08/07/2026
Timely, as so many people I’ve spoken to recently have encountered problems with grass seeds, though it’s usually dogs …
Throwback to that time 10 (!) years ago, when I discovered a clump of grass seeds embedded in the corner of this horse’s mouth…!
I felt something strange, and hard, just in the fold of the ‘oral commissure’, and managed to gently extract this clump of seeds 🤯
Thankfully he was unridden at the time, as I can’t imagine how he would’ve reacted to a bit on top of that. Disasterously, probably! 😳
The before/after shots are 48 hours apart - seeds must’ve been removed a few minutes after the top photo. It was a lucky find more than anything, but shows the importance of *whole body* assessments. Still grateful I found this before it embedded entirely - really don’t know how that would have turned out.
The change in facial expression and body tension are huge. He did have a bodywork session after finding the seeds, but I can’t remember any details about that - I think it was one of those ‘he’s not working, but I’d like him more comfortable’. The seeds, though, I’ve never forgotten!
Handily, I was back at the yard two days later, and I vaguely remember thinking ‘maybe a good idea to get another photo and see if anything’s changed…’.
I don’t think this is a before/after that requires much interpreting!
