Understanding and treating horses with Cushing’s Disease and/or Insulin Resistance is hard work. Most of us need to learn new ways to think about diet, supplements, medications, feet and exercise. Just taking care of our horses, we’ve all wondered if we might ever see the light at the end of the tunnel.

A while back our founder, Robin Siskel, mentioned the delight she felt when reading notes of thanks from members for the help they received from the list. Often when these expressions are posted, other members reply, grateful to hear good news and positive outcomes while they struggle along their particular path.

When you need a lift, for whatever reason, take a moment and read the comments found here and then go hug a horse.

Where can I go with his diet? He is a horse back from the dead from where he was 1 1/2 years ago. Also extremely fussy eater. You people saved his life!! Now, I want to help him gain a little weight and keep him happy. He does have muscle wasting over the top, but it is improving. Getting lots of leisurely exercise. Thanks a million, You people are wonderful. Marilee and PI (Payasito)

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Hello, I have posted on this site months ago for a cushing's horse that I have since had to put down. I have since really tweaked the diet of my other two horses who would be good candidates for IR in future, and all I can say is WOW. kapleacres

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Just wanted to give you all a big thank you. Your help & encouragement is second to none. Cheers ( now the bar is open) Pauline & Jack

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Thank you Cushings Group for all the help. I know he would have gotten much worse if I hadn't found this group, because the vets didn't know what was going on back then. Since finding this group, you've not only helped to educate me, but you've also helped my vets "see the light"! Wendy (&Rudy)

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As you know, not everyone has a perfect boarding situation. At my barn, there are absolutely NO workers that will weigh Dazzle's hay. I had to come up with other ways to make it work.  Sometimes what we face is not just about the task itself. Sometimes, there are logistics problems that make something difficult - like how do you test hay when you board and the hay changes? How do you create a set up to weigh hay when you won't be there? How do you get your meds in your horse that won't eat them and you have to rely on others to get'r done? Sometimes the obstacles that we face are from within us. How can I deprive my horse of cookies? How can I deprive MYSELF of chocolate?  How can I syringe the minerals when my princess fights me and acts like I'm killing her? Sometimes, it's not about the time itself. How long does it take to slip on a grazing muzzle? :) We're here to offer support for our members. That includes suggestions as well as moral support. We laugh together. We cry together. We share our successes, our frustrations and our heartbreaks.

This group has been so wonderfully supportive of me when I've been down and when I felt stalled. It's helped me create a game plan, when it appeared that we were at the end of a dead-end street, when it was questionable whether any game plan would actually work. Sometimes, we just need someone to help us figure out what's the next step or the next thing to try when we are so emotionally overwhelmed that we can't even think straight. Or when we've tried so many things that HAVEN'T worked that we don't even know what's left to try. I'm glad we're here for each other. Joan and Dazzle

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Thanks, everyone, for this great information and all of the support and help you offer one another. It's a shame that people don't know more about this condition, how to possibly avoid it, and how to manage it. Audrey

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Until I got strict with the diet, we had soreness episodes. So I can say from personal experience that the diet is the absolute baseline, the trim is right along side it, and even when things look almost hopeless to the vet and farrier, it can be done.  This note is to encourage you. In my years of experience with vets, both large and small animal, my basic criteria for any vet is one who is interested in learning and willing to listen. Don't give up - we have gone from left sole penetration by the P3 in 1994 to riding (at a walk, in boots, but who cares?!)  yesterday. Life doesn't get any better than that in my horse world. Carol Larson and Blue

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The unbelievable help from the caring people on this list and Dr. Kellon these horses have a chance to live and be happy horses. Thanks everyone. Karen, Chantilly and Tommi

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I have been a member of this list for a long time, but haven't posted for quite some time. WOW- what have you done to the site!! Very nice! My cushings mare Kizzy turned 31 this yr. She is doing great and looks wonderful. Her teeth were her greatest challenge last yr. but the equine dentist took care of her
and she eats all of her specially prepared feed every day. She is getting 1mg of pergolide daily. She has been free of any laminitic episodes for many yrs now. She's bare foot and no special trims are needed at this time. At her worst she had both front hoof walls resected. She improved steadily from that point on with medication and diet changes. All I can say is this list was so helpful during those beginning days of her diagnosis. I've noticed in reading some of the postings that many members have taken the care and feeding of our four footed friends to the next level. Thanks to all of you for doing your homework!! Diann

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I love this group. Carlynne and Patience

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Anyway, since my horse was diagnosed with IR and I've been keeping her on the temporary diet (along with custom mixed supplements from Horsetech), and thanks to the wonderful people on this awesome IR/Cushing's Group and Dr. Kellon, my wonderful mare has been doing fabulously!!! So, don't let what anyone says out of jealously hurt or bother you. It's their problem, not yours :) Sharon & Angel

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Thanks so much for your help. This list RULES! Sue (and Kramer)

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Almost 3 years ago my problems with my then 7 yo Paso Fino mare began, including laminitis then founder. After many vet visits, blood tests, and huge bills, we decided to treat her for Cushings. I am pleased to say that this March she had 2 full years of being sound (yippee!). Pergolide (along with diet and good footstrategy) has been an important part of her treatment and something that I am grateful for every day. This weekend we did two great trail rides and she babysat my novice boyfriend, we even did some galloping on the trails.

