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Discussion on Incoordination and weakness
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New Member:
jproybal
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 11, 2008 - 1:48 pm:
I have an 18 month old Friesian filly which I purchased and was shipped to me at the end of September. She was laying down in the trailer when she arrived and had some difficulty getting up. She was whobbly and uncoordinated more than usual for a long trip and remained so - to the point that the haulers were concerned. There were no outward makes or scrapes on her. We kept her isolated and in a large pen so she could move around. She was unbalanced both in front and rear legs at the time. She improved over the next days and was also evaluated by my local vet for whobblers etc., which was inconclusive since my other young Friesian showed about the same results although the filly in question was less likely to counter tail pulling etc. She has since been adjusted by the equine chiropractor for one initial and minor visit and one more extensive. These seemed to help some. But the vet conducted his tail pull tests not long after the first adjustment so I'm not sure that didn't undo some things. She has also been on herbal treatments for Central nervous system repair.
She can now lope and trot around although stops and sudden movements are still uncoordinated and she shows some weakness in the hind-end. She does not like you to pick up any one foot for fear of falling.
I am struggling with the next course of action with her. The breeder I purchased her from is willing to take her back at anytime if we are not satisfied with her. She is a sweet and very nice/wellbred filly and I would like to get her through this if possible - but at this point she is not functional and I am not optimistic I will be able to do so.
We are somewhat limited here in Montana in terms of large teaching hospitals to take her for further evaluation. Some have told me to just give her more time - while others say it will probably get worse with age. I wish obviously to do the best for the horse but also must consider the reality of the situation and significant investment involved. etc. Does anyone know of similar problems especially w/ Friesians? Any advice would be helpful. Jane
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Member:
huf5
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 11, 2008 - 2:52 pm:
Hi Jane,
by all means I am not an expert. I used to work with a Lusitano, Andalusian and Frisian horse breeder and found that as with most WB they mature at a much slower rate then most other breeds. I found the handful of foals I had seen there, to be rather wobbly on their feet and uncoordinated for many years, but certainly not as extreme as what you are mentioning - are you certain she is well hydrated? (due to traveling stress?)
Sorry I can't offer more 
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Member:
dres
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 11, 2008 - 3:16 pm:
Jane , i can't help you either... my understanding tho is that a lot of Friesians are pre disposed to a weak hind end.. specially the stifles!
Keep us posted on what you do find out..
On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots..
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Member:
leslie1
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 11, 2008 - 3:19 pm:
I feel for you 
I had to have my precious Kira put down because of wobblers. She was a DraftX 16 months old, and one morning she could not get up. It was heartbreaking. Since your horse is over age 1 I think surgery is your only option...From what I gleaned from DrO's article is that the surgery is VERy expensive and isnt a guarentee to fix the problem.
Im so sorry
Leslie
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Member:
ajudson1
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 11, 2008 - 4:48 pm:
Jane,
I am sorry to hear your new filly arrived in such a state.
I have a Friesian mix and agree that they can be somewhat uncoordinated for the first few years; I also think this sounds like more than being clumsy.
I also can share that we bought a Thoroughbred who arrived laying down in the trailer. He seemed fine after a few days, and then began falling at odd times. We returned him and never heard what was wrong with him.
A 3rd example I personally see is I have an Arab mare who gets like "drunk" walking at times. She is 19 years old, and in most of the episodes it seems she has fallen or hit the fence some place. She will hold her head lower than normal and to the side.
Does your filly seem to have normal head carriage?
So my uneducated guess would be something with the spine?
Or is she perhaps having an issue with the herbal supplements she is getting? Maybe try just feeding her simply..hay, good vitamin supplement, & water, and keep good notes over a 30 day period and see if she gets worse, better, or stays the same?
Good luck in finding out what is wrong.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 7:44 am:
Welcome Jane,
I am a little confused when you say your veterinarians evaluation for Wobblers was inconclusive and your normal foal acts like your incoordicated foal. Did your veterinarian conclude that the foal is incoordinated in the hind limbs?
Certainly your next statement "but at this point she is not functional" seems to say it all and my recommendation for such a situation would be to return the foal to the seller and let them work this problem out.
You should note that unless Wobblers, which is a instability of the spine, is ruled out there should be no further chiropractic adjustments.
DrO
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Member:
paardex
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Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 11:33 am:
Concerning weakness in Friesians: Coming from Friesland [the county where Friesians dot the fields like sheep] I've have seen A LOT of young ones and almost all of them were compared to my big warmbloods sturdy and strong and much less prone to ataxia.
That was there and compared to BIG young warmbloods so please keep that in mind but imo A friesian should most certainly not have a weak hind end!
Jos
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Member:
erika
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Posted on Friday, Dec 12, 2008 - 9:05 pm:
I'm curious where some of you got the idea that hind end weakness is normal for Friesians? Unsoundness is not a trait of the breed.
Like many large breeds they can be late maturing and therefore less than graceful until they are full grown, though. I don't think that clumsiness would manifest to the degree where you would wonder what is wrong.
I vote with Dr. O that something is unhealthy about your filly and likely to get worse rather than grow out of it. If it were me I would return her.
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