Narcolepsy

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zoesophie

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Has anyone had any experience of this in horses?

If so, any info would be appreciated. A friends horse has been diagnosed with it and she has done some internet research but I just wondered if any of you chaps had first hand knowledge/experience of it. Good or bad please.

Thanks
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I have a feeling a horse I once owned developed it at about 14 (12 years after we sold her). As far as I am aware she is still alive at 26 but has not been ridden since diagnosis as she could fall asleep/down at any time (does that sound like narcolepsy).

I think it took a while to get the diagnosis as I know a heart problem was suspected. She just started lying down at odd times and in odd places. They'd find her collapsed in the field etc.
 
Lady at my yard used to have a horse with it - horse was fine for riding as it only affected her mare when it was 'resting' so to speak, so basically when she was being ridden she was alert enough so it didn't happen. For example it used to happen outside her stable when she was tied up and all of a sudden you'd hear people clapping running and shouting her name to wake her so she didn't fall on the floor!

They also said it was worse when she had her headcollar on as this pushed on certain pressure points around her head which stimulated the problem and also worse still when she was clipped around the head and had her headcollar on as I guess the pressure points were even more vunerable.

They've sold her now but not because of that and it didn't stop her being ridden. S'pose all cases are different but they managed to work with it.
 
Yes, a horse at College had it, she was still ridden etc, but if you were lined up or stood waiting for someone to jump a round she would fall asleep, a fair few times she also fell over with it! In the end they had to put her down as retiring her was not an option she was such a firery little horse, would rush round the stable for hours!
 
Hes had several "problems" bless him one of which has now been diagnosed as narcolepsy. He used to just kind of collapse in his stable and do a nose dive to the floor without being able to stop himself. We got it on video and he was diagnosed by the vet.

She hasnt ridden since the diagnosis because he is also lame (separate issue), but when she went to tack up recently he went to fall again so it has scared her a bit coz he may do it when shes riding. Needless to say she didnt ride him just in case.

So, I was just wondering if anyone had been told not to ride coz as far as Im aware she hasnt been told not to ride.
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Hmm interesting - Ive only ever seen it happen in the stable, but thats not to say she hasnt seen him do it out in the field. Its only a recent diagnosis so not sure if he should/could be ridden..

Good point about the pressure points though - Ill mention that to her as he did have his headcollar on when we got it on film but not sure about all the time.

Thanks
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O bless her - I know how she felt though waiting for your turn in a showing ring can be so boring Ive almost fallen asleep!

On a serious note though it does sound like it could be more likely when hes at rest....Ill speak to the owner about it later.

Thanks for the info everyone.
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Shadow used to be stabled opposite a horse with Narcolepsy. She suddnely started being troubled with it about 2 years before she had to be put to sleep. She never laid down in her box ever, but would fall down when having an 'attack'. She was quite stressy and i personally think it was because of the fact she never laid down and slept, in the ned she was doing it so often and knackering her knees all the time her owner felt it kinder to put her to sleep. They did try medication and it did help but was costing about £7 per day! so was not feasable for the owner. Poor mare was only 8 when she was put to sleep. I have heard it is manageable but this mare got worse over time.
 
My horse suffers from this. He was diagnosed a year ago. When he was living out he used to get grazes on the front of his fetlocks which i couldnt understand. Then one day i saw him in the stable, he was standing up sleeping and all of a sudden his head would drop and his knees buckled, he saved himself before falling over completely.
He very rarely lies down in the stable or field, we dont know why cos he has plenty of room and a very deep bed with rubber mats.
I spoke to my vet who wanted to check his heart just in case there was a problem. His heart is fine and the vet diagnosed narcolepsy.
He said it will never happen when i am riding him as his adrenalin levels will be too high, its only when he is resting.
I event him at intro level and do affiliated dressage, none of which i have stopped.
The only thing i have to be careful about is if i show him and the class is very big! You have to keep him awake in the line up!
Now i know he has it i can make sure he isnt in a situation where he can be in danger of falling over and hurting himself. If he lives out he always wears turnout socks to prevent grazes.
Apparently it can happen when they are being tacked up but it hasnt happened to mine in that situation.
Hope this is of some help. Your friend should carry on riding as usual and just be aware of it when on the ground.
 
O dear - poor thing
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This chap is quite stressy too. He gets stressed when hes in by himself even if its only for 10mins and when he settles again it seems to happen...
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O right - sometime he can catch himself before he goes down but not always.

Not sure if he lies down in his stable though but like u say, he also has a big enough bed and stable but its almost like he doesn have time to lay down sometimes..

Its great to hear you still compete though - thats great news - Ill pass on that you can still ride and compete with a horse with narcolepsy!
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i know 2horses which have it they dont do it whilst ridden and both are successful dressage horses one at meduim and one at psg, they lead perfectly normal lives,
 
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