Exhaustion
Cause
The horse´s willingness to respond to the demands of its rider or driver can result in physical exhaustion occurring, usually when the rider is concentrating on success in a competition rather than on the welfare of the horse. Scientifically what happens is that the glycogen and other fuel reserves in the muscles become exhausted.
Symptoms
The muscles can no longer contract properly, and even standing requires muscle contraction. The horse will sweat profusely as the body tries to get rid of the heat produced by its muscles. Hot, humid conditions increase the risk of exhaustion by reducing the efficacy of sweating. Loss of calcium in the sweat can cause a form of hiccups called „asynchronous diaphragmatic flutter".
Treatment
It consists of complete rest and no attempt should be made to move the horse. If at all possible, cooling should be attempted; ideally fans to evaporate the sweat should achieve this. Intravenous fluids reverse any dehydration that would otherwise occur as the body loses fluid to the profuse sweating. In the case of diaphragmatic flutter, intravenous calcium, usually in the form of calcium borogluconate solution, corrects the deficiency.
