Just want a sounding board for possible HYPP rescue

[Greyhorse3]

I just wanted to have a sounding board from some QH/Western folks. I rescued a little red QH mare from a slaughter pen in 2014. I have two other rescues, PMU foals I purchased as babies a few more years back. I have trained the PMU horses from 6 months old and they are great riding horses (now 15 and 13). One is my camping trail horse mare (I also event her in small schooling shows) and the other is my dressage horse.

I’m decently equipped to handle most horses when it comes to training. I’ve broken in quite a few youngsters and have worked with people’s problem horses successfully.

This little QH mare has me all upset because I’m unsure what to do. I have a feeling that she may be HYPP positive (I’m sending a DNA test with her hair off shortly to find out for sure). When I first got her, she seemed to be fine when it came to riding (could ride her in a halter bareback) and mostly acted like she was unsure about what was being asked. I then tried a few other techniques such as using my leg and rein aids differently and she seemed to do better (moved away from my leg when I placed it further back and used looser more western style rein length). It’s obvious she has had some training and she round pens and joins up super fast.

But over the past year and half, after I’ve gotten her to a healthy body weight she has proven to be very anxious and difficult to deal with. I’ve also noticed some small amounts of rippling within her hindquarter area when she gets anxious on the lunge line and I’ve also noticed her doing some crazy opening and closing of her mouth along with some head shaking when I tack her up or go to put her on a trailer

She only acts this way when she gets anxious. I started to consistently work with her to see if it would diminish but it doesn’t.

I’m planning on doing some blood-work this spring to see if there are any hormone imbalances ect. (cause she acts like she always wants to fight my gelding and acts studdish) to try and get a better picture if there is anything metabolically going on that I’m unaware of.

My question really is, if she comes back as HYPP positive is there anything I can do other than diet to help (she is already on a low potassium diet)? I obviously will not take her back to the slaughter hell hole, but I also wanted to have a nice potential lesson horse and wanted to rescue which is why I got her in the first place. She isn’t really filling this role and I’d rather have that role filled by another horse than to keep her. So I feel like my only options would be to humanely PTS or to try and re-home her but I’m not sure of anyone who would want a horse such as this if she is indeed HYPP positive.

Mad that for once I got unlucky in the rescue world after having two successful cases.

Any advice is welcome. Please no unfriendliness, I’m trying to be responsible it a crappy situation.

[beau159]

So I feel like my only options would be to humanely PTS or to try and re-home her but I’m not sure of anyone who would want a horse such as this if she is indeed HYPP positive.

If she turns out to be HYPP positive and you decide not to keep her, I absolutely would put her down. If you don’t want her because she’s HYPP positive, chances are no one else will. IMO

Good luck. Hopefully it comes back negative and you can search other avenues for her symptoms.

When have her teeth been done last?
Has she been checked by a chiro?
Have you done a basic lameness evaluation yet?

Those are all things on my checklist when I suspect a horse may be having a physical problem.

[bugsynskeeter]

Acetazolamide is an RX that can help HYPP horses that have attacks. Also keep karo syrup handy to give when she is having an attack.

[Palm_Beach]

You’d have to sell her with full disclosure, and then there is no guarantee the buyer will do the right thing if that person decides to sell her.

I would not lose sleep over it until you have a confirmed diagnosis. It will just make you eat too much chocolate, and Spring is coming.

[2_amp_1_2_Geldings]

Are you only testing for HYPP? I know a few horses who are PSSM positive who have the muscle ripples.

[Greyhorse3]

Thank y’all for the responses, I really appreciate it.

Her teeth were done last year and she had a soundness exam, but that was a while ago. If the test comes back negative then I’m definitely doing a full work up when it comes to lameness and bloodwork.

I’ve heard of the RX and Karo syrup and will definitely try that out if she is for sure positive.

I thought about the PSSM also, would that be something that would come up in a blood test?

I really want to do right by the little mare. And I love that she is small and seemed gentle to where I could make her a lesson mount. But you never know what you’re gonna get when it comes to a rescue.

[Greyhorse3]

Thank y’all for the responses, I really appreciate it.

Her teeth were done last year and she had a soundness exam, but that was a while ago. If the test comes back negative then I’m definitely doing a full work up when it comes to lameness and bloodwork.

I’ve heard of the RX and Karo syrup and will definitely try that out if she is for sure positive.

I thought about the PSSM also, would that be something that would come up in a blood test?

I really want to do right by the little mare. And I love that she is small and seemed gentle to where I could make her a lesson mount. But you never know what you’re gonna get when it comes to a rescue.

[Greyhorse3]

Oh and I forgot to mention I’ve ridden her in a hackamore and bridle and she gives the same behavior. I’ve also changed saddles a few times. After all the training I’ve done with other horses, I really just feel there is something wrong and it’s not behavioral. Basically she does fine for a few minutes and then becomes extremely anxious and it feels like her hind legs lock up a bit. Then she’all get stuck not wanting to move forward and will alternate kicking each hind leg. But the scariest part is when I’ve gotten off and hand walk her she almost falls when turning due to her hind legs quivering.

This really only happens when riding. I’ve noticed muscle tremors after lunging as well and have notice some twitching in her shoulders and neck while she eats here and there. But she doesn’t get as stiff and unstable like she does when it comes to working her on lunge or under saddle. And some days are better than others where it’s minimal or non-existent when we are just walking. But it always returns.

[Roxyllsk]

I’d test her for PSSM too.

[bugsynskeeter]

You can test for HYPP and PSSM1 with just a hair sample. No need for a blood test and you can send in the test without your vet.

http://www.animalgenetics.us/Equine/Genetic_Disease/Index.asp

[Draftmare]

PSSM Type 1 is a hair sample, PSSM Type 2 can only be detected with a muscle biopsy. Both are able to be controlled with diet changes and the addition of supplements. My mare is PSSM Type 1 positive, I wrote up a basic run down here: https://draftmare.wordpress.com/pssm-and-what-it-is/

If you decide you won’t keep her, I would honestly suggest you have her PTS. There is no way to know for sure that the next owner will take care of her in a way that will keep her healthy and symptom free. It could be setting her up for a life of being passed around, or going back to the slaughter pipeline. There is a reason that you often see a lot of nice looking QHs at the auctions. Sadly, they have been bred to be full of genetic defects.

[DairyQueen2049]

What was the test result??