Photosensitivity

I didn't read the entire blog post
http://rtfitchauthor.com/2014/08/14/tainted-hay-suspected-in-horses-sun-sensitivity/

But the discussions about photosensitivity reminds me of Rain.

I can very much sympathize with the horse owners who are dealing with this right now. I guess it has now been 10 years since Rain experienced the same thing. He ate something bad out in the pasture and I was sure we were going to lose him. His hind legs swelled up and the white socks on his back legs were sluffing off. It was terrible to watch. I cant' imagine if he would have been all white!

But he recovered from it, although he has lasting effects from the bout with photosensitivity. He is now very susceptible to weather. I am not sure if it would have happened anyway. But when we ran blood tests at the beginning, his organs were already damaged. I cant remember now if it was his liver or kidneys that had been damaged.

Now we have to watch the weather. If the temps are above 80 degrees, there's absolutely no riding him. In fact, he goes in search of shade. If the temps drop and there's any sort of wind, he has to go into the barn, or wear a blanket. If there's any bit of rain or snow, the blanket has to go on. I'll find him standing in the leanto off the barn when the wind is blowing during the entire winter (and beginning of spring). It's his standard spot and no one will fight him for it.

I will be interested to see how these horses recover from their ordeal. Rain still does not have hair on the back of his white socks. I will also be curious to see how these same horses will be affected in years to come. I wish I had the ability to talk to each owner or that a university would do a long-term study on these horses to see the effects of photosensitivity. It could really save some horses from a lot of pain if we knew more.

At least my little gelding recovered, with a little less hair on his white socks, and a little bit more weather temperamental, but I'll still love him to pieces and spoil him the best I can. Which reminds me, I need to find his winter blanket and fix a few tears he put in them this past winter. I need to look for a sheet or a lightweight blanket as well. Anyone have one for free or cheap?