Tying-up and PSSM aren’t fixed by feeding more supplements. The key is making your horse's electrolytes work properly.
The many reasons for tying-up in horses (including cases linked to PSSM) all have something in common. The normal homeostatic balance of the horse metabolic system is subjected to unexpected change. This may be a change of exercise or work routine, of temperature, of diet, of stress, or, in mares in heat, a hormonal change. The horse cellular system suddenly does not know what is going to happen next and so activates a simple protective measure – it conserves, or holds on to, electrolytes. This could affect the ability of the horse to properly regulate the calcium ions that control normal muscle contraction and relaxation. A regular ten-day course of Equiwinner at the start of the season will set the cellular balance of the horse correctly to be able to withstand the normal rigors of competitive work. Equiwinner starts to work almost immediately.
Equiwinner contains only natural balanced electrolytes, and nothing goes into the body of the horse. Results can last the season or up to one full year. There are no side effects.
Watch: Tying-up didn’t stop Trula Churchill from qualifying for her first NFR in 2012.
PSSM Success Stories Here
PSSM1 Barrel Horse Competing & Winning Again.
Three years ago, Cindy Hampton's quarter horse Marley tied up for the first time. After it was confirmed as PSSM1, she tried different feeds and supplements with little success. When her farrier suggested Equiwinner, she started the treatment and now uses it every summer and when hauling to big barrel races to help with stress. Her daughter, Amber, is now competing with Marley in junior rodeo winning 3 buckles, money and her first saddle.
Cindy Hampton, Buckeye, AZ
11 yr old PSSM Quarter Horse Enjoys Trails and Obstacle Challenges Again
More about tying-up in horses:
Tying-up in horses is also called azoturia, rhabdomyolysis, rhabdomyelosis, monday morning disease, paralytic myoglobinuria, myositis, setfast, cramps, equine exertional rhabdomyolosis (EER), EERS, ERS, metabolic myopathies, market day disease, snow disease, frost disease, polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM or EPSM) and probably quite a few other names.
Tying-up is a muscle metabolism problem. The muscles over the loins and the quarters harden, with cramps and stiffness. The stride becomes shorter, the horse may stagger behind and go lame. The horse may refuse to work. The horse may collapse if work is continued. The temperature is usually raised, and there may be sweating. In severe cases, the myoglobin released from the damaged muscles turns the urine dark red or brown.
Causes of Tying-Up and Related Conditions, Such as PSSM
Tying-up may develop very quickly in a number of circumstances.
A horse in regular hard work is given a rest day without having the working diet reduced. This is the origin of the description “Monday morning disease” or “Market day disease”.
A fit horse which has been fully trained for a race or other event may pull up with azoturia as a result of the stress of travel or of unaccustomed noise or other distractions.
Nervous horses, particularly fillies, may start tying-up as a result of stress, also mares in heat (estrus).
Horses in events requiring exceptional athletic exertion or endurance may tie-up when their metabolism is not correctly balanced.
Sudden temperature change to warmer or colder, or having a soaking wet coat, can easily bring on azoturia.
Any day-to-day changes in diet which have not been gradually introduced are a common reason for tying-up.
Irregular and stop-start work and exercise, particularly asking for maximum performance without the necessary preparation, will cause a horse to tie-up.
Horses need to be warmed up before being asked for exertion and allowed to cool down afterwards.
Why Horses Tie-Up
The many reasons for tying-up in horses all have something in common. The normal homeostatic balance of the horse metabolic system is subjected to unexpected change. This may be a change of exercise or work routine, of temperature, of diet, of stress, or, in mares in heat, a hormonal change. The horse cellular system suddenly does not know what is going to happen next and so activates a simple protective measure – it conserves, or holds on to, electrolytes.
Electrolytes are essential for the life of the cells, so this is an appropriate action for them. But transmission of electrolytes throughout the body of the horse is also essential for the neuronal control of the muscles and the digestive system. In tying-up, the cells have taken priority and the horse is in a poor state of improperly functioning muscles and digestion.
