Hooves In Harmony

18/09/2025

18/09/2025

Great day indeed ❤️

14/09/2025

These belong to Oscar. I’d never have posted Oscars feet before and would actively crop turn from photos due to the state of them!

He is 23 years old and has IR and Cushings. He’s been on pergolide for years and started canagliflozin in 2023 as nothing we did helped him - he was ready to be PTS.

When I say nothing worked I mean nothing worked.
✅ low sugar/starch with high fibre feeds.
✅ underweight and thin
✅ chronic laminitis
✅ tested hay in trickle nets
✅ boots and pads (pads changed daily)
✅ very short trim cycle yet still sore after a trim, however much or little we removed.
✅ friends
✅ track system
✅ medication for cushings

His Insulin came back at over 400. What the heck else is anyone meant to do with this?!

After much research I found out about a human drug that was having success in treating EMS and IR in horses. So we tried canagliflozin - initially ertugliflozin but we decided to try the cheaper alternative eventually as it was going to be a long term thing.

Within 3 days we went from hardly able to walk, to pretty damn sound. I’d have the videos somewhere… 😱

He gets his bloods checked annually - he’s needle shy so we don’t do more than that.
Last year his insulin was just under 80. From over 400!! Nothing else changed… however… because he wasn’t sore his stress levels reduced, and he could move much much more. All of these things then kick started a healing ❤️‍🩹 process.

He’s not worn his boots this year. At all. For the first year in as long as I can remember. He’s (touch wood) not been lame nor had laminitis at all.

This year we’ve added something else. It’s called Microbz. I add it to my water buffet but also to their morning feeds. It feeds the good bacteria in the gut and in doing so it has a huge domino effect in the body - reducing inflammation is a really big plus!! Ive oldies, babies and those with inflammatory health conditions. It’s a had a huge effect on Zacs demeanour. I’d go so far as saying his pretty chilled these days!

Anyway, 5 litres is around £24 inc delivery using my discount code. I buy two of these and they’ve lasted my 4 in their feed and in the water buffet well over 2 months. Easily! You can get a smaller bottle too if feeding less horses.

For the finale of this post…

Oscars insulin was at 35 and ACTH 25 which is considerably lower than ANY previous year, when we tested in August this year. I cannot account for this other than the microbz. We’ve not changed his management and in fact, he’s going out on grass for 2-3 hours a day now which he’s never have coped with before and STILL had these blood results. He’s been on the meds for well over 2 years so I’m not sure it’s that alone…

Anyway! I’ll post the code and feel free to pop over to the microbz website for more information!

https://microbz.myshopify.com/LindaWhitecross291

If the code isn’t already there please use LINDAWHITECROSS to get your discount!

Any problems pop me a message! Xx

14/09/2025

Not sure why we try and pick pretty colours for stuff that’s essentially going to be 💩 coloured after the first use!

I’m loving my new purple kit though 💜 I know of someone who’s approve 🕊️🌈✨

14/09/2025

I love to watch the interactions of our wee herd.
FYI:
Oscar - grey pony
Zac - piebald horse
Dotty - fairly obvious! 🤣 our newest addition
Molly - dark brown, Shetland pony

Now…
Oscar moves Zac around, Zac moves Dots around yet Dots moves Oscar around (politely!) Molly just goes where she pleases. The others would pinch her tea but she would still keep going back to her bucket regardless of who’s currently sharing it - she’s not put off even with some quite firm threats.

Oscar would be the leader overall yet he’s not when it comes to Dots - she’d be the youngest and newest but she’s a girl. Same doesn’t apply to Molly though with the same boxes ticked other than she’s oldest… so you’d think being older would trump being youngest… unless she’s TOO old?! She’s pushing 32 I think…

Pepsi was always at the top of the pecking order. She was never nasty with it just a strong, confident yet considerate leader. It must’ve been so hard for them when she departed so suddenly. And so stressful for the next in line (at that point - Oscar!) to take the lead. He’s so different to her in lots of ways - very much an old school gentleman yet he can be quite mean to Zac. Zac can be quite annoying though, I see that also. Zac isn’t totally sure he wants to follow Oscar - he baits him, pecks at him… yet does follow him and doesn’t like to pass him nor would he attempt to steal Oscar’s bowl.

They pair off too…
Oscar and Zac… or Zac and Dots… rarely Oscar and Dots despite them being quite respectful around each other. Oscar is a bit wary around Dots.
Dots quite likes Molly - and Zac was very protective over Molly when Dots first arrived, yet he can chase Molly when the mood takes him.

Maybe like people, they are drawn to who they feel is beneficial at the time? Or maybe it’s just random? 🤓🤯

They do get on very well overall as a wee herd. Nobody bullies anyone else and the fact the interactions do vary is probably a good thing for that reason.

So… your homework is to watch your horse interacting with others in their vicinity. Give us a flavour if your findings in the comments 🥰

05/09/2025

Had a lovely time doing some boot fittings around Moray today. Both horses were trying some hind boots due to the dry weather and subsequent hard ground making them less comfortable hacking.

Scoots and flex coming out on top for both! Despite being very different horses with very different feet! Pics are Zac in his flex and scoots 🥰🤓

I’ve put together a list (2 lists actually 🙈 - Banff direction and an Aberdeen direction) so I’ll be checking in with those asking about a fitting, for more info about what you need and if you still need. Exciting to hopefully fill two full days! Helping horses to be more comfortable, as well as allowing people to be out enjoying their horses 🥰🐴

If you’ve had a boot fitting at anytime please leave me a review ✍🏼📝

05/09/2025

Ha ha! 💯

, ,

04/09/2025

Life with us! ❤️🐴😜

04/09/2025

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04/09/2025

I’ve been continuing to use Microbz both in my horse’s feeds and in our water buffet. Thought I’d update!

We ordered it and it arrived a day or two later - mega quick! Using my discount code (see below) we got 2x 5 litre bottles including delivery for around £52! These have lasted a good couple of months - as I say, in feeds daily and in water buffet most days for 3-4 horses!

Further to previous observations Oscar had his ACTH (cushings) and insulin (EMS/IR) retested a few weeks ago. He’s been on the same medication at the same dose for the past two years, if not nearly 3, his pergolide is unchanged in dose, and his levels are the lowest they’ve been for years if not ever! ACTH was 25 and insulin 35 in Aug 25, last test in 2024 ACTH was 35 and insulin 74! His insulin is still a bit high but was originally over 400 before starting Canagliflozin so it’s working and I’m happy with him.

He’s also coping well with turnout on grass for 2-3 hours a day! So to get these results and be on grass is just life changing for him!

Our hay is the same supplier, his management is the same… I really do think the Microbz has worked wonders for him!

Zac has also become much more chilled, but forward going. He has had ALCAR added to his diet but I’m sure getting his gut microbes in check has helped so much - the calmer situation was happening before the alcar.

These are my own experiences, and I can’t say for sure it’s the microbz but I do know my gang or healthy, happy and calmer than before we used it.

If you fancy trying it I have a discount code/link! With either my link or my discount code you will get 20% off every single purchase! So for context, 5 litres (I’d recommend the 5 litre for horses) delivered for is Like £23 (or something around there!)

https://microbz.myshopify.com/LindaWhitecross291

If the code isn’t already there please use LINDAWHITECROSS to get your discount!

Any problems pop me a message! Xx

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31/08/2025

29/08/2025

Mindset is so important with horses! Credit: Horsey