has always eaten that great! I questioned the company asking if it had an effect of increasing appetite & what I was told is that no it doesn't but it does however reduce inflammation in the GI tract making them feel better because of all the omega 3 in it. I am a believer because I see such a change for the better. I highly recommend the product if you are looking to add weight safely &  effectively without adding any more feedstuffs to your routine!

So what is Ben's current routine for maintaining the previously ulcer horse?

3 Quarts Cavalor Fiber Force given 3 times a day

Free choice grass hay in nibblenets

1-2 flakes western alfalfa hay (each flake weighing around 5-7 lbs)

1/2 scoop Assure Guard twice a day

Assure Plus once a week monthly for sand removal

2 oz Chia seeds given twice a day

1/3 cup Healthy Weight twice a day

Adequan for joint support

Massage every 4 weeks

Toe trim every 4 weeks

Chiropractor every 4 months

24/7 turnout

Retired from all riding & enjoying life finally as he deserves

This information is all based off experience, research, & Vet advice. I am not an expert just sharing what could possibly help others.

Looking Past The Pretty Picture

Around this time last year it began. The little signs. His first "colic" episode ever since I've owned him, not eating as much hay but still eating it, becoming picky with a supplement he had once had no problem eating, & some rides he seemed a little more on edge but nothing I would think too much about. Things were slowly very slowly beginning to spiral out of control without me being aware. The colic was thought to be due to the weather especially since it was a gas colic that resolved easily. The hay was thought to maybe needing his teeth done which were due the month following. The slight increase in anxiety when being ridden was thought to be cooler weather or having an off day as the rides were not always that way, but at the time more good than bad. The supplement was thought to maybe needing a change in flavor because once the flavor changed he seemed to eat it once more. Funny how easily you pass things off on a day to day basis. I would have never in a million years thought those signs were to become a long battle to fight for his health. It's been 7 months since he was first diagnosed with Grade 2 & 3 gastric ulcers with bleeding along with bleeding colonic ulcers. I was never unaware of the ulcer potential & thought I was doing everything I needed to take care of any possible problem. Funny how everything turned out though. Ben was the perfect picture of health when he started showing the "little signs". His weight was beyond perfect & muscle tone was perfection. His coat was shinning like a brand new penny & other than those above issues he appeared fine. Horse with ulcers can appear all sorts of ways. Some looking sick or others looking picture of health. You never know what's truly lurking beyond the surface though you try to do what you feel are the right things.

Ulcers can form in as little as 5 days. Yes you read correctly 5 days! There is always a reason a horse gets ulcers. Figuring out the main cause as to why the horse got ulcers in the first place is what's going to prevent a relapse in the future. Take a step back evaluate your horses entire management including riding & check for any sources of pain that could be causing an issue. After that make changes. With just throwing medications at your horse & not changing anything your setting everyone involved up for a relapse. Give your horse some time off once you've had an official diagnosis of ulcers. Ulcers hurt & just because you mask the signs/symptoms with medications & they start improving does not mean the ulcer injury is fully healed yet because it takes time sometimes months! Ben was treated for 6 months with 3 different medications & changing everything with his management. I am still trying to get that last 50 pounds back on him so he is comfortable with the upcoming winter. Get a gastroscopy done by your vet. Yes its expensive & not always convenient but you need to know the grade of ulcers to start the proper treatment plan. I did the gastrogard for 1 week to see if there was improvement. Did he improve yes but he had another "colic" after a week. Why? Because Gastrogard though a great product is not able to treat the entire stomach so that leaves some of it plus possible colonic issues open & ready to burn literally. Ben was placed on 2 additional medications which one was for covering the areas in the stomach the Gastrogard didn't reach & the other for the colonic ulcers. After you have your appropriate treatment plan in place weaning off medications is a process & takes a long time so they don't relapse & get the gastric acid rebound effect that can & does happen. Evaluate everything your currently doing with your horse. Feed should be low sugar, low starch , & high fiber while being split into small frequent feedings. Alfalfa is your friend as long as your horse tolerates it because the calcium & increased chewing helps decrease stomach acid. Hay, hay, & more hay is very important for your horse to always have available to them adlib ideally in slow feeder nets to help mimic grazing. Turnout the more your able to do the better to keep everything moving. Riding wise take a look at what your asking of your horse then ask yourself if they are coping with the job they are being asked to do if not step it down & take things slow after the ulcers are healed might I add. Support your horses digestive system with a digestive supplement that covers the stomach & hindgut. Don't forget the hindgut! Setting your horse up for success is key. If you plan to show & trailer there is preventative doses of Ulcergard to help keep things cooled down but read the instructions they recommend with starting it before you actually show/trailer & continuing a few days after.

