This message is from: "Vanessa N Weber" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
I'm wondering about EPM (Equine Protozoa Myelitis). I don't know if you have it up there (Minnesota). We do here. Whatever this is, it sounds neurological and possibly progressive. Vanessa Weber -------Original Message------- From: Gina Larson Date: 09/09/05 21:10:36 To: fjordhorse@angus.mystery.com Subject: clumsy horse question This message is from: Gina Larson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello All-- I'm looking for some insight into a situation with a friend's horse. A year ago a friend of mine, new to horses, purchased a 2 year old grade paint filly. >From the first time I saw this horse, I thought she seemed abnormally lethargic. My friend and her boyfriend attributed this to an extremely mellow personality. The horse is also clumsy, often tripping and stumbling over her own front feet. On one or two occasions I've actually seen her fall onto her knees while carrying a rider. My friends attributed this to her young age and lack of muscle development. Yesterday I went out to visit my friend and her horse at the farm where she boards. She was standing beside her horse exasperated, saying that she was being very "sassy" when she tried to ride her (ie resisting her aids, refusing to halt, and in general being beligerent) I watched her when she got back on, and observed a horse that seemed to be incredibly tense and stiff, if not in pain, and seeming to be having a difficult time carrying her rider's weight (my friend IS a heavy girl!). To "reprimand" her horse for being "bad" she decided to lunge her, or in her words "make her run". As I watched her lunge there were at leaast 3 or 4 times at the canter when I observed her horse knuckling over on her near hind and actually falling onto her haunches! My friend did not think this was abnormal!! (I'm sure she's seen it happen before). I, on the other hand was quite alarmed! I haven't discussed it with her as she and I have rather different philosophies on training and horsekeeping and she seems to be quite sensitive to what she perceives as criticism of her or her horses. Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this strange behavior in her horse? I know she is current on vacs, worming and farrier. She was purchased from a local horse dealer who got her for next to nothing at an auction so they don't know much about her first 2 years. Could it be that she really is just lazy and/or uncoordinated? I am worried about this filly, as she just doesn't seem right, my friend doesn't seem to think there is a problem! I don't want either of them to get hurt. Thoughts appreciated! Thank you! Gina Larson Marinette, WI Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
