Help please

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kt_p

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Hi all,

I own an 11 yr old 15.2 tbx and in the past year or so when being ridden she has tripped over her own feet and in the 3 years i have had her this has gotten progressively worse. In the past 6 months or so she seems to be collapsing and losing balance slightly when ridden when on unlevel ground or going around corners. In the last 2 months she has fallen over 3 times when being led in hand to which just isn't like her.
Vet has been out regularly in the last few months and at the moment she has been back in work for a few weeks. The vet can't find anything wrong but she still doesn't seem right.
Has this ever happened to anyone elses horses? Or am i just being paranoid and there is nothing wrong, and if there is where do i go from here?
Sorry for rambling post but have been thinking about this for a while and when riding tonight she was particually bad.
Thanks
 
She isn't collapsing to the ground when ridden its just like she is tripping behind and stumbling. I don't think she is dangerous just seems to be losing balance. Sorry I didn't explain that very well.
 
Has your vet ruled out spinal cord problems? I think it sounds as if she could have some spinal compression problem, like possibly neurological. I have included a link to my original post about some brilliant info regarding wobblers. I am not suggesting your mare does have this, she might just be a bit 'dopey' and laid back and could be a bit 'goofy' with the placement of her feet, but it doesn't seem very likely especially given her age. Wobblers can affect horses of all ages, sizes and sexes although some breeds are more prevalent than others, mainly WB's, TB's and Quarter Horses, and geldings with long necks. Late onset wobblers can be caused by a fall to the neck which starts the proceess of calcification around the spinal column which presses on the nerves. Early wobblers is more common in 2/3 year olds. Ataxia which is the most obvious symptom of Wobblers (it is basically what wobblers horses display) can be caused by many things, EHV for example, or certain toxins, a whole host of things can cause ataxia. Your post just rings so many bells with me. You might like to do some of the nuerological tests so you can see for yourself if she shows any symptoms. Just be very carefull if you do the sway test for instance and try to do the tests on a soft menage surface or similiar in case she falls over. Then you might like to talk to your vet about your findings. Please do not be alarmed by my answer. If she does have wobblers it can a lot of the time be treated, depending on the severity and of course it might not be this at all, so please don't worry yourself stupid. Please do not hesitate to PM me if you should require any further information. I am not a vet but have first hand experience of a much loved ten year old horse that had severe Wobblers Syndrome and may be able to offer you some advice. x

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4358811/an/0/page/0
 
L-B, it sounds very similar to what my friend's horse is currently in hospital for. He's bilaterally lame in his front feet although the vets thought it was just in one leg to begin with. He's had nerve blocks etc today and they have diagnosed "just" collapsed heels. This can generate chronic pain but in both front feet at the same time so low grade lameness can be hard to spot: the horse hurts just the same on both front feet, so often the owner reports the horse as stumbling or reluctance to work. The vets are hoping that remedial farriery will help the horse although I'm about to post asking for people's experience with TBs with poor feet diagnosed with collapsed heels. I have a feeling that my friend will think her ned will only need a few more days off and she can ride him again. I wish she'd give him some time off while his feet mend so he's not in constant pain x
 
Have her eyes been checked? Just a thought...

Also, I had an old horse who used to kind of forget a hind leg occasionally only when he wasnt concentrating e.g. hacking - never did it schooling or jumping. My vet suggested a vit e and selenium supplement as can help with nerve impulses travelling better.
 
Thanks everyone for replying.
My first thought was wobblers to applecart so I will definately try some of your tests and will talk with vet aswell. I just didn't know if it was just her being odd or if there was something wrong.
Bean her eyesight could be dodgy but only one eye woud this give the same effect? She had a very aggressive sarcoid over her right eye that was treated with radiotherapy. They did say she could develop cataracts but not for several years yet. I will ask vet about this aswell but it usually only affects her in funny light which she hasn't been ridden in recently knowing the problems it causes her.
Tiffany doesn't happen in the school but does in fields and on roads.
BoF- I am 2 years down the line from having that treatment. She has had remedial shoeing and her feet are much higher and taking less strain and for her are looking really good. She had 6 months off whilst being treated and I don't think it is that again. Farrier out tomorrow though so will make sure to ask him.

Thanks very much for all your suggestions everyone it will help when I next talk to the vet and reassures me that I am not completely paranoid and something may be wrong.
 
Definitely sounds like front limb lameness. Jesper had collateral ligament damage and the first sign was him tripping in front. I'd get the vet for nerve blocks. Sorry.
 
Hi marchtime. She has had nerve blocks in both front feet and the one into her right fetlock joint made her sounder as she was not lame but not right infront. She has had treatment for a torn joint capsule and is coming back into work now that is sorted. The nerve blocks didn't show any other problems in her front legs and the tripping started before she went lame. I will ask vet again though thankyou.
 
No not any more she has been undergoing remedial farriery for 2 years and spent 6 months off work 2 years ago because of her feet. I don't think it is that again because at the moment her feet look really good.
 
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She isn't collapsing to the ground when ridden its just like she is tripping behind and stumbling. I don't think she is dangerous just seems to be losing balance. Sorry I didn't explain that very well.

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This sounds like a horse that has very definite co-ordination/limb placement problems, and when you are sat on a wobblers horse with ataxia, it feels very different to anything you have ever sat on before, in terms of balance, backing up, turning around, etc. The first time my wobblers horse suffered his first ataxia (before being diagnosed) I was going for a hack with my friend round the lanes and reined back my horse from in front of her stable so she could get her horse out, and actually laughed and said to my friend that my horse felt drunk, obviously not realising that he was as bad as he was. We hadn't got more than 1/4 mile down the road when I had to leap off him as he felt like he was going to fall over. The vet came immediately and diagnosed ataxia (loss of hind limb coordination). I am not a vet, but my gut instinct feels very strongly that this is more than a foot balance issue. Are there any vets on this forum that agree with this theory? I do hope I am wrong though but I would do the tests asap and call the vet to discuss your findings (if any). I know we've discussed this before, so don't want to seem like I am nagging. Depending on the severity of your boys condition if he is diagnosed with wobblers there is treatment that can be offered. x

RIP Rommy - my black beauty
 
Hi, I feel for you, you must be so worried.
When I first got my horse his feet were such a bad shape that he kept tripping and nearly going completely down, thanks to a good farrier this is know cured. I know this is not your problem but the best advise I was given, and I'll thank them forever was to put knee pads/boots on when I went out hacking, thank goodness I took this advise because sure enough he went down and the boots have a great big dent in to prove they saved his knee from serious damage. If you are going to keep riding I would suggest getting a pair.
 
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