Horse Passing Out...

David · 10-26-2009, 09:01 AM

Does anyone have any experience with a horse passing out? Last weekend I took my wife riding and her horse fell in the trailer, I thought she'd just slipped, no injury so we went ahead and rode. When we finished riding, we tied up to the trailer and I was unsaddling while my wife went to find a porta john, so it was just me at the trailer. Anyway, her horse passed out and fell, I mean she fell so hard I thought she might have broke a rib. Then she fell in the trailer on the way home too. I haven't seen her fall again but, I'm kinda worried that it might happen with my wife on her, or worse my wife and son.

So my question is, has anyone had this happen to them? The horse in question is a 6 yr old Walkaloosa mare. Never had any medical problem except "stress related rain rot" at shedding time each year. I've tried internet research but all I can come up with is narcalepsy, which according to the website if that's it then I don't need to worry because it'll only happen when she is standing still.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.
David

MiniHorseFosterMom · 10-26-2009, 09:04 AM

Well never dealt with that, so my only advice would be to call your vet and discuss it with them. And to have them take a look at the horse...

David · 10-26-2009, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiniHorseFosterMom

Well never dealt with that, so my only advice would be to call your vet and discuss it with them. And to have them take a look at the horse...

That's in the works, I was just hoping to find someone who had dealt with this issue before who could give me some insight.

David

thekingsgirl07 · 10-26-2009, 09:13 AM

I use to have a Saddlebred gelding that did the same thing. I would deff get a vet out to draw blood. He ended up having a vitamin defiency(sp) of some sort put him on a supplement and he has never passed out again.

redboy · 10-26-2009, 09:15 AM

What breed of horse??
Could it be an HYPP episode if it were an Impressive bred QH?

recklesshoundog · 10-26-2009, 09:19 AM

Yes, I had a NSH that I ended up retiring because he would have heart episodes that would make him wobble and fall. His gums would turn blue and then as quick as it started it would be over. I stopped riding him for obvious safety reasons and he spent his days babysitting the weanies and just being beautiful. This started at late 16ish and I lost him at 18 to a stroke.

I would think it could be a number of things but definately do not ride or put the horse in a spot where you could become crushed should it be lights out again.

Good luck, I hope it's an easy solution.

Arabx · 10-26-2009, 09:21 AM

Scary - my first guess would be HYPP too, if the horse is a cross you may not know what is in the background.

It does sound like it may be narcalepsy, it might also be seizures. I've seen similar behaviour in a dog with seizures.

Good Luck and I'm really glad your wife wasn't hurt.

WickedNag · 10-26-2009, 09:26 AM

HYPP could cause collapse as well as EPM. Appys as wells as paints or any grande horse could have impressive in their background.

David · 10-26-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redboy

What breed of horse??
Could it be an HYPP episode if it were an Impressive bred QH?

Walkaloosa- Tennessee Walking Horse crossed with an Appaloosa. Supposed to get the gait of a walker and the color of an app. She's just a black horse that gaits though. It's the horse my wife is on in my avatar picture.

David

singing tree · 10-26-2009, 09:39 AM

Wouldn't want to haul this horse again until you find out what is going on. I would think fainting in a trailer could be really dangerous. I have never seen this.

dunamovin · 10-26-2009, 11:48 AM

1. HYPP is my first thought.
2. Also remember a horse that did this and had epilespy. After trying different meds the horse was finally put down.
3. Also check her electrolytes and endocrine system; she could be diabetic.

theoldbear · 10-26-2009, 01:33 PM

This is scary! I've had it happen a couple of times. Interestingly enough, both times with Walkers.

Had a filly that would just "go down". The first time, she'd bee sedated for a procedure by the vet, and we thought he'd overdosed her. The second time, she was being loaded, resisting, and just dropped to the ground out of stress.

She had a long career as a broodmare.

The other was with a TWH gelding on a ranch in Wyoming. I'd been riding him, stopped for a break, and down he went. He did the same thing with the wrangler a week or so later, and so was "retired". He was a teenager (like 17 or 18) and both of the incidents happened at over 10,000 feet, so may have been altitude related. Not a problem where you are, I suspect.

