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MILLGREENLADY

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Regarding my original thread advise please regarding tying up. Horse tyed up badly kept on box rest for 5 day bloods did show enzeymes up was blooded test again friday bloods fine started to exercise lightly. Took horse indoor jumping tonight as got area sj sunday didnt have any impulsion kept on stoping couldnt get near the jumps for lack of impulsion spurs worn.. horse never refuses always very forward going. Noticed she was stiff behind and little sweety so walked round rugged up and went home. Is this from the tying up ? did i catch it before she tyed up again ? im so confussed feel like its all myfault or riding but couldnt get her going forwards !! any one experience something similar ???
 
I would say that it is a little too soon to be doing so much with her, the vet said to start light exercise last Friday so I would be building up over a few weeks not days. Even if she was very fit before she will have been very sore and will take time to regain the muscle tone.
Give her more time, mares can be prone to tying up and you really need to get the diet/exercise regime correct before expecting her to get back to full work.
Has she had physio it would help get the muscles more comfortable and her using herself correctly.
 
What I'm starting to realise is that there are very different degrees of tying-up. Some tie up fully and can't move. Others may suffer painful muscle cramps and muscle damage, but become reluctant rather than totally refusing to move.

Well worth having a look at stuff on EPSM/PSSM. Google Beth Valentine, Rural Heritage, Stephanie Halberg, Minnesota and you will come across all sorts of stuff.

The exact management will vary according to the cause of tying-up. If your horse turns out to have EPSM, then there are suggested diet/exercise guidelines.

I remember Caroline Hahn (Edinburgh neuromuscular vet) saying that around 40% of the horses who are sent to them for tying-up investigations turn out to have EPSM. If there is an underlying genetic predisposition to tying-up, best to know about it.

There's a £25 hair sample DNA test for one type of it (Animal Genetics, Cornwall) or there is the option of a muscle biopsy which should reveal both types.

But otherwise, personally I would do a more gradual reintroduction to work.

Isn't there a drug called dantrolene which can be used to help if it's RER rather than EPSM? But I know nothing about it.

My gut feeling would be to try and investigate the cause of the tying-up, so you can fine tune management accordingly.

But in the meantime, cutting out grains/sugars/starches as much as possible should help whatever the cause.

Sarah
 
Tying up is a major thing, not just something and nothing. Your horse's muscles will be recovering for months. Stop riding for at least a couple of weeks to a month and then bring her back extremely slowly (ie walk work only for another couple of weeks then gradually start trotting, etc). No jumping for at least three months, and that's only if all goes well. Have you got her on a sugar and cereal free diet with appropriate supplements? That's where I would start.

Don't feel bad about doing too much too soon, you weren't to know how much damage this does, but it is so important to take things really slowly and get the diet right or you will just keep going in the wrong direction.
 
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