Hi All -- it's been so long since I visited, but I could really use your helpful expertise on behalf of a friend of mine! She has a 2yo filly that has been exhibiting some pretty odd behavior and we'd like to know if you have any input that could help.
Here's what happened with Trouble yesterday (c&p'd via an email from her owner to me): First of all, about three weeks ago or less I had her in overnight cause the farrier was coming the next day. BO called around 8am saying that trouble was circling in her stall, and was super wobbly like she might fall down. I immediately assumed she'd likely colicked from being cast. By the time I got there she'd calmed down and we gave her some banamine and watched her for a while and put her back out to pasture. But today I had a friend pull her in so that after I worked with the new mare I could work Trouble. In the cross ties I put the surcingle on her and a couple of seconds later her front feet camped out and the light went out of her eyes. She sat back on the cross ties and struggled a bit but not much. Finally she lurched forward, hitting her head on the rafters and breaking loose one cross tie and went down on her face and knees. When she came back up I undid the other cross tie and went straight out the door and into the arena. After about 5-10 minutes she was back to normal, so I tied her up in the arena, went and got the surcingle, untied it, and this time my friend tightened the surcingle. She had the same reaction, just in a safer environment. Also in the cross ties I noticed that her gums turned slightly purpulish blue, though back to pink when she recovered. So basically it's like she's passing out when I tighten the girth, and Lynn noticed that she was kinda hot to the touch and that never went away. Also she's been sorta moving her mouth weird, wide and circular like she wants to pop her jaw. I did call the vet and he'd seen this before in older horses with ulcers so given her turnout and lack of work we all doubt that is in play in anyway.
So guys... what are your thoughts? She could really use your help!!
Thank you
Jess
Oh, an addendum: The whole thing with her jaw or teeth started that day a few weeks ago too, maybe if she had tried to work her back then she would have seen this happen too. The other thing that is very important to note is that her gums were discolored and I don't know if that happened from literally sitting back on the cross ties or if it's something bigger. She does seem disoriented and afraid when it happens and comes to her owner for comfort. This is NOT a stressed filly, she's very laid back and has had super slow training with long layoffs and constant turnout with others. She takes new situations very well, which is why we are so stumped by this behavior and worry that it's health related.
Here's what happened with Trouble yesterday (c&p'd via an email from her owner to me): First of all, about three weeks ago or less I had her in overnight cause the farrier was coming the next day. BO called around 8am saying that trouble was circling in her stall, and was super wobbly like she might fall down. I immediately assumed she'd likely colicked from being cast. By the time I got there she'd calmed down and we gave her some banamine and watched her for a while and put her back out to pasture. But today I had a friend pull her in so that after I worked with the new mare I could work Trouble. In the cross ties I put the surcingle on her and a couple of seconds later her front feet camped out and the light went out of her eyes. She sat back on the cross ties and struggled a bit but not much. Finally she lurched forward, hitting her head on the rafters and breaking loose one cross tie and went down on her face and knees. When she came back up I undid the other cross tie and went straight out the door and into the arena. After about 5-10 minutes she was back to normal, so I tied her up in the arena, went and got the surcingle, untied it, and this time my friend tightened the surcingle. She had the same reaction, just in a safer environment. Also in the cross ties I noticed that her gums turned slightly purpulish blue, though back to pink when she recovered. So basically it's like she's passing out when I tighten the girth, and Lynn noticed that she was kinda hot to the touch and that never went away. Also she's been sorta moving her mouth weird, wide and circular like she wants to pop her jaw. I did call the vet and he'd seen this before in older horses with ulcers so given her turnout and lack of work we all doubt that is in play in anyway.
So guys... what are your thoughts? She could really use your help!!
Thank you
Jess
Oh, an addendum: The whole thing with her jaw or teeth started that day a few weeks ago too, maybe if she had tried to work her back then she would have seen this happen too. The other thing that is very important to note is that her gums were discolored and I don't know if that happened from literally sitting back on the cross ties or if it's something bigger. She does seem disoriented and afraid when it happens and comes to her owner for comfort. This is NOT a stressed filly, she's very laid back and has had super slow training with long layoffs and constant turnout with others. She takes new situations very well, which is why we are so stumped by this behavior and worry that it's health related.