The DOWN HORSE
Horses can present collapsed for a number of reasons and may be difficult to deal with. There are many reasons that a horse may present collapsed, the following is a non-exhaustive list:
Severe injury or pain (e.g. a broken leg or acute arthritic flare in cold weather).
Exhaustion.
Severe illness (e.g. colic).
Neurologic conditions.
If they are physically stuck, for example in a ditch, then please see our page on advice for trapped horses.
Sleep deprivation or narcolepsy.
Cardiac events or major internal bleeding may present with collapse during exercise and can be very dramatic - thankfully these are rare events.
What To Do:
If you find your horse down, take care to keep yourself safe by staying clear of the legs, as they may suddenly panic and kick out or attempt to stand without warning.
Remove any obstacles around the horse to allow them as much room as possible, if it is safe to do so. Offer water, keep calm, and maintain a quiet environment.
Contact the vet without delay – the longer a horse is down, the more difficult it is to get them up again due to muscle damage.
If they are cold it can be worth covering them with a blanket to keep them warm while waiting for the vet. Make sure to tie up any straps to reduce the risk of them getting caught should they try to stand.