Cal--My EPM Survivor

Working through some hindquarter numbness--introducing concept of sliding stops. Residual nerve damage from EPM has him sometimes off a little but he usually works through it under saddle. Cal is the only horse I've both started and finished. Sadly, 10 years ago Cal contracted EPM, putting an end to his dressage career track. Now Cal has a new career as a psychotherapy horse--he's the most astute and intuitive of the herd. (if you see a possum on the road, please run it over, tx)

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• Horses
• Schooling
• EPM

[appaloosasport]

Cal is such an inspiration. My boy was diagnosed with EPM last December... he was only three years old and was just starting his career. He had so much ahead of him. I could tell something was off... but couldn't put my finger on it. He moves just like your boy, now that he is finishing up his medication. Thanks for sharing.

[Romaridge]

@appaloosasport I hope your boy is doing well now after treament. See my comment below to acagle 2828 about homeopathic treatment and preventive that I have my horses on now. Best healing thoughts and energy to you and your horse . .

[unbridledtrainer1]

I have a 6yr old gelding that I've had since he was 1.5yrs in the hopes of him being my next dressage horse. I took him to a dressage clinic at a barn surrounded by woods and one week later he was dragging his right hind leg funny. That was four months ago and we're still trying to figure out what's wrong with him. The vet took a blood sample today to test for EPM.

[Romaridge]

@unbridledtrainer1 Did you find out if he has EPM? It's good to catch it in the early stages for treatment purposes I'm told by my vet . .

[horselvr26]

My old horse Esteban who i sold this fall just got diagnosed with EPM this week and I was wondering its its worth the medication for recovery. he is only 9 years old the new owners said that his xrays are really bad but you can barely tell all that he is doing is tripping alot. What can I do to help him? what is the treatment like?

[XxHorsexObsessionxX]

What is the recovery rate of horses with EPM? 2 years ago I got a 20 year old trail horse for free, they said he had EPM, but was almost fully recovered, but I'd never be able to jump or show him. Now he jumps 2'7 and shows english pleasure.. he is perfectly sound and healthy.. I was just wondering, because I don't know much about EPM..

Evil Possums.. there was one in my barn once and I freaked out..

Cal is gorgeous :)

[LazyBonz763]

Hi im Hanna im 13 Years old I have just found out a couple days ago that my 18 year old horse Molly has EPM she has always been a healthy good looking horse shes strong and loves to run, i show western pleasure with her and i have just been hoping and praying she will be ok but we called the vet and shes on the right kind of medicine that shes needs but could you please tell me how you got your horse to be healthy and good again? thanks

[Romaridge]

@unbridledtrainer1 Hello! I never got notice of your messages here until today. That's interesting about your horse--sounds like what my Cal did/does. I'm not cantering Cal under saddle any longer as last year he went down with me while we were cantering in the arena--gratefully he was able to pick us back up--it could have been a really bad fall. So now no faster than a collected trot. . . Will get back to you after I watch your vids--tx for the comments. Karen

[angela122345678]

My horse Belle contracted EPM when she was 15 and we didn't know it when we bought her. After the fact her former owners told us why she tripped sometimes, and my parents weren't pleased but i refused to give up on her. I just sold her a month ago to a family with three wonderful kids that would take good care of her.

[unbridledtrainer1]

@naulaaprillia Forgot to mention that I have some videos up of him being ridden and lunged while he had his problem....feel free to click on my username to visit my videos and watch them...it was his right hind leg so you know which one to watch.

[unbridledtrainer1]

@naulaaprillia When he moved it looked as if one back leg was "stiff"...as if he didn't have the full range of motion in it. When I rode he was very uncomfortable and would kick that same back leg up and out a little...as if he was trying to pop the joint back in by himself.

[naulaaprillia]

@unbridledtrainer1 That would be such a relief if that's all my horse has. Mine has randomly lifted same hind leg up high and to the side. When he takes normalish steps that leg always swings a bit to the outside and he also ca'nt bring it under him as far as the other one. What symtoms did you're horse have?

[unbridledtrainer1]

@Romaridge After no help from a vet that basically told me I was nuts and I just needed to send my horse to a trainer, I found an old cowboy who does chiropractic on horses. Turns out his pelvic joint was out. After an adjustment to put it back in he's been back to normal. So no EPM.