Endurance.Net Ridecamp Archives

Thought I'd share something very bizarre with you and and any comments 
are welcome.  The other night one of my horses had eraser size to 1/2 
dollar size welts/bumps all over her.  I mean from head to toe.  They 
are pastured 24/7 and she spends alot of time back in the woods in the 
shade during these hot humid Georgia days.  When I saw her I couldnt' 
believe it.  She was not itching herself or rolling just standing 
looking fairly miserable.  It was kind of late to call a vet and it was 
close to pitch black so all I thought was maybe I can at least make her 
more comfortable and gave her a bath.  The next morning there was not a 
single bump on her.  Not a single sign that anything had been wrong.  I 
will say as the water was coming off her it was definately warmer then 
what was going on.  The water was not cold but cool coming out of the 
hose and warm running off.  Could all those welts/bumps everywhere from 
an eraser size up to a 1/2 dollar size have been from heat?  I had kept 
her up that night and not given her the new hay I had got that day but 
now with her back to everything normal they still have not re appeared 
so it can't have been feed or 'in the woods'  No other horse had a 
single bump.
So there are a few questions in there but also, if it happens to any 
other horse maybe just cooling them down is the answer?

I have a gelding who the other day did something fairly scary.  I 
picked all his feet then saddled him and decided to do  stretches I have 
read about.  He is very flexible in his neck so I let him bend for 
treats. I then went to lift one of his front legs and gentley went to 
stretch them forward away from the girth.  He immediately started to 
kneel. I (stupidly) was trying to hold him up wondering what in the 
world was he doing!?  Well he went down (it was only about an inch at 
that point) then immediately jumped right back up.  I thought it was so 
bizarre but he seemed fine and I wanted to rule out pain or problems so 
I went and did the same thing on the other side.  This time he went down 
on both "knees" and again jumped back up as if everything was fine.  I 
am talking front legs only.
I've had him since he was 3 months.  He had done this in the past , not 
to the ground, but leaned on me heavy with one front leg once in a while 
when I would pick his feet but hasn't done it in ages and would only do 
it with one leg.  Was I hurting him?  I really only lifted it forward 
about an inch or so to see the skin at the girth stretch a little.  He 
is a very 'fancy' and flexible 4 year old so I can't believe it would be 
pain but I don't know?  Does anyone else have experience with this?
I've been too chicken to try it again for fear I was hurting him.
He just got his feet trimmed and stood perfectly fine for the farrier.

Kathy


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