Looking for a little insight in EPSM

[Lakota's Pet]

Hi guys. I haven't been here in forever, life has been crazy. Anyway, we have a 6 year old percheron gelding that a trainer that recently rode him said seems to be showing early signs of epsm. I have done some reading online, but I am still a little confused. The sypmtoms he has are that when he comes in at night he seems to be fine, and is only in for an hour or so to eat. When he goes back out he picks his hind feet very high for 3 or 4 steps and then settles out. He also does this if he stands still in the pasture for a period of time and then moves. Under saddle he seems a little strange for the first 10-15 minutes until he gets good and warm. Does anyone have any suggestions of what to do for diet change, and if anyone has experience with this please let me know. Thanks.

[Tiz]

Go to The Horse veterinary online magazine and search for string halt.

[outriding01]

In simplest terms, ESPM diets should be high in fat and low in starch. Here's an excellent article I used as a resource when I first switched my draft cross to an EPSM diet. The difference in him was amazing.

http://www.ecmagazine.net/ecfall05/FeedingDrafts.htm

I feed Seminole Wellness, but I don't believe it's available in your area. Some one else just did a thread on feeding a draft and Purina seemed to be the easiest feed to get in her area of NY. They have several low starch, high fat feeds available, such as their Ultium, Wellsolve L/S and Strategy.

[Pi and Tofu]

Horses that have EPSM are put on an EPSM diet, that's about it. An EPSM diet is fine (actually even good) for any horse, so most people go that route, rather than a full diagnosis. See Outriding's article for the background and feed type.
However, EPSM doesn't stick out, Tiz sounds like she is on more of the right track.
Good luck, hopefully it won't progress.

[outriding01]

Exactly, high fat low starch is beneficial for almost any horse because horses convert fat to energy a lot more efficiently than they do starches. My horse showed very mild signs of EPSM, particularly deterioration of muscling in the hindquarters regardless of exercise and muscling in his front end. But I would have put him on the diet regardless, and would feed any horse accordingly, breed not withstanding. Because your horse is symptomatic of something... stringhalt, EPSM, etc. I would also consult your vet just to be certain there isn't anything else going on, unrelated to diet....

[cheval]

Drafts should be on the high fat diet. It's much easier to prevent than control once the horse starts showing signs. I sure hope it goes well.

This is Dr. Beth's information. Should give you the answers you are looking for.

http://www.ruralheritage.com/vet_clinic/epsm.htm

[HoustonFarrier]

Sounds more like stringhalt. Similar in nature to EPSM, but a slightly different pathology. Diet change does not seem to help those horses. It degenerative in nature, so it's only going to get worse as time goes by, if thats what it is.

You can do a muscle biopsy to rule out EPSM/PSSM.

Steve

[cheval]

Yeah that diet won't help stringhault. Even if it is stringhault that doesn't mean the end for the horse. We had a mare that hitched high in her back leg and did just fine.

[Lakota's Pet]

Thanks guys. We are going to have the vet check him. But it might be a week or 2 before the vet can get here. I just would like to start changing his diet now, especially if it can help him.