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Laurie,

As someone who had a horse with (possible) EPM before anyone had heard 
of it, I understand and sympathize with your frustration.

My gelding was diagnosed with "inner ear disease back in 1990.  This 
was after I spent 11 months trying to convince my vet there was 
something wrong with him.  He tripped a lot (which was highly unusual 
for him... he was a big, fit horse who moved like a cat) He popped FIVE 
splints in the HIND legs at the age of 15, doing the work he'd always 
done.  He became tentative, depressed, and went off his feed. It was a 
horrible thing to see...... This was a vital, aggressive, go-get-'em 
horse who would have gladly died in a spectacular manner for me.

The treatment for inner ear was exactly the same as EPM, and Sonny did 
get better.  It was slow going, however.  He was unrideable for 6 
weeks, and I spent two months lunging him before he was marginally safe 
to ride.  To his credit, he was much better under saddle than on his 
own. I swear he tried extra hard for me.

Unfortunately, he began to show symptoms again, nine months after 
treatment. I was told he'd gotten it in his other ear, and since he 
only had two, treatment a second time would cure him forever. Of 
course, we all know better now, don't we?

After the second course of treatment, he improved again... and he 
hadn't gotten so bad this time.  I got another 9 months out of him 
before he started the downhill slide again, and elected to have him put 
down.  Tough decision for a tough horse.

I had his head sent to OSU, where Dr. Linda Blythe was working on 
middle ear (and EPM) The autopsy showed no evidence of middle ear.  I 
was upset by that, wanting a black and white answer, but I didn't 
question my decision..... whatever was wrong with Sonny was 
untreatable, dangerous, and devastating to his personality.

About 10 month later, EPM hit the media, and after reading about it and 
case histories, I realized that's what he had.  Can I prove it? Not 
really.... my attempts to have Sonny's head re-tested were fruitless ( 
I still smile when I think of his big handsome head in a giant jar of 
formaldehyde, on display somewhere at the college..... Weird, yes.  But 
you had to know Sonny.... He loved being in the spotlight!) So I never 
got an answer.

Years later, I talked to a vet friend of mine, and asked him "How many 
of those cases of "inner ear" in Clark County in the early 90's were 
actually EPM?" He looked at me kinda funny, and said "More than anyone 
will ever admit to"

That was enough for me.

It sounds as if your horse is doing pretty good..... and I would 
suggest you go ahead and start conditioning him and enjoying him. Of 
course, you can still look for a definitive answer to your questions, 
but be prepared for a big maybe.  Life is like that sometimes.  In the 
meantime, Ride!

Good luck, and my thoughts are with you.

Julie


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