worried about my horse

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lucymay9701

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Hello everyone, I wonder if someone can give me some advice please? I am quite worried about my horse at the moment as she is not her usual self. She's 25 now and I've owned her since she was 5 so know that her behaviour at the moment isn't usual for her. She's quite stressed out at the moment, the only time she's usually like this is at the time of the fireworks but there is nothing unusual going on at the moment. When she comes in at night she's really on her toes and very unrelaxed. She's taking one mouthful from her bucket and then box walking and looking out of all her windows like something scary is going on but its all quiet. She does 2-3 droppings as soon as she comes in and looks in a real 'tizz'. She's quite laid back in her stable usually, doesn't always eat all her feed but is not the type of horse to grab a mouthful and then run around. She'll either choose not to eat it at that time or will eat it relaxed. I'm not really sure what's going on. She's on her own at the moment (something that will hopefully be sorted soon) but over the years she's been on her own before and always been calm about it. Also this is not a new situation that has been linked to her behaviour. She's been on her own since January and has been calm until the last few weeks. Does anyone know if anything physical could cause her to be like this, any underlying health problems etc. She eats OK overnight and looks great for her age. She hates the vet and I don't want to stress her more but just wondering if it would be worth getting a blood test for anything? Also I keep wondering if maybe her hearing (or sight) is not as good making her more wary. If anyone had any suggestions I'd be very grateful! I was thinking of trying her on a calming supplement but as its unusual behaviour for her not sure if thats the best thing as I'd rather try and get to the bottom of it.
Thanks for any help!
Lucy x
 
you have to go with your gut, as you know your mare. I think you are right to try and get to the bottom of it. Something has changed. Either health wise or in her surroundings. My friend had a horse who got stressed all of sudden and it turned out someone has started walking through the geldings turnout field flinging a ball for a dog to chase. It really stressed the gelding out, and the owner only found out about it later.

It could well be a health issue though, and with an older horse like that, blindness or deafness could be a stress. Maybe she finds being alone a bit harder now. Can you get a companion to see if it sorts the issue?
 
You're describing classic Cushings symptoms and at aged 25 your mare is 80% likely to have it or get it soon. Cushings is caused by a tumour on the pituitary gland which results in the horse's body being flooded day and night by cortisol, the flight-or-fight hormone. Most owners know about the long, curly coat but other symptoms include heavy, smelly sweating, anxiety, confusion, weight loss, minor ataxia ... in other words all the things you'd expect to see if the horse was living with a pack of velocoraptors in the next door stable. You can get her ACTH levels checked through a blood test - at this time of the year it should be about 35 (my veteran was 200!!!). You can print off a voucher to give to your vets for a free lab test at talkaboutcushings.co.uk - if she's positive then your vets will start her on Prascend (Pergolide) which will bring her back to her old self within a week or so.
 
Agree on the cushings but also suggest you get some company for her. I think some older horses lose confidence a little and worry more so having another horse may help.
 
Agree about getting bloods done for Cushings at her age anyway :)

Also completely clear out the stable & check for vermin inside & outside - one of my oldies in the past went absolutely crackers (like he did on days following hunting) due to a rats nest under the rear of the concrete slab that the stables (then) were on. Even if no signs, then still worth a good disinfect in case 'something' has been in there & left a scent.

Really worth a double check as you say is just in stable that she is twitchy etc?
 
Hi everyone

Thank you very much for all your replies. I'll give my vet a call tomorrow to have a chat about the cushings and thank you very much Box of Frogs for the voucher code - thats great, I've printed if off and hope my vets will use it if they do the test! I've had a little read around and a couple of other things that have happened may also indicate cushings - didn't really put anything together until now as she looks so well in herself. She has been really wet this summer (although she's not drinking more so not sure if it was cushings related whether she would automatically drink more - I put her being really wet down to all the rain and wet grass?). Also she did shed her coat later this year which I put down to the weather but maybe it was the first sign? Anyway will have a word with the vet and also give her stable a clean round in case anything is upsetting her in there. It is mainly in the stable she is stressed out and mainly just when she first comes in but she's never usually like that and is usually happy to come in.

I'm trying to sort the company out for her. A friend was meant to be bringing a horse in September but is no longer bringing her as the loan fell through. I've got someone else coming to look at the stable who I hope may be interested but if not I'll advertise it. Having said that she tends to get bullied in the field and with previous companions (even welsh section A size and she's 15.3hh!) we've had to separate them and then she shows no interest in them and even when they've left its as if she's hardly noticed they've gone! I'm sure she'd appreciate some company again though but definitely think there's something else going on aswell.

Thanks again everyone.

Lucy x
 
That is another thing with cushings it makes them less interested in other horses and slightly grumpy or depressed. Hopefully the vet can sort it out.
 
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