OK, my mare has been difficult pretty much from the start. I bought her as a 3 year old. She seemed healthy and sound. When I started bringing her into work, and I'm litrally only talking light ground work she started to go lame, stiff and irratable. She was diagnosed navicular and after some time off and new shoes apeared sound. We started work again and she went lame. Eventually I got her backed but her mood started to change, she became grumpy always threatening g lto buck but wasn't lame. Then she started to get sensitive when tacking up and also grooming. I had not though Pssm until i found out her brother has been diagnosed same stallion different mare. What is the outcome for a Pssm type 1 horse. I can't afford 2 horses and just can't part with her. Also does anyone know what lines have it. Just so ticked off right now and need to know how to deal with this while I wait for her results. My vet has been baffled by her lameness on and off and her general way of going.
First, your vet can test her. That way you know what you are dealing with. This may be an ulcer problem rather that pssm. If in fact it is pssm she can be managed fairly well with diet and exercise. For diet, limiting starch and providing a forage based diet can help. Do not use grain based concentrates. What a lot of people do not understand is that the exercise part is just as important as the diet. These horses need to be worked to some extent every day. Every day means 365 days per year if possible. This does not fit in everyones routine, and these horses are not for everyone. If you miss a day or two, you will need to take four or five days to slowly move her exercise routine back up to where it was. These horses suffer greatly from being confined in a stall. Time off is not their friend. Following these guidelines will allow your mare to lead a productive life. If you can't do this, you both would be better off if someone else who can take this kind of time owned her. Call me if you would like to go over a diet. 530-934-9300 we do a lot of these.
Thanks so much for your reply. I do ride her pretty much every day and do want too, but as the vet and I didn't suspect pssm we didn't think of it until her brothers diagnosis which came thru on his 5 panel test so everytime she pulled up lame or stiff we gave her time off which is not ideal. I have tried to contact the breeder with no luck. Luckily I have not been feeding cereals anyway as I found they made b her grumpy. I have sent a sample off already so should get results soon but we have scoped for ulcers already so that's been ruled out. Sorry if some of my terminology Is different I'm in the UK so I often find our terminology is compleaty different when talking about horses, but pssm is not really something u here of over here. After reading about it everything fits, I just would really like to know if there is hope for pssm horses.
You can order the 5 panel test (or just test for PSSM1) yourself through AQHA or through Animal Genetics. http://www.animalgenetics.us/Equine/Genetic_Disease/Index.asp It's easy to complete, just pull 50 mane or tail hairs, send it in with the kit and you have your results after the lab has tested. AG is much quicker for results. However, AQHA does not recognize AG testing, so depending upon your goals for your mare, you'll need to decide what works best for you.
PSSM1 diet is low NSC (sugar and starch) and high in fat. There is a great PSSM forum on FB that you may wish to join that will answer the majority of your questions and provide support. There are plently of success stories, so keep your chin up and test!
Pssm help
