Horse dropped dead while lounging?

L

Live4Horses

New member
I was visiting my gelding in rehab today. He had a bit of a nosebleed when I showed, but I didn't think it was a big deal.
We walked him over some cavelttis in the arena, and he tripped, began shaking, and then wouldn't get up. Then he stopped breathing.
It all happened so suddenly... I don't know how I'll ever get over it. He was 20, and my first horse, but seemed all around healthy. We've only been finding out recently that he has many old underlying injuries, especially to his neck.

What could cause sudden death like this? And anyone have advice on getting over it? I want another horse but the idea of moving on seems like insulting his memory. And whenever I go to my barn and see his still I just break down. It doesn't even feel real right now, life without him, and with another horse seems impossible right now.
 
It sounds like he may have had a pulmonary embolism, which was set loose by his becoming more active (i.e. longing), and the blood clot ended up in his heart, causing a heart attack. You should ask your vet for a necropsy, or ask any vet schools near you if they could do a necropsy to tell you what exactly happened.
 
the nose bleed usually means something is wrong with his lungs but when they convulse like that it sounds like an aneurism, which is a blood clot in their brain
so sorry for your loss
 
think of it that he waited til you got there - withstood all the pain he could just to see you one last time. he is in a better place and not hurting anymore...
name ur new one with some kind of link to this horse so u always remeber him (not that u could forget)
my horse died of internal bleeding and a haemorrage that caused blood to come from her nose....maybe its injuries were worse than thought?
you will get over the heartache - its like losing a relative - but life goes on and everything dies eventually.
goodluck and hope u keep owning horses - ud disappoint urself and his memory if u didnt.
 
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