Thu 30th Oct 2014 Equine Atypical Myopathy cases dramatically rise this autumn Polo Times talks to Nicola Bell BVetMed MRCVS from Riverside Vets Equine about what signs to look for in your ponies Atypical Myopathy is a highly fatal muscle disease, most commonly seen in young horses out to graze in autumn and spring, in both the UK and Northern Europe. It causes severe damage to muscles, affecting postural and respiratory muscles. Atypical Myopathy is attributed to the toxin Hypoglycin A, which is found in Sycamore seeds. The seeds can contain a variable amount of this toxin, so there is not necessarily a correlation between quantity ingested and severity of disease. Hypoglycin A interferes with muscle metabolism, and the breakdown of muscle tissues causes waste products to be released in high levels into the blood stream, which in turn results in kidney failure. Unfortunately there is no antidote available, so treatment consists of intravenous fluid therapy, pain relief and attentive nursing care – this is often best achieved via admittance to an equine hospital. The prognosis is very poor, and survival rates are reported as low as 26%.1   Nicola Bell reports to Polo Times that, “there have been an abnormally high number of cases reported this autumn.”  Ms. Bell advises that the clinical signs to look out for include: weakness, muscle tremors, pain, lethargy, reluctance to walk, recumbancy (lying down with difficultly standing), discoloured urine (brown-red), difficulty breathing or swallowing. These are often confused with signs of colic.    Prevention of the disease requires restricting horses from gaining access to Sycamore seeds; avoid pasture with Sycamore trees, fencing off areas where seeds/leaves have fallen. Reduce stocking densities down to ensure that there is enough grazing, or alternatively supplementing the pasture with extra forage.   If you suspect a horse is suffering from Atypical Myopathy, contact your vet as a matter of urgency. Try not to move the horse as excessive movement may cause further muscle damage. If the horse urinates, try to collect a urine sample as this will aid the vet in their diagnosis. Removal of all other horses grazing on the same pasture and careful monitoring for clinical signs should be undertaken.    Reference: 1. European outbreaks of Atypical Myopathy in grazing equines (2006–2009): Spatiotemporal distribution, history and clinical features, G. van GALEN et al, Equine Veterinary Journal Volume 44, Issue 5, pages 614–620, September 2012   Subscribe to Polo Times to read more veterinary articles and features on horse welfare issues http://www.polotimes.co.uk/?pg=40   Photograph: The classic Sycamore 'Helicopter' can be fatal for grazing horses

Other top stories Mon 13th Jul 2026 The Gold Cup Semis Are Set Dubai, Ferne Park, Gaston and La Hechicera to battle for their spot in the Final Thu 9th Jul 2026 Polo Times July Out Now! It’s a busy time and a busy mag landing on your doorstep Wed 8th Jul 2026 Bienvenidos a Polo Times en Español We are delighted to announce the launch of Polo Times in Spanish Tue 7th Jul 2026 The Race to the Quarters is On Gold Cup Quarter Finalists to be Decided this Week Mon 6th Jul 2026 Italy Finally Goes all the Way in Chantilly Third time’s the charm for Italy in The Polo Nations Cup BARNES Mon 29th Jun 2026 St. Regis Gold Cup Update High goal action gathers pace at Cowdray Park Polo Club Wed 24th Jun 2026 Ready, Steady Go-ld Cup St. Regis British Open Polo Championship for the Cowdray Gold Cup Gets Underway Mon 22nd Jun 2026 The S2 Mechanical Warwickshire Cup English led Thai Polo Team take the Warwickshire Cup Win Tue 16th Jun 2026 The Beaufort International England Triumphant over New Zealand at The Golden Jubilee See all news in: July 2026June 2026May 2026April 2026March 2026February 2026January 2026December 2025November 2025October 2025September 2025August 2025July 2025June 2025May 2025April 2025March 2025February 2025January 2025December 2024November 2024October 2024September 2024August 2024July 2024June 2024May 2024April 2024March 2024February 2024January 2024December 2023November 2023October 2023September 2023August 2023July 2023June 2023May 2023April 2023March 2023February 2023January 2023December 2022November 2022October 2022September 2022August 2022July 2022June 2022May 2022April 2022March 2022February 2022January 2022December 2021November 2021October 2021September 2021August 2021July 2021June 2021May 2021April 2021March 2021February 2021January 2021December 2020November 2020October 2020September 2020August 2020July 2020June 2020May 2020April 2020March 2020February 2020January 2020December 2019November 2019October 2019September 2019August 2019July 2019June 2019May 2019April 2019March 2019February 2019January 2019December 2018November 2018October 2018September 2018August 2018July 2018June 2018May 2018April 2018March 2018February 2018January 2018December 2017November 2017October 2017September 2017August 2017July 2017June 2017May 2017April 2017March 2017February 2017January 2017December 2016November 2016October 2016September 2016August 2016July 2016June 2016May 2016April 2016March 2016February 2016January 2016December 2015November 2015October 2015September 2015August 2015July 2015June 2015May 2015April 2015March 2015February 2015January 2015December 2014November 2014October 2014September 2014August 2014July 2014June 2014May 2014April 2014March 2014February 2014January 2014December 2013November 2013October 2013September 2013August 2013July 2013June 2013May 2013April 2013March 2013February 2013January 2013December 2012November 2012October 2012September 2012August 2012July 2012June 2012May 2012April 2012March 2012February 2012January 2012December 2011November 2011October 2011September 2011August 2011July 2011June 2011May 2011April 2011March 2011February 2011January 2011December 2010November 2010October 2010September 2010August 2010July 2010June 2010May 2010April 2010March 2010February 2010January 2010December 2009November 2009October 2009September 2009August 2009July 2009June 2009May 2009April 2009March 2009February 2009January 2009December 2008November 2008October 2008September 2008August 2008July 2008June 2008May 2008April 2008March 2008

End of Polo Times news page