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Racehorse retraining- Tommy Dear Malcolm,I thought I would write and let you know how I am getting on with using Cool, Calm &
Collected. In December 2004 I bought a 3 yr old racehorse from a racing yard. He was not quick enough and needed a new home. I had always wanted to retrain a racehorse and so took a
look at him. I liked the look of him, he moved well and he was cheap! I know from what the trainer and his staff told me (and didn't tell me!) that Tommy would not be an easy horse
and that he would require some TLC and time. I know that they had gelded him as a 2 year old because "he got too much" and that he was still apt to nip and put his ears back if you were sharp with him. What I hadnt
expected was a horse that was so screwed up in the head that you could not touch him on the neck without him launching at you with his teeth, followed up with a whip round and a couple of hind feet!I am an
experienced rider and have owned horses for many years but this was a frightening, unpleasant and troubling. I could not sell him as the only place for him would have been a dogs meat can. He was my responsiblity now. I decided to battle on. This meant dreading dealing with him, as every contact was a fight with me dodging his teeth and feet for simple things like giving him a brush, picking his feet, doing his rugs or
walking into his box. It was a battle of wills who would give up first. I wasn't going to give up as I knew that unless he was sorted out he had no future at all. He didn't want to give up as I think he had been
successful in keeping people away and he liked to make me angry, just for the amusement value. He is very sensitive and intelligent as would be expected of a flat race thoroughbred. It soon became apparant
that somewhere in his past he had been badly treated and, I suspect, tied up in a stable and beaten. Therefore as we began to unravel his personality, we realised that he had a combination of fear and aggression. I
believe that aggression was borne out of fear and he was trying to protect himself. However, given his cheeky nature and lack of respect for humans, I suggest that he was probably difficult to handle (hence the
gelding) and someone had lost their temper with him and a fight had taken place - goodness knows what happened but I could understand why. He would really push you to the edge. By Feb 2005 he turned 4 and I
had one turning point. When I told him off for his bad behaviour (nipping, biting, kicking and being a general swine when doing his rugs), instead of rolling up his sleeves for a fight, putting his ears flat back and
attacking me, he actually went away from me and backed off. At lastI was getting somewhere! This went on with slow but gradual improvement until Dec 2006. He came into work properly
in August 2005, which he loves and I have taken a lot of trouble to earn his trust and get mutual respect. I have tried other calming powders and anti rig herbs to see if they take the edge off him. I think they worked
a little but the root cause was too deep and difficult to be helped by these remedies. In Dec 2006, it was as though a light went on in his head and he started to cooperate more and
to be less difficult to brush and rug - he still bites on occasions. He was growing up and becoming more confident and less fearful. I am very sceptical when it comes to miracle cures and when your advert
came with an equestrian magazine I read some of the testimonials with disbelief. Frankly, the way Tommy behaves there was no way that I would have done things that some of the other people claim to have done, on the
first or second day of feeding your product. There was no way one could risk it! I read your scientific blurb (I am scientifically trained) and this seemed to make sense. I didn't think it would be much
benefit to Tommy, as he has a really good diet and I found it hard to find something that he might be lacking that would be provided by Cool, Calm & Collected. In the end I
decided to give it a go in May 2007. I grudgingly phoned you up and explained that I would like to try it but would not easily be impressed! I started feeding it to him around May
9th. I said to my husband after about 4 days that I thought this new stuff might be having an effect. I did not see any dramatic improvements and the benefits we subtle. In fact, what I found, was more like what your
scientific literature said with respect to how the product works. He did not suddenly become quiet or easy to do or stop biting. But he did seem to have a split second time delay between action and reaction. In the past
he would instantly bite if something worried him. Now, that split second time delay, was enough for him to remember that he shouldn't bite and then he was able to think before acting - I hope I am making sense here.This was also experienced when he was ridden. He was able to think before acting and take direction from me, rather than simply losing it and flipping as he did in the past. Although to be fair to him - he
has never truly been a problem to ride - only to handle. We are now into the start of August 2007 and I am coming to the end of my 4kg sack. I reduced the feeding rate from 3 scoops a day for the first sack
to 2 scoops per day for the second. I have also changed to having the days off separately. They were originally together, and whilst he was obviously not worse, I though having two separate days would be better. My
husband said yesterday that he thought "this stuff I was feeding him was doing some good" as Tommy had been really well behaved when my husband was about in the field. Historically you could not go into his box or into
his field without him coming over and trying to bite you - rather like colts playing together. At the end of May I stated boxing him to a nearby school for dressage lessons. He gets terribly worried in the
box and kicks and bangs for about 5 minutes. He then settles down but comes out absolutely dripping in sweat. So bad that there is sweat running out of the box. This is a legacy of his racing days and will take time.
