Re: Fainting Spell

["Tamara Jane Habberley" <tamarahabberley@lineone.net>]

I know this sounds wierd but have you considered azatoria as a cause,
particlarly as dirrhea usaully indicates dyhydration.

I saw a TB win a race recently then tie up, the poor horse went berserk due
to the shock / strange feeling and tried to run of .

Tamara


----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Keeffe <bkeeffe@nativeson.com>
To: <Ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2000 9:41 PM
Subject: RC: Fainting Spell


> Give me your opinion:
>
> Well it all started out beautifully...our Sunday ride that is.
>
> Hind sight is of no use, but looking back . . . well, here's what
happened.
> I arrived and started grooming Duke, give Dennis (Duke's owner) a hard
time
> for not keeping my Sunday riding horse cleaner. Dukie had dried diarrhea
on
> his back end, legs and tail. Bridling went easy - for Duke that is
unusual.
> Saddling was the easiest ever too!  Not his normal constant moving while
> trying to get all the gear on, still moving none the less.  I'm thinking
> he's finally figuring all this routine out. Even getting on him is usually
> at a fast walk in a circle... not so today, slow walk. After getting
through
> the gate he was even patient waiting for Annette, very alert and wanting
to
> go, patient none the less.
>
> Duke is the leader of the pack and moves right out.  He's alert, feeling
> Good, noticing all.  He's muscled up nicely since I started riding him.
> Annette and I decide to take the trail up to the lookout tower instead of
> following the road.  Wow!  What a gorgeous trail, goes from very narrow
with
> brush to open hills of oaks and grass, to rocky climbs.  Everything for a
> good ride. We're in no rush. This is just a fun trail ride. We're letting
> the horses (Duke) determine the pace.  The trail was beautiful plus we
were
> getting the nice breeze from the ocean.  We'd been on the trail about
2-1/2
> hours when we reached the lookout. Took a few minutes for a snack/potty
> break, enjoyed looking around at the beautiful view and let the horses
rest
> and graze. Life is good.
>
> We head out, just at a walk, we're really in no rush. It's starting to
warm
> up on 'this' side of the mountain.
>
> Hey, we even saw some very large, perfect in the mud, bear prints!  How I
> wished some plaster of paris was at hand.
>
> The boys were going to meet us at the campground, if they had the energy
to
> climb the hill, which was just a short jaunt down the hill from the
lookout.
> The temperature was much warmer on this side of the hill, the ocean breeze
> was blocked.  Annette and I were at the water trough just past the
> campground and no sign of 'the boys'.
>
> Duke had been doing great!  He's learning to graze and eat along the trail
> and sometimes he even takes water!  This was our first water stop of the
> day.  Annette had Paloma at the trough drinking her fill.  I had Duke up
to
> the trough a couple of times, no go.  Paloma backed away and was waiting.
I
> moved Duke back up to the trough, this time closer to the end.  He dropped
> his head like he was going to drink when all of a sudden his legs buckled
> and we went down. I was pinned under him so couldn't roll away when all of
a
> sudden he's struggling to get up!
>
> We're in a tight spot between the old trough and a tree on a down hill
> slope.  Duke is dancing all over me and I've the bruises to prove it.
With
> one final push he gets me in the ribcage and starts running back up the
> road.  Poor Annette.  I can still hear her "Oh Jeannie, Oh, Oh, are you
Ok,
> Oh Jeannie, Oh. . . . " While Annette was trying to get Duke, I did a
> complete body check (had no choice, couldn't get up for the lack of
breath)
> and was thinking a couple of ribs might be broken.  Everything else hurt,
> but not seriously.
>
> Gathered all that had spilled and started walking back up the road in
search
> of Annette and the horses.  Duke was scraped and had a few small
> cuts....seemed fine other than that.  By now the temperature was climbing
> pretty good.  We started walking down the road, Annette took the lead in
the
> hopes she could hail someone at the crossroads.  I'm in shock, breathing
is
> shallow, just keeping myself together by flapping a wet bandana around my
> neck and shoulders.  After what SEEMED like hours we finally had a guy/two
> boys stop, we must of looked delirious by now, and he asked if he could
> help.
>
> The story ends: Duke had the look of what the heck happened to you while
> pointing a hoof at me.  All his scrapes and cuts were superficial and are
> healing fast, thank you. And an ER visit for me, no broken ribs . . .
might
> be cracked, for sure separated.  Oh joy.
>
> So why did Duke collapse then run off?  #1 It hadn't started to heat up
> until we were on the east side of the mountain. #2 We'd been taking it
easy
> . . the horses were barely sweaty. #3 Duke jumped up and ran as soon as he
> could get out of the tight spot we were in.
>
> I've heard a couple thoughts about this so far:  #1. Maybe the breast
collar
> was too tight thus cutting off Duke's air supply when he put his head down
> for a drink. ....I'm not so certain, he managed to eat grass and weeds
along
> the way and he had to lower his head for that. #2. It was the heat. ....It
> hadn't started heating up until we reached the campground and watering
> trough although it did heat up to 98* later on while walking down the
road.
>
> Remember my 'hind sight':  Dukie didn't seem 'his self' at the start, not
> that he was acting sick or not wanting to go mind you.  Just different.  I
> thought he was just getting the routine down and Annette thought the
> diarrhea was just from nervousness (which is quite normal).
>
> So, tell me your thoughts on what you think happened this day. Without the
> backup from a vet we may never know, but I will certainly not let any
change
> in a horses behavior no matter how great or small slip by without giving
> more thought to it.
>
> I'm still managing to get my daily horse fix, but it will be a while
before
> I'm 'bouncing' along on the trail again.  This is the pits!
>
> Jeannie
>
>
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