Can horses get cramp?

Angelbones

Angelbones

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Just wondering if they can, as today a bizarre thing happened.

My horse went down to roll, managed ok, got up ok, then walked around the stable getting ready to go down and roll on his other side. He didn't get that far as she stopped, flopped still standing against the stable wall, and just stood there, with his back leg out behind him, and his head low.

We went in to look (we had been watching all this by chance) and pulled him slightly away from the wall. He was in a sort of curved banana shape from head to tail. The outer curved side was rock hard and looked like a pregnant mare, the inner side was very tense and you could see muscles spasming. It was horrid.

I quickly rang my physio who, bless her, was right there and she advised me to get him out of the stable to walk him around in circles, fairly tightly, against the shape of the curve. He very quickly eased up and then had a good full on body stretch. We put him on the walker slowly for 10 mins and he was totally fine afterwards. (We were going to call the vet if he hadn't improved within 5 mins of leaving the stable).

So he could have obviously pulled a muscle whilst rolling (although shows no sign so far of soreness) or many other things, but it really looked like cramp which needed to ease up.

Just wondered if anyone has heard of this / see this kind of thing before. My horse if otherwise fit and healthy. I have to say I was really scared at the time and all sorts of horror stories were flashing behind my eyes.

Thanks guys :)
 
How old is your horse?

Mine does this even when he is being ridden/lunged wandering around the paddock etc . He is a large WB X and is just 5 and still growing like a weed!

It is the same reaction as if he has a severe cramp he holds his off rear out backwards then brings it right forwards then back then down.

I like you was having a complete breakdown whenever it happened.

Our vet has been out done a complete set of Back x-rays and found nothing, Chiro out (same practice as the vet) nothing, saddle fitter - nothing.

Vet has come to the conclusion that it is a big athletic horse and he needs lots of work to strengthen up. When he has an episode we back track in his training and work up to the point where it happened and work back up from there.

As far as riding him is concerned we now ride him through it, just stay very calm and so does he if you jump of going OMG! and he goes into sheer panic mode. He did it last night when I was working on some leg yields and I just worked him through he was back to normal in 4 strides and felt the same as he was before the incident.

I would ask your vet to come out and give him a check over, it will put your mind at rest anyhow because it does look very dramatic I had people standing by the school last night screaming "What is he Doing "

I refer to it as him having a "wonky Donkey" moment.

Meant to add Vet is certain that as he gets stronger the episodes will lesson and eventually stop (so far he is correct)
 
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