tying up (long)

[ranger2@net-magic.net (Carlson, Jeff)]

Hi Kristi

Hope your horse is doing OK now.  Tying up is a scary (sometimes fatal) thing.  there are all different degrees of tying up also.  In your case since the horses took off loose you had no control over what happened but I wanted to share this story w/ you and anyone else who wants to read it to learn from my mistake.

 

About 7 yrs ago I was riding Buckwheat (big anglo arab gelding) had been doing 50's w/ him and doing well.  we did a very fast 50 3 weeks before the day he tied up and he finished strong w/ no problems. 

Anyway, it was a very cold day and I trailered to an isolated road to train.  the only thing different about his behavior was he was a tad quieter than normal when I started riding him.  I didnt have to fight him to walk/ slow trot the first mile or so and looking back maybe then I should have just quit riding him for the day, but I didnt know that was an early sign.  I rode him to the end of the road- about 11 miles after he'd warmed up at a fast trot/ med canter and he seemed fine.  turned to go back and he was quiet again but willing to trot (normally by that point he'd be pulling my arms out trying to race back)

after a couple miles he slowed on his own to a walk but was walking fast and willing.  asked him to trot and he wouldnt.

got off, looked in his feet etc and got back on and all he'd do was walk still.

he finally just stopped and wouldnt budge.  thing is, he looked good- low pulse, normal cap. refill, all other metabolic signs perfectly normal, looking bright and alert just would not move.

his hind end wasnt tight or hard...

this was not normal behavior for this horse.  he usually was very hi strung, didnt even like to stand still for 2 min. tied to the trailer...

 

I waited for someone to drive by but no one came so I finally left him standing in the road w/ just my saddle pad and orange hunting vest over his butt and ran about 1/2 mile to the nearest house, all the time looking back and he was still standing there in the road. I'm hysterical by then, thinking my horse is going to die out there in this huge forest cause I cant get help to him in time...

luckily someone was home, I called the vet and no answer, got a ride to my trailer and finally got back w/ the trailer to where Buckwheat was still standing in the road. 

by then he was willing to load on the trailer.  hind end stiff but at least he could walk. 

trailered 1/2 hr.home, vet met me here w/ IV fluids, etc.  took blood and found out later the CPK was elevated, indicating tying up.  his urine was normal color, and he was moving just a little stiff by then.

So as tying up goes it was pretty mild.  Looking back, I think of everything I shoud have done different that day.  but I guess the bottom line is to know your horse and be cautious  when their behavior changes like that.   

 

Anita Carlson

GA