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Horse Behavior and Training

Oxygen deprivation and strange behaviour

By:

22gracey

Date:

2011-Jan-08 at 09:28AM

I have a horse that is now 2 and he was starved of oxygen at birth. He now jumps his fence with no reason to leave his mates and he walks backwards in the yard with his nose on the ground which I've never seen before. He also injures himself in the paddock and know one knows how he did it. I'm concerned this horse is having orientation problems. Please help

Miriam (Holland&Germany) 2011-Jan-08 at 12:04PM

Hi Gracey,
I'm not an expert, but I have some experience with disabled children, that suffer from the same problem. What I would suggest is have a vet check for epilepsia, this can be done by measuring briansignals, like a EEG in humans. It might be a little difficult to have your youngster stand still for the procedure, maybe the vet is giving him some sedation. The fact that he injures himself with no outer influence makes me think in this direction.
I can understand your concern and would like you to let us know the outcome of your search.
Good luck!Miriam

22gracey 2011-Jan-09 at 12:17AM

Thanks for yr input Mariam it's helpful. The horse belongs to my friend, it is a three quarter brother to my cutting gelding. The owner is Andries and doesn't think anything of it but the fact that he's doing these things makes her physically vomit with stress and I cant get her to see that there could be something neurological, but the horse was starved of oxygen at birth and was stuck for a long time in the canal and came out with bent front legs, I see him go blank and it's like he's not all there in the head at times

22gracey 2011-Jan-09 at 12:52AM

The walking backwards in the yard with his nose on the ground worries me I can't work it out as I've never seen that kind of behavior before, has anyone ever seen that before?

Kicki -- Sweden 2011-Jan-10 at 11:56AM

I've never heard of that behaviour before. I would go with Miriam's suggestion and have the horse checked. If for nothing else, so to make sure it won't be a hazard to its rider in the future.