Horse staggering like he was drunk!

[CeeBee]

My friends horse began staggering around at the weekend, almost looking like he was drunk. He kept on his feet, only just, but looked like he had little control over his back end. This also happened to him a couple of years ago, but the vet couldn't say what caused it. He was checked on hourly, however by morning he was back to his normal self, including galloping and bucking round the field with his companion. He is 22 and almost certainly has cushings.
Has anyone else seen this and been given a diagnosis? Or is it a symptom of cushings?

 

[Maesfen]

It sounds very much like a mini stroke or possibly a trauma to his spine somewhere.
Personally, I would immediately retire the horse from any work at all, it's far too dangerous, he could easily fall on someone and everyone who handles the horse needs to be made aware to never be in an enclosed space with him. Always look on the wrong side and be ready for it to happen again. It might sound like an over reaction but far better be careful and prepared than unaware and squashed in my book.

 

[Wagtail]

I agree with Maesfen, please tell your friend not to ride this horse if she still does. My first thought was wobblers (caused by compression of the cervical vertebra nerves), and then I wondered if he was perhaps having a stroke or heart attack. He might also have a brain tumour. If he has Cushings, then this is often caused by a tumour on the pituitary gland, which if it grows very large can press on other areas and cause problems.

 

[L&M]

Sounds like he 'may' be ataxic (aka wobblers) - I would be getting a thorough vet investigation and not be riding the horses in the meantime….

 

[Midlifecrisis]

Magnesium deficiency staggers perhaps if came out of the blue.

 

[pennyturner]

My old horse did this... was a pituitary tumour, but there were other cushings symptoms too.

 

[AdorableAlice]

My 28 year old welsh cob did the same, but I did not realise what had happened initially as I found him in the stable with a bumped eye on one occasion and a split lip on another. The only hint of him being in trouble was a rather glazed look in his eye on the mornings I found him with the injuries.

However, on the third occasion I was there when it happened and it certainly did look like he was having some sort of stroke. I did not further investigations and he was pts the same day as I could not imagine anything more fearful for a horse than falling about and crashing into walls.

 

[Hackie]

We used to have a horse that had similar symptoms to this when she got colic, it was very unusual. And we had a colt have similar symptoms that turned out to be encephalitis. To be honest, it could be anything really.

 

[fatpiggy]

My 28 year old welsh cob did the same, but I did not realise what had happened initially as I found him in the stable with a bumped eye on one occasion and a split lip on another. The only hint of him being in trouble was a rather glazed look in his eye on the mornings I found him with the injuries.

However, on the third occasion I was there when it happened and it certainly did look like he was having some sort of stroke. I did not further investigations and he was pts the same day as I could not imagine anything more fearful for a horse than falling about and crashing into walls.

Interesting! Your old boy sounds like he was having slight seizures rather than stroke. My mare was a Welsh D x and had epilepsy. I did some research and discovered that the most common breed to have seizures is , yep the Welshies, followed by arabs and of course there is a fair bit of arab blood in the welsh. I don't believe this is coincidence. In fact when I hear of a case the first question I ask is what breed?

OP, one time I hacked my horse to a local show (about 40 minutes for us, an hour plus for sensible horses!) and almost as soon as I got there, one of her hind legs was repeatedly sagging and buckling, like someone pulling a tent peg out the corner. SHe didn't seem bothered by it, could walk fine, but as soon as she stopped moving, down the quarter would go. One of the other competitors there was a vet student and she took a quick look but couldn't find anything wrong. Eventually it just seemed to wear off, she competed during the day as normal and it never happened again. Some form of cramp in the hindquarter maybe? It could be your friend's horse has a spinal pinch somewhere. I have arthritis in my neck and every so often get a horrible spasm first in one arm, then across my chest and down the other arm. It leaves my arms and hands feeling quite weak for a few minutes after it has passed.

 

[CeeBee]

We used to have a horse that had similar symptoms to this when she got colic, it was very unusual. And we had a colt have similar symptoms that turned out to be encephalitis. To be honest, it could be anything really.

Thank you for all your replies. It was certainly very upsetting to see him like that and I was convinced he wouldn't be with us by morning. However, he was bright and happy and as mentioned, galloping around as if nothing had happened.
Interesting Hackie that you mention colic as last time it happened was when the spring grass was coming through and although the vet wouldn't commit, he thought it could possibly be connected. However we have really no grass now and are just giving plenty of hay (he lives out 24/7). He did appear to keep looking at his stomach though... Guess I'm hoping it was this and nothing more serious. However I will pass all your comments to my friend, as ultimately any decisions for his ridden future are hers to make.