How EPM changed my Approach to Horse Training
First I want to start off by saying that this is based on my experience with EPM. I am not an expert in EPM but what I have learned in the last 6 months has completely changed the way I view horses. In the North Eastern States there is a common parasite that affects the nervous system of the horse. It is contracted from the feces of opossums. My basic understanding WAS that it was a severe and if gone untreated fatal parasite that affects the nervous system of the horse. Treatment was expensive and was not guaranteed.
Opossums thrive in many of the northeastern states as well as Florida and surrounding states. They love the darkness and during the day many, given the opportunity, would tunnel into large stacks of hay to make safe homes. They are keen on eating ticks and cannot contract rabies. My father once had one digging under his porch. One day when he was coincidentally walking by with a shovel, they crossed paths. Finally laying eyes on the rodent that had been damaging his property he gave it a quick wack. It went belly up, mouth open, tongue out. My father hustled into the house to get a cage to transport it in but by the time he came back out it was gone. There’s an old saying of “playing ‘possum,” meaning to play ‘dead’. That is exactly what the opossum did that day and reminded my dad what playing ‘possum really meant.
Other than catching them in the occasional Have a Heart trap and relocating them that was the extent of my opossum knowledge. Fast forward to my move to Southern Arizona, a state nearly free of opossums. I shipped two horses from New Hampshire to Arizona. I sold one a year ago leaving me with Cali. A stoic, gray mare who truly is my heart horse. I had started her from the ground up. I took her to a few Working Equitation and Western Dressage shows where we competed in Open Walk Trot divisions. Unfortunately canter classes were off the table. Cali has not picked up her right lead canter with any amount of consistency for nearly 4 years. In those last four years I have done everything other than a full body MRI. Numerous veterinary exams, injections, x rays, body work and help from a handful of trainers. The only way Cali would get her right lead is if she cantered to the right as fast as she could and doing so was incredibly strenuous for the rider. Cantering is not something she desired to do.
I stumbled across a video on EPM that a friend of mine shared. She had recently discovered that her reactive and quirky young horse had EPM. (I will share the link at the bottom of this post) I was listening to it while riding and had to stop what I was doing about half way through the episode because I was absolutely blown away by the information they were sharing. Some of it is based on their experience and some was cold hard facts. Either way my heart was racing because many of the symptoms they were listing were things Cali was displaying. Just to name a few, in ability to right lead canter, stiffness in the neck, resistant in the bridle, dull sided, twitchy or sensitive to touch. While I continued to listen I rode around the arena. Yield pivot walk, yield pivot walk, I was pacing around the arena on a horse like an anxious parent. The more I listened the more I realized how many horses who I have trained, owned, boarded or taught lessons on who had many of these characteristics they were describing.
I was very suspicious of about 10 horses on my property alone. I did not want to cause a flood of panic throughout my clients so I spent my time researching and learning all about EPM. I learned that there are many types/species of parasites that cause equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. Only about half can be tested for. There are two tests that I am aware of, a blood test and a spinal tap. Being that the spinal tap is fairly expensive and invasive most people settle for a blood test if a horse was showing significant neurological signs. There is also a moving evaluation known as the Tail Pull. Where a veterinarian can make judgements on what is “normal”. Cali had the Tail Pull test done on her and passed without concern. After seeing it done a few times I felt confident to go and check it out with some other horses I was suspect of.
After about a week of late night binging EPM I decided to share the video with clients, friends and other professionals. I wanted their opinions or experiences with EPM. One of the most common comments I got was something along the line of, there can’t be that many opossums pooping on hay. For which I would respond but could there be? For me it doesn't seem that crazy of a concept. Most horses should eat somewhere around 20-22 pounds of hay or day and let’s say the average horse lives for about 25-30 years. That is roughly about 210,000 pounds of hay in a lifetime. Realy, how likely is it that a horse could be exposed in one way or another to EPM in their lifetime.
Blood test results come back on a scale. It is common belief that below a certain number the horse has been exposed but it isn't at a level at which to be concerned. Zero means no exposure. From 1-250 are considered non-issue and most veterinarians do not recommend treatment. Over roughly 300 was considered a “positive” if the horse was showing clinical signs. Common clinical signs being neurological issues, weight loss, muscle wasting and gait abnormality. Most veterinarians prescribe one of two treatments. Both being expensive, lasting many months and proved low success rates. Horses often would be known to relapse. The video had shared and suggested the notion that there are more than just the typical clinical signs. They suggest that there could be early signs that show in other ways before things get as severe as the traditional clinical signs. I do not want to use this post to just regurgitate the information I learned from the video. I want to share my experience as a horse owner.
