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Discussion on Terrified horse
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New Member:
gtoupin
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 21, 2008 - 5:35 pm:
I have an 8 yr old appaloosa cross gelding that periodicly goes crazy from fear and will run through steel fences, board fences, stall doors, whatever is in the way to get as far as possible from whatever he is afraid of. He's normally quite a quiet horse and is very brave on trails or when I'm there.
I've tried keeping him in quiet barns, busy barns, inside in a stall, outside in a pen, with other horses, alone, nothing works. He's been severely injured several times and I expect to have to put him down one of these days.
He is beyond scared when it happens. I've shown him and take him everywhere so I don't know if its something that traumatized him before I bought him.
Any suggestions? Anyone used anti anxiety drugs or know if they're affordable for a horse and/or effective?
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Member:
mrose
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Posted on Thursday, Aug 21, 2008 - 7:29 pm:
Are you sure he is frightened? We once boarded a big TB that started acting similarly and it turned out he had a brain tumor. Does something in particular set him off? Has he always been this way? Have you ever been with him when this happens? (I wasn't sure from your post.)
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Aug 24, 2008 - 7:09 am:
Hello Gina,
If these events are very abnormal compared with this horse's usual behavior, transient, and occur for no apparent reason, I would consider some type of minor seizure behavior. For more on seizures see Diseases of Horses » Nervous System » Seizures & Fainting » Seizures and Epilepsy.
DrO
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Member:
erika
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Posted on Sunday, Aug 24, 2008 - 10:18 pm:
How weird, in retrospect, I had a TB gelding that when he was good he was very good. Anyone could ride him if he wasn't so unpredictable. But he could suddenly go ape and jump off a cliff, or something equally bizarre.
Interesting theory about the seizure.
Gina, I'm eager to hear what you think in relation to this horse of yours.
Erika
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