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Discussion on Mare just fell over
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 16, 2007 - 8:02 am:
Dr.O. Flash was out pacing the fence last night as usual when I was bringing their nightly feed. I turned my back to lock the gate and heard thump!
Looked and there she was on her side...she popped right back up and shook her back leg a little, slightly limped into lean for feed and then was fine. It was so odd, I looked where she had gone down (fresh snow) and it wasn't icy or did it look like she had slipped. I don't know if you recall but she is the one with back leg problems, we don't even try to trim her back hooves anymore.
She has been doing wonderfully as far as getting around and if you don't try to pick up her back hooves you would never know there was anything wrong with her as far as stride goes.
She is 28 yrs. old now. Is it possible for her to have gotten a cramp in her hind leg....maybe brought on from wading thru the deep snow?? Does that happen? It was just so strange it worries me a bit. Thanks
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Member:
ekaufman
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 16, 2007 - 10:57 am:
Hi Diane,
I'm sure Dr. O will give you a medical analysis.
I have had lots of old ones and getting them through the winter is no fun. I miss Hef, but I am glad for his sake that he has missed the below zero plus horrid footing of our early winter here.
At 28 there are so many age-related (or other) changes that could cause her to go down in the snow. They range from forgetting to mind her feet to horrible galloping neurologic changes. The horse will let you know where on that range she is by what she does next. Getting up right away is good 
I know that you are injured right now. When I'm working hurt, I tend to get very anxious about my horses-- sort of the impending doom thing. So my horseperson's advice is to shrug and assume that she just embarrassed herself unless she does it again.
I hope that turns out to be right.
- Elizabeth
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 16, 2007 - 5:30 pm:
I am uncertain why she did this Diane, intended to roll or slipped, either are possible.
DrO
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Sunday, Dec 16, 2007 - 7:39 pm:
Thanks I am sure she wasn't intending to roll, maybe slipped but there was no evidence of it. There was a pile of frozen manure close to where she was pacing and maybe that tripped her up. She seemed fine today so I will take Elizabeths advice and not worry unless something else pops up.
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Friday, Feb 1, 2008 - 8:40 am:
When I went out to feed this morning Flash fell down again, once again she popped back up. Shook her back legs and was ok by the time she reached her feed.
When we had our balmy temps the snow melted and we are back to that dang ice. The blizzard brought very strong winds and more ice. This county looks like a tornado hit it. Last night we had maybe 1/2 in of snow....just enough to cover the ice and make it dangerous, not enough to help footing.
Anyway I saw she had hit a patch of ice with her back legs and that is why she fell. Fortunately she was able to scramble back up.
Is it "normal" for a horse to fall over so easily?????
I do worry she is going to break something someday. There is NO avoiding these conditions, I have spread salt, gravel, old shavings, on everything that looks dangerous. The patch she hit was small and at the very end of their paddock, where normally they don't go! They just get pacey when waiting for feed, and don't pay attention.
Would arthritis make her that tipsy?
Thanks
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Friday, Feb 1, 2008 - 9:08 am:
Would perhaps cold muscles make her less nimble? That's why I had a light rainblanket on my old and arthritic ones, they seemed to stay more 'agile'?
Jos
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Member:
carlaa
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Posted on Friday, Feb 1, 2008 - 10:32 am:
Diane, I have a thought. Scary but true. I use granular lime or lime grit (used in cow stanchions) to combat ice around the gates and stock tank. It seems to work instantly. Not the same as the hydrated lime that I use in the stalls, though......
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Friday, Feb 1, 2008 - 4:33 pm:
Carla their paddock is limestone...that is where she fell it is gritty, but the ice in that spot must have built up enough.
Jos I don't know why she trips up so easily, her back end is just not real steady. I suppose it is arthritis, her hips/ stifle area seem the worse, along with her hocks. She gets around VERY WELL but seems to get thrown off balance easily.
I suppose there really is nothing to do, but wait for spring and try to keep things as smooth and ice free as possible...NOT EASY. Thanks
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 2, 2008 - 8:27 am:
Diane I think CarlajA is recommending you put this on top of the ice for traction. You need to read the article on Winter Time Care and dealing with this situation in the Housing section as I have put more than one horse down for slipping on the ice and breaking a leg.
DrO
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Saturday, Feb 2, 2008 - 12:12 pm:
Thanks Dr.O. I have de-iced the best I can, as stated above I have put down every de-icer known to man and then some. After our ice blizzard it snowed just enough to cover up the ice, so now I can't find it! That is my worry her breaking something, when she falls she hits the ground hard.
Mother nature is at it again and we are having more snow 2in so far so I think that will help the footing until we have the rain/freezing rain Mon...sigh. I just went and bought a load of bedding and if they need to be locked in to avoid broken things...then so be it. Thanks
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Sunday, Feb 24, 2008 - 12:09 pm:
Talked to vet yesterday when cat was there. He said he has seen many broken, bruised horses with the ice this year. We are in for more ice tomorrow, so that just re enforces the lock up when icy. He said he had one mare that did the splits and pulled her pelvis apart, said she couldn't walk..sigh.
He also said he has never seen so many founders in the winter as he has this year and can't figure out what's going on there, but suspects people are feeding more grain and alfalfa, with grass hay very hard to find. With the extreme temps horse owners are feeding more grain...his guess anyway.
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