The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analgesic and cardiorespiratory effects of epidurally administered romifidine in the horse. Ten healthy adult mixed breed horses 6-12 years of age, weighing 250-350 kg were used in this study. Romifidime at the dose of 80 µg/Kg diluted with normal saline and adjusted to 8 ml, was injected in first intercoccygeal epidural space. Heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature were recorded before injection and 10, 20,30 and 60 minutes after injection. Analgesia was assessed with pin prick in the tail and perineal region. Data were analyzed using paired Student (t) test and P<0.05 was considered significant. In this study romifidine did not show good analgesia in, 9 (out of 10) horses. Only I horse represented mild analgesia and relaxation of the tail, but analgesia was not sufficient to perform surgery. Systemic sedative effects of romifidine occurred at 10-45 minutes by drooping of the lower lip and leaning the head to the stock. The heart rate decreased significantly (32±1.5 mean + SE, P<0.05) compared to baseline (39.4±2.6) at 10 minutes and later. The respiratory rate was also reduced significantly after 10 minutes (8.7±0.8; mean ± SE, P<0.05). No significant change was observed in rectal temperature. Although there is much evidences about the usefulness of epidural administration of alpha 2 agonists the results of this study showed that epidural injection of romifidine with the dose of 80 µg/Kg could not provide surgical analgesia of the caudoperineal region
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