I think back to all the subtle clues he was giving us, and now I know them, I really hope that I can listen and react as he needs, to stop him having to shout before anyone notices!
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Now that you know what is causing his issues I’m very confident that you will be able to keep him more comfortable! From what I’ve read, it’s very important to monitor their diet, keep them moving, so lots of turnout, and keep them warm as some are affected by the cold. I’m a member of a PSSM group on Facebook. I’ll try to find the link for you. Good luck with Mellow!
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Thank you
Pretty sure that it can be dormant for a long time with the horse remaining asymptomatic. So exposure percentages are way higher than disease percentages. Vets have said there’s no point in testing asymptomatic horses for prophylactic treatment bc they’re pretty much all going to test positive. Goes undormant with stress.
The vet that talked to us two years ago said there were two forms, older (the one where the horse is a dead end host) and a newer form with a then unknown life cycle.
It’s not often a note from my trainer can make me cry, but this did, for all the right reasons!
First time under saddle since November! She’s riding him again today, can’t wait to see if it continues! Next week, my turn, letting him carry a lighter load for a few rides, before I get on.
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That’s great!
Yay!!
Your update makes me so happy. You and Mellow sound like a good pair so I’m excited to see your progress!
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Yay for Mellow!
Hope things are still going well!
Well not bad! I actually rode him
Not quite the soft horse the trainer rode, but was blowing a gale, and the jumpers were in the indoor. Now the weather is warm and the snow has gone, the jumpers will be outside, and us flatters can use the indoor in peace🤣
Going out with friend next couple of days, so hopefully will get some nice rides in.
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I agree mostly…except, with the draft breeds. PSSM1 is extremely common in drafts. I’ve seen an estimate of up to two thirds of drafts have the genes, though they may not be symptomatic. The genetic bottleneck is so tight now in several of the breeds (Shire, Suffolk Punch are the two that I know) that if we eliminated all possible PSSM1 carriers, we would eliminate the breed. And, since those breeds have some really unique traits that go far beyond the usual subtle differences between most ‘light’ riding/stock horses, that would be a genetic tragedy of another kind. Sometimes, it isn’t straightforward.
Although, there is some suggestion that PSSM1 is less likely in the British breeds (Shire, Clyde, Suffolk) and more likely in the Continental breeds (Perch, Belgian, etc) and that opens a whole other question on breeds and the problem of PSSM
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We had Herd Health day a couple of weeks back, and seeing as she was drawing blood for Coggins, thought I’d run a mineral panel.
He has been on a Magnesium Supplement for around a month now, and Vitamin E, looks like the Magnesium was needed.
Not sure about Manganese and Colbalt, they seem to be odd to be low in. Waiting on phone consult with vet, and have reached out to Mad Barn to see what they suggest. I don’t want to be the person feeding all sorts, so need to get this balanced simply…
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Well upped his Manesium, and he didn’t like the taste, started adding cider vinegar, he loves that, so Mellow is living on salt and vinegar food🤣
The manganese does not seem to be an issue, possibility is that the water has a higher sulphur content, and that makes the manganese less available. It not a concern, just a monitor. Colbalt is super easy, just add a blue salt block.
Hoping that now at last our grass is growing we can get him out to pasture and his balances will be better.
I had my first lesson with him since last November, yesterday, and it was great. Lunging first, getting me to send him on with my body, rather than using a lunge whip, then rode. It was great, just some walking and a few trot transitions, but so happy to be back on board. For now we are just concentrating on getting him sharp off the leg, or whip, but not asking for much more than a few steps of trot.
I am surprised to find, it’s enough, as a good friend posted yesterday, “considering you were fearing owning a blind cripple, you should be bloody happy” and I am, my ambitions have changed, he doesn’t have to be more than he is, I will enjoy him whatever.
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THE best post ever.
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Woohooo… awesome to hear he’s doing well. He is a cutie pie.
Sigh, I swear this horse is going to be the end of me!
Various up and downs, but the latest adventure, looked kind of tight on one rein on the lunge, so decided though he was tacked up and ready, I would just ground work him instead. So, go me, we got into a wreck on the ground, still not sure how it happened. Because I was watching another rider, rather than tending to my horse…but he ended up half under a fence with his saddle caught up on the wire 
he was panicking, and all I could do was keep hold of the end of the lead rope, eventually the breast collar broke, and the saddle came off over his butt, he set off, I had to let go.
So began the game of trying to catch said horse, who is now moving like a big moving Arab, head up tail up, extending a nice floating trot, strutting his stuff to everyone in the pens.
Fortunately he only had a couple of minor scrapes, as did the saddle, could have been so much worse. Spent the next day in sporadic tears, convincing myself I’m to old, fat and untalented to even own a horse. Day after that, back to being fine, talk with trainer and vet, getting my head right, “stop babying him, treat him like a horse”
So new world order has been imposed, where if I am near him, he just has to behave, all the time…I can’t believe I had got lax on basic stupid stuff! Now of course he is ready to go, I’m kind of laid up with Trochanteric Burstitis, so not riding, but our ground work is doing well!
Sorry you have problems.
He looks contrite there, but I think he maybe faking it, look at the glint in his eye, he is ready for more action. 
Glad it was not a worse wreck and everyone is ok.
Things happen so fast, hope that will be all excitement for now and can go back to your regular program.
Keep taking lessons, have your trainer put some time on him maybe while you can’t.
Good luck forward, all of us need a bit of that.
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I imagine we’ve all done something boneheaded, or let our concentration drift away at an inopportune moment. I would’ve gotten mad at myself, too, in that situation, and cry-ey.
But. Horses are such great teachers about forgiveness, among other things. So forgive yourself and know you’re that much wiser now. Those scratches on the saddle are merely the mementos to prove it.
I like Bluey’s assessment of his expression up there. Contrite, watchful, and a little mischief in there too.
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