“MY SWEET-NATURED HORSE CHANGED”
ADIAGNOSIS OF PSSM1 in her seven-year old cob turned Rebecca Needham’s world upside down. “I bought Mia early last year and she was a really sweet-natured horse. We went on forest rides, tried in-hand showing and had just started competing in dressage at Intro level. Suddenly in September she completely changed and was bucking and bolting when ridden. “I really started to notice a problem when she went into her winter routine and she was turned out less. She started walking strangely. My farrier told me she had a slight sticky stifle. “Once the weather became colder, she really seemed uncomfortable and things took a turn for the worse. She started biting, rearing up and striking out with her front legs. We’d gone from riding six days a week for about an hour at a time to not being able to do anything at all. “The vet took a sample from her mane and tail, with the hair root attached. They sent this off for genetic testing where it was later confirmed that she had PSSM1. “Her recovery has been slow. Initially we could only walk her in-hand twice a day for 20 minutes at a time and she had to be taken off grass. I’ve recently managed to get back on board. She’s still quite weak so we’re taking it slow, but she’s much more willing to work. “Vets hope that with turnout and exercise every day, alongside a diets that’s low in starch and sugar, she’ll be back to her best.”