This is one of the hardest posts I’ve ever written. I know how many different opinions there are in the pony world, and sharing something so personal always feels like opening a very vulnerable door. But Suzie is my heart pony, and this is our reality.
Over Easter 2025, Suzie had what we thought was a mild bout of laminitis. One morning she simply didn’t want to leave her stable, so I called the vet straight away. She spent two weeks in with soaked hay, and during that time Georgina and I read her stories — Zog, The Gruffalo, all the favourites. She improved, we started gentle exercise again, and everything seemed to be going in the right direction… until she had the tiniest sniff of grass and went backwards.
The vet suggested testing for Cushing’s and EMS, and that’s when we discovered her blood sugars were at 330 — when they should be under 30. She started medication and improved quickly, but still no grass.
I asked for x‑rays of her front feet because something didn’t feel quite right. The vet wasn’t convinced they were necessary but was happy to do them, and I’m glad we did. They showed medium rotation in both pedal bones, though thankfully with good sole depth. Something to monitor, but not the worst news.
The medication kept her stable until autumn, when her sugars crept up again. After we moved, my new vet started her on a different treatment, which worked well — we got her sugars down to around 50 — but last month they rose again with the spring grass. We repeated the x‑rays: the fronts were unchanged, which was a relief. I asked for the backs too, even though the vet didn’t think it was essential. Those actually showed more rotation than the fronts, again with good sole depth.
It means Suzie can still be ridden, but she’ll have good days and bad days. Jumping is off the table, but poles are fine. She loves hacking, so we take it steady and let her use the grass verges when she needs to. She wears her Cavallo boots, and the farrier comes every four weeks — shoes aren’t an option for her, she’s far too dramatic about it. Luckily, Georgina is perfectly happy pottering around, and that’s exactly what Suzie enjoys too. It’s also why Boris joined the family so Georgina can still do more without giving Suzie the pressure.
Our vet, our farrier, and our little family are all on the same page: we will do everything we can for Suzie. But another serious episode might be more than she can cope with, and that dark cloud sits quietly in the background. This spring and summer will tell us a lot. Right now, she’s bright, sound, and loving life — and that’s what we’re holding onto.
This is my “why” when it comes to grazing muzzles. I can’t keep her stabled — it wouldn’t give her the quality of life she deserves. She’s eighteen now, and movement, routine, and staying relaxed are all so important for her. Stress can trigger EMS episodes too, so it’s a delicate balance.
The muzzle isn’t perfect, and it’s not something I ever imagined needing. But for Suzie, it’s part of what keeps her safe, comfortable, and able to enjoy her days outside — and that’s all I want for her.