A summer of very rubbish news

[pixie27]

After 2-3 months of lameness, investigations & rehab, I think we've found (nearly) all the issues in my horse. (Touching wood.)

We've got changes to coffin joints in both fronts, but he's now sound following pads, arthramid, + rehab. Then that highlighted lameness behind. Blocked & x-rayed hocks and there are changes to the distal intertarsal on LH but right hock is fine. Going to scan the suspensory next week and medicate the hock (vet is deciding between steroid + arthramid). There's also the weight loss issue, which will be tough if we're on reduced/no work again.

He's 8 years old and has done next to nothing – full history known from an unbacked 3yr old.

I haven't spoken to vet yet about prognosis for ridden work, wanted to wait until we've seen the suspensory scans.

He's my entire world. So even if he's only going to be a light hack/not ridden again, it's not a huge deal, as long as he's here and happy and healthy.

But part of me is feeling very down and sad. I bought him with vague notions of BE90s and Novice/Ele dressage... but I’m thinking that's off the cards now.

Not much of a point to this – unless anyone has (positive) stories of young, unworked horses with diagnoses like this, who've gone on to have any sort of ridden careers?

I don't have anyone in real life to speak to about this so please excuse me treating this like a diary haha. I'm giving myself today to mope and write self-pitying posts, then onwards etc etc as of tomorrow.

 

[poiuytrewq]

After 2-3 months of lameness, investigations & rehab, I think we've found (nearly) all the issues in my horse. (Touching wood.)

We've got changes to coffin joints in both fronts, but he's now sound following pads, arthramid, + rehab. Then that highlighted lameness behind. Blocked & x-rayed hocks and there are changes to the distal intertarsal on LH but right hock is fine. Going to scan the suspensory next week and medicate the hock (vet is deciding between steroid + arthramid). There's also the weight loss issue, which will be tough if we're on reduced/no work again.

He's 8 years old and has done next to nothing – full history known from an unbacked 3yr old.

I haven't spoken to vet yet about prognosis for ridden work, wanted to wait until we've seen the suspensory scans.

He's my entire world. So even if he's only going to be a light hack/not ridden again, it's not a huge deal, as long as he's here and happy and healthy.

But part of me is feeling very down and sad. I bought him with vague notions of BE90s and Novice/Ele dressage... but I’m thinking that's off the cards now.

Not much of a point to this – unless anyone has (positive) stories of young, unworked horses with diagnoses like this, who've gone on to have any sort of ridden careers?

I don't have anyone in real life to speak to about this so please excuse me treating this like a diary haha. I'm giving myself today to mope and write self-pitying posts, then onwards etc etc as of tomorrow.

Sorry you’re having such a crappy time. Horses are a soul destroying drain when things are not going well.
I hope you get somewhere with him. It all sounds pretty unfair

 

[Abacus]

After 2-3 months of lameness, investigations & rehab, I think we've found (nearly) all the issues in my horse. (Touching wood.)

We've got changes to coffin joints in both fronts, but he's now sound following pads, arthramid, + rehab. Then that highlighted lameness behind. Blocked & x-rayed hocks and there are changes to the distal intertarsal on LH but right hock is fine. Going to scan the suspensory next week and medicate the hock (vet is deciding between steroid + arthramid). There's also the weight loss issue, which will be tough if we're on reduced/no work again.

He's 8 years old and has done next to nothing – full history known from an unbacked 3yr old.

I haven't spoken to vet yet about prognosis for ridden work, wanted to wait until we've seen the suspensory scans.

He's my entire world. So even if he's only going to be a light hack/not ridden again, it's not a huge deal, as long as he's here and happy and healthy.

But part of me is feeling very down and sad. I bought him with vague notions of BE90s and Novice/Ele dressage... but I’m thinking that's off the cards now.

Not much of a point to this – unless anyone has (positive) stories of young, unworked horses with diagnoses like this, who've gone on to have any sort of ridden careers?

I don't have anyone in real life to speak to about this so please excuse me treating this like a diary haha. I'm giving myself today to mope and write self-pitying posts, then onwards etc etc as of tomorrow.

I'm sorry that I can't help with your actual question on positive similar stories. But it sounds like you have a fantastic attitude, both to your horse and to - tomorrow - getting on with it. Well done. I hope that there are brighter days ahead. After you've finishing moping and had the full prognosis, perhaps you could think about options - could he be a hack, or in some way useful to someone - and in that case could you afford/manage another, so that you don't have to give up on your dreams.