However, I gave him a scoop of C, C & C about an hour before travelling and though he came out sweating he did not kick as much. We went out a few times and he started to settle a lot better - although still sweaty!
Unfortunately on July 1st I caught my arm in a door and chipped a bone - this meant no riding for 3 weeks. I am now back in the saddle and Tommy is back at work. He is wonderful. He was shod
last week and the farrier mentioned how good he was. He has been dramatically better behaved for brushing, rugging etc. and continues to get better. It is as though he is finally beginning to trust me and realise that I
will not hurt him, although I will smack if he bites. Which he will now grudgingly accept rather than simply losing it and attacking me. He will still kick out and assert himself but he will be in control, rather than
out of control. He really made me chuckle last weekend. I was brushing him and putting on some boots. As I bent down to put the boots on I felt this really gentle careful nibble on my bottom. I moved my arm
to do the boot and he rapidly moved away, knowing he was pushing his luck. As he didn't get scolded for this, about 30 seconds later I felt another nibble - this time it was a bit harder. The I did tell him off.
Basically he was having a bit of a game and seeing how much of a nibble would result in him being scolded. 2 years ago he would have opened his mouth wide and savagely attacked me leaving a bruise about 4 inches in
diameter. Something else is also interesting. I now know that biting is his way of coping with a stressful situation. Now that he has largely stopped biting me, he will windsuck at mealtimes. I don't think
he did this when he came and I think it has developed because he needed to relieve stress. He still bites when you brush him and do his rugs more often than not, you can say "No" and he will stop mid action and not
actually bite. However, now that he has been out in the trailer, he starts to get wound up if he thinks he is going out. This is shown by his old ways, ears back, leaping about, kicking out etc. He will
also bite at you if you are close by and trying to put travel boots on him - which you cannot do as he will kcik out and it is dangerous. If you walk away and leave him to it for 10-15 mins, he gradually calms down and
can go back to getting him ready with no problems. He has a big sigh and then settles down again. On a normal day if he gets worried by something he will not actually bite you but he will make biting noises
by opening and closing his jaw and keeping his mouth closed. Hence, biting to help with stress but not biting me - if you see what I mean. Throughout all this, since starting C, C & C I have also
gradually increased his feed level. I need him to put on muscle and condition. He is fed a combination of a non barley product for calmness and I have introduced 14% protein horse cubes. As his work level increases
again, he will get more cubes and less low energy product. He has also had some 20% protein feed before I hurt my arm but I think that is a little too much when only in light work. Since being on C, C & C he appears
to call more for his feeds and to really want to eat. He has always been a good eater but there has been a change, he relishes his feed now. I also have a couple of other horses and one was always difficult
to keep condition on. When we came to our present home six years ago he was more settled, he went up a rug size (from 6'3" to 6'6") at the age of 11! He is now 17 and looks better than ever. I have always put this down
to him being happier hee. Thus, I think that the C, C & C is settling Tommy and so his appetite is even better. He has improved condition and out on muscle in recent months and this may be a knock on effect of the
C, C & C, although workload and food type are also key factors. My dressage trainer really rates him and says he has wonderful paces, so I am hoping that when we eventually start going out he will do
well. I have also just started teaching him to jump and he is really calm about that too. He had done some jumping in the racing yard but that was over hurdles and we are starting from scratch over coloured poles. I know it has taken me a long time to get the grounding sorted - he is now 6, but it has been worth it. If I had not sorted out the issues before putting him under pressure with work, it is likely that
our base would have crumbled somewhere along the line. Under all the problems he is a lovely, cheeky, sensitive, intelligent, bright and funny horse who tries very hard to please. Now that he is being
praised for doing well his confidence is increasing and he is showing signs of being able to develop with the potential that he was born with. It is as if the C, C & C is allowing us to wean him off the old
behaviour and retrain his brain. It will be a slow process but even after everything I have been through with him (to hell and back), I wouldn't have missed it for anything.
Nikki Alexander
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