February 2009
The first change I implemented for Shadow per Dr. Elenor Kellons teaching was the addition of Essential
fatty acids and Vitamin E. Two nutrients that are not found in any significant amount in hay. So horses
not on pasture don't generally get enough.
April 2009
The photo below is from the beginning of April 2009. She had been on the added EFA's and Vit. E for
just under two months. So far so good. No mane rubbing and no open belly sores. Her coat was also
coming in a darker richer black with less red than before.
The first change I implemented for Shadow per Dr. Elenor Kellons teaching was the addition of Essential
fatty acids and Vitamin E. Two nutrients that are not found in any significant amount in hay. So horses
not on pasture don't generally get enough.
April 2009
The photo below is from the beginning of April 2009. She had been on the added EFA's and Vit. E for
just under two months. So far so good. No mane rubbing and no open belly sores. Her coat was also
coming in a darker richer black with less red than before.
May 2009
Below are photos from the 16th of May. Shadow has been on a Dr. Kellons balanced mineral diet
for a month now. Her major minerals are still not in full balance, but we are working up to that. It
was shocking to see just how deficient her diet was in the trace mineral category. Esp. with all of
the expensive supplements and hay she had been on, I would have expected something very
different.
Her coat has come in beautifully. She has a natural shine to her coat that looks like I have soaked
her in showsheen, but really we have done nothing but minimal grooming (once a week,
sometimes twice.) She is still a little itchy, but nothing like last year. Her mane remains intact as
does her tail. Her hooves are healthier than they have ever been. I didn't even realize there was
room for improvement until it occurred. Her energy level is great.
Below are photos from the 16th of May. Shadow has been on a Dr. Kellons balanced mineral diet
for a month now. Her major minerals are still not in full balance, but we are working up to that. It
was shocking to see just how deficient her diet was in the trace mineral category. Esp. with all of
the expensive supplements and hay she had been on, I would have expected something very
different.
Her coat has come in beautifully. She has a natural shine to her coat that looks like I have soaked
her in showsheen, but really we have done nothing but minimal grooming (once a week,
sometimes twice.) She is still a little itchy, but nothing like last year. Her mane remains intact as
does her tail. Her hooves are healthier than they have ever been. I didn't even realize there was
room for improvement until it occurred. Her energy level is great.
May 22, 2009 Some updated photos. Shadows diet to date is all in balance. She is now getting
adequate amounts and correct ratios of everything required for her body to function properly.
adequate amounts and correct ratios of everything required for her body to function properly.
July 29, 2009
It has been four months since I changed Shadows diet. The biggest change has been with sweet
itch problem. In years prior her sweet itch would become so bad, that she was literally crazed
with irritation. Her skin was raw and open, and nothing short of steroids and pounds of topical
goo would give her any relief.
This year its much much better. Her belly is itchy, but its not open and raw and its not driving her
crazy. She has rubbed out some of her mane, a couple inches, but her tail is fine. I noticed a big
surge in itchiness a few weeks ago when we switched hays mid season. I didn't have a chance to
update her mineral numbers, so she remained on the old mineral amounts. After updating the
mineral numbers the new hay proved to be very off in its calcium/phosphorus ratio. She needed
quite a bit of Calcium added to her supplements to keep everything in balance. Once I added the
needed calcium, her itchiness reduced greatly. I suspect by next year, the sweet itch will be
reduced even further.
November 11, 2009
Shadow is doing great. Her hooves are absolutely amazing. She has no thrush, her frogs are
beautiful, her sole is waxy and clean. Her energy level is different as well. She used to be a
very excitable horse, and now, she still has tons of energy but is calmer. Can't be certain if this is
related to the diet changes, but it does seem like it is.
Her skin is still a little itchy, but no exposed or raw skin at all. Her coat color is very dark, her
mane and tail are jet black, her forelock has grown in length, its only a few inches from her nose.
Click here for Page 3
It has been four months since I changed Shadows diet. The biggest change has been with sweet
itch problem. In years prior her sweet itch would become so bad, that she was literally crazed
with irritation. Her skin was raw and open, and nothing short of steroids and pounds of topical
goo would give her any relief.
This year its much much better. Her belly is itchy, but its not open and raw and its not driving her
crazy. She has rubbed out some of her mane, a couple inches, but her tail is fine. I noticed a big
surge in itchiness a few weeks ago when we switched hays mid season. I didn't have a chance to
update her mineral numbers, so she remained on the old mineral amounts. After updating the
mineral numbers the new hay proved to be very off in its calcium/phosphorus ratio. She needed
quite a bit of Calcium added to her supplements to keep everything in balance. Once I added the
needed calcium, her itchiness reduced greatly. I suspect by next year, the sweet itch will be
reduced even further.
November 11, 2009
Shadow is doing great. Her hooves are absolutely amazing. She has no thrush, her frogs are
beautiful, her sole is waxy and clean. Her energy level is different as well. She used to be a
very excitable horse, and now, she still has tons of energy but is calmer. Can't be certain if this is
related to the diet changes, but it does seem like it is.
Her skin is still a little itchy, but no exposed or raw skin at all. Her coat color is very dark, her
mane and tail are jet black, her forelock has grown in length, its only a few inches from her nose.
Click here for Page 3