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AUGUST 2006 • VOLUME 12 • © Copyright HORSES For LIFE™ Publications EQUINE HOOF IN MOUTH SYNDROME –
An extremely rare but serious occurrence
Now, before you rush off to call the vet for an explanation, or switch to your search engine to Google EHMS, let me warn you. Your vet has never heard of it, you will not find it even on the vastness of the world wide web. So rare is this syndrome, so unusual, that Google or Yahoo as you may with all your microchips and megabytes in hand, you will not find mention of it. There is no research and no evidence, only the stories of we few privileged and oft times unbelieved witnesses, who wish we had had the presence of mind to photograph this horrific wonder to prove our outlandish story. Quincy was a handsome 16+ hh ‘Dirty’ Palomino Quarterhorse gelding, a lovely mover and an opinionated fellow, who regularly challenged his owners abilities and tried his trainers’ patience to the ends of its’ admirably far-flung limits. Nonetheless, he was adored and well loved, and his voice was heard far and wide and ceaselessly upon his owners’ arrival. That is, until his not always well earned pound of carrots had arrived in his bucket. In other words, Quincy was a loud and spoiled brat. He was also talented, obviously very intelligent, manipulative and could be highly entertaining. One couldn’t help but like him. (As long as you didn’t have to ride him. Like myself.) One early Tuesday afternoon, I had fed lunch which was then followed by my lesson on the horse chosen by my trainer to be my victim that day. It happened to be Willie, a beautiful black bay Thoroughbred who lived around the corner from Quincy. It was summer, and summer doors were on a few select stalls. Of course, Quincy being Quincy, Quincy’s was one of those chosen few. So when I rounded the corner and passed by his stall, I could see through the bars of the closed door into the shadowy interior. That is, had I looked over my shoulder as I headed on past him. I did not, and would not have, had it not been for his sudden piercing neighing. I kept on walking, thinking how spoilt he was, and did he really think he deserved a second helping of lunch? Then he screamed again, and this time the desperate edge to his voice sliced through my post lesson exhaustion induced dullness of mind.
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quine Hoof in Mouth Syndrome – or EHMS – is indeed so rare an occurrence that I had never heard of it till it happened to a horse in my care. When it happened, I was entirely unprepared as was his trainer - my employer - and we lost precious moments to panic and bewilderment. In the interest of helping people who may experience this unlikely and bizarre event in the future, I decided to tell Quincy’s story to a broader audience than my usual barn regulars.