So based on field diagnostics only, last May after a fall, my two year old warmblood gelding was thought to have wobblers or a tramatic injury to his neck/back. Of course to be sure, vet suggested shipping to a teaching hospital like New Bolton to confirm. Other option was to see how things go and perhaps with diet modification, growth and Dr. Green, he might get better. I took the conservative route and eight months later, he seems to be doing better. Perhaps just wishful thinking on my part but hopeful he will outgrow it? Or at least to be a trail horse? Any other stories out there? I know there is a surgery but the cost and the results (my vet sent 5 out for surgery and all 5 have not shown any improvement) I was guided towards a more conservative treatment.
I would not ride one without doing the surgery and having it be a success, or otherwise being assured the horse is no longer compromised neurologically.
We had a known Wobbler sold to us when I was a small kid as a child safe horse. We didn’t know until later, of course, and rode it. He was put down when he fell down the second time with a rider and then fell down trotting in the field. He was dangerous just to be around. It was incredibly heartbreaking. But just because you love the horse, don’t think he will be safe. He isn’t until the vets confirm a full, 100% recovery. Please be careful!
Our horse didn’t fall very often…once a year, maybe. He looked fine the rest of the time. Well, he had some other issues like being hard to pick his back feet, but he would do it. But one fall is all it takes to kill you. These horses are very dangerous. His falls were so random, he would just go down out of the blue for no reason at all. You couldn’t be prepared for them.
Best of luck with your horse, I hope he has a better outcome.
Oh I won’t do anything with him if and when until I get a confirm from a teaching hospital. Heck, he is just living his life as a pasture pet, which is fine with me! My vet cited a study that a group of TB foals had some success in outgrowing it through diet modification and went on to racing. I guess there is not much out there since most people tend to put down their horses right away after the diagnosis or the mylergram xray. Just curious with those who decided to keep them, especially if they were diagnosed at a young age.
I think it depends on the cause and how bad it is. If its some impingement from a fracture that is now healed, then maybe you’ll have a long time before it gets bad enough to be dangerous. Maybe he is already too high on the scale. Not really enough information here.
Just an FYI to everyone: I’ve learned that CSU is studying a surgery alternative to the basket method for Wobblers. Could be interesting to see where that goes.
sorry, but my story is also sad… I bought a foal at one-week, based on bloodlines and look. At three he was diagnosed as a moderate/severe wobbler (neuro exam plus radiographs). The vets advised he would never be rideable (even with surgery) and would be dangerous to himself and others to handle, even as a pasture puff, so he was euthanized. Very sad, as he was healthy and gorgeous otherwise…
There has been research done by the UP’s New Bolton Center regarding the dietary approach.
I know my friend had a TB that was diagnosed as a wobbler and they stunted his growth to treat it (I believe it was a diet modification, this is how I remember it being described at the time.) He went on to be a riding horse, I think my friend may still hear from the girl that bought him as a trail horse.
I had a Thoroughbred with Wobbles years ago. Back then treatment was limited. He was a very spirited young horse and did not do well with being unable to control where he went when.
I was young - and did ride him at the walk and trot on the trail until I felt it was unsafe for both of us. His high spirits and Wobbles definitely didn’t mix. He became increasingly uncomfortable with himself and his inability to turn and stop and play.
I put him down in the summer of his 5th year. Perhaps a more sedate horse would have been OK as a pasture pet, but this young horse was not suited. He was frustrated - and it showed. There was also a degree of discomfort with his condition.
A friend of mine has a horse with a very mild case of Wobblers. It is only noticeable when the horse walks over hard surfaces, or is standing on them. It trembles and seems it’s going to fell down. But in the paddock,stall or arena he is sound to ride, no stumbling nor tripping. A very safe horse, even for jumping. He is on a special diet, I think with lots of fresh pasture and vitamin E (I think, not sure right now). The horse is about 18 right now, and got diagnosed when he was about 8.
Again, I must say, A VERY MILD CASE.
A friend of mine owned a horse that had a very mild case. She never jumped him, but did show him in Dressage. The collection seemed to help, but some days were worse than others.
As far as I know, she didn’t do anything special for him, and he never fell with her.
Faint hope clause - I had a horse who was diagnosed as a Wobbler as a foal at a vet school on the basis that she could not turn in a fight circle in the aisleway…
I had a chiropractor look at her and she went on to do everything, hunting, eventing, shows, trail…and became the mother of my current saddle horse. I would not ride a horse with a strong case of Wobbler syndrome, tho. Unfortunately, sometimes you have to cut your losses and I hope you have a better outcome.
Oh the vitamin E and fresh pasture is also prescribed for EMND (Equine Motor Neuron Disease). My guy was diagnosed with EMND 3 years ago. He was ok with grass and vitamin E, but he really started to improve when I put him on a high coconut fat diet. I read up on people with ALS, and coconut oil was helpful for some, so I got copra (coconut meal) for the horse. He looks and feels great, has regained a lot of muscle, and plays in the field most of the day. Good luck to you!
IMO, I would get some xrays done on the horse so you actually know what you are dealing with, and also to have some sort of baseline.
I had a TB with cervical arthritis. At the time I retired him from riding, he looked perfectly fine in the round pen or pasture. The weight of saddle and rider on his spine caused him some hind end issues.
Thinking of this ^ I would want to know what’s going on physically before trying to get him under saddle.
