Help/Advice Please... (Update - Vet Been Out).

[Spirit of Wales]

Today was the first time we have ridden out in 3 weeks because of the weather/xmas. So we decided to do a short slow walk around the block which takes no more than 30 minutes.

Blue appears to be fine in himself, not lost weight over winter, a bit stiff but no more than usual, has a fantastic shiny coat, no nasal discharge, normal temperature, muck is normal, eating normal. However half way round our walk he went down with me on him and literally sat on his bum (No I am not too heavy & haven't put any weight on over xmas ). So i got off, helped him up on to his feet and walked him into a gateway. No shoes have come off or come loose. So we thought perhaps he had simply trod on his back feathers in the soft verge and lost his balance. I walked him for 10 minutes in hand and he seemed fine, munching on grass as we went, so I got back on him and all was well. Got off again at top of our road as we often do to walk them down to the yard and almost at the front gate he went down again, this time onto his front legs.

I've arranged for the farrier to come out and renew his shoes although they are ok, will also arrange for the McTimoney lady to come out. Could he be stiff, requiring some Bute? Lacking in something? Or simply out of shape and needs to build up his stamina again?

Has anyone else experienced this? Any ideas what could be causing this?

He is normally clumsy, but has never gone down like this... He is 18-20 yrs old and as already mentioned appears in good health.

I don't want to get vet out until feet/back checked, but any ideas would be appreciated, it worried me this morning..

Thanks Spirit of Wales

[kirsten]

Hi - sorry don't have any advice but want to wish you well - it sounds very frightening. I have a 19ish yo myself and dread this sort of thing happening. I hope you get some answers from the foot/back people.

[Deleted]

When you say he goes down, is it done in a controlled manner, like he's lying down, or is it a slip or stumble?

[sarahbing]

In this situation I would be reaching for the phone and ringing my Vet. Expensive I know, but this sounds serious and potentially dangerous, so for his welfare and your safety, that would be my advice I'm afraid.

[HolsBols]

Its only happened once that i know... He slipped but owner didnt ride him after that as he is an old man (late 20s, clydesdale and with arthritis) and figured it was his was of saying he couldnt do it anymore...

I hope its not the same for yours, but i agree that it would be worthwhile getting a vet :/

[Spirit of Wales]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

When you say he goes down, is it done in a controlled manner, like he's lying down, or is it a slip or stumble?

michellep, its more like a stumble. As i said he is a clumsy chap anyway, so just put it down to his feathers! thinking about it he does drop off to sleep when in his stable, or when he's very relaxed such as with the farrier, being groomed for a long time, etc, when he will stumble as if he's going to go down on the ground, a slap on the neck normally wakes him up. I'm concerned about narcolepsy or some other neurological problem. Farrier out tomorrow, but will contact vet.

[donnalex]

My husbands old horse used to do this coming out or in of the stable as there was a turn and a step up to get in. I thought his eyes were going so got him checked and it was his legs giving out on him and not doing as they were told due to arthritis.
The advice was retire him, definitely no riding as too dangerous.
Yours could be something completely different thoguh

[Spirit of Wales]

Vet came out this morning to Blue. Thankfully she doesn't think its neurological, such as narcolepsy. His heart/organs sound good and he is showing no signs of stiffness or back injuries. She is treating him for mites/lice on his legs and thinks that they were irritating him so much that he went to stomp and lost his balance, hence why he sat on his bum. Also because he has been stamping his hind legs so hard she thinks he is a little sore so he's on bute for a few days, diosect for the lice and ivamectin for the mites (sorry if spelling not good, I'm sitting in the dark at the moment). She also said because of his age, even though I only took him for a short walk, he has lost fitness with not being ridden for several weeks, hence the clumsy gaits and stumbling. So she has recommended that I walk him out in-hand for a week increasing the distance, lunge him and then when I do ride again take him short distances and slowly build his fitness back up and increase distance. His dropping off for a nap when copmpletely relaxed she says is normal for his age and because he is so chilled out in his temperament.

I hope she has got it right. Wish me luck and lets hope in about 10 days when I ride him out again we have no more problems of him going down into a sitting position or anyother form of collapse.

Your opinions are still appreciated and your thoughts on my vets diagnosis.

[anastasia55555]

Good luck :-)! hope everything gets his problems fixed!

[sarahbing]

That is great news. Thanks for updating us. You must be so relieved!

[eileen]

sounds like good sound advice and you can only try it all and see if there is any improvement. did you by chance see the horse on a vets programme that was on before christmas? Will briefly tell you what happened anyway...there was a horse who kept dropping off to sleep but otherwise was completely sound, it seems that he would stay awake the whole time to protect his companions and was then dropping off at odd times. the vet said to stable him on his own so he didnt have the worry of looking out for the rest of the herd and gradually he stopped falling asleep. Bless him he was so sweet. Hope it works out for you eileen xxxx

[Deleted]

That's great news, and certainly seems a good approach to take. It's easy to forget oldies drop off more and take longer to build up the fitness. Do keep us updated

[sandy]

Good news - let us know how he gets on x

[kirsten]

What a relief to have something to go on! may I ask is Blue stabled or out all time?

[Spirit of Wales]

Thanks everyone. He's on ivermectin to work on the mites from the inside out 4 lots, 7 days apart, deosect on the outside with frontline in between. If this fails then there is an injection & topical lotion used for cattle/sheep but not licenced for horses we can try. We are doing our best to avoid shaving off his feathers, but if this is necessary i will. Farrier coming out to re-new shoes today, then tomorrow I shall start walking him out in-hand for a few days to build up his fitness as well as lunge him. Thankfully in himself he is his usual happy self. Vet said he was in good condition for his age, so I truely hope she is right.

It really makes you worry when your horse is not well.

Kirsten, my lad Blue is out doing the day for 8/9 hours and stabled overnight this time of year, but come late spring he will be back out 24/7 unless the weather is bad like today.

Will keep you informed, thanks everyone your support is appreciated.