rushyj
Well-Known Member
HELP!!! I have a 5 year old 18.2 (what should have been) county level heavyweight show hunter. He has the most gorgeous temprement and loves his work and his hacks. We got him to produce as just backed and broken at the end of last summer. On schooling him very occasionally you could see he is slightly short behind. He had what looks like a slightly rounded fetlock joint on his hind which we had xrayed...
To our complete devastation we found out after the xrays came back that he has major bone changes in his fetlock joint and sesamoid bones. We did more investigating and found out his breeder had shown him (and won heavyweight foal) at the national hunter as a foal and he had cut himself quite deeply over this fetlock joint and rather than call a vet and get him antibiotics it was just taped up, sealing all the infection in to destroy his joint!!!!
What I want to know is we are moving to a much smaller yard and have current show horses taking up the spaces. I am at a loss with what to do with him. The changes in his joint are not progressive. He can appear short behind sometimes but this is mechanical (he just can't flex the joint as much) as opposed to dire pain. One bute a day and he appears sound this just relieves the stiffness. He also cannot stand in for too long as he rests the foot and gets pins and needles so when you walk him out he looks awful then three strides later he is fine again.. He also has to be shod his feet are to wide and he is too heavy to be barefoot...
I really don't know what to do with him.. I want someone to have him that will give him a life... he has too much to give to be in a paddock for the rest of his life and he is not bad enough to be put down.... Also I don't want someone who wont care and will push him too hard... I have also been told not to loan him but sell him for a nominal fee.... So any suggestions please help!!! [image]http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=50464&id=708806752#/photo.php?pid=1792202&id=708806752[/image]
To our complete devastation we found out after the xrays came back that he has major bone changes in his fetlock joint and sesamoid bones. We did more investigating and found out his breeder had shown him (and won heavyweight foal) at the national hunter as a foal and he had cut himself quite deeply over this fetlock joint and rather than call a vet and get him antibiotics it was just taped up, sealing all the infection in to destroy his joint!!!!
What I want to know is we are moving to a much smaller yard and have current show horses taking up the spaces. I am at a loss with what to do with him. The changes in his joint are not progressive. He can appear short behind sometimes but this is mechanical (he just can't flex the joint as much) as opposed to dire pain. One bute a day and he appears sound this just relieves the stiffness. He also cannot stand in for too long as he rests the foot and gets pins and needles so when you walk him out he looks awful then three strides later he is fine again.. He also has to be shod his feet are to wide and he is too heavy to be barefoot...
I really don't know what to do with him.. I want someone to have him that will give him a life... he has too much to give to be in a paddock for the rest of his life and he is not bad enough to be put down.... Also I don't want someone who wont care and will push him too hard... I have also been told not to loan him but sell him for a nominal fee.... So any suggestions please help!!! [image]http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=50464&id=708806752#/photo.php?pid=1792202&id=708806752[/image]