Girthing a horse too tight can cause fainting. Did you have this mare saddled in the trailer? If so, was the girth tight?

I just remembered girthing a little round Appaloosa mare too tight, and having her faint with me. Loosened the girth and she popped right back up and was fine!

horselady · 10-26-2009, 01:41 PM

I had a tb mare that would buckle at the knees and drop down. later she would tremble and drop , vet determined it was the cause of cushings with a tumor on the pituitary, we put her down not wanting her to suffer and perhaps fall into the fence, she would use the fence to guide her body down, she was 35 and had let a very productive life ,

Horselady44 · 10-26-2009, 01:45 PM

OMG...that is scary! This is not something to wait around with

I would DEF get a vet out ASAP. Do not ride or haul this horse at all until it is seen by a vet IMO. This sounds pretty serious...and it could be a few things...so yes DEF get a vet out ASAP. Also, make sure she is kept somewhere where if she does pass out again to make sure she isnt somewhere that she will hurt herself if she falls. The couple times she has passed out...has she been tied every time?

BarnBum · 10-26-2009, 01:52 PM

Sounds like a neurologic disorder. Possibly a seizure. (you don't have to thrash around to be said having a seizure)

I would definatly get some sort of scan done and blood work.

David · 10-26-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theoldbear

This is scary! I've had it happen a couple of times. Interestingly enough, both times with Walkers.

Had a filly that would just "go down". The first time, she'd bee sedated for a procedure by the vet, and we thought he'd overdosed her. The second time, she was being loaded, resisting, and just dropped to the ground out of stress.

She had a long career as a broodmare.

The other was with a TWH gelding on a ranch in Wyoming. I'd been riding him, stopped for a break, and down he went. He did the same thing with the wrangler a week or so later, and so was "retired". He was a teenager (like 17 or 18) and both of the incidents happened at over 10,000 feet, so may have been altitude related. Not a problem where you are, I suspect.

Girthing a horse too tight can cause fainting. Did you have this mare saddled in the trailer? If so, was the girth tight?

I just remembered girthing a little round Appaloosa mare too tight, and having her faint with me. Loosened the girth and she popped right back up and was fine!

Couple of answers...

I never put saddled horses in the trailer. The one time I did I got a custom made saddle blanket ruined. Dont' do it any more.

As for girthing, she rode 4 hrs with a 30 minute break around the halfway point. If it was from being too tightly girthed she would have passed out long before she did. Also, with the walking horse build /\ and the saddles we use, my girths are usually less tight than most quarter horse girths. Even though this mare is part app, she is build 100% like a Walking Horse.

Elevation has nothing to do with it. We are not high up at all (guessing under 2k ft above sea level).

I keep hearing that horses this happens to are teenagers. This mare is 6 yrs old. I guess the blood work will tell. Thanks for the ideas.

David

recklesshoundog · 10-26-2009, 02:58 PM

Have them check for any lowgrade infections. It was a low grade strep infection that damaged Special's heart.

Clippity-Clop · 10-26-2009, 03:04 PM

Wow! Glad nobody got hurt - horse or human. I'm very interested in what your diagnosis ends up being. My first thought was EPM too but it could really be any number of things. I hope it's nothing that can't be treated. Good luck!

Amy · 10-26-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by recklesshoundog

Yes, I had a NSH that I ended up retiring because he would have heart episodes that would make him wobble and fall. His gums would turn blue and then as quick as it started it would be over. I stopped riding him for obvious safety reasons and he spent his days babysitting the weanies and just being beautiful. This started at late 16ish and I lost him at 18 to a stroke.

I would think it could be a number of things but definately do not ride or put the horse in a spot where you could become crushed should it be lights out again.

Good luck, I hope it's an easy solution.

There was a really good article in Equus earlier this year about a work mule that kept passing oput... turned out he had a heart problem- he was in atrial fibrillation and was hvaing runs of v-tach, which caused him to pass out. They cardioverted him. (Sorry, I'm a nurse and I found this fascinating).

