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Dear Equifeast,
Thanks
I'm nearly finished my first full sack of C,C&C and thought I would email you to say thanks at the same time as buying another sack.
I have two horses, and
originally bought C,C&C to help Connie, an 11 year old 16.3 IDxTB mare who events at affiliated Novice level. Connie's general outlook on life is that mortal danger lurks round every corner; birds flying out of hedges, straw
bales in fields and cats in long grass are just a few of the things which cause her to startle badly and/or completely freeze. In addition, we have an on-going problem getting enough food into her to sustain her substantial frame.
At the beginning of the season I had an event horse that was eating less than a double handful of economy mix a day (having rejected anything more suitable for her workload and completely refused to contemplate feeds such as
Alfalfa chaff).
We started C,C&C in July, having tried other products without success. The loading period for Connie took much longer than you advise, simply because there was no way she would eat feed with even 1 full
scoop of powder in it. However we discovered that if we made a corn-flour type paste with the powder in the bottom of the bowl before adding the mix, we could bind it much more effectively than if we added water last. Very
gradually we managed to get the quantity up to 1 scoop per day, spread over 2 small feeds.
After 1 month I wasn't totally convinced of the impact – Connie's eating problems made it impossible for us to feed her an hour
before work as you recommend during loading, as she often took an hour to eat. However her appetite was gradually increasing, and she was slightly calmer in the stable and yard, so I decided that it was worth persevering.
By
mid September, however, I was convinced that something was happening. Connie seemed calmer to hack out, tending to startle only 3-4 times per hack, instead of almost constantly as before. At events she didn't get so upset if she
knocked a pole (previously if she knocked a show jump she would shoot away, clearly anxious). In addition, her appetite had improved to the point where she would eat a feed at one go, rather than picking at it over the course of a
couple of hours. Last weekend I noticed another real breakthrough. A line of large bales, wrapped in flapping blue plastic, which had plagued every hack for the previous nine months, were no longer considered frightening and we
walked past them on a long rein.
I have no idea how the C,C&C might have improved Connie's appetite, but perhaps just being less anxious makes her more willing to eat. Regardless, I'm not knocking it!!
Now that
Connie is at the maintenance level, I decided I could afford to give C,C&C to my other horse, Ed. Ed is also very spooky, but his spooking is linked to napping and clinginess to other horses, rather than in general anxiety.
That said, if you take the tough approach, he then does become genuinely anxious, so "showing him who's boss" doesn't work. I've owned him for eight years, and over that period he's had several supplements with no impact
whatsoever.
Ed is only two weeks into his C,C&C so it's early to give a full verdict. Thus far, however, he seems easier to work in the arena (previously he would spook at the show jumps in the corners every time
he went in the arena, despite the fact that they are always there). He also seems more generous with his flatwork, and more tolerant of being asked to do new things.
Kind regards
Sophie Smith |
