How to Handle Equine Wobblers Syndrome
To handle equine wobblers syndrome, start by taking your horse to the vet for a full examination. Next, work with your vet to come up with a conservative treatment plan that includes medication, exercise, and dietary changes. You can also talk to your vet about other therapy options, like acupuncture or physiotherapy. Then, limit intensive training while your horse is undergoing treatment, but continue doing low impact activities together, like walking and trotting. If a conservative approach doesn't lead to recovery, talk to your vet about spinal surgery for your horse.
Consider whether your horse is predisposed. Some horses are at greater risk of developing wobblers syndrome. Male horses and large, fast-growing breeds like Thoroughbreds, Warmbloods, and Quarter horses seem to develop the disorder most often. There isn't much you can do to prevent wobblers,but understanding predisposition can help you identify it early on. There is not much evidence to suggest that wobblers is hereditary. Just because a parent developed the condition doesn't mean your horse is at a higher risk. Watch your horse’s gait. The biggest indicator of equine wobblers syndrome is your horse's gait. Wobblers typically manifests through a wobbling or stumbling motion, making it look almost as if your horse was sedated. Their gait may also be uneven or exaggerated. Gait problems due to wobblers may be made worse with exercise, but often appear even when your horse is not training. The gait issues can be subtle. For example, you may see “intermittent or shifting lameness” or a lameness that can be pinned to one leg. Additionally, the horse may have trouble picking up and changing leads or may fail to stop smoothly. Other symptoms may include excessive tail movements while exercising, an abnormal stance, a stiff neck, and kicking or fighting behavior due to pain. Check your horse’s feet. If you suspect wobblers, take a look at your horse's feet. The syndrome may cause abnormal wear on the front part of the hooves due to the horse dragging them because of an inability to pick them up and move normally. They may also have sores on their front heels due to overreaching and knuckling over. If you see any of these symptoms in conjunction with a wobbling gait, you should contact your vet as soon as possible. This may be something that your farrier will be the first to notice. Always be present when the farrier is looking at your horse and take notes that you can share with your vet. Call your vet. Call your equine vet as soon as you notice your horse wobbling. There are a number of diseases and disorders that may cause changes in gait, so getting a proper diagnosis is important. Call your vet and talk about the symptoms you notice to see if a full vet check is necessary. Have your vet perform preliminary tests. Before you put time and money into medical tests for wobblers, you may request your vet conducts some preliminary tests. Alternatively, you could start by asking for a simple lameness test. Tests such as having the horse turn in a small circle or trying to sway them to one side will help your vet make a preliminary diagnosis. In a sway test, you may need to assist your vet. One of you will lead the horse, while the other tries to change their position by redirecting their tail. A normal horse will correct itself while a horse with wobblers will move in the direction it is pulled and will often stumble. Request further testing if necessary. If your vet cannot diagnose wobblers by observational testing, more precise medical tests may be necessary. Your vet will likely start with bloodwork and radiographs (X-ray images) of the neck. After that, they may suggest further tests including: Cerebral spinal fluid testing to look for viral infections. Myelogram to examine compression on the spinal cord. Nuclear bone scan to check for other neurological issues. Develop a conservative treatment plan. In some cases when wobblers is detected early, a conservative management plan involving medication, exercise, and dietary changes can help your horse. This option is often helpful, but it does not guarantee complete recovery, and will often cost thousands to tens of thousands of dollars a year, depending on the specific plan. Ask your vet if conservative management is right for your horse. If it is, talk to them about the best options for your horse regarding: Anti-inflammatory drugs and therapy. A modified exercise and training program or an early pasture retirement. Proper nutrition to support your horse's new health needs. Supportive care including acupuncture, water walking, and physiotherapy. Consider spinal surgery. While conservative management works for some horses, many end up needing spinal fusion surgery. This will need to be done by a specialist under general anaesthetic. Recovery will require a compression bandage and plenty of time in a dark, quiet stall. Your vet will help you monitor aftercare and let you know when your horse is ready to have the bandage removed, as well as when they are ready to start training again. The exact amount your horse can exercise after its sixty to ninety day recovery period depends on a number of factors including how advanced their condition is. Be patient. Regardless of whether your horse is put on a conservative management plan or has surgery, their improvement will be slow. You will likely see little to no change for the first three months after surgery, and then some moderate improvement by around six months. Full recovery could take years, especially with a conservative management plan. Be patient. Horses do best with owners who continually offer support and stay on top of their recovery. Do not ride your horse during this time, as it will be very unstable. The horse's medications work to reduce the pressure on the spinal cord. Even if you are just leading your horse out to pasture and back, always be cognizant that they are unstable and make your turns wide. Limit intensive training. During treatment, your horse will still need some exercise. If they are participating in an intensive training or exercise program, though, you will need to cut back on their physical exertion. Consult with your vet to help determine the best exercise routine for your horse. The exact amount your horse can exercise depends on a number of factors including how advanced their condition is. Activities such as walking over ground poles and trotting up and down hills may help their recovery. Practice aggressive nutritional management. If your horse is put on a conservative management plan, you will need to actively manage their nutritional needs. Your vet should help you pick out foods and recommend portion sizes, since different breeds and sizes have different needs. Then, it is up to you to make sure your horse eats just the right amount. Reducing nutritional intake and limiting activity has been shown to help with incoordination in growing horses. Monitor their daily nutrition and activity levels carefully to ensure they are in line with your vet's recommendations. Horses with physical instabilities should be kept on the “leaner” side as this puts less of a load on their bodies overall. Work closely with your vet. No two horses are going to have the same recovery. Follow your vet's instructions carefully regarding when and how to administer medication after surgery. If your horse is on a conservative management plan, talk to your vet before starting any therapy options such as acupuncture or physiotherapy. Your vet's assessments will also be integral in determining if and when your horse can return to a more normal training routine. Communicate with your barn staff and make appropriate signage. Make sure everyone who uses your barn is aware of your horse's condition. It is also smart to put some signs to remind people that your horse is unstable and/or is recovering from surgery. If you board your horse, you should notify the other people who use the boarding barn, as well as the person who owns the facility. Ask the facility owner if you can place signs near your horses stall so that people remember your horse's condition. 
Consider whether your horse is predisposed. Watch your horse’s gait. Check your horse’s feet. Call your vet. Have your vet perform preliminary tests. Request further testing if necessary. Develop a conservative treatment plan. Consider spinal surgery. Be patient. Limit intensive training. Practice aggressive nutritional management. Work closely with your vet. Communicate with your barn staff and make appropriate signage. 