The Problems...

Not long after he arrived, I had a series of accidents on him.

Every time he shied at something, he would then go absolutely bezerk, throwing me and galloping off only to panic because I was not with him - I used to find it amusing that he would always come back and get me no matter how large the paddock and how far away he had galloped. I knew he didn't mean to do this and that there was something wrong.

I figured it must have been a pain issue in his back and had a series of chiropractors/massage people and vets inspect him - no one seemed to make any difference.

Finally after a particularly nasty fall, in which everyone was telling me to 'get rid of him', I discovered a wonderful elderly man who called himself a 'Bone Setter'.

He worked on Persil for about an hour and from that day forth I have never had this issue again HOWEVER other trouble was brewing.

Persil was becoming very tight and tense in his movement. He would look after me when I rode him but if anyone else hopped on him he would go bezerk.

I put it down to his past abuse and turned him out for a while hoping his movement would come back and the tenseness would right itself.

Then I moved down (from Hawkes Bay) to North Canterbury and out to Eyrewell.

I was appalled to see Persil absolutely drop all condition despite 2 hard feeds a day and plenty of grass!

I began to doubt my ability to 'keep horses'. I thought he should be OK as I had a mineral block in the paddock and he was being fed enormous quantities of sweet feed!

His condition dropped more, he looked as if he had a heavy worm burden despite having been wormed. A vet who came out to look at him said he just looked like a horse who had been turned out and wasn't too worried - I was panicking.

I had a worm count done which initially came back with almost no worms but fortunately as I was so worried I had it done again a few weeks later to find he was riddled with Strongyles. ARRRGGHH!!!

I wormed him specifically for strongyles but still he did not pick up condition, not only that but his movement was stiff, he couldn't track up, in short - he was a mess. I thought I'd try to find another home for him with someone who might be able to do a better job of caring for him, but Persil almost killed the boy (who was very experienced) (Persil went bezerk and threw him).

I realised I couldn't let him go anywhere and fortunately at about that time I met Jenny!

The Solution...

She took one look at him and said "oh well he is a clearly a 'grass affected horse'".

"I've been feeding him a toxin binder" I said, and, when she said he needed some quality minerals,I thought - oh Gawd here we go - hugely expensive stuff that probably won't do squat.

HOW WRONG I WAS & WHAT A LEARNING CURVE!

As I had nothing to lose and was ready to try anything I did everything Jenny suggested - Persil went onto a diet of Speedi Beet and crushed barley to which I add Premium NZ Horse Minerals, Alleviate C, 2 Tbsp of Salt, GrazeEzy and ToxDefy.

Within 6 weeks I had a different horse. His condition - well you can see for yourself in the following photo.

2013

What is interesting to me now, looking back as I update this story is that, although his condition went from ghastly to fabulous in the first six weeks, he was still very tense across his back and he wasn't tracking up.

You can see in the photo here that he is extremely tense. His dung was the consistancy of cow pats... You may also notice the grass he is on - fresh green and growing!

It was not until I 'got it' about the grass aspect that everything came right for Persil. Once he was off this grass and grazing the far more suitable old crappy grass, with the minerals and plain feed, he has really come in to his own.

He was much more relaxed out hacking - even walking sensibly - unheard of before this. He is as happy as horse can be and I am thrilled to bits.

Persil is around 28 years now and I have retired him so he can be an 'Uncle to Merlot's foal.

If you want to see how Persil is enjoying his retirement, visit The Zephyr Files to see this 'old' horse acting like a 2 year old!
See below photo of a very calm, happy Persil March 2013 with his young charge, Zephyr Moo.

Calm Healthy Persil Beaucoup at 30 years.

2015

January - as you see, Persil, now 31years of age (we had his age verified by a horse dentist/vet) is still able to bounce around with his clown of a nephew...

March 2015

I am constantly amazed by how fit and active this old boy is. He does, unfortnately have arthritis due to his history however he doesn't let that stop him having fun.
He gets turmeric/cracked black pepper/flaxoil added to his twice day feed for this.

Persil (in the middle) enjoying a gallop with Zephyr and Merlot.