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  Discussion on Prospect
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Member:
Gwen

Posted on Monday, Jan 15, 2007 - 1:36 am:

I was wondering what others' thoughts were on whether or not one should take on a horse with possible narcolepsy. I read all of the posts regarding this, as well as the article and I THINK a horse I am looking at may have it. The seller simply told me a story of how she cinched his girth one day and he DrOpped to his knees. She has only had him for three months so doesn't know his history. When I watched her tack him up, he sort of stretched his front legs in front of him after she tightened the girth. Other than that (and it was a very subtle stretch) he did not react at all. My question is whether or not this is something to take on in terms of ownership. Many of the information I have read online states that it may not be a major problem, but I do not want to get into something that can be a headache in the future. Thanks!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Jan 15, 2007 - 7:31 am:

Gwen, it is important to realize there is quite a bit of variation in severity between horses. So concerning what you are dealing with you will have to take the word of the past owner or take the horse on trial.
DrO
Member:
Scooter

Posted on Monday, Jan 15, 2007 - 7:56 am:

Hi Gwen my arab gelding does that stretch and will fall to his knees if cinched up too quickly.
I have to cinch him slowly and if he gets the I'm going to fall over look, I walk him before tightening further. Other than that I have never had a problem with him. It just takes a few more minutes to cinch him, he is fine under saddle and in the pasture. I don't know what it is about the cinching that causes this. I also had a mare years ago that did the same thing as long as she was cinched slowly...no problems.
Member:
Canter

Posted on Monday, Jan 15, 2007 - 8:17 am:

Several years back, a friend had a narcoleptic gelding. He wasn't girthy, but had a habit of hanging his head over the stall door and then falling asleep...as he collapsed and banged his head/neck against the door, he came awake. Fortunately, he never injured himself. The other danger was to his rider. He worked just fine, but if she stopped to chat with another rider, the horse had a tendancy to fall asleep. My friend learned to watch for the signs and a light slap on his neck & withers was enough to wake him up and keep him on his feet. Nobody ever got hurt, but you can see where this could be an accident waiting to happen. Otherwise, the the horse was happy and healthy and the family who owned him didn't see it as much of a problem. They just had to be vigilent around him.
Member:
Gwen

Posted on Monday, Jan 15, 2007 - 9:29 am:

Yes, that is very similar to the stories I have been reading about Fran. I am not sure how severe it is, or even if it is narcolepsy. I have proposed a 2 week trial so that I can "test" him. Thanks for the information
Member:
Qh4me

Posted on Monday, Jan 15, 2007 - 4:41 pm:

Hi Gwen,

Don't have much to comment, other than I would totally go for a trial to see. If he has only had one episode, maybe it was just a freak thing, but you want to be sure.

After all you have been through with your guy and the lameness issues, you want to be sure that this guy is 100 % before you buy him.

Best of luck and looking forward to pictures...

PS. I am glad to hear you have found your unsound gelding a forever home.
Member:
Gwen

Posted on Monday, Jan 15, 2007 - 7:06 pm:

Well the girl didn't want to do a trial so the hunt is still on! Thanks for the supportive words Shawna! I keep working to remind myself that buying a new horse is a FUN thing!!
Member:
Corinne

Posted on Monday, Jan 15, 2007 - 9:17 pm:

Well good luck Gwen in your search. This has nothing to do with Narcolepsy, but in relation to a horse stretching his legs and almost going to his knees if he his girth is done up too quickly, could he be trying to alleviate pinching? I have no idea but I was taught to pick up and stretch their front legs (one at a time) after doing up my girth so any pinched skin will be released. Maybe a horse who does his own stretching after having his girth done up quickly could benefit from having the rider on the ground stretching his front legs after doing up the girth? One leg at a time. Just a thought since they seem to be stretching themselves and it's related to the girth. Hmmmmmm Interesting.
Member:
Gwen

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 16, 2007 - 6:21 am:

