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  Discussion on Tightrope walker?
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Member:
majoda92

Posted on Thursday, Mar 19, 2009 - 1:56 pm:

Our 27yr.old QH gelding, Jack, has recently started "tightrope" walking behind. He is really showing his age this winter. He has been on pergolide for Cushings for several months. We are careful with his diet restricting carbs. He had an episode of colic a few weeks ago, which required a vet visit.The vet did some blood work, which came back "normal". She found an impaction,and treated him for that. He is having trouble chewing his hay, so we give him a well-soaked combo of beetpulp,bran and a complete senior feed. He has lost quite a bit of weight over the winter, but he still seems fairly bright and alert. Just wondering if the change in his hind end gait is related to just getting older. We are currently using him as a therapeutic mount, mostly walk with shorts stretches of trot. We only let the smaller riders on him at this point. Should he be ridden at all at this stage in his life? He really does seem to enjoy the attention. Anyone have experience with these symptoms?
Diane
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Thursday, Mar 19, 2009 - 9:49 pm:

Hello Diane,
Assuming I picture the gait change properly it is not clear why your horse has started this. I wonder if there has been loss of muscle mass and the gait change due to weakness. I would not use the horse in any significant way until the condition is at least a 5 (moderate) on the Henneke scale and the horse pronounced sound. For more on feeding difficult keepers see Diseases of Horses » Colic, Diarrhea, GI Tract » Weight Loss in Horses » Overview of Chronic Weight Loss.
DrO
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