pizza hut today

...What an interesting test that was. I was determined to see whether the ranitidine has made any difference to Ace, so I took him onto the arena in the rain for the first time. It has rained before while we were out there, but I don't think I have ever actually started a training session in the rain.

He did not flash his tail as I tacked him up, which suggests that his stomach is feeling better. But when I got on he reared and bucked and I only just managed to get him to stand still enough for me to get off. I went and put my air jacket on, and led him round in the rain to show him that he cannot just decide whether we go out in the rain or not.

I got back on and he was much better. He still did half rears and kicked out, but I quickly realised that it was only when he was turning away from the gate. His back was relaxed and he was walking well, just napping. I stuck to my guns very quietly and carried on circling until he was doing walk well and then tried trot.

I had exactly the same issues again, but not so severe - smaller rears and kicks - so I persevered until he was doing a nice relaxed trot in each direction.

It took a lot of nerve, but it was the right thing to do. I could tell his back was fine because his paces were good and his mouth was soft. I think his stomach is much improved because of the better movement and the lack of reaction to being girthed. But he was still in a bad mood, which I managed to work him through. I think that will help prevent him over-reacting next time. I certainly hope so.

I intend to keep him on ulcer medications until well into the summer. I don't think it is any coincidence that he is seven and pretty much full grown this year. Scooby was also a very grass reactive horse and it was seven when he blew up completely into full laminitis. I believe it's related to a lowered metabolic rate in adult horses.

I hope his behaviour continues to improve, because if not we will have to explore what may be going wrong.

C.