Yawning horse!

Question
QUESTION: HI there,
I'v been searching for some information on yawning horses and was wondering if you could help. I saw a recent question answered on this topic, but the nature of my question is slightly different.
I have an 11yr old pure bread Hackney gelding (gelded at 10yrs), who has s stange habbit of occassional bursts of yawning. I first noticed it when I had had him for about a year, he appeared very lathargic, hung his head low, was very affectionate (which is not usual for him), experienced occassional sleepy staggers and just a bit out of sorts. Of course I imediately called the vet and they could find nothing wrong with him but a touch of collic. All blood tests came back normal and Narcolepsy was ruled out. Then eventually after approx. 6 weeks he was back to his old self again.
Unfortunately, he has just started yawning again and I am hoping that this does not turn into what he had last time, whatever it might have been?
Is there any reasone for a horse to behave in this way and is it something I should be concerned about, and finally what should I do?
Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Ashley, I need to know how old are you, what is your horse experience and how does this interfere with what you do with the horse?

Rick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi, thanks for geting back to me so quickly.
I am 26 yrs of age and have much experience with horses, I have kept and worked with horses since childhood. I have never experienced a yawning horse before and was just a little concerned if this behaviour was related to any medical condition or not. As stated in my previous question, my horse had been rather unwell when this behaviour was last noticed, and his illness is still as yet undiagnosed. I was therefore, just looking for some advice.
This behaviour does not really appear to be affetcing his performance, other that being a little sluggish and tending to hang his head. He does, however, not show any other signs of anything like collic or pain/apprehension.
I hoope this gives you a little more info to work from .
Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Ashley, not sure that was any help since I have never dealt with this.  If a vet said he was not narcoleptic then not sure what it could be.  This sounds more physical than mental or behavior related.  I would try to put him on some good vitamins, rice bran, NO alfalfa, good grass hay, rye or oat, and get him lots of time out in pasture and exercise.  I use red cell a couple of times a week or so and give oats and corn once in a while in small amounts.  When you say lethargic, if it is not medical, then it is habit and lack of exercise, turn out time and mental stimulation.  This is all a guess and without seeing the little guy, I can only guess with what you have told me.

A little extra oats and exercise never hurts a horse and only makes his entire system work better.  Better blood supply to feet, better stress relief, metal stimulation, enacts his natural survival system and will help work out toxins or build up from doing nothing and being fed high sugars, proteins and processed foods.  Trying this will not hurt him and I think will only help him.

Sorry I could not be more help and hope this helps.

Rick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi again,
Thanks for all your feedback, it's very usefull. I will try some alterations in his diet, and now that the nights are getting lighter, I might even be able to get out on him a little more - Fingers crossed that will do the trick!
Can I just ask, why you suggest not feeding alfalfa?
He is currently on a diet of sugar beet, bran, buld up mix (as he was in very poor shape when I first got hime, and tends to loose condition over the winter), molisage/alfa a with suppliments of molasis, cod liver oil, seaweed, garlic and biotin. He is ridden twice most weeks and walks to and from his field approx. 1km twice daily. How does this sound to you?
Thanks for all your help.
ash

Answer
Holy Cow...  this is a lot of stuff for a horse to handle.  You may be making your horse a sugar addict.  Molasses is not good for horses.  It is sweet and gives instant energy, but like giving a kid a candy bar and sweet coke, it makes them wild for a while and then they crash and are tired and need more sweets for energy.  Sugar cubes are bad, if you must give treats give carrots or apples once in a while, both are natural sugars and the horse processes these much better.

I really think you need to go back to the basics.  Oil is ok in very small amounts and not all the time.  Horses do not produce bile like humans and do not process saturated fats well.  I have heard good and bad about garlic, cod liver oil, corn oil and other things.

Horses always do best in the wild without human interference.

Ever see a horse paw water on the ground before drinking, they are making the water muddy and stirring up minerals to drink.  Mother Nature knows best, horse will chew on bark from certain trees and not others.  Your horse's system is being overloaded with many unnatural additives and they are doing something to his system.  Too many people try to do too much and end up doing more damage to a horse.  As for Alfalfa, it is way too rich and has too much protein.  I have seen too many horses die and require surgery due to Alfalfa.  Alfalfa causes calcium to build up into a ball in the horses stomach.  When it gets big enough, they either colic, require surgery or pass it.  Normally they die or are put down since surgery is about 5000 dollars.  I have seen these calcium balls after they are removed.  They are about the size of a  large grapefruit and solid rock.  Alfalfa was designed by race horse people who don't care about the horse, they care about winning and only using a horse for a few years and then give it away or kill it.  Horse people think that if million dollar horses, like race horses get alfalfa, it must be good.  It is bad.  Yes it will put on weight, but it does worse long term damage if used exclusively and continuously.

I would stop all supplements for two months and just try this.  Get some rye or oat hay, both keep weight good, but have more forage than alfalfa, both cause the horse to eat slower, which causes the horse to eat longer with is better for digestion.  A horse produces 12 gallons of saliva a day in the wild.  This helps keep a horse's internals working good.  If you want to put weight on or help coats, get some rice bran and or regular oats.  Slowly change the diet by adding 1/4 of new for couple of days, then 1/2 of new stuff for a couple of days, then 3/4 new, then only grass hay (oat or rye), a cup or oats and  cup of rice bran in morning and night.  Your horse will stabilize, will feel better from less sugars and less proteins, if you do this for two months, you can always go back to what you are doing.  I would bet you will see a huge improvement in your horse.

I think you are trying way to hard to help and doing more damage than good.  I hope you consider this for your horse's sake.  I know you will feel better if your horse is better, but try this, what have you got to lose?

good luck, hope it works,

Rick