HELP: EMS - Equine Metabolic Syndrome AND Grass Glands

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SpanishNeddy

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Does anyone know if a horse gets Grass Glands whether they would be more susceptible to EMS?

My PRE gelding has been in the UK for 3 years now. I gelded him to he could have a nice life with company, but he gets grass glands and mud feaver in winter LOL anyway, I have only ever turned him out for 6 hours max but usually half a day average. When he is in, his grass glands go down and he is fine.

The horses at the yard have started night turnout, so I have agreed to try him over night. He has now been doing night turnout for 2-3 weeks. Going out at roughly 7.30pm and coming in at about 7.30am. To start with his grass glands were the same as if he had been going out for half a day, but now it is a bit better.

He has become VERY much not himself. He is hugely lethargic, pretty much looks away with the fairies most of the time at the moment.

This horse is usually VERY VERY hot to ride, so much so I do not and will not ride him anymore. But his rider can not believe how quiet and lazy he is being to ride. Also to lunge, usually I do not need a whip, he goes straight off voice. At the moment I can barely get a canter out of him chasing him with a whip!!!!

Last night he seemed really down and when I turned him out I was actually worried about him as he wondered around not eating and just standing very oddly. I stood and watched him for 5 mins then he did put his head down and graze. When I got him in this morning he was again quiet and really is not himself. He did eat his (very small) breakfast ok and started on his (very small) haynet ok though.

Does anyone know if a horse gets grass glands whether they are more at risk to EMS/Lami??

He is over weight at the moment so he is on a diet. He has lost weight since he started going out over night (there is not much grass!). I know turnout is the one thing that you should stop to help a diet, but without going into too much detail he is better off out than in and seeing as he has lost weight since going out I do not want to stop this.

I am really worried about him as he is usually a very chirpy friendly boy and is just not himself at the moment. I know him well as I am mum and I know something is not quite right.

Anybody have any advice?
 
If he were mine I'd be treating him as a lammi case, Iberians aren't designed to eat the type of grass we have in our country and can be susceptible to it.
I rode a friends barefoot Arab the other week and commented on how much less forward he felt than normal, she took him off the grass on the strength of that as she knows lethargy is an early symptom for him.

What is he fed other than grass?
 
If your horse has been having 6 hours turnout normally and spending 18 hours standing in his stable resting and is now spending 12 hours on turnout it could be he is resting less. He is probably up all night wandering around the field with his friends eating whereas when he was in at night he may have spent more time resting at night.

So when he comes in during the day he may be tired and he may have become nocturnal sleeping during the day and eating and being active during the night. If he is spending an extra 6 hours walking or playing in the field at night that might take the edge off him.
 
maggiesmum said:
If he were mine I'd be treating him as a lammi case, Iberians aren't designed to eat the type of grass we have in our country and can be susceptible to it.
I rode a friends barefoot Arab the other week and commented on how much less forward he felt than normal, she took him off the grass on the strength of that as she knows lethargy is an early symptom for him.

What is he fed other than grass?
Click to expand...

The PRE's came from arabs back in the days so are similar in lots of ways.

He only gets a hand full of HiFi and sprinkle of nuts, just enough so I can mix in his supplements (vit/min, magnesium & garlic) twice per day and 9lb haynet during the day.

UPDATE: I kept him in last night. When i went up after work he was still looking not right in his stable and a bit tucked up in his belly. He is very down. My yard manager/owner looked at him and said she thinks he has a chill. As he is only ever used to half a day turnout maximum during the day. So ever though he was coping with nights the weather has changed and he is so sensitive he can not cope with the weather and being out all night. He is a pansy I know. She said his coat looked like he was cold. So keep him in few days and warm and see how he goes.

So he stayed in last night and this morning was defo more perkier for it.
 
SO1 said:
If your horse has been having 6 hours turnout normally and spending 18 hours standing in his stable resting and is now spending 12 hours on turnout it could be he is resting less. He is probably up all night wandering around the field with his friends eating whereas when he was in at night he may have spent more time resting at night.

So when he comes in during the day he may be tired and he may have become nocturnal sleeping during the day and eating and being active during the night. If he is spending an extra 6 hours walking or playing in the field at night that might take the edge off him.
Click to expand...

Yes you are defo right, a lot of people have said to me they do night turnout as it helps get them knackered!

See above comment on his progress last night/this morning.

Yard owner did feel his legs and said to her they didn't feel like they had heat in them. To me, they did, but then I am worried so maybe think I can feel it!
 
My gelding, who is usually really bright and quite naughty, went very quiet just after Xmas. Lethargic and slightly off his hay. Vet took blood and confirmed a virus. Recommended 3 weeks rest and to bring back into work gently. Brought him back slowly into work and then after about 3 or 4 weeks he went lethargic on me again. Vet took more blood and said he was now anaemic which is probably post-viral. Now on 4 weeks rest and a supplement to improve red blood cells.
If you are worried, get the vet and have a blood test done.
 
Zuzzie said:
My gelding, who is usually really bright and quite naughty, went very quiet just after Xmas. Lethargic and slightly off his hay. Vet took blood and confirmed a virus. Recommended 3 weeks rest and to bring back into work gently. Brought him back slowly into work and then after about 3 or 4 weeks he went lethargic on me again. Vet took more blood and said he was now anaemic which is probably post-viral. Now on 4 weeks rest and a supplement to improve red blood cells.
If you are worried, get the vet and have a blood test done.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks for that. I am going to give him few more days and take it from there. Thanks. Hope your boy gets better soon :)
 
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