Solar Water Trough aka BT Solar Suntank

So I have decided to make a blog just about Ben's new solar water trough simply due to the extreme attention it has received. I touched onto this subject in my previous blog, but wanted to elaborate more about it. So Ben's solar trough is called the BT Solar Suntank. It is made from a company called Pine Ranch Products located in Utah. The suntank was named in the top 10 horse products of the year & has an article about them. The suntank comes in 2 sizes currently, a 25 gallon auto or manual fill or a 42 gallon auto fill. The difference between auto & manual fill is the manual fill (what Ben has) is filled by a regular hose. The auto fill can be used as a manual or auto fill so it's nice if you plan to at some point have automatic water system in place. The 25 gallon is guaranteed to not freeze down to 20 below & the 42 gallon is guaranteed all the way down to 50 below zero. So if your in an extremely frigid climate you may want to consider the 42 gallon simply due to the fact that it has a lower threshold for the cold temperatures. I chose the 25 gallon manual fill because I can easily keep up with making sure the water level stays up & it typically doesn't get colder than 20 below here (though we do go below zero occasionally).

The suntank has a float that sits atop the water & the horse has to push it down to get to the water. Now I admit I was panicking over the float thinking Ben would never figure it out & become dehydrated. Silly, silly me clearly..... I did as the instructions had said by leaving the float off for 3 days so he knew it was his water source & then add the float with some treats on it. The idea with the treats is that when they go to eat them they will push down with enough force to realize the water is easily there & accessible. As much as I stressed over all of it Ben accepted & very easily & quickly learned to use it! I should have known... So if your nervous about the float don't be because it helps keep the water warmer & your horse will learn no problem! The only thing the company advises with the float is that on very cold days you have to oil the float in corn oil to prevent it from sticking to the side of the tank. The float also still functions if snow is on it your just advised to clean it off when your there.

The solar panel to the trough is enclosed in shatterproof Plexiglas window that must face the south in order to generate enough heat. Now your probably thinking what about cloudy days? The panel is a passive solar panel so it will still absorb what it can despite the clouds. Now if your horse is rough & tumble then you will want to keep the solar area out of direct contact with your horse. Ben is easy on everything so I wasn't concerned with that. Beyond the float & solar front the tank is enclosed with a lot of insulation which also aids in warming the water & preventing freezing. When it snows you must clear any snow away from the solar panel & you can even put the snow on the ground in front of the trough to help attract even more sunlight to your tank. 

I know some of you might think that these suntanks can only be used in the winter since it warms the water right? Wrong..... The company sends you a summer shield to cover the solar panel & has you change the direction of the trough to north during the hot months. The suntank actually will keep your horses summer water cooler, bug free, & algae free! So these tanks can be used year round which is a major plus since they are an initial expense. Yes the suntanks are up there in price, but when you account for your added price to your electric bill if you use a heater to heat your troughs, or a vet bill, or honestly anything horse related it's not as bad as it seems. Water is an essential part of life so why is that not worth having it fully accessible & not a block of ice? let's face it you can be extremely diligent with keeping your trough not frozen, but there are those days where you just can't keep up & in a matter of mins an ice layer is beginning to form again! Sure your horse may break the ice or "not mind" but i'm sure if given the choice between lukewarm water even cool water or ice cold water they would choose the first option. So keep this in mind when your running the figures in your head. Also another thought to keep in mind is this suntank is something that is going to be heavily used every single day 365 days a year so it's not like your spending a lot on something that will only be used occasionally!

I have personally be using the suntank for only a week. In that week we have had sleet, rain, & temperatures consistently in the 30's even dipping into the 20's every evening & it has held up like a champ with no ice or freezing cold water! The bigger test will be snow & even colder temperatures which according to the weather station is sadly approaching next week. I also compare regular water troughs to his suntank & do notice a big difference between the two. The company was very friendly & easy to work with. They had a few delays with the holidays & weather related issues but I received the suntank in 3 weeks even with those obstacles. It comes with a set o instructions & frequently asked questions which I found to be very helpful. The tanks are preassembled & ready to go. No electric no cords nothing at all. They include the summer shield for the hot months as well. The tanks are not overly heavy either only 43 pounds with no water added (25 gallon one).

So bottom line is if you are looking to save money on your electric bill due to heater costs, not a fan of electric, can't keep up with the ice, or simply don't want to deal with the ice then check out the BT Solar Suntank. Pine Ranch Products the makers of the tank will easily answer any & all questions you may have. This is not a new product & has been around for over 7 yrs. This is the only company I have come across that makes this type of product other than the DIY versions out there. I will give more updates as to how it holds up with time.

