When the horse wobbles

Equine neurological emergencies are thankfully rare in the UK, but are serious and dangerous when they do happen. Jessica Thurston MRCVS explains why they might occur

- Jessica Thurston MRCVS

THE horse is essentially nothing more than a gigantic athletic prey animal. This species to which we devote ourselves is, despite its size, likely to be afraid of a sudden passing shadow or the noise of a rolling wheelie bin. With a brain the size of a large walnut and a spinal cord approximately two metres in length from stem to stern, the nervous system of the horse is comparatively small, and has a long way to transmit messages compared with other mammals. What happens when something goes wrong?

Thankfully, the likelihood of a horse developing or contracting a neurological abnormality in the UK is fairly low. However, a problem with the equine nervous system can be dangerous to both horse and human. It’s important to know the steps to take if you notice neurological signs in your horse (see box, top right).

If you observe any such signs, the first and most important action to take is to ensure your safety and the safety of others on the yard. This can mean confining the horse in a stable and closing the door, or leaving the horse in an open area with few hazards. Handling neurologically abnormal horses is very likely to result in personal injury, so please keep yourself and anyone with you out of harm’s way. Even the gentlest of creatures can cause significant harm if unaware of their body movements.