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HYPP N/H - Now what?

Horse Care
#41

Well, because of my personal experience with an N/H horse, I wouldn’t be too complacent. I had a lovely colt born out of a fancy TB mare, and by a QH stallion (I didn’t breed him, bought him as a foal for my hubby). He was a real spunky, tough to handle colt, even after gelding, a real handful. At 2+ years old, I had his teeth done, and the following day, he was down in his stall, exhibiting what the vet thought was colic symptoms. HYPP had just hit the news at that time, so I asked the vet if it could possibly be an HYPP attack, and could he please test him? Turns out he was N/H, but according to the vet, he didn’t think I really had much to worry about, due to his dam being a TB and only having one copy of the gene. They didn’t think I needed to put him on acetazolomide, just put him on a low potassium diet, which we did.

Interesting to note, after that first episode, he calmed down, and became a really good citizen, I even broke him to ride myself. I just thought he was growing up and quieting down.

At 4 years old, he was out in his paddock with two other buddies, we heard a horrible noise. My boy was on the ground, having a major attack for no apparent reason, and he died in my husband’s arms. It was horrific, and heart breaking to lose such a young, vibrant horse that we had raised from a foal, we almost didn’t have horses after losing him, it was just so hard. The horses that were with him were inconsolable too.

I also have known a few Impressive horses that were supposedly N/N, but still had wierd muscle soreness/sensitivity, foot problems, etc. Personally, I WILL NEVER own another Impressive bred horse in my life, JMHO. Please don’t get flame me for my views, I’m sure there are lovely Impressive horses out there that have never had problems and are wonderful horses for their owners, I’ll just never go down that road again.

If I had it to do over again, I definitely would’ve put him on the meds, as a preventative. By the time we realized how severely affected he was, he was gone, no second chance. Thank goodness no one was riding him or near him at the time…RIP Taylor…We still miss you, Big Boy.

#42

[QUOTE=Cruzer;3193332]
Am posting under an alter to protect the innocent :slight_smile:

Nine months ago I purchased a nice QH gelding from a friend’s barn. He had been with her for almost a year prior to me buying him. Owner lost interest, stop paying board on him, etc. You get the picture. No papers - although we could estimate his age to be about 9 years old.

I prepurchased him and did not have a HYPP test done on him at the time. Quite frankly, I guess I was stupid enough and felt it wasn’t neccessary. He had been living at her farm eating sweet feed and alfalfa for almost a year. I subsequently put the horse into 90 days training, brought him home, and never gave it a thought.

New vet comes out to give spring shots. She looks at him, hears my complaint that he tends to be a noisy breather when eating, and suggests a test. Figured why not - it will make it easier for me if I want to insure him down the road.

Test results just came back. He is HYPP N/H.

He has never shown any symptoms in the past year and a half. He has been shipped, tranqed, ridden, lived with three hours of turnout, lived out 24/7. Currently is eating a small amount of sweet feed (.90% potassium), timothy hay and hay stretcher pellets. He has a paddock and run in situation.

Do I change anything? A couple of people have already told me don’t mess with his feed since he has not shown any signs. How worried should I be? Can a horse that has never shown signs exhibit symptoms as they age?[/QUOTE]
In case no one read my earlier post, here’s your answer, YES, a horse that has never shown signs can have symptoms as they age, have a full blown episode, and die from being HYPP N/H. Again, I would be very carefull with feed, hay, water, salt, turn out, everything. And still there are no guarantees.

#43

[QUOTE=JB;3193516]
Yes, you change his feed to be as low in potassium as you can. No alfalfa. Find out which hays are generally low in potassium, or test specific batches. No oats. There are no guarantees - the diet that may be fine for him now could bring on a seizure literally tomorrow.[/QUOTE]

JB, I’m wondering why you say “no oats”. That is what they recommended to feed my HYPP horse. http://www.vgl.ucdavis.edu/services/hypp.php

#44

I was wondering about the no oats thing too. Two different vets recommended straight oats.
We have 2 HYPP horses in the barn. Mine plus another. The other horse is much more sensitive than my horse. He is on straight oats and the only treats he is allowed is sugar cubes. Neighbor was coming over and feeding carrots/apples and he seized.
My horse can have carrots and is on a sweet feet/oats mix. My guy won’t eat straight oats. The sweet feed is .5%. It is a very dry sweet feed.
I had Sonny for 2 years before he had an episode. It has been 7-8 years since he had one.
Oats are .4% potassium.

By the way carrots and apples both have potassium and some mineral blocks have added potassium.
We keep karo syrup around just in case. When I went on an overnight trail ride I brought karo syrup with me.

#45

Huh, I have no idea why I put there there - oats ARE one of the recommended safe feeds :confused::confused:

#46

OK, you experts …

While we’re on the topic of HYPP, does this mare on DreamHorse look like a “typical” N/H horse? Or is she a little freaky? I’m still trying to figure out this creature’s conformation.

#47

[QUOTE=SonnysMom;3217177]
I was wondering about the no oats thing too. Two different vets recommended straight oats.
We have 2 HYPP horses in the barn. Mine plus another. The other horse is much more sensitive than my horse. He is on straight oats and the only treats he is allowed is sugar cubes. Neighbor was coming over and feeding carrots/apples and he seized.
My horse can have carrots and is on a sweet feet/oats mix. My guy won’t eat straight oats. The sweet feed is .5%. It is a very dry sweet feed.
I had Sonny for 2 years before he had an episode. It has been 7-8 years since he had one.
Oats are .4% potassium.