Take home message is listen to your horse they know what they're talking about. Look at the little things but don't obsess over everything. If you have that little twinge in your stomach that's maybe thinking there might be a problem then act now don't wait until it's an even bigger problem. It's cheaper & easier on your horse to act sooner rather than later! Wishing all your horses good health!

THESE PHOTOS ARE WHAT BEN LOOKED LIKE WHEN HE BEGAN HAVING SIGNS DONT LET AN APPREANCE ON THE OUTSIDE FOOL YOU ON WHAT COULD BE GOING ON IN THE INSDE.

Marching Through

Appointments, appointments, appointments, that has what our past 2 weeks has consisted of. We started off with his usual toe trimming which went very well. His toes are in good shape. You can see the ring growing down from when he was very sick back in the winter. The new hoof growing down is tight & strong. As the saying always goes the health of the horse shows up in the feet & that is proof! Next up was his yearly teeth floating. I tried a new dentist this time that had been highly recommended to me from many people. Ben doesn't take to new people very well, but this dentist he checked him over then clicked with him just like that! I was amazed expecting a stressful dental visit, but instead it was very stress free & easy on both Ben & I! He gave me all the info about his teeth & the condition they are in. Ben's teeth are in good shape for his age. He has a few minor issues but they aren't to cause him any problems. After his teeth floating he has been getting more food into his mouth than on the walls which is a big plus! Next was his massage in the lineup. He had a very good report & ate his alfalfa the entire time which helps him stay awake! Last up was the unexpected visit with the Chiropractor. The day after his massage I had went to brush Ben as I always do but instead of just eating & standing there nicely he ran when I went to touch his neck. Not thinking much at first other than him maybe playing games I go to brush again same reaction. I put the brush down & slowly work my hand up from shoulder to the specific spot on his neck that he again pulled away from. Clearly something was wrong. So I put him through the "Carrot" stretch motions to see how he was able to move is neck & when he first bent it I heard two loud pops. He could bend both ways minor popping sounds & he could put his head between his front legs fine. Ok I think nothing too serious but serious enough to make a few phone calls. So after speaking with his massage therapist who had just saw him the day prior when he was perfectly fine might I add we came up with a plan for him! Equioxx for pain relief, liniment for muscle soothing, & urgent message for his Chiropractor to come out. The next morning he now longer ran away from me so that alone was major improvements. Bring us a day later & we come to a very early morning Chiro visit. His Chiropractor came out before his breakfast which led to a "hangry" Ben. Once Ben realized he was getting put back in place he was very accommodating as he usually is & loved his acupuncture! Chiro reported he did indeed knock his what's called an atlas out of place (most likely from his narcolepsy episodes) & a few other areas. All fixed up & feeling like a new man he had his breakfast & for being so behaved an extra alfalfa flake.

I know what some of you may be thinking....that's a lot of things to be doing for a horse that's fully retired right? Think about it he is a calm retired horse who lives out now & things still come up that need adjustments or massages so how good does your working horse feel? When is the last time you had their back done or treated them to a massage? I guarantee they need some type of adjustment because things happen whether you see it or not. You don't ride perfectly every time nor do they behave perfectly every time. Something will come out of whack. You will probably be very surprised how much better they feel & go after some TLC on their working bodies! I'm not saying go crazy but do have it done routinely & often as needed for that particular horse because as we know they are all different & should be treated as such.

