Re: stumbling horses and EPSM and what about EPM?
This message is from: debora seely <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hi, Here's another thought. How about EPM? -- the protozoan carried by possums. I trained a horse that was falling all the time and he turned up with a severe case of EPM. If you can cross a horses legs and he just leaves them there for a minute or so then, he may be infected. Check with your vet. I have lived in Missouri and Michigan and there have been horses all around me that have had it. One of mine ended up with it from the vaccine. The treatment was expensive but that horse came out of it. (I don't recommend the vaccine. Four horses at my barn came down with it after the second vaccine.) Deb Seely Rose or Murph <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: This message is from: "Rose or Murph" Hi, a couple people brought up stumbling. I have been doing research from safergrass.org. It focuses on a EPSM Equine Polysaccaride Myopathy,which has been found to be common in draft horses.(fjords and percherons). It can lead to tying up, stumbling, ect. It is an inability to metabolize carbohydrates. I have a percheron who has stumbled many times during my rides, to the point of going down. I have since retired him as he is getting older, and due to his stumbling problem I do not feel safe anymore cantering or trotting on him. As described in some Dr Valentine's articles, some of the symptoms can go unnoticed in a horse who is not physically sick, but seems reluctant to pick up the canter, won't pick up his feet, does not back up easily,and is lethargic under saddle. My horse also had the hard thick crest in his neck. I had my hay analyzed for sugar, starch, and protein content. It came out in the recommended allowances for a horse exhibiting signs of EPSM. I have noticed, my gelding seems to play more than he ever has, running bucking. His crest has decreased in size and has become softer. He willingly picked up his feet for me the other day, he felt much more flexible, which is a huge sign that the diet is working. I am going to continue on with it, and see what happens. For those of you who think your horse has a stumbling issue, go to the safergrass.org website and read about EPSM. Fjords are at a higher risk for EPSM because they fit the profile for the disease. I have a young Fjord that I am feeding very carefully. The website is very interesting as it talks about plants, how they store sugar, what temps they store the most sugar. It talks about optimum hours of the day to let your horses graze. I did not have a lot of faith at first but I am starting to see results with my gelding. The most important key is to keep the fjordies weight under control, and know how much sugar, starch and protein is in your hay. Hope this helps. Rosemary in Roy Chilly and clear tonight The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw - Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
RE: stumbling horses
This message is from: "Gail Russell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I wonder if she stumbles because tender feet prevent her from doing a "heel first" landing. See this link. http://www.naturalhoofcareofcolorado.com/hoofdistortions.html I noticed this guy is near Beth and Sandy and Jeanne. Gail The FjordHorse List archives can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/rcepw
Re: stumbling horses
This message is from: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Jean, I know you must think I am patronizing you - I am not. I don't know you> All I can say is that when I am on one train of thought, you present such logic that sends me to the light. BTW I do love your weather reports. I thought treeless was an easy way to go until you pointed out the what should have been obvious flaws. Thank you! Carole in Northern WV. 70's j--just back from a visit to Nancy Roemer and her Fjords.She is a lovely person blessed with a lovely farm and horses. I am gratefull for her attention. Yeah Starfire Farm! This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > I just Looked at the 4-beat. In the FAQ's it says that the tree has > solid wood cantle and pommel..but the bars are rubber. Not good, in my > opinion. A solid tree, properly shaped and fitted to the horse, will > support the rider, spread the weight. those flexible bars will sore the > horse. There ARE some totally flexible trees on the market. The Boz > saddles have a totally flexible tree.. for one. I am not sure if this > would work well. The flex panel saddles such as Ortho-Flex, etc.have > solid trees with flexible panels attached.. The Treeless or "half > tree"saddles such as the Bob Marshall Sport saddle seems to work for > some riders.. > > Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, nice fall day again. 65 degrees > > I was wondering if anyone has tried a 4 beat saddle on a fjord? >>http://gaitsofgold.com/new/content/category/4/23/88/ >> >>I know that this saddle was designed for the gaited horse, but in some >> ways fjords share some common problems with gaited breeds. A lot of >> gaited horses have a low withers, and round short back. This saddle is >> treeless, or built on flexible pannels instead of a tree. It also puts >> the heels slightly ahead of the hips, a possition I find much more >> comfortable for all day rides. >> >>anyone out there have one? >> >>janet
Re: stumbling horses
This message is from: Jean Ernest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I just Looked at the 4-beat. In the FAQ's it says that the tree has solid wood cantle and pommel..but the bars are rubber. Not good, in my opinion. A solid tree, properly shaped and fitted to the horse, will support the rider, spread the weight. those flexible bars will sore the horse. There ARE some totally flexible trees on the market. The Boz saddles have a totally flexible tree.. for one. I am not sure if this would work well. The flex panel saddles such as Ortho-Flex, etc.have solid trees with flexible panels attached.. The Treeless or "half tree"saddles such as the Bob Marshall Sport saddle seems to work for some riders.. Jean in Fairbanks, Alaska, nice fall day again. 65 degrees I was wondering if anyone has tried a 4 beat saddle on a fjord? >http://gaitsofgold.com/new/content/category/4/23/88/ > >I know that this saddle was designed for the gaited horse, but in some ways >fjords share some common problems with gaited breeds. A lot of gaited >horses have a low withers, and round short back. This saddle is treeless, >or built on flexible pannels instead of a tree. It also puts the heels >slightly ahead of the hips, a possition I find much more comfortable for all >day rides. > >anyone out there have one? > >janet
