HOW TO FEED A HORSE WITH RECURRING EPISODES OF TYING UP?

When a horse ties up, its muscles become damaged, particularly the muscles in its hindlimb. The extent of the damage caused is measurable by testing the blood. Muscle cells normally contain the enzymes AST and CK. When tying-up occurs, the muscle cells break down and the AST and CK enzymes leak into the bloodstream – resulting in a blood test with an elevated enzyme level. The level of the enzyme in the blood reflects the severity of the tie-up. Muscle cells contain myoglobin, a substance that absorbs oxygen from the blood and also, gives the muscles their red colour. It is the myoglobin from the damaged muscle cells that sometimes make the urine of the horse dark red during an episode of tie-up. This is usually evident 15-120 minutes after exercise and other symptoms are a short and stilted gait , unwillingness to move and the hindlimb muscles becoming hard and tense. The respiratory rate and pulse of the horse may increase from the pain of tying up. In severe cases of tying up, the horse may lay down, unable to get up again. The horse should immediately be allowed to rest and a veterinary surgeon contacted for examination and emergency treatment. In order to prevent further episodes of tying up, the following is recommended:

• Regular exercise
• Adjust the horse’s diet by reducing its intake of concentrate feed
• Feed the horse plenty of forage in the form of good quality hay
• Reduce the amount of starch-rich feed and introduce more fat and fibres in the diet
• Avoid sudden changes in the horse’s diet and level of activity
• Give optimised amounts of selenium and vitamin E
• Make sure the horse is warm before and after exercise and also, in the field
• In winter, the horse will not move around as much in its field so try and give it other forms of regular exercise
• Ask your vet and equine nutritionist for advice