While I waited for Mac’s plan to arrive, I’d already been advised to remove beet pulp as his main bucket feed and replace it with sainfoin pellets – nutrient-rich and excellent for aiding digestion. I thought I could see improvements from this change alone.
The Surprising Start – Treating Ulcers
When the diet plan arrived from Alex and Dr Fritz, I was surprised to see that the first step was treating Mac for stomach ulcers. I’d always been careful to feed ad-lib hay and to prevent ulcers as best I could. But when I thought about it, it made sense – if Mac had been living with low-level pain from the muscle stiffness and fatigue he’d shown in his ridden career so far, ulcers could easily have developed as a secondary condition.
At this point, all other supplements had been removed. I began the ulcer protocol as advised.
If you are not familiar with KPU or why it was part of our approach, you can read my full explainer here: Understanding KPU in Horses – A Guide for Equestrians.
A Setback in Schooling
We went for a coaching session with Lindsay and I was disheartened to see Mac back to the “banana shape” we’d seen a year ago. I quickly phoned Alex, who reassured me this was part of the process.
We had removed the “sticking plaster” of his usual supplements – the ones that helped with symptoms but did nothing to treat the cause. For now, the priority was to stop asking too much of him and wait for improvements as the therapy moved through its cycle.
Less Work, More Healing
Alex also gave me some wonderful news – Mac no longer needed daily exercise. After over a year of riding or working him every single day, this felt like a huge relief. As a part-time pony owner, full-time mum, and working in our family business, getting him out daily had been a significant commitment. I was thrilled to be released from that pressure.
Moving Through the Protocol
Once the ulcer treatment was complete, we moved on to detoxification. After that, the focus shifted to restoring his hindgut with specific herbs designed to stabilise the colon and improve gut flora.
The entire process was mapped out over 18 weeks, with the goal of completing by March 2025, Alex made me very aware that this was just the start of the process and full recovery could take up to a year. In the meantime, we kept things simple – hacking out, following the plan, and monitoring Mac’s progress.
Early Changes
The changes became apparent fairly early on. At first, Mac became brighter on the ground – there was a sparkle in his eye, and his head and neck started to lift higher on his shoulders. As we moved through the program, I noticed he began to swing his neck more freely, even turning to look at me when I was behind him in the stable – I realised this was something I’d not seen him do for along time.
We avoided schooling work, continuing with hacking instead. His flexibility improved and he seemed much happier in himself. Our wider support team – the physio and trimmer (he is barefoot, but that is a story for another post) – all commented that he felt softer, more supple, and easier to work with.
I was thrilled. It was working. He was happier, healing, and that was all that mattered to me.
A Note on Support in the UK
It must be said – and the cynic in me cannot ignore – that pharmaceutical companies make no money from you exercising your horse daily, adding an extra rug, feeding good-quality natural vitamin E, or using herbal supplements, there are no drugs developed by the pharmaceutical companies that “fix” this issue.
This is why it is absolutely essential to find a well-qualified and knowledgeable Equine practitioner to guide you on this journey.
If you want to learn more about KPU, you can find my full guide here: Understanding KPU in Horses – A Guide for Equestrians.
Mac and Me 
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