Ben has been doing good with things lately after all the above so hopefully he keeps improving. I have added something new to his program, but do not want to share just yet. (Some who know me well already know) I want to give my full review after him being on it for more than just 2 days. I am pleased so far but it is still early. The chia seeds are working out lovely & doing just as I had hoped so far & its been going into 3 weeks with them now! I use them for GI support, Omega 3's, & sand clearance mainly (while still using sand removal supplement). Will give more updates on them as well as he is on them longer.
Thanks for those that support Ben.

Managing The Previously Ulcer horse

Just as the title states I'm going to give an in depth look for all who have been following this blog on how I have been managing Ben post ulcers. Before I get into the major details I would like to make an introduction to the newest feed I have just this past week introduced....the chia seed. Yes I know what your thinking cha cha cha chia....& a whole lot of crazy hair growth on weird sculptures. Did I guess it right? Thought so. Chia seeds aren't just for the crazy hair & sculptures but are considered a "superfood" by some! Why? Well where to begin? Chia seeds provide the highest plant source of omega 3's. It is exceptionally balanced with it's counter part omega 6 being less but still there as it should be. Chia seeds turn to a gel when they come into contact with any water whether that be before or after it's eaten! This is extremely beneficial as it helps clear out sand, debris, & provides a soothing coating type effect on the GI tract. The seeds do not need to be modified in any way to get the full benefits & pose no risk whether you eat them dry or wet! Because of the high omega 3's the chia provides & vitamins & minerals it provides your horse with healthier skin, coat, immune system, hoof growth that's stronger, joint & muscle support along with being safe for any types of horses! At higher dose it can help put weight on & even manage weight depending on your needs. I know I sound like an ad but this seed is truly amazing in what it can do! I personally purchased my bulk supply with Equine Chia & highly recommend them as a company. They answered all my questions & concerns in a timely manner & upgraded my order to have more poundage for the same price! I also received my order within 3 days! If you don't believe me check out www.equinechia.com yourself!

Now this is Ben's ulcer prevention regimen approved by his specialist vet who agreed this should prevent any further problems:

* 1.5 scoops (3 quarts) Cavalor Fiber Force given 3 times a day

* 1-2 flakes Western Alfalfa Hay daily

* Free Choice orchard/timothy hay mix in nibblenets

* 1 packet of Steadfast (joint supplement)

* 1/2 scoop of Assure Guard twice a day (stomach & colonic support)

* 2 OZ of chia seeds twice a day

* 2 scoops Assure Plus once a week of every month (sand clearance)

*24/7 turnout & being fully retired

Ben has been off all medications for almost 2 months now & doing well. Since adding the Chia seeds I have noticed shiner coat & better appetite with regular hay. He has only been on them for a week so I expect more results to follow & will continue to keep everyone up to date!

Easy To Forget

While Ben was at the hospital for his ultrasound & gastroscopy the specialist had also found during his exam cataracts in both of Ben's eyes. Anyone who works with or around Ben can pick up on the fact that he has some vision impairment. His right eye is the worse of the two. In any kind of low/dim lighting he has a higher chance of hitting his head or running into something especially on the right side. Though he manages that in daylight also sometimes. The specialist had mentioned the only thing you can do for cataracts is surgery but it was not recommended for Ben in particular so that left nothing for me to do medically. He did say he needed to be in the same field as much as possible so he knew his surroundings & the obvious of keeping the field clear of any holes or debris he might trip over. I asked him if he had maybe recently lost more vision could that have been a contributing factor to his diagnosis of ulcers & his reply was that it is a possibility. Now just because I'm writing this don't go thinking he's blind by any means! He can see through both eyes just one better than the other & because of this you do need to be more aware when working around him especially the right side. If you just passed by him while he was in the field you would never know there was a problem.

