thanks helena54. i'm pretty sure it will be. just feeling a bit guilty at the mo. my old mare used to have 1/2 a sachet of bute a day....and i was doing long-distance riding and all sorts with her! she passed away at the grand old age of 28. so i'm pretty sure polly has got a few more years left in her, even if she has to take bute or something similar. i supposed its only like my dog being on rimadyl isn't it? and she runs round like a loon!!!