Help with EPM flare experience

[BRadic5]

Hi all,

I need help via others experiences. I have a horse who had EPM and was tripping on the front end. He also turns out, has bad neck X-rays. We weren’t sure if the tripping was epm or neck. We injected the neck and treated the epm and he’s been the most sure footed horse in the barn for 6 months. Took him to a show and he starts tripping again. To me it’s a stress EPM flare. I know it’s possible maybe trailering jostled his neck around or the injections wore off, but timing of that coinciding with the show isn’t super likely. We rode the day before we left and he was fine.

Has anyone else experienced this and what have you done to help it and or prevent it? I did all the EPM meds that exist when I treated first time. One vet is telling me just to support nerves and inflammation another is telling me to retreat. I’m trying not to be devastated. Any guidance is appreciated. I work with 2 vets I’m just looking for anything. He’s so nice and young and I could live out all my horse girl hopes and dreams with him but I’m worried his career is already over.

[Simkie]

Six months is exactly how long my neck horse’s injections lasted. I would really look to that rather than the EPM.

[BRadic5]

Ugh ok thank you. Did you reinject or just call it at that point?

[Pepsy]

Hi,
Does your horse trailer regularly with no ill effects? Or has he not been trailered for awhile and then trailered to the horse show? I ask because I had a horse with neck issues that I feel were aggravated with trailering. Nice trailer that other horses found very comfortable.

[BRadic5]

This is his first time trailering since treating the EPM/neck and having no issues so unfortunately I don’t have a baseline

[FjordBCRF]

@Pepsy

Does your horse trailer regularly with no ill effects? Or has he not been trailered for awhile and then trailered to the horse show? I ask because I had a horse with neck issues that I feel were aggravated with trailering.

Just a data point, my guy with neck issues who is absolutely willing to do anything I ask, often loads with some reluctance. Never take more than a minute or two now, but he gives me the “do I have to?” look. He was much happier about it when we were regularly going for electro-acupuncture. We start shockwave next week for a mineralization deposit in his nuchal ligament and I’m very curious to see his thoughts on loading for that.

He also consistently was MORE reluctant going home after we’d haul out to do any kind of riding; trails/clinics/shows etc which makes sense if his neck already doesn’t feel great, doesn’t feel great in the trailer, prob doesn’t feel great for our ride, and then having to get back in the trailer to not feel great again. My gut feeling is that trailering isn’t very comfortable for him either.

[Simkie]

@BRadic5

Ugh ok thank you. Did you reinject or just call it at that point?

We injected again…and that round lasted two weeks.

I retired at that point.

I’m sorry that’s not very hopeful

[BRadic5]

Good to know thank you. My guy was not thrilled to get back on the trailer and usually walks right on

[BRadic5]

I’m truly sorry that happened. Just because it isn’t what I want to hear doesn’t mean it isn’t helpful!

[Pepsy]

Same thing Horse did not want to load back up for return trip

[CBoylen]

The electro acupuncture is really great for necks.

[4horses]

EPM can always come back. Usually at the worst possible time. My friend lost her horse to it. In hindsight I suspect his lameness issues were the first symptoms of the EPM returning.

[george]

Yes, I have many many years of expirence with this. Feel free to pm me and I will give you my number, this is really too complex and too nuanced to deal with on a forum and while I am happy to share information, I want to hear a lot more details before I can best be of help.