Katherine Cosper I’m really not aware of downsides to bentonite and it is used widely in the livestock system in Europe.

I feel your pain on the Alfalfa starting to be poor, our Haylage (wrapped hay that ferments) is now at the time of year where it either is mouldy or smells like treacle, the latter the horses adore but it does nothing for the waist line! 

Luckily the days are longer and the ground warming up so the grass is coming through and full of sugars 

The cubes make perfect sense and can be consistent for feeding

Katherine Cosper good question, as far as I am aware it is exactly the same product, we used it as a binder in products we manufactured and also as loose clay granules, it all was mined from the same raw materials and just processed further. 

I never thought about cubes, we just feed chopped Alfalfa for a couple of our warmbloods, can’t feed it to the Gypsy Vanners as it causes major problems with mallanders and sallanders in the feather behind the knees 

Richard Boatwright

What a fantastic update to read, sounds like your doing great and are full of enthusiasm and energy, hats off to you and enjoy taking them out and about 

Jessica Walker Being English and riding English for years I know exactly what you mean on the 1 rein stop, but it is sinking in along with keeping my hands down! 

Wow that’s one hell of a dint in your lid, glad it took the brunt of the force and your relatively unscathed, hope you recover quickly and get back in the saddle easily, no injuries to the horse either I hope 

I will leave Richard Boatwright to answer in full but my take is as he said on the Nachees series,  once Richard has introduced the bridle and snaffle bit he never goes back to a halter to work in, always the bridle so when working the code on a lead rope then it goes through the curb strap and neck ties as realistically it’s the most practical way to tie the lead rope with no pressure on the bit while working or tied up

Lynn Morrison sounds like this has made him turn a corner and fingers crossed it only improves from here and he learns to be able to cope better with pressure situations, it will make a big difference to both of your lives.

I have put 2 of ours with ulcer/girth concerns on the bentonite clay and certainly the older girl is not wanting to bite as much when changing rugs etc, the other I’ve yet to saddle up but might put my big boy pants on and get back on the numpty soon!

in all seriousness I’ll saddle him tomorrow and see then work him in a neck rope and driving ropes for a bit 

If you have a question directed to Richard, please tag him in the message use @ then his name, no space e.g Richard Boatwright when you start typing his name a drop down box will list all people with that name and just select his name

Lynn Morrison So I looked into this and it’s main ingredient is Bentonite which I am familiar with as I used to work in the clay industry and it has many useful applications in animal feeds, medicines and other things so I can see why it will work as an inhibitor and also mood changer, might give it a whirl on a couple of mine who have ulcers and girth hesitancy