Tying-up may be sporadic, that is occasional and temporary, recurrent, that is occurring often but clearing up, or may become chronic, making the horse useless for further work. All grades of tying-up introduce uncertainty about the performance of the horse in any competitive sport.
Ensuring Proper Electrolyte Balance Is Now Simple
A regular ten-day course of Equiwinner at the start of the season will set the cellular balance of the horse correctly to be able to withstand the normal rigors of competitive work. The Equiwinner patch is a unique patented smart cell signaling device which will unlock the normal transmission of electrolytes throughout the body of the horse.
Nothing from the Equiwinner patch goes into the body of the horse, so that Equiwinner can be used in any horse sport. The beneficial effect is gained only by smart cell signaling. Equiwinner patches are supplied in an airtight box and so can be kept ready for use whenever required.
All horses should have a balanced diet appropriate to the amount of work required of them but tying-up in horses cannot be corrected by feeding electrolyte or other supplements, as a normally fit horse is not deficient in these nutrients. In tying-up, the electrolytes are over conserved or locked up. They need to be released to do the job of nerve transmission and all other physiological processes.
Equiwinner comes with a full money back guarantee and will never test positive.
Please note that diagnosis of the condition of tying-up or azoturia may be difficult and can be confused with other conditions which have similar symptoms. Always call a veterinarian or other professional to get a correct diagnosis.
Trevor Henry, one of Canada's top winning harness drivers
Frequently Asked Questions about Tying-up and PSSM in Horses
Can diet or supplements help prevent or manage tying-up?
Diet can play a supporting role, but tying-up often persists because it is not caused by a simple deficiency. In many horses, electrolytes are over-conserved and become “locked up,” which interferes with normal nerve and muscle signaling. Because of this, feeding more electrolytes or supplements typically does not solve the root problem.
Equiwinner takes a different approach. Its patented smart cell signaling patch contains only natural, balanced electrolytes that are not absorbed into the horse’s body. Instead, they work at the cellular level to help restore proper electrolyte function and normal neuronal control of muscle contraction.
A 10-day treatment is designed to reset this balance and provides months of support and often up to a year. Many horses show improvements in tying-up episodes, energy, willingness, and stress tolerance.
Research supports this concept. In the American Journal of Veterinary Research, scientists found that tying-up is linked to abnormal regulation of intracellular calcium, and that dietary calcium does not change calcium levels in muscle tissue.
Reference:
Lentz LR et al. “Abnormal regulation of muscle contraction in horses with recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis.” American Journal of Veterinary Research, August 1999.
How can I tell if my horse is experiencing a tying-up episode?
Signs of tying-up typically appear after vigorous exercise, a rest period followed by heavy work, or a trigger such as heightened stress or temperature change:
- Muscles over the loins/quarters feel firm, stiff, hard, and painful
- Shortened, stilted, or staggering stride
- Excessive sweating, rapid breathing, or elevated heart rate/temperature
- Reluctance, refusal to move, lameness, or collapse if pushed
- In severe cases, dark red/brown urine from muscle damage
If you suspect tying-up, stop work and contact a veterinarian immediately. For prevention in horses with a history of these signs, Equiwinner's 10-day patch course restores proper electrolyte transmission, helping avoid episodes and supporting reliable horse performance, backed by horse owners and trainers who report fast results and no recurrence.
Is PSSM the same as tying-up in horses?
Not exactly. Tying-up is the clinical syndrome - painful muscle stiffness, cramping, and reluctance to move that horse owners see. PSSM (Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy) is one of the most common underlying causes of recurrent tying-up, especially in Quarter Horses, Paints, Appaloosas, and draft breeds. While not every horse that ties up has PSSM, many horses with PSSM experience repeated tying-up episodes if the condition is not properly managed.