I knew from when I first got Ben that he didn't like being moved from his field in the dark. There was a time when I had first gotten him & he was outside pretty much all the time (which he loves!) & I had to bring him in to the barn at night to apply cream to one of his cuts he gave himself. As I haltered & lead roped & started to lead him through the gate he pulled back feeling uncomfortable with the situation. He did allow me to guide him but he was wary about it. I was also told that he didn't jump at night or wouldn't might be a better word. Smart guy really knowing he couldn't asses the jump properly & didn't want to risk himself or his rider. The shadows from the arena lights & the dark. You could ride him at night outside with arena lights on the flat no problem but jumping wasn't going to go. I never thought much of those things honestly because I was new to horse ownership & everything that went with it. Plus I never had an issue directly other than those two minor incidents one of which I was just told so never attempted it. He's had vision issues for many years but I do see it has gotten worse but nothing crazy. He has done just fine through all our jumping & showing & riding no problem.

Last night I was reminded of this issue hence this post. Ben got his toes done last night & since we are moving to fall by the time he was done & ready to go back outside it was dark. I knew it might be an issue but his field was nice & close so I figured the lights from the barn would be sufficient. Nope. I went to bring him to his field & as I went through the gate something was pulling back. It was Ben walking backwards. I stop & console him for a moment & he begins to walk with me again & then proceeded to run through really quick through the gate like something might bite his legs if he went any slower. He stopped once he was through & I closed the gate then took off his halter. He then got spooked by something landing directly on my foot (fun times). He started to adjust a little better once he realized it was his usual field with all his belongings. I had 2 mints for him so when I went to give them to him he was very wary & wouldn't get too close but did after a minute or so take the mints. Now Ben never hesiatates to take any sort of treat but since it was dark & with his vision not 100% it was an issue for a moment. Now some might say then why is he out a night I he can't see as well. The answer is simple. He wants to be outside & the key for him to not be spooky outside is to have him out before the sun sets so his eyes can gradually adjust to the change in light. With that he is perfectly fine. If you attempt to move him around in the night you will not be successful. Going from bright barn lights to night sky is an adjustment even for us so consider if you have vision issues ontop of that. Remember he is by no means blind & changes in lighting are a thing for him. 

If your horse has cataracts or you suspect vision issues it's a good idea to consult your vet first. After that just be aware when working around them & take the needed precautions. Never put a fly mask on in the evening because that will further impare vision. Know that light changes can be a little more scary for them so take that in consideration. Cataracts are a normal againg process of the eye (Ben's case) but doesn't mean you can't still do everything you were before. You can but with more consideration. Hey there are blind horses or horses with one eye that do great! I do recommend a fly mask during fly seasons with UVA protection for any horse really to help protect the eyes. I personally love the Equine Sun Visor. It is away from the eyes & has all the needed protection you want. They even make a special one for horses that need higher levels of eye proctection.

For the future I will not be scheduling any appointments that require him to move around at night if I can avoid it. He has his set routine & is very happy with it. He has also been off all medications for over two weeks & appears to be doing well! His recheck test is in another two weeks so fingers crossed always.

Should've, Could've, Would've

We all find ourselves saying should've, would've, could've at some point in our lives or another. We all should have done something differently & could have done something differently & now after we have gone through a chapter in our lives we would have possibly done something different looking back. That's life though isn't it? We learn from these experiences  though falling sometimes harder than we'd like. You try to do what you think is right at that time based off what you have in front of you even though you have some doubt. That's where people say listen to your gut right? Looking back that "gut" feeling people are always talking about played out to be right even though I didn't always choose it, but instead choosing the more logical response. Sometimes the right thing doesn't make sense. It doesn't have to but it seems to have a way of working itself out. Follow what you feel on the inside & you will never make a wrong decision because your heart will have been in it. 

I myself look back on some decisions I have made for Ben in the past & again those three words whirl around in my head jabbing at me from time to time. I had a perfect place to turn Ben out on 24/7 turnout. It had large field with ample grass & beautiful large run in shed for him & beautiful facilities. I was 99% going to move him there but again logic kicked in & I last minute decided against it. He had never been out 24/7 year round, was older, & winter was approaching in a few months. There was also one issue I had with the place in question as well which mattered too much for me to let it go so to say. So instead of deciding what inside I knew was best for him I went with going with my own securities & keeping things the same. I don't regret going to the places we have been for we have met some amazing people I will never forget in the process, but I do often wonder had I just went ahead & done this years ago would any of this have happened? I will never know that answer but I now have him in that situation finally. It's what he has always wanted all along & deep inside I knew it. I was just too scared to actually take that leap until Ben had given me no choice in the matter. He teaches me a lot. He just wants to be a horse & for the first time I am following all of his wishes & allowing him to just be him.

