Calm Healthy HorsesIndy
Indy belonged to my sister Tracey.
We bought her originally as a youngster because we had had several of her siblings and they all had wonderful temperaments
Everything went well until the paddocks at Tracey’s place reverted to solid clover, after which she became spooky, difficult to catch, shying away when approached, very girthy no matter how many times she was saddled she would do a big leap on the spot as soon as she moved. ...
The Problems...
She was extremely hormonal and ‘squealy’, she even injured another horse by striking him on the face and we soon learned that out-riggers didn’t provide sufficient distance between her and other horses in the next door paddock.
Multiple times she would squeal and strike, her front leg catching in the outrigger whereupon she would fly backwards and pull the whole thing off!
Her tail would go like a helicopter when ridden 
leading us to think she might have ovarian cysts or something similar.
We took her to the equine hospital and had her ovaries scanned but the scan showed nothing.
When you did ride her she never felt safe; she would be inclined to zoom off and would have a distinct veer one way or the other. 
Chiropractors and physios could not get to the bottom of her multiple issues
She did not like strangers and you had to have the right approach to catch her or put a cover on.
This did go in her favour the night all our covers got stolen off the other 6 horses in with her - hers was the only one not taken!
Generally she was not an easy horse to have around which was such a shame as she was very beautiful and had been a lovely ride originally.
The Solution....
Through trial and error, we discovered she was extremely sensitive to any changes in the grass, as when there was even a little flush or when changing paddocks.
She has been living with our horses on the track on a 90% hay diet for the last few years - getting all the Minerals and has been a completely different horse
She became so calm, she went to a Buck Brannaman Clinic and was terrific.
Indy and her daughter Tawny, have words.
Indy Now...
It is a crying shame we found the ‘fix’ so late in her life!
We hardly even noticed her come into season at all for the last few summers and whilst she is still not perfect to ride, there is no tail swishing and she can soften and bend.
She has also put on weight compared to before.
Indy is now retired as she is well over 20, she has never looked so good.
UPDATE 2016
Beautiful Indy is enjoying life in the herd just 'being a horse'. Her condition speaks for itself.
Indy and Ben enjoy grooming each other.
Coming in to winter, Indy is as fit and healthy as ever.
