>>> a HYPP attack<<< My daughters show horse is H/N not sure where you got N/P. Not sure what N/P stands for.Unless they have changed it in the last 5 yrs. He (gelding) carries the gene but only a percentage of those horses that are H/N will be symptomatic. We have had him 8 yrs and have seen two attacks. One, where he had a heavy blanket on in the spring (so he would shed out) and it got unseasonably quickly warm out and the other when riding him up a huge hill and he wasn't conditioned. The one he just fell over. Laid there for 15 seconds and then got right back up. The other one his eyes started rolling back and I gave him his meds and corn syrup and he was fine. She showed him in 90 degree weather without problems. I had talked to a vet who had been researching it and she informed me that these attacks do not happen while they are being ridden. So we took the chance and bought him and he has been an outstanding show and trail horse. We do nothing different. Grass hay and oats is what he gets. The need to have lower levels of potassium in their diets. Alfalfa hay usually has more percentage of potassium then grass but not always. I believe the potassium somehow shoots into their bloodstream when they are having these attacks which makes the horse paralyzed. Don't quote me on that but it is something similar w potassium and their blood. He is 16 yrs old and yes maybe someday he will die of an attack but I don't think so. I often wonder how many attacks we have not seen but I keep my horses at my place and am around them lots.
We have been lucky and I think it is terrible that yes, they still breed these horses that carry the gene. I don't think it is painful when they have them. Does anyone know?
