Young horse with no energy listless

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Posted by Chester and Jessie's Friend on February 09, 2004 at 07:12:14:

Hi,
I have been riding most of my younger life and had to have my horse put down due to illness when he was 25 (I was 20 years old)

I am now 36, and recently began riding again with a fiend of mine. She had recently begun dating a man whose father had two "pasture" horses who were not being used at all. The horss are a Percheron/Morgan mix named Jessie and her 4 year old gelded colt Chester, whose sire was a Canadain.

Jessie is saddle broke, and very kind, Chester had never been worked with at all. We began lungeing and working with them both, at the time (fall) teh pasture was rather sparse and we began supplementing their diet of just grass with shortfeed.

Jessie immediatley "perked up" full of energy and kicking up her heels. Chester, on the other hand, seemed most days to barely be able to get out of his own way. Condition seemed fine, eyes bright, coat ok, just absolutley NO ENERGY! We were able to break and ride him without him so much as kicking up a heel. However, we did find he tired extremely easily, and again, all he could do to get out of his own way. I think the only reason we were able to ride him is because he followed Jessie around.

I was concerned maybe he had worms, and he was dewormed, I have not been out to see him in a few weeks but am told his condition is the same, he is now in the barn, but when they are let out on mild days, Jessie runs about kicking up her heels and rolling and he just stands.

My friend thinks he may have a equine version of Lupus, as we found many ticks on them when they were in pasture. Chester was born in the same pasture and other than being gelded has never been vetted. One thing about him I noted it he is very narrow across the chest, extremely so.

We are going to collect a stool sample and see if teh vet can take a look, but other than heaves and colic, when it comes to identifying equine ailments I am at a loss.

I do know , however, that this horse is not behaving like a healthy four year old!

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Re: Young horse with no energy listless Nanci 19:34:41 02/10/04 (0)

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: Hi, : I have been riding most of my younger life and had to have my horse put down due to illness when he was 25 (I was 20 years old) : I am now 36, and recently began riding again with a fiend of mine. She had recently begun dating a man whose father had two "pasture" horses who were not being used at all. The horss are a Percheron/Morgan mix named Jessie and her 4 year old gelded colt Chester, whose sire was a Canadain. : Jessie is saddle broke, and very kind, Chester had never been worked with at all. We began lungeing and working with them both, at the time (fall) teh pasture was rather sparse and we began supplementing their diet of just grass with shortfeed. : Jessie immediatley "perked up" full of energy and kicking up her heels. Chester, on the other hand, seemed most days to barely be able to get out of his own way. Condition seemed fine, eyes bright, coat ok, just absolutley NO ENERGY! We were able to break and ride him without him so much as kicking up a heel. However, we did find he tired extremely easily, and again, all he could do to get out of his own way. I think the only reason we were able to ride him is because he followed Jessie around. : I was concerned maybe he had worms, and he was dewormed, I have not been out to see him in a few weeks but am told his condition is the same, he is now in the barn, but when they are let out on mild days, Jessie runs about kicking up her heels and rolling and he just stands. : My friend thinks he may have a equine version of Lupus, as we found many ticks on them when they were in pasture. Chester was born in the same pasture and other than being gelded has never been vetted. One thing about him I noted it he is very narrow across the chest, extremely so. : We are going to collect a stool sample and see if teh vet can take a look, but other than heaves and colic, when it comes to identifying equine ailments I am at a loss. : I do know , however, that this horse is not behaving like a healthy four year old!

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