November 2023 Precision Challenge Applicant
Tell us about your horse
Sparky 13 AQHA
What is your Discipline?
Barrel racing
Do you and your horse compete? If so, how often and at what level?
So he was a project for barrel racing. Keeping him sound was his biggest inhibitor, his talent kept me going. After injecting multiple joints multiple times I switched vets and got an actual concrete diagnosis of a severely strained DDFT. So his future is now as my drill team horse. The DDFT is likely an 8+ year old injury
Has your horse’s unsoundness kept you out of any competitions?
Yes, since 2021
What current issues is your horses suffering from?
PSSM1– which we manage successfully
Strained DDFT— he had the recommended time off to heal but since US showed his tendon being 50% bigger than it should be, returning to barrels was not part of the plan. SI inflammation— it’s a common problem for PSSM horses, and I also believe he flipped himself over before I owned him injuring it
What have you tried so far to help your horse with these issues?
Hock, stifle, SI injections; chiropractic; shockwave; Magnawave; massage therapy
Has this horse been diagnosed by a Vet?
Yes
If your horse has had injections, when was the last injections and where?
His last injections were his hocks in February 2023, which led to me switching vets because the diagnosis was completely wrong. Then we found the DDFT strain
Is your horse currently on any supplements? If so, which ones?
Equioxx, excel EQ, magnesium, and vitamin E
If you are selected for the Precision Challenge, what results are you hoping for?
I’d like him to stay sound for drill team. After knowledge of his DDFT, him ever returning to barrels again was eradicated. But if I got the clear from my vet after using PJS I would be ecstatic to run him down the alley again. If it works for him, I would gladly feed my other horses Precision as well. I have a 2 year old filly that’s up and coming as well as her 2022 and 2023 siblings
Sparky began the Precision Challenge on 11/10/2023
Sparky is a 13-year-old AQHA barrel horse gelding. Below is the initial video sent in before beginning PJS. Main issues are strained DDFT with ultrasound showing his tendon being 50% bigger than it should be and SI (sacral iliac) inflammation. Owner ceased feeding Excel EQ before beginning the double dose of PJS.
Applicant Day 1 Video
3 week check in: Dec 2nd
sparky is feeling really good! I’ve been meaning to get back to you, I feel like I have been going nonstop. He’s a picky eater and I just added water to his grain right off the bat so the PJS sticks, and he can’t eat around it but he’s eaten it just fine doing that. My vet is coming out Tuesday for another horse and if he has the time, I’ll have him take a look at sparky and see what he thinks. I will make sure to get an updated video as well. I have day zero and I have some videos of him over the last couple weeks, but I’ve been using him to pony my 2-year-old trying to get her broke so she’s a guest star in those videos. Thank you again for this opportunity!
December 2nd Video Update
6 Week check in: Dec 28th
he was feeling pretty good, videos will follow this text. I truly believe the PJS has helped him. As of about a week and a half ago his SSI is getting sore again so my farrier and i are getting a plan together to try to change up his angles on his hind feet. I’ll get an updated video tonight. And he was feeling great! And then I felt him getting sore in his hind end which is par for the course with him. So I think we’re going to try a wedge on his hind and see how that helps.
No other changes and the second bag is almost empty now. I’m super happy with the PJS, I wish we didn’t hit this wall with his hind end again.
Jan 9th Check In:
New shoes with wedges were put on. I don’t want to jump the gun, but I already see a difference. As long as he feels good, I will get riding videos tomorrow but holy cow! Between PJS and these shoes I might finally have a sound horse.
Sparky 8 weeks
Video was taken after new wedge shoes were put on and continuing PJS