Hi.
Not sure if it’s appropriate to ask, but is anyone on this thread knowledgeable about gaited horses and willing to look at a few videos of a RMH I am considering? If I move forward I would get a PPE, just trying to see if there are any red flags before I take the next step.
Thanks!
Laura
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I have no practical knowledge but I’d LOVE to see him! I am confident there are people on this thread that can be more helpful, both with video evaluation and how detailed a PPE might need to be.
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I suggest you start another thread with this specific question. Also show us any videos and pictures you have of him.
I’ve been following this thread, and just want to say I really hated everything you went through trying to help Jasper. I hope your next horse will be everything you want–you certainly deserve the best.
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Two of my good friends own RMH and they love them. They primarily do trail riding and take their RMHs horse camping. They can make wonderful partners for trail and general recreational riding. Some have a more pure single-foot gait than others, though, so in a perfect world I’d have someone who knows RMHs other than the breeder or seller, give you their thoughts on your prospect.
This is a good suggestion. I’m confident you’ll get some first hand info on the breed.
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Great idea. Thanks!
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Best of luck with the horse hunt and thank you so much for taking us all on your journey with Jasper 
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Thank you!!
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Hi all!
The search for my next horse continues. I have tried 6-7 horses so far, but none were right for me.
I have found a potential registered Morgan gelding in southern Colorado that looks promising and I am considering traveling to try him. Trying to line out the details just in case he is “the one.”
Is there anyone following this thread who lives near Westcliffe, CO and might be able to recommend a vet for a PPE? Feel free to send me private message if you can make a vet suggestion.
If anyone wants to see some video, looking at the pedigree, etc. and providing feedback, I would welcome it. Please send me a message.
Hope the new year is off to a great start for you all.
Thanks!
Laura
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Morgans are super fun and usually hardy.
They tend to be easy keepers so keep that in mind - most will require very little concentrate (1 pound of ration balancer in 2 feedings is usually enough) and may need a way to restrict how quickly they eat hay. If you don’t let them get fat they can do almost anything!
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Thank you!
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I’m Colorado but near Boulder. I’ll ask around about vets and see if anyone local has connections.
Good luck!
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Thank you!
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Hi everyone! I just reviewed Jasper’s necropsy report and as I shared earlier, it did not reveal a root cause for his strange behaviors. But there were a few things reported and I thought I would share them. You are all part of this story, so I thought you might find some of this interesting.
Necropsy Findings
Animal Identification and External Exam: The body of a male castrated, 1,273 pound, 10-year-old Chestnut Quarter horse with snip and left hind pastern Quarter horse is presented for necropsy. The horse is in good body condition.
Musculoskeletal System: No significant findings observed (NSFO).
Respiratory System: Lungs: NSFO. Portions of the lung placed in formalin float. The trachea and airways are free of exudate and foam.
Circulatory System: Heart, valves and major blood vessels: NSFO
Digestive System: Oral cavity, tongue and esophagus: NSFO. The stomach contains approximately 4 liters of ingesta consisting of masticated vegetal material and small amounts of small grain. The mucosa of the stomach is unremarkable. The small intestine is distended with gas. The small intestine contains a moderate amount of olive-green soft digest. The mucosa of the small intestine is unremarkable. The large intestine is distended with gas. The large intestine contains a large amount of olive-green vegetal digest. The mucosa of the large intestine is unremarkable. The rectum is filled with well-formed feces.
Hepatobiliary System: The liver has few fibrous tags on the capsule on the diaphragmatic side. The peritoneum lining the diaphragm has numerous fibrous tags. There are approximately 500 ml of clear fluid in the abdomen.
Hemolymphatic System: The spleen is congested.
Urinary System: Kidneys: NSFO. The urinary bladder is empty.
Reproductive System: NSFO
Endocrine System: NSFO
Special Senses: NSFO
Nervous System: Brain: NSFO. Spinal cord: The meninges of the lumbar-sacral spinal cord are mildly edematous and have a red-discoloration.
Histopathologic Diagnosis
Lung: Acute, mild to moderate congestion.
Spleen: Acute, severe, diffuse congestion.
