I have a 6 year old arab gelding that is in his 1st year of endurance
competition. He has completed 400 hundred miles in 1996- all 50 mile
races. He is a very fit horse that could go all day and is constantly
held back.
During the first 50 in March we had a weird problem at the 40 mile vet
check. We came into the vet check and he was a little long coming down
to PR requirements. When he did reach the PR requirement we headed for
the PR person. When she would start taking the pulse he would lean into
her and close his eyes and his front legs would buckle. I immediatly
walked him around to see if we had a problem. He seemed fine. We went
back to the PR person and he was fine. He also passed the vet check with
no problems. We went on to finish fine and we were second in the best
condition judging.
He had a similiar problem on the first day of the Outlaw Trail. We
stopped for water at about 30 miles. I got off to let him drink and
relax a bit. When he put his head down for water his legs buckled and he
almost fell down. I walked him around to see if everything was ok. His
pulse was fine and everything looked good. I got back on him and had a
very hard time holding him back for the rest of the race.
Three weeks ago he had the problem again at one of Randy Eiland's rides
during the second vet check. I got off and walked in the last 1/2 mile
to the vet check. His pulse seemed a little high when we got in, but it
came down quickly. When we went to PR he started leaning very hard on
the PR person, his eyes began to close, and his legs started to buckle.
This time I decided not to disturb him and see how far it would go. He
fell all the way to the ground without breaking his fall. It was not
like when a horse rolls or lays down, when they carefully tuck the front
legs under and lay down gently. When he fell the first thing to touch
the ground was his back. He did not break his fall in the slightest way.
When he hit the ground he jumped up very quickly. It was like he didn't
know what had happened, like he was embarrased. The vet saw it happen
and asked if he was trying to roll. I told him what happened and he said
to go back to PR and see him immediatly. The horse PRed fine and we went
to see the vet. I told the vet to check him over very well, I did not
want to hurt the horse in any way. He said everything checked out great
and he could find nothing wrong. The vet and I decided for us to do the
next loop very slow. When we left for the next loop, I had a very hard
time holding him back, he had so much energy. He PRed fine at the next
check and had a great post ride vet check.
Another thing that is weird is that he has never had the problem during
conditioning. We ride very hard during some conditioning days (harder
than races) and he has never had the problem. I also don't get off him
and ask him to stand perfectly still for PR. He has to be standing
perfectly still for the problem to happen.
After Randy's ride, I started to ask alot of questions to find out what
was wrong with the horse. I first checked all the tack to see if
something was cutting off air. I even changed breast collars to see if
that was the problem.
I then talked to an internal medicine specialist at Desert Equine Vet
Clinic in Phoenix (One of the best equine clinics in the West). After I
described his problem he immediatly said he had a form of narcolepsy. He
said that norcolepsy is brought on by many things and that he has seen
horses that fall asleep when brushed or when a certain perfume is worn.
He thinks that the horse has a certain type that is brought on during
excercise. We decided to take the horse to Phoenix to rule out the other
possibilities. His heart and his blood work checked out perfectly. He
told me that there was a drug that could bring on narcolepsy (If the
horse had it) but about 50% of the time a horse will colic after the drug
has been administered. I decided I didn't want to take the risk. My
next step is to have blood work done during a race at about the 30 mile
mark. I will have that done this weeked at the Caspers Park Ride.
I found an old copy of Equus that talks about Narcolepsy. The vet that
wrote the short piece is from Cornell University. She said that once you
are sure it is nacrolepsy it can be treated. I'm trying to reach her
today. (Cynthia Jackson, DVM- Equus 221)
At this point in time I will keep riding the horse and try to manage the
problem. When we get into vet checks and his PR is taken I will try to
keep his mind on something else. I have been feeding him apple treats
during training recovery to see how his pulse drops. He seems to recover
faster while I'm feedind him treats. I hope this will keep his mind busy
during vet checks and he won't lean on the PR person and fall down.
I have two other great horses that I could be riding. I don't want to
give up on this horse, he is a special one. He has more heart than any
horse I have ever been around.
I would love any suggestions
Garrett
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