There were about 10 horses I suspected of EPM. One who had tested positive and was treated according to veterinarians recommendations approximately two years prior. Every horse had been confirmed to have been in or near an opossum hot state. Each displayed a range of quirky unexplainable behaviors. These behaviors ranged from mouthiness, frequent or irregular peeing, spooky or seeing things, dull sided and minorly uncoordinated. All horses had healthy weights, were being ridden at a minimum twice a week, and had adequate turn out with 24/7 access to hay. I found a veterinarian willing to entertain my request to test 10 horses.
Tests came back about a week later, Out of the 10 horses tested 4 showed exposure. 40% is a pretty high percentage of positive horses for a state that “does not have EPM”. These results sent me on another whirlwind of researching EPM treatments. I reached out to my friend who had originally sent me down this EPM road and she suggested I join a Facebook group called, “EPM Horse Support.” There I met Bob. Bob guides the group and shares his knowledge of EPM. This is where I learned about alternative EPM treatments. This treatment and medication that Bob was recommending had a much lower cost and guaranteed die off of parasites causing EPM. Bob is a veterinarian out of Texas and shares extensive documents and support through his Facebook group. He not only shares factual information, dosage and treatment plans but he responds to people's questions and concerns in a timely, straightforward and honest manner.
I reached out to the vet who pulled the blood for the test and asked her to prescribe what Bob was recommending. I expressed my concern for the symptoms the horses had and what I was experiencing in my daily interactions with them. I also explained that these horses have been checked or treated for other possible problems and that all other tests came back inconclusive to the symptoms they were displaying. I insisted on treating all positive horses regardless of the numbers. "Treat horses' symptoms not their numbers," Bob would say. I shared the video, files from his group and the response I got was that they were not familiar with any of the information. I get it, they are well known and sought after, they were too busy to hop on my crazy train on EPM. I was able to purchase Cali's medication online without a veterinarian. Bob and fellow group members helped me feel confident on dosage and length given. The medication is available on a Field Trial and is pending FDA approval.
I treated Cali and one of the other three horses first. The other horse I treated was showing more traditional signs of EPM. He showed significant improvement but unfortunately, I believe this horse had other handicaps affecting his performance. The improvement I got from him was he became less aggressive and irritable. Overall body condition and awareness improved. Less irrational and erratic behavior. For this horse I considered that a significant improvement.
Medication is given once a day. Being that Cali lived outside 24/7 we made a point to bring her up everyday and evaluate her. It is a 14 day treatment. I was warned that day 9 is the "die off" and she might look worse. Sure enough day 9 Cali was lame like I've never seen. It was apparent from the moment I walked her out of the turn out.
I am not someone who is quick to cry but seeing my mare move the way she did made me sick to my stomach. I couldn't breathe, it was as if my lungs were tied together. I could not help but to feel incredibly guilty. Watching her struggle to walk made proof to how infected she was with nerve eating parasites. Not only that but she also had Lyme. I gained a whole new level of respect for her. Her temperament, soundness and willingness to please me in every way while also surviving undiagnosed EPM and Lymes disease. Cali's numbers were as high as two of the other horses who were completely unridable. Their numbers were all into the thousands but the other two horses demonstrated the traditional clinical symptoms. Cali was well into the thousands herself but was actively riding, teaching youth lessons and competitive, with the exception of her right lead canter.
I kept her in overnight so she could rest in her own space on a bed of shavings. The next morning I asked one of my staff to turn her out in the round pen first thing. I arrived about an hour later and Cali was perky and met me at the gate. Her eyes seemed brighter and she was wondering why she was left in the round pen. I haltered her and promptly walked her to the empty arena. She was peppy, lookie and active. She lowered her head and I slid off her halter. She stood quietly as I stepped back and let out a 'kiss' sound. Boom, she was off. She thundered to the other side of the arena. I walked to the center of the arena where I only had to let out a small 'kiss' sound and she would gallop around the arena as fast as she could.
