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  Discussion on Legs giving out
Author Message
New Member:
Garth

Posted on Sunday, Sep 7, 2003 - 1:44 pm:

In the fall of 2001, we bought our registered sugarbar mare when she was 2 yrs old. She is hot
blooded and moves strongly and quickly and also spooks easily.

One of the first rides we went on she stretched out and went down on her front knees when we
tightened the cinch. Her former owner was with us and told us she did that sometimes and he
figured she would grow out of it.

From then till the summer of 2003, and a lot of trail riding, I noticed no problems. I started
working her in the arena in January of 2003. I did loping, trotting, and training. In the spring of
2003 I kept the training up, but did it in a pasture. I noticed after trotting for no more than 5 minutes
she would stumble and sometimes go down on her front knees. We had her bred in June 2003.

In mid July she got a seroma in between her front legs on her lower chest.
We took her to the vet and he lanced it. He thought it could be from a kick or a rub

In early August, I saddled her and when I got on her she went down, stumbled and collected her footing
and got right back up. ( I make a point of tightening her cinch
in stages. I will tighten it in stages after walking her around in between.)

I rode her walking her around the arena a few times then I started to trot her and she went down to
the ground again, stumbling to collect herself and got her footing again to stand back up.

When I trot her I also can feel her back feet give out once in a while. What I mean is, that it is not
always a strong rhythmic gate.

I've talked to her former owner about it and he said the only problem he has ever had with her was
the going down once in a while and he also trotted and loped her in the arena.

We did go on a ride with our mares 2 yr old full sister and watched her go down when she was mounted.
This mare went down, laid on her side perfectly still for about 10 seconds and then got up like
nothing had happened and went for the trail ride with no incidence after that.
Her sisters owner has not noticed any stumbling or weakness in her gate.

I'v tried reading what ever I could and only get more and more confused. Does anyone have
any idea what is going on here?

I would appreciate any ideas, thanks
Garth
Member:
Althaea

Posted on Sunday, Sep 7, 2003 - 4:08 pm:

Hi Garth -
I have two friends who have horses that were doing the same thing. Both showed no signs of lameness - and the falling episodes were intermittent - with no clear causation. Both went through detailed and costly testing (EPM, radiographs, thermographs, stress tests, etc) and it finally turned out that both horses had mild cases of narcolepsy (sp?). Not sure what tests can be performed to test for the condition, these folks sent the horses to a vet clinic where they were heavily monitored for a week. Not sure of what treatments are available either, as both of these people are just learning to live with their horse's condition.
A possibility Dr. O?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Monday, Sep 8, 2003 - 7:39 am:

Althea is likely correct. Going down while cinched, tacked, or groomed is actually a commonly reported event in horses and is a mild short-lived seizure. See these two articles where clinical signs and treatments are covered:
1) » Equine Diseases » Nervous System » Narcolepsy, Cataplexy, and Fainting
2) » Equine Diseases » Nervous System » Seizures and Epilepsy.
Your horse is more likely epileptic as narcoleptic horses do not usually have a seizure under saddle.
DrO
Member:
Garth

Posted on Monday, Sep 8, 2003 - 4:41 pm:

Thank you Dr.O, and to you to Althea

I do appreciate your time to give me these suggestions.

Garth
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