These past 6 months have taught me a lot about myself, even more about Ben, & how you really need to let horses be horses. What's going through your head, your gut, your heart that might need a change? Don't cast it aside. Bring it forward & trust what you feel whole heartedly. You may be pleasantly surprised at what can come. I am glad for the lessons I have been taught & knowledge I have gained & the people I have come across through it all. If you could go back & possibly change a decision would you? I don't know the answer to that for me personally. I will still have those three little words that cast a shadow of doubt in the back of my mind. Should've, could've, would've.

Emotions Run High

This has been a very emotional week for me let alone this entire journey. Ben has officially been off all medications starting this past Monday. His last day of medications was on Sunday. While I am very happy I'm also extremely nervous. He has relied on these medications to make it through for the past 6 months. That isn't something to take lightly. Some people might say hey he's cured no need to worry anymore right? Wrong! I never officially found the original cause for the ulcers in the first place. I have my speculations in thinking he has always had some degree of ulcers, but I don't know why it spiraled so out of control. We hit rock bottom at that point. We had everything to loose including each other at his worst. I am so very grateful for the vet that didn't give in on us & urged me to take him to the hospital & not just pushing things aside just because he was older. She knew how much he meant to me & that I would do everything I possibly could to try to fix him. I am hoping with all the changes I put in place he won't have a reoccurrence of ulcers. I changed his diet completely after recommendations & rave reviews from close friend, changed his entire way of living to him having 24/7 turnout which he has surprisingly taken to extremely well & thriving with it, & changing every single supplement he was taking from his joint support to his gastric support. His attitude towards life has a brand new outlook again & his eyes smile every time I look into them. As said before in previous post I retired him completely to any & all riding activities so he can enjoy a well earned sound retirement full of being pampered & doing as he pleases. Can he be ridden? Sure he is fully sound & able but why should he? He has been fighting an internal battle for 6 long months & that's just treatment time this started way before that. Horses especially stoic ones such as Ben will hide things as much as they can until it consumes them to the point of great despair. Not only that but he has given humans roughly 25 full yrs of service (assuming he started at age 2 ) from racing on the track to strutting his stuff in the Hunter ring (& a few other rings) to dominating the trails & what obstacles may lay ahead. Sounds to me like a horse who should enjoy his golden years to how he wants to spend them.

Too many times people focus on young horses & how great they will be. Which is fine really but you always hear people wanting to trade in for a younger better model. How quickly they forget that those older especially senior horses people so often push aside or overlook have the most to share. They have experienced more than some people will in a lifetime. Not enough credit is given to them. That young horse you love so much now will become a senior some day & everything you do now will affect how comfortable he or she is in the future so keep that in mind. You love & care deeply for that younger horse but will you cherish them as they enter their senior years. Probably not because they aren't up to your standards any longer. That horse that's now a senior deserves respect & the same care & attention as its younger counterparts. Whether that be with you or a very good home otherwise. Just because they are older & some retired just think they once were the ribbon winners in that ring or the shinning star of the stable. The one everyone wanted to ride or show or own. Don't you ever look at them any less. They deserve respect. They could teach you life lessons you never thought possible. Older souls have the most to share & teach but only those with an open heart & mind are able to experience this incredible gift they can bestow upon you. When you look at them just think of all the things they have experienced & done not what they can no longer physically do.

