I never knew did you ?

zigzag said:
Well when I was younger :p if a horse had narcolepsy it was PTS as it was highly dangerous
Click to expand...

I thought it would be ? I mean if it's anything like human surely they could just drift off at any moment ? ... out hacking ? side of busy road ? :o
 
Similar I think, definitely heard of the sudden sleep symptoms. I know I've seen one experiencing cataplexy and falling down if it was alarmed.
 
I heard of an eventer who had narcolpsy that was set off by bright sunlight, so the owner had to pick when they competed (not hard in this country :o).

What I did hear was that some horses are considered to have it when they are actually really just sleep deprived - usually due to body pain or inability to lie down for a good rest, or engage their stay aparatus comfortably.

Such horses may collapse from sheer exhaustion and people can mistake it for narcolepsy.
 
Horse at college had narcolepsy - she was an ugly chestnut tb type but my god she was the best horse ever!! Gave me all the confidence in the world! Just couldn't stand still when riding her as she would just go :(
 
Just read the ad... They're riding it?! :confused:

Narcolepsy can cause sudden onset paralysis and muscle weakness, I personally wouldn't ride (or be in a stable with) half a tonne of animal likely to experience those symptoms at any moment.

Also, although it is diagnosed as narcoleptic, I would worry that the symptoms were being caused by some other issue, such as nerve damage or a brain tumour, in which case it is more unpredictable and likely to degenerate.
 
Oberon said:
I heard of an eventer who had narcolpsy that was set off by bright sunlight, so the owner had to pick when they competed (not hard in this country :o).

What I did hear was that some horses are considered to have it when they are actually really just sleep deprived - usually due to body pain or inability to lie down for a good rest, or engage their stay aparatus comfortably.

Such horses may collapse from sheer exhaustion and people can mistake it for narcolepsy.
Click to expand...

Oh i bet, it's an easy way to pan off sleep deprevation i suppose.

Charem said:
Friend's horse has narcolepsy. Only affected when tied up on the yard.

He was a successful racehorse and is now a successful alrounder.
Click to expand...


Oh that is good to hear :D, does he just fall asleep now waking him ? like humans experience or more of a light sleep ?
 
I just find it sad that they're palming off their horse for a pittance when there's something so seriously wrong with it. It's an £800 horse with narcolepsy, I doubt anyone with much knowledge or experience would buy it? It'll probably go to a complete novice who doesn't see the warning signs and doesn't get out of the way quickly enough when it topples over...

Surely, if you can't keep it any more, do the honourable thing!! :confused:
 
Pigeon said:
I just find it sad that they're palming off their horse for a pittance when there's something so seriously wrong with it. It's an £800 horse with narcolepsy, I doubt anyone with much knowledge or experience would buy it? It'll probably go to a complete novice who doesn't see the warning signs and doesn't get out of the way quickly enough when it topples over...

Surely, if you can't keep it any more, do the honourable thing!! :confused:
Click to expand...

My thought exactly, its a cheap horse who appears suitable for a novice who would jump at the chance. I mean i didn't know horses could get it so im sure others don't aswell :( Poor mite i wonder how long it is before it goes down on concrete ? or out on a hack if its still hacked out and does injurt to both rider and itself.
 
It depends how bad it is. Like humans, they are unlikely to go if they are really concentrating, so a human won't usually fall down if they are dancing or singing or actively doing something. Being tied up on a yard or waiting around at a show would be critical times.
 
There was a horse at Warwickshire college who had it, I'm sure she went around burghley but not sure if that was before or after diagnosis. She was a fab horse to ride, she'd just nod off in her stable, never happened when ridden.
 
We have a horse on the yard diagnosed with it. She has never gone down because of it - was only affected when tied up,or head over stable door and left quietly,whereby she might have nodded off but woke herself up with a jolt as her head dropped down. However, it is *completely* controlled with medication& she displays no symptoms. (Meds are human ones and cost £120 per mth on repeat prescription from vet.) She is a light hack (but that's because that's what her owner wants to do,not necessarily her limitations.) Vet (large,modern equine practice) is perfectly happy with her. Sometimes makes them more prone to colic apparently but not seen this with this mare really. Had another vet on yard (old school) who said narcoleptic horses shld never be ridden but then they didn't medicate them 'in his day' either,so perhaps that's why.
 
mandwhy said:
It depends how bad it is. Like humans, they are unlikely to go if they are really concentrating, so a human won't usually fall down if they are dancing or singing or actively doing something. Being tied up on a yard or waiting around at a show would be critical times.
Click to expand...

I learned some years ago on HHO that horses also could have narcolepsy, but I still don't know much about how it affect horses, however, ditto the above about humans.

Edited to say, unlikely but it can happen.

:)
 
Last edited:
800 seems quite a lot for a horse with such complications.

Advert clearly states its a long winded story so riding it may be something that is safe and fine however...

To my mind if I couldn't afford to keep a horse with such difficulties then I would rather pts than passed on, even with the loss of use freezemark goodness knows where it would end up

I would either keep or long term loan to a trusty worthy home as a companion, not sell off.
 
Super_Kat said:
There was a horse at Warwickshire college who had it, I'm sure she went around burghley but not sure if that was before or after diagnosis. She was a fab horse to ride, she'd just nod off in her stable, never happened when ridden.
Click to expand...

Just by chance, she wasn't called Flump was she?

I may be very wrong here, but I'm almost sure that quite recently someone was looking for this horse for sale. Either that was previous owner wishing to trace him, or someone trying to find him after being stolen. I may be wrong, it may have been just an advert for his sale, but something is making me think other.. Of course, I can't find where I saw what I thought I saw..
 
Charem said:
Friend's horse has narcolepsy. Only affected when tied up on the yard.

He was a successful racehorse and is now a successful alrounder.
Click to expand...

My friend's old boy (also an ex racer) was just the same, never under saddle, but at leisure or tied up he would, he was a brilliant all rounder until his death a few years back (unrelated to narcolepsy)
 
Oh no wish i hadn't looked he is the spit of my old boy.
As for the narcolepsy if the right person buys him it can usually be managed now and like with people needs a trigger, usually lack of movement or stimulation, so unlikely to happen while riding as i guess they have been doing in last two years. So maybe not a waste as long as seller careful.
I for one think he looks very sweet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top