Horse sleep deprivation

[Joeyjojo]

Does anyone have any experience with horses with sleep deprivation?

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/behavior/sleepdisorder_121506/

My horse used to collapse after falling asleep standing up (see videos in the link above) prior to me moving her to her new yard about a year and a half ago. I consulted the vet about it and they confirmed that it wasn't narcolepsy, but that she was suffering from sleep deprivation. She was very stressed at the old place and I thought that the change in environment had solved the issue. However she did it again last night so I'm concerned that something else is causing the problem.

She doesn't appear to have any pain issues, she lies down in the field and rolls (and covers herself in mud ) on a daily basis! But I was hoping there might be others with experience of this who could advise how they have managed the issue and how they worked out what the underlying cause was.

 

[fatpiggy]

How old is she? Sleep deprivation is usually seen in older horses who's joints are starting to play them up. My old girl fell down a couple of times when I was with her but to be honest I probably aggravated the situation by being with her - she was so relaxed because I was there "guarding her" that she let everything go and fell down on her knees. I watched her one time with her nose resting on the floor and her hindquarters looking like a tent with a ground peg removed! She would start to go but then save herself provided she didn't know I was around but if her head was in my lap and she was snoring away peacefully she was at far more risk of a fall. Oldies seem to spend much greater amounts of the day asleep, but then so do humans so it is hardly surprising. The usually "injuries" you see is scuffing to the fronts of the fetlocks and swollen knees. You could try something like old-fashioned sausage boots and knee boots. It wouldn't do any harm to start her on a joint supplement too. My girl had awful arthritis and wouldn't lie down in the field because she was forced to lay flat and getting up after was a bit hard work (in the stable the wise old bird propped up her head and neck on the bank so didn't have to lift up from totally flat - clever girl!) and often got up using only 3 legs but it didn't stop her rolling every time I had the cheek to put a rug on her in the field.

 

[Joeyjojo]

Thank you for replying I've given some more details below:

How old is she? Sleep deprivation is usually seen in older horses who's joints are starting to play them up.

She was 6 when I got her (and it used to happen a lot) and is nearly 8 now. I haven't seen any other signs of stiffness or lameness so I don't think she is having issues with her joints. The only thing I can think of is that she is very protective of her space and often doesn't interact that well with other horses (squealing and kicking) so might feel unsafe to sleep when there are other horses around that she doesn't trust! I don't think she ever sleeps in her stable as her rugs are too clean, she does sleep in the field though - my YO said she often sees her flat out!

I probably aggravated the situation by being with her - she was so relaxed because I was there "guarding her" that she let everything go and fell down on her knees.

She has always done it when I've been grooming her for quite a while - she goes into a bit of a trance and then falls to the ground (front end first). She often saves herself though.

The usually "injuries" you see is scuffing to the fronts of the fetlocks and swollen knees. You could try something like old-fashioned sausage boots and knee boots.

She had sores on both her fetlocks for months when I first had her - the vet treated it as mud fever but they dissapeared when we moved to the new yard and she stopped falling over! I did notice one back again though. I just can't work out what has changed to suddenly make her feel uncomfortable as she's been fine for well over a year!

 

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

Hormones?

It's the time of year for mares to become unsettled. That might tie in with her not liking other horses.

 

[Joeyjojo]

Hmm yes I'm wondering whether I should get her ovaries checked. Anyone know what that involves?

 

[racebuddy]

Have pm u

 

[Joeyjojo]

Have pm u

I don't seem to have got a PM - could you send it again? Thank you

 

[racebuddy]

Sorry only just seen this will do it again

 

[Oberon]

From what little I understand - horses can become sleep deprived when they are no longer able to sleep comfortably.

When they cannot get down or get up easily.
When they cannot engage their 'locking' mechanism.

There is a chap on the Phoenix forum who posts under the name, 'Tommy Onions' who is a wizz with this kind of stuff. Might be worth picking his brain?

 

[Joeyjojo]

Sorry only just seen this will do it again

Sorry - I still haven't got it I've double checked my settings and I can't see why I wouldn't receive a message

From what little I understand - horses can become sleep deprived when they are no longer able to sleep comfortably.

When they cannot get down or get up easily.
When they cannot engage their 'locking' mechanism.

There is a chap on the Phoenix forum who posts under the name, 'Tommy Onions' who is a wizz with this kind of stuff. Might be worth picking his brain?

Thanks for this - I'll take a look at that forum

 

[Brightbay]

I don't think she ever sleeps in her stable as her rugs are too clean, she does sleep in the field though - my YO said she often sees her flat out!

How much turnout does she get? Has this changed recently? Does she have company in her field? Has the field been particularly wet and/or muddy recently?

 

[Joeyjojo]

How much turnout does she get? Has this changed recently? Does she have company in her field? Has the field been particularly wet and/or muddy recently?

Hi Brightbay, thanks for the reply. She's out daily from approx 9am - 4pm and its not changed. She's out with one other horse (who she gets on with) and approx 12 others are in the next door fields. The field has finally dried out and been quite nice recently - maybe she doesn't like the hard surface? She does seem to roll daily though.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

My mare was diagnosed with sleep deprivation a few years when she started collapsing one summer. I had changed her from coming in during the day to out 24/7. I changed her back to being stabled for part of the day and problem solved. I also noticed she started to look fatigued when I matted her stable and only laid bed on the back half of her stable. She now has a full bed and her matting might as well not be there. Diva!

 

[Joeyjojo]

My mare was diagnosed with sleep deprivation a few years when she started collapsing one summer. I had changed her from coming in during the day to out 24/7. I changed her back to being stabled for part of the day and problem solved. I also noticed she started to look fatigued when I matted her stable and only laid bed on the back half of her stable. She now has a full bed and her matting might as well not be there. Diva!

Lol gotta love mares - they like things just so don't they She has always been on matting and wood pellets with a half sized bed. Maybe she doesn't like that? She's now got a bigger bed so hopefully that will help, otherwise I might experiement with a different type of bedding.

Thank you for the reply - hearing about everyone's different experiences is giving me more ideas to try!

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Lol gotta love mares - they like things just so don't they She has always been on matting and wood pellets with a half sized bed. Maybe she doesn't like that? She's now got a bigger bed so hopefully that will help, otherwise I might experiement with a different type of bedding.

Thank you for the reply - hearing about everyone's different experiences is giving me more ideas to try!

LOL mine didn't like pellets either!

Have moved on to Auboise and a full bed, which apparently meets madams requirements!