 

[pixie27]

Thanks both, they really do bring the highest highs and lowest lows. And thank you Abacus, appreciate those words.

I’m in a pretty lucky position that I could afford to have two horses, so even if we get the worst news re ridden work, he won’t go anywhere, he’s with me for life. It’s just more sad that the dreams I had for him/us won’t happen. Not that he cares! He’s happy as long as he has food and is the centre of all possible attention.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Different issues to yours, but similar story of full history known from 2 years and backed and worked only by myself, then breaking down at 8 years after very little work really.

Again different issues, but I turned away for 6 months and took the shoes back off, (after trying to medicate one issue), then she came back into work of light hacking in straight lines only. I've gradually built her up and down she's hacking up to 10-12 miles hard hacking (Wales is hilly lol), she is now looking very, very good, posture has improved no end after the rest and then hacking up hills, she's still barefoot (as for one of her issues I think the shoes were part of the problem). I've also moved yards in this time, which I think has helped, as the fields are flatter and much bigger (less strain on her), plus the hacking is better with smoother footing and access to some really incredible routes.

I'm now debating bringing her into more 'work' (schooling/ jumping) next year as a 12 year old but still respecting the issues she has. Though I've still not fully decided whether to push her or not as I had made my peace with her not standing up to work, and bought another horse lol, but she really does feel absolutely fantastic at the moment...

 

[Orangehorse]

Was having a similar conversation with someone only last week. He said that when he was young (he probably in his late 30s) the whole family had horses and just used to take them out to do things and they never had any lameness issues at all, never thought about it.

Now his partner's horses always seem to have issues and one was recently PTS after on and off lameness that never seemed to improve despite treatment, rest, back into work, lame and he was wondering why it is, and seems so common now. That includes people's own home bred that they know the history of.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

That really is rotten luck with him being so young my horse had the same things going on but he was 18, we treated everything he had arthramid and steroid in the hocks steroid in the coffin joints, shock wave on the suspensories and he had steroid in the si joint, as his canter was poor and quite often hind limb issues cause si discomfort.

His sound I don't do loads with him mainly hack really as he finds the schooling hard work so only do very light quick schooling.

I did have shoes and pads on his fronts but he started tripping and wasn't heel landing so I took the shoes off, he immediately walked so much better and the tripping stopped so his not had shoes for months now.

 

[Birker2020]

Was having a similar conversation with someone only last week. He said that when he was young (he probably in his late 30s) the whole family had horses and just used to take them out to do things and they never had any lameness issues at all, never thought about it.

Now his partner's horses always seem to have issues and one was recently PTS after on and off lameness that never seemed to improve despite treatment, rest, back into work, lame and he was wondering why it is, and seems so common now. That includes people's own home bred that they know the history of.

I believe it's because we know more, have better diagnostics, better research, better and more experienced professionals as they have grown in experience and knowledge in the interim period. We have more money to spend on veterinary research and owners are more aware of issues due to magazine articles, books and forums like these. There is more information sharing.

I believe the reason why so many break is because of so many poor quality mares being bred indiscriminately and the dilution of the gene pool by more warm bloods that have greater problems with joints and skeletal issues. Not just WB's either, The Northern Dancer line is particuarly affected by weak fetlocks and horses are more likely to break down as a result.

More wobblers cases being diagnosed too, prevalent in Shires, Quarter horses, TB's and WB'S.

 

[Cragrat]

That is rubbish - when you take everything slowly and carefully and they still comprehensively break Fingers crossed you have got to the bottom of it all now!

 

[Widgeon]

I'm now debating bringing her into more 'work' (schooling/ jumping) next year as a 12 year old but still respecting the issues she has. Though I've still not fully decided whether to push her or not as I had made my peace with her not standing up to work, and bought another horse lol, but she really does feel absolutely fantastic at the moment...

I think I would keep her as a really excellent hack. But then, I only ride to hack! If she's happy and doing so well hacking I'd be inclined to call that a big win and not change anything.

 

[HufflyPuffly]

I think I would keep her as a really excellent hack. But then, I only ride to hack! If she's happy and doing so well hacking I'd be inclined to call that a big win and not change anything.

Haha this is the dilemma! But she is so talented, was out at medium dressage, attempting to event/jump at 80/90 before the wheels fell off.

I do now know what to avoid and she’s not shy at telling me no if something is off but then she is a happy soul just hacking. I’ll probably just carry on as we are to be fair, I just love how fab she’s feels right now .

