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  Discussion on What is cataplexy?
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Posted on Tuesday, Sep 12, 2000 - 6:34 pm:

I have a mare that may have a mild form of Narcolepsy, but I am not sure. She seems to get over relaxed and starts to lean as if she might fall over while being groomed, but more often when her feet are being trimmed. She has also laid down while trail ridding when put to work at more than a little climb (the going gets tough, lay down.)Could this also be due to this problem or is she just that lazy? What is Cataplexy? I see it is listed with Narcolepsy, are they the same?

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 13, 2000 - 6:30 am:

Well it could be a health problem or it might be a clever avoidance, its very hard to tell from here. You need to watch her mental state does she look like she is going to sleep or is she awake when she lays down?

narcolepsy
A sleep disorder that usually appears in young adulthood, consisting of recurring episodes of sleep during the day, and often disrupted nocturnal sleep; frequently accompanied by cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and hypnagogic hallucinations; a genetically determined disease.

cataplexy:
A transient attack of extreme generalized muscular weakness, often precipitated by an emotional state such as laughing, surprise, fear, or anger.
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Sep 14, 2000 - 10:05 pm:

Thank you for your response. She seems quite awake when she lies down while being ridden, but it might be that she has cataplexy, caused by fear. It is not an extreme fear, but if you try to back her through poles lying an the ground as in a trail class and she bumps them, she will lie down without first seeing what bumped her hoof. Another time she has laid down was when entering a creek and she did not want to go down the small hill to begin with, then when she stepped down into the creek and could not see where she was stepping, she just laid down and then wouldn't get up! At first I thought she had gotten hurt, but after she did this several times on this one occasion, I could tell that she wasn't hurt, or even enjoying the water, she just didn't want to work, or maybe it was fear from not knowing where her feet were? I just don't know. I now ride her with spurs in case she thinks of going down again, but I also avoid ridding her in situations that would make her feel the need to. I am at a loss here, and because of her weird grooming habits, I thought maybe this might be her problem.

Posted on Friday, Sep 15, 2000 - 3:30 pm:

Sounds like a really well thought out avoidance. I have heard, though never personally seen, of other horses that use this technique.
DrO

Posted on Friday, Sep 15, 2000 - 10:14 pm:

I was afraid of that, but I guess we can't have the perfect horse all the time. I do have a few poeple who are going to helop me work this out. Alot of work and riding in store for us I guess. Thank you for your help.
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