Watching her move with such freedom was a relief. I forgave myself for how little I knew about what she was going through. I promised I would be a better listener and I would make sure her feelings were acknowledged. Now when my horses say "no" I ask "why?" rather than pushing my "yes" harder. At one point I had fully accepted Cali for who she was and what she was capable of. I decided I was no longer going to push my desire for the right lead. I began spending more time grooming and braiding her mane, ponying other horses off her and trail riding. The video and Bob gave me a new hope that Cali could get the help she needed.
The last 4 days of Cali's treatment she was seemingly back to her, no right lead "normal" self. As the weeks went to months I am able to see slight changes in Cali's movements. Things like better balance while being trimmed or hoofs cleaned, less "random" falling out behind and more willing to go forward are all big improvements. I am very intentionally not addressing the canter, yet. I have Cali on a high dosage of Vitamin E and Nerve and Spine supplements. All of her feed is free from inflammatories and processed grain. She is getting regular PEMF treatments and being worked under saddle walk trot. I am seeing significant improvement in her top line and hips. She seems to be getting softer in the bridle as well.
Reflecting back on my time with Cali I can recall her showing what could have been considered symptoms about 4.5 years ago. I can recall dealing with opossums at a few of the locations she was living at back in the North East. With the amount of exposure and length of time she has had both EPM and Lyme her recovery is not going to be quick. I am seeing great improvements in just a few months so I am eager to see where Cali will be at the one year mark after being rid of EPM. Moving forward I am focusing on balance and strength building while supporting her nerves with quality simulation through feed, work and PEMF.
The last two horses who tested positive were not immediately treated due to their owners wanting to do their own research. They watched Cali's two week journey as well as the other horse who was "traditional" EPM. Reached out to their veterinarians, who unfortunately were "not familiar" enough with EPM to make much of a suggestion. These two horses had much different results from the blood test. The younger of the two horses was "low exposure" and the veterinarians did not recommend treatment. They wanted to retest in 6 months. The other horse who was older but under the age of ten was showing traditional signs and we had known going into testing that she did test positive approximately two years ago.
The younger horse who was with me in full training displayed many of the "non-traditional" symptoms like dull sides, dislike for his face to be touched or brushed, imbalance when being trimmed or hoof picked and was difficult to bridle. I also noticed that he struggled to grasp concepts and retain what I was teaching him. After treatment he is much more balanced, better for the farrier, has more energy, easier to bridle and can have his face brushed. He began moving off my leg under saddle. His once slow and repetitive training became smoother and better retained from ride to ride. He also showed an improvement with toe dragging at the trot.
The final horse to receive treatment was the horse who had previously tested and been treated years back. She is showing significant improvements after treatment. Prior to treatment she was uncoordinated, unwilling to stand square, disliked to be groomed and would often bump her body into things or people. The fact that she could not stand square was very concerning to both her owner and I. After treatment standing square is easy for her, something she deeply struggled with prior.
Every horse that tested positive to any amount of exposure received a 14 day treatment costing $100 each and they all showed significant improvement. We are only a couple months out from treatment and it is said that recovery and rehab can take 9-12 months to see the full change. Longer and higher exposure could mean longer recovery. As for the other 6 horses that were tested and returned "inconclusive" or "negative" I realized that the test I had received only tested for about 6 of the nearly 12 protozoa and only showed as "positive" if their antibodies where over 250. Depending on what laboratory is used to process the blood tests can show numbers from 0 being no exposure to 250 being low exposure. Knowing this information now I would have send my blood to a different laboratory to be tested. I have a 1-2 other horses who came back as "under" but still show mysterious, unexplainable quarks that could be considered early symptoms of EPM. There is also other horses on the property that I would like to test and one who I just went ahead and treated. There are no known negative side effects to just treating. This horse in particular was owned by me and was worth the $100 to just treat verses the $250 test.
I am not recommending anyone treat without testing but I do recommend owners advocate for their horses. I also advising that if your horse is displaying weird, quirky behaviors to not mock or push them off as nothing. Horses are often asked to tolerate their discomforts in order to perform. Their nature is to persevere, survive and not show weakness. Because I have chosen to spend my life with horses I want my relationships with them to be meaningful. I want to respect and honor the horse.
My original post with the link to EPM video:
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