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
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