Thanks Corinne. After reading any information I could find about his behavior, narcolepsy seemed to be a pretty good fit. Unfortunately, even if the seller is completely honest with me, she only received him three months ago (from a dealer) in a big shipment from Florida. There really is no way of getting a history report on him. Therefore I was erring on the side of caution and I asked for a two week trial to see if I could get a more clear picture of him. She was not willing to do it, so I am out of luck. I REALLY liked him, but I guess he wasn't meant to be.
Member:
Corinne

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 16, 2007 - 6:57 am:

Sorry to hear that Gwen. I seriously have to admit I have seen sleep disorders in goats (cataplexy) on the discovery channel but I had no idea that horses suffered from Narcolepsy. With my insomnia I sure wish I had narcolepsy every now and then. LOL (Kidding of course).
Anyway, as always...best wishes and good luck in your new search....but before you give up all hope would the current owner be willing to do a trial if you obtain temp insurance and have a contract drawn up that states you will take care of any and all medical problems that may arise under your care?
At my first barn they did that and owners were less reluctant to allow horses to come on trial. I was lucky. I bought from this fabulous Arabian Farm in Bozeman Mt, got 30 days, he was delivered from Bozeman Mt to my location at the time in Great Falls, Mt three hours away and then previous owner and breeder even came back to do the paperwork when I bought so that he would come with his papers! I did however pay for his full board and care at a facility the owner trusted.
That might also be an option, keeping him for the trial at a place the owner picks out and feels comfortable with. Just might give you a second chance at this horse you admired so much.
Either way..the best of luck!

Take care,
Corinne
Member:
Gwen

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 16, 2007 - 4:04 pm:

Great ideas, Corinne. She expressed some major concerns for regression in training and behaviors as well as health concerns. Apparently, sellers are really moving away from the trial period option. Tricky for the buyer...
New Member:
Upzoo

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 16, 2007 - 7:10 pm:

Gwen -
Maybe you don't need to give up on this horse. Several people at our barn have had experience with horses that stretch out and nearly fall over when the girth is tightened too quickly. They say such horses are just "cold backed" and all you need to do is go slowly with girthing - even VERY slowly.
If the horse you're looking at only shows this behavior when tacking, that's probably what is going on.
Member:
Corinne

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 16, 2007 - 7:24 pm:

Well I guess it's a sellers market in horses! Too bad.

Just means there is another horse out there already chosen for you! (See how I put a spin on that saying my Mom used to feed me about boys when I would get dumped, sure I didn't want to believe it either but eventually found my Prince Charming and lookey here He even got me a white horse..too bad he didn't ride in on him or I might have him as company at the barn! LOL)

Best of luck in your search and let us know when you find something!

Take care,
Corinne
Member:
Adriaa

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 16, 2007 - 8:06 pm:

Nothing to do with narcolepsy, but Gwen I'm definitely feeling with you on the horse shopping. The grey horse, Bulldozer, I was interested in, the owner was going to do a week trial for me, then changed her mind. Then just as I had pretty much decided to get him, she sold him, people came with a trailer and cash, so that was that, so back to the drawing board. But she did mention relapse of training as one of the reasons.

Fainting goats, they have some genetic thing going on...
Member:
Corinne

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007 - 7:01 am:

Adria good luck to you! And yes the goats must have a genetic component passed in their breeding. It was just awful how people would scare them on purpose just to watch the cataplexy event. I felt horrible for them. I think I was mistaken about it being on discovery channel however.
Member:
dawson

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 24, 2007 - 6:22 pm:

Gwen; I would not recommend you purchasing a horse with Narcolepsy, until you know from a Vet to what degree it effects him or until you yourself are more familiar with it's pro's and cons.

I have only experianced two an 18Hand warmblood beautiful experianced grand prix horse who's issues unexpectedly took a turn for the worse. He was ridden for eight years until he began falling over with little notice, and he injured several people when he fell on them then scrambled as he awoke. He also could not by put out into a field without self injury from a fall, sadly he was PTS.

The second horse is a failry young qtr horse gelding who initially would "faint" if tacking up took to long. The owner increased her speed tacking up, and he has not had a bout of "fainting" for several years. Has he grown out of the disease or is it the owners experiance at knowing how to deal with it? She has shown him, jumped him, and trail ridden him and he does well. Would I buy him, no, because I don't bounce the way I use too. LOL!
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