A New Year

Hey everyone sorry I have been bad about keeping up more recently with this blog. I have had a lot going on & have changed a few things with Ben & wanted to give them time to show something before writing anything about it. So where to actually begin? December I ran Ben's succeed test again & it was keeping strong at negative all around! I have also made a few changes with winter blowing in the back door to ensure Ben gets through with no problems. I had changed out his Flaxseed oil to stabilized ground flaxseed (Omega Horseshine) instead & have seen some very nice positive changes with that. His coat looks amazing & his weight is as well. The oil was great, but messy & because of it's sticky nature I wasn't quiet sure he was actually receiving the required amount due to that. So after my usual quest for knowledge I settled & am very pleased with the Omega Horseshine! Next on the change parade was adding back his vitamin E. Horses require vitamin E supplementation simply by the fact that hay & grain do not have adequate amounts in them no matter how high the quality of either one. Surprised? Look it up..... unless your horse is grazing on quality grass a minimum of 12 hrs per day then they need to be supplemented. Again surprised? You wouldn't be if you simply researched or asked your vet. Vitamin E is essential for proper nerve & muscle function so If you've been having some issues you can't quiet figure out maybe have your horses vitamin E level checked it's most likely deficient. I use a product called Elevate & give Ben 5,000 IU's daily. I chose a higher dose for him since he is older & could use some improvement in his nervous system in general. I tried a lower dose at 2,000 IU's but didn't see much change but once switched to the higher level I did.

Surging  forward to our next change is hoof health. Winter is not so kind to feet with the hard ground & the constant back & forth of moisture. It's just asking for problems. Ben has been battling a minor case of thrush in his frog for awhile & with him out & always exposed to the elements I needed a little extra help other than the usual topical. So with much consideration & research I chose a hoof supplement. He has been on Smarthoof ultra for 2 months now & I have notice a difference. He is much more comfortable on hard surfaces & his feet are looking improved. They were never bad before just to clarify, but I see a difference & so does his farrier so we will continue with it. Which leads us to joints. I did the Adequan series with Ben a few months ago & was pleased with the results. As winter & it's unforgiving cold blew through I noticed Ben was again having a harder time rising from a good roll. So back to the research board & talking with a company about their thoughts as well we chose a solution. I decided to put him on a broad spectrum joint supplement again. Now these can be hit or miss depending on your horses particular needs. What works for one may simply not work for yours so trial & error is inevitable. I put Ben on Smartflex Senior Herb free. I do notice an improvement since starting it. He has only been on it for a month. After rolling it's easier for him to rise which is our goal. I will continue with this until I feel he needs something higher or different. I tried just the Adequan, but with his age & riding history he needed more I felt. 

Our last two changes which are the biggest & most important I feel like are his water & stomach support. I will start with the Stomach first. His Assure Guard was working just fine his test negative & no real obvious issues apparent. I changed it because I felt in my own gut he needed something more, something higher level. So we all know what that means back to my hours of research on finding just the right solution. I came to a supplement called Ritetrac. After speaking with the company, & those who have personally used it I was looking forward to it's arrival. Since only having Ben on it for not quiet two weeks I can't give a huge review on it other than I do notice he seems happier than before & eats it fine despite the 1/4 cup of powder twice a day. So I will leave it at that & revisit later on. Next & last is the water & old man winter...... We all have this issue of cold weather & frozen water. So we tried an electric heater because that seemed to be an easier solution. Well it appeared to work fine & I didn't feel any issues with it, but Ben did. We had it set up for only 24 hrs & Ben felt a stray current in the water & wouldn't drink from it. I did not feel it, but horses being highly sensitive in nature sense a lot we don't. So I quickly unplugged that & had to show him it was ok to drink from his trough again. So if your using electric heaters make sure your horses are drinking & there is no stray current. They need to be grounded properly & even with all that they can have issues & if the power goes out all will freeze over regardless. So where did that leave us in our battle of the ice venture? Solar power. Again much research & reviews I chose a small company based in Utah that makes Solar powered water tanks. Perfect solution! Was it expensive? YES! But honestly I've paid much higher vet bills than what that trough cost & water is essential for life & something they use every single day multiple times a day! How can you put a price on something that will be heavily used daily, needed for survival, & no more ice hassle? Anything with horses isn't cheap & when you try to say that it's way too much money think about how much that saddle cost or those boots or your shows or lessons..... or even your most recent vet bill. The solar trough aka BT Solar Suntank is an insulated 25 gallon bucket with a solar panel on the front that must face the south sun in order to generate enough heat to break the ice forming. It has an insulated float that is on top to insulate the surface water. The horses must push the float down & the water comes out. They learn it very easily & quickly. I had much paranoia about this but in the end had no reason to. It comes in 2 sizes of 25 or 42 gallon tanks in either manual fill or auto fill. From my order date to arrival date it took 3 weeks. That was partially due to the holidays when it was ordered so that delayed it's arrival a bit. I have been very happy with it so far since it being up for a week. The water is a comfortable temperature & we have had temperatures in the 20's & it held up like a champ! I also have been comparing it to other troughs to take note on how well it's working. I will again be giving a better review once we have had colder weather.

That is the changes I have made in the past 2 months which is a lot I guess, but after his most recent massage & farrier visit it's all proving it's success. We survived our first snow outside well I guess me more than him! He was fine I had to keep telling myself he was. He spent half of it outside & half in his shed at his own preference. He enjoys the snow & rolling around in it. I'm hoping we continue with improvements with our new regimen & hoping for a healthier year. It has been a year next month since He was diagnosed with Grade 2 & 3 gastric ulcers with bleeding & colonic ulcers with bleeding. I always swallow hard at the thought of it all.

                           The BT Solar Suntank 25 Gallon Manual Fill

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.