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pistolpete

pistolpete

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This is a weird one! My horse isn't lame but has had the vet out for a relapse of an undiagnosed hind limb wobbliness. It had a full investigation in 2012 and diagnosis was not confirmed. Best guess was a spinal compression in his neck causing the ataxia.
Anyway, vet said try steroids for a bit as he got better last time but it was eight months before she was happy to let me get back on him.
He has had ten weeks off now and he is looking better but not completely straight yet.
Would you wait until he was completely back to normal or get some short ridden sessions going again? I am asking the impossible as you can't see what he does but he is so full of beans!
Would you have vet out again or go with gut as to when to start riding again?
 
I would, if you haven't already, be doing some long reining, in hand work, possibly over poles or gentle lunging to help build him up before getting on, I would also be guided by my physio as to what exercises will be beneficial as there are plenty you can do to get him moving more easily.
Whether it is safe to get back on is not a question that anyone can answer other than those directly involved, going with gut instinct is usually fine but you don't have a definitive diagnosis so it pays to be more cautious.
 
Can you give more details of what was involved in the investigation?
did they xray his neck?
did they perform the inhand tests for wobblers?

and when you say try steroids do you mean orally rather than injection?

How old is your horse and had there been any incident when you then noticed the wobbliness?
 
hi pistolpete, ive just seen your other posts about the neck investigation....

It sounds as though they suspect him to be a mild wobbler.
When my mare was diagnosed with wobblers they performed a myelogram (where they inject dye around the spinal cord and then take the xrays) and as well as the normal xrays they also moved her neck into grazing position, into an 'outline' position etc in order to assess which movements affected her. The compression worsened when in the 'outline' position (she has it in C6 / C7 too). This may be the case with yours and you may find that the more she is in work the worse it gets but then improves with rest.

The only thing that can help this is a steroid injection into the C6/7 area (which has to be done under ultrasound guidance).

I'm sorry but i don't think it is fair on the horse for you to ride him if he is still showing a bit wobbley/not straight.
 
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Thanks everyone yes he had the mylegram he is sis teen and I have been doing in hand work inc poles etc. steroids were oral. Insurance won't pay any more so can't afford injections.
 
Vet would like me to have his neck injected of course but insurance won't cover it so without knowing it would solve his problems, I cannot justify going into debt. If it was a high chance of a cure I probably would go for it but it's never that simple. Good part is he seems to have no pain and little difficulty in coping with the symptoms. Just seems a little weak in his hind end. Vet consequently not happy to chat!
 
I am disappointed that your vet is not happy to chat unless you are going against advice and they are extremely concerned for the welfare of your horse, considering he has improved on the orals steroids they should be able to continue to offer advice and treat him, if your relationship is at the point of no communication then a second opinion is probably the best step, get another vet who may be more sympathetic to your situation but in the longer term it may be that you are faced with making a tough decision if injections are not an option, they may not be a complete cure but may be the best way forward if nothing else seems to work your choices are limited.
 
I had my mares neck injected in sept, it came to £260. She has definitely shown improvement since having it, (though I still wouldn't ride her).

It doesn't sound as though your vet is being professional by not being willing to talk to you which is a shame :(
 
Update:
He is getting better! Now off the oral steroids, still only working in hand and not over 30 minutes but getting stronger and straighter. That old thing of go with your gut works sometimes!
 
Hi Pistol Pete As I explained in a previous reply to your post the only way to confirm if there is compression in the neck area is to perform comprehensive xrays from a machine more reliable than a portable xray machine from the vets practice (this can give an incorrect reading as the rays are not strong enough to penetrate the neck muscles as with my horse in 2004).

If C6 is involved there is (in my understanding) a very poor prognosis unless surgery is considered. Again in my boys case (in 2004 so things may have come on since then) I was told that as C6 was involved in his CVM/Wobblers they would not operate. He was a Grade 3 touching on 4 case.

Oral steriods are only for a limited time. My wobblers boy (we obviously didn't know he had wobblers at this point) would be fine jumping BSJA Disco height one day and then the next day felt slightly drunk when out on a hack. He wasn't consistent at all and it was a lot of investigation, an incorrect diagnosis by my then useless vets and a lot of heartache before he was admitted to Liverpool where he was pts at the age of 10 with CVM/wobblerrs.

I can't understand why the myelogram did show up the compression more clearly unless I have missed something nor can I understand why your vet is reluctant to chat.

There is a world of difference between walking over poles in hand and riding a horse with wobblers (or ataxic symptoms if there is no accurate diagnosis been made) and I think you should consider very carefully whether your aim should be to continue to ride him as this could prove very dangerous in the long run. A horse with neck compression doesn't know where its feet are and can easily stumble or trip or lose control of his hind quarters.

As soon as I suspected my horse has wobblers and it wasn't EHV as the vets had thought I stopped riding him as to have done so would have been extremely dangerous for the horse and for myself.

I hate to say this and I really mean this is the nicest possible way as I have been there and know what its like but I really do think you are kidding yourself a little. I know sometimes things do work out like my horse that was badly lame on three bute a day during a bute trial but then given time away from certain elements of his environment (change of yard) and with rest and recooperation, physio and veterinary intervention (again) he has recovered and is back to normal again.

I hope for your sake and your hroses that I am wrong.
 
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Thanks AC I understand you are trying to help. I worry all the time about whether he should just retire. It's a constant source of concern. If I had my own land and pots of money I would retire him I think but he is all I have and can afford. I will persevere-cautiously and only start riding again if vet okays it.
 
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