HORSE OF THE WEEK

SMARTIE

"Smartie is my daughter's pony, and we've had him since February 2023. He's 8 years old. While he initially seemed fine, by October 2023, I noticed he was a bit low in mood and losing condition. We started investigating, beginning with dentistry in December, followed by blood tests and a worm count. He was wormed on 9th January 2024 and weighed 424kg at that time.

Scoping in January, February, and May revealed gastric ulcers, which were treated with meds (both oral and injectable). Although this helped his symptoms, he still wasn't gaining weight as expected, and he had occasional gassy colic. Further bloods in April showed no major abnormalities, but some intestinal wall thickening was noted, so he was trialled on prednisolone. His demeanour improved, and by mid-2024, he was gaining weight and looking better, but I wanted to be absolutely sure nothing had been missed—so he was referred to Dick Vet Equine Hospital in June 2024.

On arrival, he actually weighed more than before (458kg) and looked in reasonable condition, but he lacked muscle and topline. Extensive investigations found no underlying cause for ongoing weight concerns, and the recommendation was to continue his current management, ensure consistent work, and monitor progress.

Since then, the biggest improvement has come from his feeding plan, particularly the addition of EquiNectar alongside his current diet. I've really noticed a difference—his digestion is far more settled, he holds weight better, and his coat and condition have transformed. His energy levels have improved too, and his muscle development is finally progressing in the right direction.

Touch wood, but I feel like I'm tempting fate saying this—since starting EquiNectar, he hasn't had any more episodes of gassy colic, and for the first time, he's maintained weight through winter without any struggle.

It's been a long road, but seeing the difference in him now has made it all worth it!"

Gemma, Smartie's owner