Enzo’s Reset: A Whole-Horse Approach to Nutrition, Gut Health and Recovery

When trainer CJ Schmenk took Enzo on, she knew he needed more than a training program.

He was tense and drawn through his body, with muscle loss, a dull coat and brittle hooves. He also had a history of gastric issues and a rearing problem serious enough that he had previously been labeled unsafe to ride.

For CJ, that meant starting with the whole horse.

Not just the behavior.

Not just the training.

And not just one supplement.

Starting With the Foundation

CJ’s approach begins with nutrition, hoof care and behavior because, in her experience, they are all connected.

Before changing Enzo’s training program, she looked at what he was eating and how his overall condition might be affecting the way he felt and responded.

His previous diet included grass hay, sweet feed and several general supplements.

CJ transitioned him to a low-starch, forage-focused diet designed to provide a more consistent nutritional foundation.

She also added several Parkmore products to his routine:

• Parkmore Vitamin & Mineral
• Parkmore Immune Boost
• HI Herb-Infused Oil
• Parkmore Detox, used in short cycles as needed

For CJ, the goal was not to chase one symptom at a time.

It was to support Enzo as a whole.

Why Gut Health Matters

A horse’s digestive system can be influenced by many things, including diet, travel, competition, changes in routine and time spent stalled.

And when a horse isn’t feeling his best physically, it can affect far more than his appetite.

CJ had seen enough in Enzo’s body condition and behavior to know she wanted to simplify his diet, increase the emphasis on forage and give him a more targeted nutritional program.

“Enzo was in need of a total reset when he came to me.”

That reset became the foundation for everything that followed.

What CJ Began to Notice

As Enzo settled into his new routine, CJ began seeing changes.

“Since making these changes, he is brighter, less tense and drawn up, and hasn’t shown any signs of gastric upset. He is also starting to get a nice, glossy coat.”

Those are the kinds of changes CJ watches for before asking more from a horse in training.

Because if the horse doesn’t feel right, simply pushing harder in the saddle may not solve the problem.

Looking at the Whole Horse

CJ describes her philosophy simply:

“I take a ‘whole horse’ approach with every client or project I take on. I address nutrition, hoof care and behavior because they are all interconnected.”

Before moving forward with training, she evaluates the horse from head to tail.

That means looking beyond the obvious behavior and asking a bigger question:

What might this horse be trying to tell us?

For Enzo, that meant starting with his nutritional foundation and overall condition before expecting more from him physically or mentally.

And sometimes, that is where the biggest changes begin.

— CJ Schmenk, Trainer