Ben has been doing well "knocking furiously on wood" so far. He has only been off medciations for a total of 5 days. I want to keep things very routine for him & not change anything in hopes of warding off any possibilities of the ulcers returning. I find myself questioning why & what if on decisions I have made even to this day. I suppose we all end up doing that in such events that plague us. I am going to be adding a new supplement to his regmen as soon as its available. It's an Oat oil that is supposed to be very good for overall health, joints, & digestion! It has gotten rave reviews & great for keeping condition & putting weight & muscle on which is the last key to the puzzle for us (muscle part). I'm still looking to put back his hind end muscles better & get his weight up just enough to keep him good for winter months ahead. His weight is perfect currently though which was a battle in itself. Again his supplements include Assure Guard for gastric & colonic support, Steadfast for joint support (which has been amazing!) , & Assure Plus once a month for 7 days or sand removal (every vet recommended it). Hay is 1-2 flakes of western alfalfa & free choice grass hay in nibblenets. Feed is Cavalor Fiber Force given 3 times a day (3 quarts per serving). This has been his routine for months now. Here's to keep looking up.

 

A Happy Ben

Appointment day has arrived for Ben. He pretty much does what he pleases all the time but every 4 weeks I must interrupt with back to back appointments. He had his farrier visit & massage. His farrier visit was up first this morning. Ben was very behaved with only minor game playing. His toes are neat & tidy & improving with concavity every visit! His farrier & I both agree that his behavior has gotten so much better since his ucers have been treated. He did misbehave prior to treatment & even the beginning of treatments. Anyone who has been around Ben while he was going through everything have all noticed a major change in him for the better. He is so calm & relaxed with a happy look in his eye that I haven't seen before. It's bizarre to think how much ulcers effected every aspect of him from the inside out. Hoping to keep them a thing of the past!

His massage went really well also. He had a few areas which are his usual spots that need some minor work. His knees once again felt really good which I attribute to his 24/7 turnout & newer joint supplement Steadfast. Keeping him awake for his massage & energy work is always a struggle. With his narcolepsy plus feeling super relaxed & zoned he literally falls asleep & even came to his knees at one point during one of his previous massage sessions. He is proof that energy work when you have a skilled person doing it that has the gift truly does work! Horses are athletes & pull/strain/over work their muscles. I am a full believer that all horses regardless of discipline or retired can highly benefit from a massage. The proof is in the pudding with it.

So overall Both Ben's appointments went very well. He adores being outside 24/7 regardless of the weather & it has made such a big change in him. Seeing him so happy just makes my heart sing. He may be spoiled but he has earned every bit of it. Someone once told me that Ben has such a big personalitiy & that I allow him to show every aspect of it & that not every owner allows them to show who they are. Sometimes we get so busy wanting them to do what we want that we forget they are a living, breathing, intelligent animal with a soul. They have emotions & opinions maybe not to our level but enough where we can respect & listen to them. I'm not saying let them push you around but realize what your asking & who they are as a species. Work with them not against them. Ben always makes his opinions very clear & I do my best to listen.

Look Beyond The Surface

It's easy to ignore what you don't see with your eyes sometimes. What you cant see wont hurt right? Wrong. Sometimes we need to look beyond the surface because that's where most probems lie.

I'm not trying to say that every probem with every horse is a result of ulcers, nor am I saying how you manage your horse is wrong. To each his own. I am simply sharing what I have learned & my personnel experience with a GI injury I feel needs more awareness brought to it. If it's driving you crazy to constantly hear or read about it then don't. Simple as that. To those that truly are interested & want to know our story I thank you for the support.

During my search in regards to ulcers I came across a page someone had written & they described everything so perfectly so I wanted to share that with you. I did not write the next two paragraphs nor will I try to take any credit for it. I found it on a website lunatunesfreestyles.com/ulcers. Another person who shared their experience with ulcers & wanted to raise awareness.  

"Does your horse spook, bolt, rear, buck, or kick while riding?  Is your horse “girthy”?  Is your horse nervous or does it worry?  Do you ride a mare, stallion, or sensitive gelding?  Do you believe your horse is not happy? Does your horse always seem to be crooked to the right? Does it not want to pick up the right canter lead or do flying changes in that direction?  Does your horse have a hard time holding weight? Is it a picky eater? Does it have a dull coat? Has your horse just experienced a recent trauma in their life?  Have they been recently imported, moved to a new barn, or their buddy has left? Has your horse's behavior gotten worse as your training proceeds where as it should be getting better? Does your horse colic or stress when the weather changes, either hot, cold, or both? "

