The Horse Who Cannot Stand Up
 Every
winter, we see a number of horses who are “down”, that
is unable to stand up under their own power. The causes
of this varies widely, from injury due to falling on ice
to malnutrition. However, regardless of the cause, these
horses need careful first aid care.
First of all, if you find one of your horses unable to
get up, do NOT spend a lot of time trying to ascertain
the cause or to get the horse up. Call for veterinary
assistance right away. The sooner these horses are
treated the better chance we have of being able to save
them. After you have called for the vet, call any
friends you have who are available. Sometimes getting a
down horse up involves shoveling, digging, and other
manual work that requires a number of people.
Once you have made the phone calls, assess the
situation. DO NOT attempt to make the horse stand.
Horses have in these situations often have a limited
amount of energy. We want to conserve this energy for
the time when the horse has received the medical
treatment and supportive help it needs to be able to
actually get up and stay up. Check for any foreign
material, wire, etc that may be caught on the horse,
Remove it ONLY if you can do so safely and without
agitating the horse.
Especially in the winter, most down horses are
hypothermic. Bring them buckets of warm water and let
them drink all they want, but do not force them to drink
or try to squirt water down their throat. If the horse
will eat, give it some grain and hay as this will
increase body temperature and blood sugar. Cover the
horse with a blanket if possible, but remove all leg
straps and surcingles first so that the horse does not
get entangled if it tries to stand. Remember that being
unable to stand is very frightening for a horse, so move
slowly and talk softly. It may be best if the person who
the horse trusts most is able to stay with them while
others handle phone calls and other necessities.
 If
you find the horse is seated in a bowl or trench in the
snow or mud, you can begin trying to dig them out while
you are waiting. In order to be able to stand, the horse
needs to be in a relatively flat area. Sometimes
geriatric horses will lay down and melt the snow
underneath them. When they decide to stand up again,
they are now in a hole that the senior horse does not
have the strength to get out of. DO NOT attempt to drag
the horse or lift the horse with a tractor, bobcat or
other motorized device as this can result in severe
injury to the horse. If the area the horse is in is
snowy, icy or muddy, get kitty litter or sand to spread
on the ground and provide traction.
Whether a horse who can not stand on their own will
survive depends a lot on the cause of the problem. Some
problems, such as fractures or brain disease are not
easily treated. However, following these basic
guidelines will help maximize your horse’s chance for a
successful recovery.
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Denise Bickel DVM
Whole Horse Veterinary Services
Phone # 517-474-4050
Fax # 517-764-7710
3906 Seymour Rd
Jackson, MI 49201
EMAIL US
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Hours--Mon, Thurs, Fri from 11 am to 8pm, and Sat and Sun 10 am-4 pm
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