A friend notified me about the pergolide recall (she was researching the dog food recall), then another friend (THANKS PATRICIA), sent me the postings on this board with the information and resources for how I can make my voice heard. I have posted the information about the recall on my blog as well as links to the petition. I will do my best to work with the horse blogging community to help get the word out. Keep up the good work and continue to keep us informed. We can (and will) make a difference. Jerri & Precious

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After exhausting many of my own theories (and those of everyone else), I faithfully followed the advice of this forum and my horse seems to be doing great! The pain he had is greatly diminished. He seems very calm and relaxed. He never had laminitis but many symptoms of IR. I was very confused because he also seemed to have symptoms of EPSM (muscle pain and cramping). But just soaking his hay and supplementing minerals has done more to help him than any thing else. He needs no fat. How do you spell "Hallelujah"? Bev

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I am the proud owner of a fully recovered foundered Cushings mare. She's 20, I rode her over 60 times last summer. Thanks to all of you and Dr. Kellon. Jenny

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(I) know this journey is filled with ups and downs and Harley and I still have a ways to go. For all of you who listened and shared your stories last week, thank you for being on this path with us.

Lori and her herd -- especially little Harley.

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It looks like maybe we're going to make it through these really short days in good order, yet another year. I cannot thank you, Dr. Kellon, enough for giving us another year with Abby. Bonnie White

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I want to thank each and every one of you, not least Dr. Kellon, who helped educate me, and in doing so, contributed to Robin's final months being happy. I'm very grateful. Tammy Charleston SC

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Sorry I haven't been around the list more! For those of you who remember Windy and Haley my IR/Cushing's horses that brought me to the list years ago, they are doing VERY well! :) Thanks again, Robin, Eleanor and all the great people on this site! Daisy Bicking • Daisy Haven Farm, Inc.

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I just wanted to thank all of you out there for your support and tireless enthusiasm when answering questions. My gelding, Color Guard, has been battling IR with laminitic episodes for 3-4 years now, at the very least. Finally, we have a break through! For all you newbie's out there, it works, but get serious and do it right. CG and I are routing for you! Kim

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The balanced diet, exercise, and meticulous attention to feet have made a huge difference in a horse I was considering humanely destroying. The information provided by this group and Dr. Kellon is what put us back on track. There are many people on this site that are capable, smart, and goodhearted people – questioning long accepted practices, searching for answers that look at the total horse, and basing their suggestions on research studies whenever possible. I hope this helps you!  Weezie and Jazz

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Many thanks to the members of this group (and especially to Kathleen) for helping me with my mini. She is 100% cured! I've never seen her as energetic as she is since going on the eating plan outlined for me by Kathleen. In the past, she was just fat and lazy...never moving anymore than absolutely necessary and she didn't want to have anything to do with me. Now, she comes running to the gate when I go out. Call me crazy, but I think she knows I'm the one who took her pain away...and I plan on keeping it that way.

I have continued to use the HPT method of trimming by K.C. La Pierre. Actually, I'm using it on all my horses, and they're all getting better looking feet each time they're trimmed. But the proof is in the mini. When we started, she couldn't walk....now she runs all the time. The greatest joy in my day is watching my horses play...now Gracie can join in the fun! Sandi

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We very much appreciate the wonderful work you and your group are doing to provide information concerning effective care for metabolically challenged horses AND provide hope for their owners!  Omega Fields is very proud and pleased to be associated with your fine group. Keep up the good work! Flaxfully yours • Bonnie Krajnik • Omega Fields

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His feet were a big part of the problem as was his unbalanced diet (and of course all that fat in his diet and on his body) and his issues with the seasonal rise in ATCH. He also has a back injury from a bad fall. He responded very well after treating him for lyme disease. It took putting all the pieces together to get the horse that I'm truly enjoying riding today. I can now manage his problems because I know what they are. It took me 7 years but in the last two half years after joining this group we have made leaps and gains in his health. We're looking forward to a great summer and hopefully fall this year.Kim and Dante

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