Small intestine: Subacute to chronic, mild to moderate, locally extensive, lymphocytic and eosinophilic enteritis.
Large intestine: Subacute to chronic, mild to moderate, locally extensive, lymphocytic and eosinophilic colitis.
Lumbosacral spinal cord: Mild meningeal congestion.
Brain cortex, hippocampus, parahippocampal cortex, brain stem, cerebellum, pituitary gland, cervical spinal cord, thoracic spinal cord, cauda equine, sciatic nerve, heart, thyroid gland, stomach, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle: No significant microscopic lesions recognized.
Comments
There are no microscopic lesions in the sections of brain or spinal cord that explain the cause of the neurologic clinical signs in this horse. There is no evidence of spheroids, axonal loss, and secondary demyelination within the brainstem and spinal cord suggestive of equine degenerative myeloencephalopathy (EDM) or inflammatory lesions suggestive of equine protozoal encephalopathy (EPM). Microscopic lesions in the lumbosacral spinal cord of horses with lower motor neuron paresis and clinical signs of ataxia of the pelvic limbs, urinary and/or fecal retention/incontinence and possibly weak tail and anal tone may be focal and difficult to find. Additional sections of lumbosacral spinal cord have been requested. Results will be reported in an addendum.
Pulmonary congestion is a common complication of many diseases and is often the result of increased hydrostatic pressure within the pulmonary microvasculature, such as seen during left heart failure.
The cause of the lymphocytic and eosinophilic enteritis and colitis is not evident in the sections examined. Variable numbers of inflammatory cells can be found in in the intestine of animals with clinical signs of gastro enteric disease (a bacterial infection, gastrointestinal parasites), but also in animals that died of other causes without evidence of gastro enteric disease.
Addendum
Twenty additional sections of lumbosacral spinal cord were trimmed, processed and examined. Focally, there is congestion and areas of hemorrhage in the meninges. There are no significant microscopic lesions in the sections examined of the lumbosacral spinal cord. There is no evidence of spheroids, axonal loss, secondary demyelination or inflammation of the spinal cord. Microscopic lesions in the spinal cord with clinical signs of paresis can be focal and difficult to find.
I am not sure what could have caused the pulmonary congestion, or the spleen congestion. If anyone has thoughts on it, I would love to hear them.
My vet isn’t done looking yet. Maybe his research will lead to a root cause.
Horse search update: I am still looking. I really want a Morgan. Not too many of them in Texas, so my search has expanded. It is a process as you all know. Exciting, at times discouraging, but my next horse is out there somewhere.
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Thank you so much for continuing to be so generous with what you share. This was a fascinating read. He’s so lucky you were his mom.
Morgans are the best and you’re going to find the perfect one! Mine is 1/4 Morgan and we have a handful of Morgans at my barn and they’re just all stellar creatures.
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If you can deal with a young, green horse, get in touch with Cece Green Yelek of Greentree Ranch Morgans in Sunray, TX. She has been breeding and training working Morgans for ages and has several yearlings to 4 year olds available. 3 and 4 year-olds trained to drive. They don’t get ridden much before 4. They are smart and friendly.
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Thank you for your suggestion, it is appreciated. I have already reached out to Cece (several people recommended her) but she didn’t have anything that was under saddle. I really want one that is broke to ride. It seems most people get a Morgan and never let them go - 
. But I have a short list that I am following up on that have potential to be my horse.
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Thank you so much for the update. Good luck with your Morgan search!
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I don’t know if Brian has anything available that is under saddle, but I highly recommend Westwind Morgans in Montana. Brian is keeping old working bloodlines alive and producing working horses. One of his stallions, Westwind Otto, is competing in Texas this morning at the National Reined Cowhorse Celebration of Champions, Open Two-Rein. He is the only Morgan in the class. I really wanted a Morgan and “settled” for a Quarter Horse from a local sales barn because I couldn’t wrap my mind around buying a horse in Montana during Covid. But I really wish I’d waited.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063575859271
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If you are interested in a Morgan’s the FB Morgan groups really are the place to go. I know of a person in Maine with a started young one but that might be a heck of a hauling bill.
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Very interesting report. Thank you for sharing again! Best of luck with your horse search 
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