Tying-Up in Horses
Tying-up is a very painful muscle condition caused by a disturbance in muscle metabolism. This condition is also known as tying-up or Monday morning disease. It is called Monday morning disease because in the past, working horses were fed richly during the week when they were working hard. However, during the weekend, the horses were resting, and if their diet was not adjusted, they would suffer from tying-up on Monday.
What is tying-up?
Tying-up involves extreme acidosis in the muscles of the back, loins, and hindquarters. It is an extremely painful condition that can make it difficult or even impossible for the horse to walk.
Muscles consume energy provided by the horse's diet. When more energy is consumed than expended, there is an excess of waste products, particularly lactic acid. These waste products are poorly eliminated and remain in the muscle, causing it to become stiff and painful. If a horse has worked intensively and then suddenly stops the next day without a reduction in their diet, an excess of waste products can accumulate, leading to tying-up. Tying-up is usually caused by excessive concentrate feeding.
However, tying-up can also be caused by other factors:
- A deficiency in electrolytes due to excessive sweating
- Strenuous training with poor condition/illness
- Metabolic diseases (e.g., PSSM)
- A deficiency in vitamin E
- Cold wind/rain causing muscle cramps
What are the signs of a horse with tying-up?
There are different degrees of tying-up. Some horses may only be slightly stiff, while others may not be able to move at all.
A lightly affected horse may show signs of colic (sweating, scraping), avoid walking, and often feel better after a few hours. However, the muscles may remain hard. In more severe cases, the horse may refuse to walk during training, muscles in the hindquarters may tremble, and the horse may sweat. The muscles will feel hard and painful, and the urine of these horses is often dark brown due to the high levels of waste products.
In the most severe cases, the horse may refuse to walk altogether. These horses are often anxious, with wide nostrils and increased breathing and heart rate. The urine is clearly brown in color, and horses prefer not to stand up when lying down. The muscles are also very hard and painful.
How to treat a horse with tying-up
A veterinarian can diagnose tying-up through a blood test to check the levels of CK and AST, which are muscle enzymes indicating muscle damage.
Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment will be initiated, and a veterinarian may need to come urgently. As an owner, you can do a lot to support your horse with tying-up. It is important to stop the horse immediately and keep it warm. Ensure the horse stands safely and cannot injure itself. Do not feed the horse but provide water. In severe cases, the veterinarian may administer painkillers and possibly an intravenous drip. The veterinarian will also recommend temporarily withholding concentrate feed and only providing high-fiber, poor-quality roughage.
Horses recovering from tying-up can benefit from additional vitamin E to support waste product removal. Magnesium can also help relax the muscles. The training of these horses should be gradually resumed, especially during the recovery period, to prevent a recurrence of tying-up.
How to prevent tying-up
It is important to adjust the diet according to the intensity of training. If your horse has a few days off, feed less! The energy processed in the muscles must be balanced with the diet.
If your horse is prone to vitamin E deficiency, ensure it is adequately supplemented with a natural variant, and have a veterinarian regularly check blood levels to monitor values. For horses that sweat a lot, replenish electrolytes to maintain fluid balance.
Horses sensitive to cold, harsh winds may benefit from a blanket on cold days. It is essential to know your horse and intervene quickly if you notice any stiffness!