The FreeRepublic Saddle Club thread - Thread TWO!

[HairOfTheDog]

Free Republic has a lot of horse people that have found each other on other threads…. And since we all like to talk horses, how about a thread where it is not off-topic, but is THE topic?

A few of us thought it would be interesting and informative to have a chat thread where we can share ideas, ask for input from other horsemen, and talk about our riding and horse-keeping. We have a lot of different kinds of riders and horses, and a lot to share. In the last thread we had a great time and were a great help to each other working through lessons and training, horse lamenesses and illnesses, questions and challenges and always just our stories we like to tell.

I always have a link to this thread on my profile page, so if you have something to say and can't find the thread in latest posts… look for it there and wake the thread up!

I also have a ping list for horse threads that are of interest, and Becky pings everyone most mornings. Let Becky (Paynoattentionmanbehindthecurtain) and/or me know if you would like to be on the ping list. As FreeRepublic is a political site, our politics and other issues will probably blend in…. There are many issues for horsemen that touch politics… land use, animal rights/abuse cases that make the news…. Legislation that might affect horse owners.

So... like the last thread, this is intended as fun place to come and share stories, pictures, questions and chit-chat, unguided and unmoderated and that we come together here as friends. There are lots of ways of doing things and we all have our quirks, tricks and specialties that are neat to learn about.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

You have any knowledge of what the symptoms of West Nile are?

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Hmmm.... No. I dont...

[HairOfTheDog]

First look they seem more violent than his signs.

Q. How would I be able to tell if my horse was infected?

A. Infected horses may display one or more of the following symptoms:

• Lack of coordination and stumbling (most commonly described symptom)
• Depression or apprehension
  
• Weakness of the hind limbs
  
• Falling down, inability to rise
  
• Muscle twitching
  
• Grinding teeth
  
• Colicky appearance
  
• Hypersensitivity
  
• Excessive sweating
  
• Disorientation
  
• Convulsions
  
• Paralysis

From here: NJDA Frequently Asked Questions About West Nile Virus in Horses

[Duchess47]

West Nile doesn't necessarily show all of those symptoms, and some cases are very mild. For some horses, it may just seem like a mild flu. It is only fatal in about 30% of the cases.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

How do you find this stuff so quick:). I'm just not good with google seaches, probably don't use the right words.

I took his temp just now, no fever.

I'm totally baffled. He seems fine. He just won't eat.

Becky

[Duchess47]

Should have added, even with severe symptoms, recovery in about 70% of the horses.

We've lost a lot here in Lyon, Douglas and Churchill Counties, but a lot of horses have been immune or recovered. The only one that I was close to at all was a mini on our street. He appeared at first to be colicing, then would fall down, very sensitive to any touch and muscle twitching.

[Duchess47]

Becky,
Just check him later then. Tomorrow feed him something that he really likes. No fever, no symptoms, just wait.

My husband's gelding will every once in awhile go off his feed. Then back on it and he's fine. We think maybe with him, he gets tired of the same thing all the time and since he has a problem with his escopagus, he can't have hay.

[Beaker]

Navicular changes are any change in the general structure of the navicular bone, no matter how slight. Navicular disease is when the sinovial fluid around the bone dries up, and then major changes happen, like lollipopping, which are lollipop like growths of bone on the bone, and the bone wearing away severly.

[Beaker]

Is Rusty vaccinated against west nile?

[Beaker]

Have you considered giving Rusty a nice mash?

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

He's a pretty finiky eater. There have been times when he didn't clean up his feed right off. When he coliced this summer, we ran blood work, and ruled out ulcers. which the vet thought he might have because of his eating habits. Since then we got a respirtory infection he had cleared up and he's been eating everything I give him. Until yesterday. Since yesterday, he's ate maybe 1/2 of one feeding.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

OK - I would guess he is in the 'changes' category, without knowing more for sure. His lameness was/is pretty slight so far. No one but me even saw it. I just thought he had lost some of his spring at the trot and seemed weak. When I called the vet out to evaluate, he saw only minor signs of lameness until we numbed his feet and saw the difference.

[HairOfTheDog]

I googled West Nile Horse Symptoms ;~D

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

He was vacinated last year, this year my vet said to hold off, because the chances of getting it had really slacked off. He said there had only been once case this year in this area. He wasn't big on giving stuff to horses unless he was sure they needed it.

I've been so busy, I haven't had a chance to really do much, but tomorrow I am going to the feed store and was going to pick up some bran, but I'd bet my last dollar he won't eat it:)

Probably call the vet before I give him anything.

Becky

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

I googled Equine West Nile sypmtoms:), and didn't find that:)

Well, I think I'll say good night.

I'll let you all know tomorrow what the vet says. Thanks for all the imput.

Becky

[HairOfTheDog]

Good night.... I'll hope for positive news tomorrow. I nice simple explanation. You deserve that!

[Beaker]

But some yummy molasses, apples and carrots in it. Hope he's ok :-) I've never known a horse to refuse a bran mash. They usually glob it up like it's their last meal! lol.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Good morning.

Rusty is acting pretty perky this morning, talking to me when I went out there, but still didn't eat last nights feed.

The first day this started, I gave him a bit of hay that I had here from Trash. It's good hay, from a square bale. He nibbled it, but then after that is when he started laying down, so I've been leary of giving him more. But this morning I tried again. He is eating it. I'll see what he does.

I find it hard to believe this is because he is tired of his pellets. He went from eating them right down to nothing. He has to be hungry if there is nothing wrong.

Becky

[MissTargets]

Becky, if he is an older horse, he might have a tooth problem. Just a thought.

[PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain]

Damn, damn, damn:)

The vet that doctored Rusty thru his colic this summer, who I figured I would start using since mine died, is out of town for the weekend. I went ahead and made an appointment for Mon. I really hate waiting till then tho to figure this out, because I'm leaving Tues. for 5 days.

Becky