A step forward & a step backwards

When your horse is diagnosed with ulcers of any kind people may look at you like what did you do wrong, because clearly its a management issue right? Wrong. Ulcers are just created by high grain, not enough forage, over stressed by performance , & socially awkward horses right? Wrong again. Anything your horse might consider stress whether you do or not can cause an ulcer in a minimum of 5 days research proven. Surprised? I'm not. Do you ulcergard your horse every time it steps on a trailer to go anywhere? No? There's your risk right there whether your horse trailers good or not. I want to make people more aware of how easily this can happen, because it took me by surprise that's for sure. Even if your horse is turned out 24/7 with a herd on no grain & has all the hay it wants, a change in herd dynamics is enough stress for a horse to cause ulcers. Surprise, surprise. Sure your horses chances are a lot lower than your average show horse but the risk will always be there regardless & your horse might be that percentage that is more predisposed than others. 

Ben had been showing very good improvements within the first week of being on his medication. He was no longer stall walking like he was prior & eating like a champ. His hay intake increased nicely as well. His whole demeanor was becoming softer, his eye was happy again. I had to get used to what it was like having a somewhat normal routine again at least for that day & in that moment.

After a week & a half on meds we had a set back. I had him in the indoor ring walking around in the evening like usual & he spots the new small pony for the first time. His eyes get wide & he's glued to the window unable to move the anxiety beginning to consume his body. I knew I had to get him away before it escalated further. I pull him away but he was so transfixed he kept pulling to get back over & was getting more elevated. At last the pony disappears from view to my relief . I let him go over to show him there is no longer anything there & it took him at least 20 mins to calm himself fully afterwards. All over a small pony. I could have kicked myself. Here I am trying to keep him as stress free as possible & of course it just happen to be walking by & naturally he reacts because that's how he's wired. I knew this was going to be a problem. Not 30 mins later he had his first pile of loose manure. It could be a coincidence & have nothing to do with the pony & the pony is just a small piece in the puzzle, but none the less it happened. I put him in his stall he was ok at first then to my dismay he begins to walk his famous circle that I have come to know & dislike. I fall to pieces inside. My stress level begins rising. I knew I couldn't just stand & watch him walk with my stress plus his we would be feeding off each other. I changed him to a Back On Track cooler for the evening & when I left he was looking out at me as I quickly walked away. I knew the barn staff would be checking on everything shortly & giving him his meds along with his night feed & would alert me If there was a problem. Another breakdown in the books for me. We where doing so well & then this! Why couldn't he just keep doing well? Why did he have to keep having some type of problem? I could ask myself these questions all night.

I talked to both vets & neither where overly concerned at this point. He is just to start the Assure Plus a little earlier to see if it helps resolve the loose manure which he has had for 2 days now. Last night he was as calm as a cucumber not one lap was had while I was there! I was very pleased about that but he still had the loose manure going. I want him to be perfect. I want to fully fix everything. Over the years I have grown to accept a few things but I don't give in very easily if I do.