The Problems Began...

The problem began for the previous owner when his new grazing in the Waikato, changed.

Agitated and ‘out of sorts’ he was apt to do a little reary/ bucky routine when he was mounted. He was generally very nervous. His devoted owner spared nothing in her efforts to help the horse.

Many remedies and therapies were tried including massage and chiropractic, and there were numerous saddle fitting sessions. No saddle seemed to fit as Red would show signs of discomfort and a sore back.

When Emma picked him up he came with an extensive list of problems, including that he had been diagnosed as being ‘out’ behind the poll, and the withers, had sacroiliac issues and had to be on glucosamine full time for his ‘stiffness’.

A fractured pelvis had been suggested on several occasions.

Along with the saddle-fitting issues Red had been basically unridable for the previous 12 months and his owner wanted to find him a new home.

 

 

 

The Cause...

The Waikato grazing was a hill paddock with short, green predominantly rye-grass.
Totally unsuitable for horses.

See
“The Case Against Rye-Grass and Clover Pastures for Horses”

The Solution...

When Emma arrived home she put him in an area that had no grass at all, having sprayed it out previously for other problem horses. This is by far the quickest way to bring these ‘grass affected’ horses back to normal.

Red was initially very difficult to lead anywhere because he was constantly worried about what was behind him.

I have struck this before and know of several horses whilst having one of these ‘tail-clamping’ panic attacks in the paddock, that have run through post and rail fences.

It took three weeks on his new diet for this to disappear.

Red was fed the same diet as Emma’s other horses – Alleviate, Premium NZ Horse Minerals, and extra salt mixed in a plain feed along with 24/7 hay.

Emma did nothing with Red for a month
No working thru issues, no treatments, no glucosamine. Just the right diet. After a month he was saddled and tested out in the round pen. He was still tail swishing and threatening to rear a little so he was given more time.

Two weeks later he was ridden again at Jenny’s lessons at Isola.

He was absolutely perfect.

He had not learned to be ‘naughty’. The herd-bound, nappy, anxious, reary, bucky, physically disabled Red has disappeared and the real Red, a fabulous riding horse, had taken his place.