By the way carrots and apples both have potassium and some mineral blocks have added potassium.
We keep karo syrup around just in case. When I went on an overnight trail ride I brought karo syrup with me.[/QUOTE]
They do need salt, but get the white plain salt block. I think they could have apples but not carrots? Don’t remember, I’ll look it up. … OK–you’re right, don’t feed apples OR carrots!

#48

[QUOTE=Druid Acres;3217522]
While we’re on the topic of HYPP, does this mare on DreamHorse look like a “typical” N/H horse? Or is she a little freaky? I’m still trying to figure out this creature’s conformation.[/QUOTE]

Her front end looks exactly like the mare I had. The back end is alot bigger. Same color, except my mare had a more coppery/reddish shine to her coat. Maybe it’s just the picture, but that mare looks like she has a HUGE butt!

#49

That’s just gross, and I don’t apologize if that offends some, sorry.

She looks like a typical Halter horse, and her N/H status may (but isn’t guaranteed) be contributing to the muscular build. The muscular build comes from, best they can figure, the constant little invisible seizures the muscles undergo, making them “work” and grow.

#50

Sonnysmom - I am curious - what sweet feed are you using that is .5%? The one I am using is .9% and 2 vets have told me not to change his feed since he is doing okay. I am getting the meds as a preventative to have on hand if needed.

I shared with the vet who did the prepurchase the results. He said he has about 15 horses in his practice that are N/H. Two of them have episodes, including one that I know of. The others do not. Artisticgold your story is exactly why I am nervous. So sorry.

Interesting the stories I hear. And yes there are stories out there about N/N horses having similar symptoms. Makes you wonder.

#51

[QUOTE=JB;3217580]

She looks like a typical Halter horse[/QUOTE]

No she doesn’t :no:- she is “funny” looking

Here is a nice one:

http://www.fossilgatefarms.com/mryellafella.html

I hope you can tell the difference - night & day:yes:

#52

Sorry, I think he’s gross looking too. That steroid-look on a horse is not appealing to me in the least.

1 Like
#53

You cannot tell solely by body type whether an Impressive decendent is N/H or anything else. But she looks like an Impressive, which she is…another trace to Three Bars on the bottom too… but aways back.

Either she is standing on a hill on the right hind side or she has some uneven hips there. Just a bit downhill…

Kind of like that stud linked to above. If you like that kind of horse. I don’t but have been around many who do and he is a nice one.

#54

Suggest reading at this site:

http://www.bringinglighttohypp.org/

Eileen

#55

[QUOTE=Roan;3218630]
Suggest reading at this site:

http://www.bringinglighttohypp.org/

Eileen[/QUOTE]

Is pure biased TRIPE! They do NOT use science - just uneducated opinion. It was started because they were PO’d that they had problems with HYPP and started a slander site. Education is great but tripe and salaciousness only hurts.

Hre s the site to use: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/

#56

[QUOTE=Woodland;3218869]
Is pure biased TRIPE! They do NOT use science - just uneducated opinion. It was started because they were PO’d that they had problems with HYPP and started a slander site. Education is great but tripe and salaciousness only hurts.

Hre s the site to use: http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/[/QUOTE]

Slander site? You mean libel? Regardless, I don’t see any libelous statements on that site. Would you please clarify?

The info on that site is linked to UC Davis, so I’m even more confused as to what you are saying.

Eileen

#57

Get educated on HYPP first of all, use UC Davis site as a start. Keep meds on hand, especially a bottle of Karo syrup just in case.

I have an Impressive bred mare that is n/n. She is a nice mare, but had she been n/h I would have passed on her, just too risky for ME.

Even if a horse has never exhibited symptoms, there are no guarantees so prevention would be the key and a close eye on your horse.

BTW - I would never buy any grade type horse or any stock type horse that doesn’t have papers without testing. Many folks used to tear up the papers on n/h and h/h horses and run them through the sale barns as grades. Those horses and their descendants are still likely to be out in the general population and it is definitely no way to find out without a test.

Impressive horses have been crossed with many breeds, so any horse with that line should be tested regardless of breed.

#58

I just wanted to say I took my N/H horse (and my lap top) to An “A” show today - looks like we will be division champions again:smiley: Point wise no one will catch us today :smiley: God he is AMAZING!!! I LOVE Impressive bred horses never owned or rode a bad one!

and to ROAN - they posted a video of a CAST horse and call it an HYPP episode :rolleyes: Howdoes that help? They bought an H/H horse what did they expect?:uhoh:

1 Like
#59

You started this on the other HYPP thread. What does you horse’s success have to do with being N/H? Nothing. It only shows that a N/H horse can be a very successful horse, which NOBODY here is arguing. I truly hope your horse lives to be 40 years old without a single episode. They are are not all that lucky.

#60

[QUOTE=Woodland;3219098]
. . .
and to ROAN - they posted a video of a CAST horse and call it an HYPP episode :rolleyes: Howdoes that help? They bought an H/H horse what did they expect?:uhoh:[/QUOTE]

Heh. They must have taken that down 'cause I’ve not seen it on the site. I don’t see any videos anywhere.

Eileen

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