Horse falling down when tied up

L

LLG

New User
Joined
23 June 2012
Messages
3
Visit site
My horse, a 10 years old very laid back Andalusian, occasionally falls down when tied up. I get no warnings, his head doesn't drop, his legs dont seem to go wobbly, one minute he is up the next he is down. He recently did it when i picked his front feet, twice within minutes... I have watched the videos on YouTube on narcoleptic horses, it doesn't seem to be what's happening to him but I am not sure.... I have got him under vet investigation and we will be doing a full ECG to rule out heart problems. My vet doesn't seem to think it can be narcolepsy as he does lay down to sleep in his stable every night and he doesn't seem to have any joint or back pain.

Does any one know how narcolepsy is actually diagnosed? Any idea of what else it could be?
 
He never panics, even if he struggles to get up... But he is an Andalusian and they are VERY laid back!
 
My old mare used to do the same and the vet said it was narcolepsy. However unlike your boy she was quite stressy and I don't think she ever really allowed herself into REM sleep.
Occasionally and usually when grooming her she would fall to her knees which would wake her suddenly.
The videos I watched at the time of narcoleptic horses seemed extreme cases and I wouldn't have put her into that catagory.
I think with yours it is a process of elimination as there could be many reasons, having a vet investigate should bring peace of mind.
If he is stabled maybe try installing some sort of camera to monitor him.
 
Is it just when you pick his feet up? My 2 yr old does this . Its a reaction to having his legs/hooves held. If you watch horses play fighting in the field and one grabs /nips anothers foreleg that horse will usually go down to "espcape". My youngsters do this all the time.
 
I don't know anything about this but seem to remember years ago on a livery yard there was a horse that kept going down when tied up. He was eventually diagnosed with wobblers & was the restriction of his head being tied that caused him to go down. When they left him loose so he could use his head & neck he stood fine.

Might be worth a try or mention to vet?

Good luck, hope you get it sorted.
 
Many thanks to all of you for all your replies/suggestions. If the next discussions/tests with the vet bring anything useful, I'll let you know.
In reply to hoseforeeve1... No it's not only when I pick his feet, some times it happens just like that! Thanks again!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top