In lay terms, this mule had a conduction disorder that caused a very irregular heartbeat, and when he "fainted," he was actually having runs of a life-threatening arrythmia. They were able to shock him out of it.

BTW- atrial fibrillation is a common cause of strokes in humans.

I would definitely mention to the vet about getting an EKG... they actually went to gerat lengths to diagnose the horse in the article, they put him on a giant treadmill and did a stress test! But your horse is passing out while standing... like I said, I'm a nurse, not a vet, but in humans, fainting or falling spells can be caused by any number of things, but at the top of the list are heart and blood pressure issues, as well as neuro or seizure issues. But if she only does it when not moving... that makes a lot less sense to me. I was thinking even an ear problem could be messing with her equilibrium, but you would think most of this stuff would show up while working.

Good luck, I'm interested to hear what the vet says.

pippy · 10-26-2009, 04:01 PM

I recently read an article on horses not getting enough sleep and then passing out from exhaustion.
Many think horses get all the sleep they need standing up but studies show they really need to lie down and zonk out for several hours to keep going. The article sited horses that would be distressed from things going on around them in their everyday life - noises, changes in environment etc or on the road/shows - I'd ask the vet if that could be a possibility.

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10-26-2009, 09:01 AM
David Long Yearling Join Date: May 2007 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,306	Horse Passing Out... Does anyone have any experience with a horse passing out? Last weekend I took my wife riding and her horse fell in the trailer, I thought she'd just slipped, no injury so we went ahead and rode. When we finished riding, we tied up to the trailer and I was unsaddling while my wife went to find a porta john, so it was just me at the trailer. Anyway, her horse passed out and fell, I mean she fell so hard I thought she might have broke a rib. Then she fell in the trailer on the way home too. I haven't seen her fall again but, I'm kinda worried that it might happen with my wife on her, or worse my wife and son. So my question is, has anyone had this happen to them? The horse in question is a 6 yr old Walkaloosa mare. Never had any medical problem except "stress related rain rot" at shedding time each year. I've tried internet research but all I can come up with is narcalepsy, which according to the website if that's it then I don't need to worry because it'll only happen when she is standing still. Any and all help is greatly appreciated. David __________________ "If you see your stirrups slap together above the horn, you're probably bucked off". Dave Stamey.

10-26-2009, 09:04 AM
MiniHorseFosterMom Halter broke Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 89	Well never dealt with that, so my only advice would be to call your vet and discuss it with them. And to have them take a look at the horse...

10-26-2009, 09:13 AM
thekingsgirl07 Halter broke Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 70	I use to have a Saddlebred gelding that did the same thing. I would deff get a vet out to draw blood. He ended up having a vitamin defiency(sp) of some sort put him on a supplement and he has never passed out again. __________________ If your horse says no, you either asked the wrong question, or asked the question wrong. ~Pat Parelli ~RIP Sundance~

10-26-2009, 09:15 AM
redboy Greenbroke Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eastern Shore of Maryland Posts: 3,033	What breed of horse?? Could it be an HYPP episode if it were an Impressive bred QH?

10-26-2009, 09:19 AM
recklesshoundog Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 3,176	Yes, I had a NSH that I ended up retiring because he would have heart episodes that would make him wobble and fall. His gums would turn blue and then as quick as it started it would be over. I stopped riding him for obvious safety reasons and he spent his days babysitting the weanies and just being beautiful. This started at late 16ish and I lost him at 18 to a stroke. I would think it could be a number of things but definately do not ride or put the horse in a spot where you could become crushed should it be lights out again. Good luck, I hope it's an easy solution.

