Dear Samantha
Lightning is so good! She's been great to ride this week, we start
school on Monday so its cooling off and its been fun riding around
town talking to everyone.
Kline's had a sale on tack and mom got a new saddle pad, mom gave
me her old one and its really nice.
I hope your mom has a fun trip and she emails you all the time.
Anna drew a picture of us feeding mom's horse. He was looking for
the last little bit of grain in that bucket!
Your Pony Pal,
Dear
Pam,
I'm glad the sinkhole near Grandmama's house isn't that big either.
You're right the sinkhole under the building in Pennsylvania is
huge! I'm sure the hamster you got to hold was cute.The picture
of Lightning that Lyndsey drew is really good. Glad the picture's
up on your wall. Could you please ask your dad if there's any medicine
that can help a horse sweat? It's for my aunt's horse Cimmaron.
We think he has Cushings, but the vet hasn't done a blood test yet.
Aunt Loretta's had Cimmaron for as long as I can remember. We have
to hose him off with a mister since he gets hot really easiliy,
and he can't shed anymore. We have to either brush his hair out
or pull his hair out.
Good luck on your first day of school. Please answer
my question.
Sincerely, Cayce
Dear Cayce
At dinner last night I asked my dad about Cushing's disease. He said
that it is a disease of the pituitary gland, which is near the brain.
Symptoms are usually that a horse that is skinny, with a long coat
all year round. Most horses with Cushings sweat a lot but sometimes
they don't sweat enough.
First you need to get Cimmaron tested for the disease. Then you know
if he has it. If so, dad said there are medicines that will treat
the disease. He said that one drug that's used to treat Parkinson's
disease in people can really help. It stimulates dopamine release,
which slows down the pituitary gland.
What you feed your horse can help, too. Supplements with vitamins
E and C and chasteberry, a kind of herb.
It's also better to feed grass hay and no grain or alfalfa, because
Cushings horses can get laminitis easily.
Mom just told me I got to stop writing.
She wants me to go buy school clothes. ;-P
Let me know what you find out.
Pony Pen Pals,
