horses falling asleep

[guest@endurance.net]

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO GUEST@ENDURANCE.NET!!!
You must post replies to the actual sender listed below.

From: stacy olsen 
Email: stacy.a.berger@intel.com

A very good friend of mine purchased a 13 year old, 17.2 hand Thoroughbred horse as a dressage/jumper horse.  He was gorgeous - and performed well.  Unfortunatley he had narcalepsy, which the previous owner did not disclose.  Because he fell asleep and fell down on occasion, it was not known by the vet that did the pre-purchase exam.    Over the next 2 years - he got progressively worse.  He was brought to UC Davis, and they were unable to treat it - and they did observe him fall.  He started to have some lameness problems as a result of falling and hurting himself.  It was very sad. She had to humanely euthanize him after much agony (he looked healthy and was gorgeous - and of course was her best buddy).  The event that led to the decision to put him down was that he fell asleep while the farrier was putting new shoes on him.  Fortunately the farrier was able to get out of the way - it could have also been dangerous to the humans around him.  Very sad.