10-26-2009, 09:21 AM
Arabx Weanling Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Hat Creek Cattle Company Posts: 329	Scary - my first guess would be HYPP too, if the horse is a cross you may not know what is in the background. It does sound like it may be narcalepsy, it might also be seizures. I've seen similar behaviour in a dog with seizures. Good Luck and I'm really glad your wife wasn't hurt. __________________ "I am I because my little dog knows me" - Gertrude Stein

10-26-2009, 09:26 AM
WickedNag Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Dakota Posts: 1,118	HYPP could cause collapse as well as EPM. Appys as wells as paints or any grande horse could have impressive in their background. __________________ ~D~ Please feel free to visit my sites and light a candle http://amanda-garner.memory-of.com/ http://samantha-evink.memory-of.com/

10-26-2009, 09:39 AM
singing tree Coming two Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hartville, Ohio Posts: 1,585	Wouldn't want to haul this horse again until you find out what is going on. I would think fainting in a trailer could be really dangerous. I have never seen this.

10-26-2009, 11:48 AM
dunamovin Weanling Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: where the blacktop ends Posts: 367	1. HYPP is my first thought. 2. Also remember a horse that did this and had epilespy. After trying different meds the horse was finally put down. 3. Also check her electrolytes and endocrine system; she could be diabetic.

10-26-2009, 01:33 PM
theoldbear Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Arcadia, Florida Posts: 883	This is scary! I've had it happen a couple of times. Interestingly enough, both times with Walkers. Had a filly that would just "go down". The first time, she'd bee sedated for a procedure by the vet, and we thought he'd overdosed her. The second time, she was being loaded, resisting, and just dropped to the ground out of stress. She had a long career as a broodmare. The other was with a TWH gelding on a ranch in Wyoming. I'd been riding him, stopped for a break, and down he went. He did the same thing with the wrangler a week or so later, and so was "retired". He was a teenager (like 17 or 18) and both of the incidents happened at over 10,000 feet, so may have been altitude related. Not a problem where you are, I suspect. Girthing a horse too tight can cause fainting. Did you have this mare saddled in the trailer? If so, was the girth tight? I just remembered girthing a little round Appaloosa mare too tight, and having her faint with me. Loosened the girth and she popped right back up and was fine!

10-26-2009, 01:41 PM
horselady Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: albany new york Posts: 6,839	I had a tb mare that would buckle at the knees and drop down. later she would tremble and drop , vet determined it was the cause of cushings with a tumor on the pituitary, we put her down not wanting her to suffer and perhaps fall into the fence, she would use the fence to guide her body down, she was 35 and had let a very productive life , __________________ www.rainbow-horse-retirement.com We love and take care of your companion for the remainder of his lifetime

10-26-2009, 01:45 PM
Horselady44 Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 2,550	OMG...that is scary! This is not something to wait around with I would DEF get a vet out ASAP. Do not ride or haul this horse at all until it is seen by a vet IMO. This sounds pretty serious...and it could be a few things...so yes DEF get a vet out ASAP. Also, make sure she is kept somewhere where if she does pass out again to make sure she isnt somewhere that she will hurt herself if she falls. The couple times she has passed out...has she been tied every time? __________________ A happy horse equals a happy rider!

10-26-2009, 01:52 PM
BarnBum Kid Safe Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sunshine State Posts: 6,217	Sounds like a neurologic disorder. Possibly a seizure. (you don't have to thrash around to be said having a seizure) I would definatly get some sort of scan done and blood work. __________________ *Life is a coin, you can spend it anyway you wish, but you can only spend it once.*

10-26-2009, 02:58 PM
recklesshoundog Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 3,176	Have them check for any lowgrade infections. It was a low grade strep infection that damaged Special's heart.

10-26-2009, 03:04 PM
Clippity-Clop Coming two Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,740	Wow! Glad nobody got hurt - horse or human. I'm very interested in what your diagnosis ends up being. My first thought was EPM too but it could really be any number of things. I hope it's nothing that can't be treated. Good luck! __________________

10-26-2009, 04:01 PM
pippy Started Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: minnesota Posts: 2,416	I recently read an article on horses not getting enough sleep and then passing out from exhaustion. Many think horses get all the sleep they need standing up but studies show they really need to lie down and zonk out for several hours to keep going. The article sited horses that would be distressed from things going on around them in their everyday life - noises, changes in environment etc or on the road/shows - I'd ask the vet if that could be a possibility. __________________ "It's never to late to live happily ever after."