"If you answered “yes” to even one of these questions, your horse could have ulcers. Even if you answered “no”, your horse still could have stomach and/or hind gut ulcers. The only sure thing about ulcer symptoms is that all horses react differently to stomach ulcers. "

Take the above into some serious consideration before it becomes an even bigger probem. I learned the hard way & I never want Ben to have to go through this again. Treating takes time & full manangment changes not the 28 day course of Gastrogard & your cured. Sure your improved but as I have said before you need to slowly & carefully decrease medications as time & response is noted. Ben is on his 6 month of treatment. Sounds crazy long for those that aren't aware just how serious it can be. For those that have experienced it first hand fully understand.

 This is a photo of Ben's gastroscopy. The left side is the before photos of his initial diagnosis. The photos on the right side are one month later of 3 different medications being thrown at him. Major improvments but as seen on the bottom 2 photos not full resolution. It takes time & change to heal.

Recheck Number 6

Well we finally reached this point. Ben had his 30 day recheck for the Succeed Fecal Blood Test & the results are fully negative. I have been crying off & on like a baby at the joy of finally reaching this point. This is going into month 6 since he was first officially diagnosed in February. I am so beyond proud of Ben for getting here after everything he has been through. I feel so thankful to everyone who has helped us throughout this whirlwind of a journey. I had to change everything for Ben to get to this point. I changed his feed, his living arrangements, his activity schedule, & every supplement he had previously been on. He was so sick for so long. Colicing every week sometimes twice in the same week, stall walking himself until lathered in sweat, not eating all his feed, an attitude that wasn't him, not drinking enough, & those are just what I saw slowly creep in overtime until it was out of control. I was to my breaking point in trying to help fix him in any way that I could but it never lasted he went straight back to being sick. When I was told that this is just going to be something I would have to manage myself his colic well anyone that knows me knows that it was the turning point. I would not I could not accept that if I could do something about it. The phone call to my regular vet where she recommended he go to the hospital to be thoroughly checked saved his life. Those days where he was bad still haunt me. Its like a dark place locked in the back of my mind. Until that day we went to the hospital a small light started to flicker. A flicker of hope that maybe just maybe we can get through this. I have people tell me that if I hadn't done what I did when I did they didn't know how much longer he could have gone through. It shatters my heart & breaks my soul to even grasp that. It's the truth though as much as it pains me. I will never ever give up without giving it my entire self. So I didn't & here we are.

I had someone say wow that's a long time to treat ulcers, but in reality ulcers can be that bad & he was that sick. Most horses go around with ulcers & they show you signs but you may not think that ulcers are the cause. It's not an easy or fun injury to deal with. Its expensive, time consuming, you have to change everything from what you are doing because its not working. You either put your heart into it or you will never fully heal them. Don't let it get to the point that it did for us. I was blindsided & felt like I was smacked in the face with a bat. I had a feeling he had ulcers but no one agreed with me for awhile & I began treating him but it was too severe at that point. He needed a major intervention.

For this months medications he will be continuing his Sucralfate for another 30 days & is now able to stop the Misoprostol. I know your probably wondering if he's better then why are you still medicating? That is an easy answer. You cannot I repeat cannot just stop medications cold turkey with ulcers you have to slowly wean them off everything. Reoccurrence rate is very high for horses who have ulcers if you stop medications too soon, do not find the secondary cause as to why they happened in the first place, & do not make some serious management reevaluations. I still remember another comment I got when Ben was first diagnosed. It was oh well that's easy enough to treat.... people are very ill informed about how badly ulcers can effect horses & just how complicated treating them really is. I am speaking from experience & for everyone who has a horse with ulcers & going through this roller coaster of a ride. One of my main reasons in starting this blog is to raise more awareness about ulcers. They are there whether you see them or not. I bet if you called up a hospital & asked just how many they diagnose in a week you would turn pale. Stop turning a blind eye & start listening to what your horses are telling you. They speak in words we should learn to understand.

Again thank you to everyone for your help. We are not finished this journey we are simply closing a chapter to start a new one. I can only hope he continues improving & inspiring me & anyone who he touches.