 

[SEL]

I've got a 13yo mare as a pet who has barely been in any sort of work since 2017 and I knew there was something going on then.

She's happy enough and there are days when I think about getting on her. I suspect if we had off road safe hacking I'd keep her ticking over but she was never great on the roads or going out on her own.

It's awful when they're young and the list of problems seems endless. I'll keep everything crossed you have a positive outcome

 

[hock]

I read your message and my first thought was I wonder how old he is and then read he is 8. He is very lucky to have you and it’s a relief to know he will have a quality of life no matter what with his star of the show attitude.

Do you think it’s a conformation problem that’s caused his issues, trauma, over loading his joints when very young or breeding lines. Or just the worst kind of bad luck?

You give yourself as much time as you need to be miserable btw and off load here.

 

[hock]

P.s As we’re sharing our field ornament stories I have a beautiful mare that doesn’t really fancy being a riding horse thanks and just wants to be left alone. She just about tolerates me and that’s ok as I love her from a distance more than enough for both of us. Just for the record, she has her back, teeth, feet done etc she’s not just dumped out before anyone gets concerned!

 

[pixie27]

Thanks all for the kind messages and the you’re-not-alone-ness! Let myself have a good sulk last night, few more tears this morning explaining to a friend on the yard, but getting a plan in place with a close friend who runs a rehab yard. A lot will depend on the suspensory scans, so I’m trying to not get too ahead of myself.

Different issues to yours, but similar story of full history known from 2 years and backed and worked only by myself, then breaking down at 8 years after very little work really.

Again different issues, but I turned away for 6 months and took the shoes back off, (after trying to medicate one issue), then she came back into work of light hacking in straight lines only. I've gradually built her up and down she's hacking up to 10-12 miles hard hacking (Wales is hilly lol), she is now looking very, very good, posture has improved no end after the rest and then hacking up hills, she's still barefoot (as for one of her issues I think the shoes were part of the problem). I've also moved yards in this time, which I think has helped, as the fields are flatter and much bigger (less strain on her), plus the hacking is better with smoother footing and access to some really incredible routes.

I'm now debating bringing her into more 'work' (schooling/ jumping) next year as a 12 year old but still respecting the issues she has. Though I've still not fully decided whether to push her or not as I had made my peace with her not standing up to work, and bought another horse lol, but she really does feel absolutely fantastic at the moment...

Ah @HufflyPuffly this is such a lovely story, so glad that you and your mare have come through it! This would be my perfect scenario for mine. I’m also thinking about moving soon so I’ll choose somewhere based on how amazing the hacking is. Good luck if you decide to bring her back into more work! (also totally unrelated, but my old cat’s nickname was huffly puffly)

I read your message and my first thought was I wonder how old he is and then read he is 8. He is very lucky to have you and it’s a relief to know he will have a quality of life no matter what with his star of the show attitude.

Do you think it’s a conformation problem that’s caused his issues, trauma, over loading his joints when very young or breeding lines. Or just the worst kind of bad luck?

You give yourself as much time as you need to be miserable btw and off load here.

Thank you @hock i almost got a bit teary with this (shows my state of mind right now!). He absolutely saved my life a few years ago and he’s my best mate, whether he’s ridden or not he’ll be my number 1 forever.

I think it’s a combination of things. He had a very severe sarcoid on his RF a few years ago and I wonder if he’s then overloaded LH to take the pressure off. (Was right behind his knee.) His RF coffin joint was also worse than his LF (though both were pretty mild changes). And then just a heap of bad luck!

 

[Jellymoon]

I think if it were me, and I had exhausted all the vet options (or simply fed up of them!) I might try taking all shoes off and turning away for 6m. Then seeing how she looks.

You could try the barefoot route which seems to work for some horses, but you’d probably need to embrace it fully and do all the diet/trim/hoof boots rehab to really see if that works. Might work, might not.

 

[dapple_grey]

Sorry to hear this, I can also relate! I bought mine as an unbacked 3 year old, he was never over worked or rushed, he's now 5 and the most he's done is hacking and one fun ride. Went lame at 3 (only very lightly backed at this point), had to have coffin joint injections. Went lame again at 4, went for a bone scan, multiple work ups etc. and never actually found the cause but remedial shoes and pads helped. I took his shoes off and turned him away in the field for 6 months. He's now sound! I've bought him hoof boots and planning on starting some walking in straight lines next week. No idea if he'll stand up to work but there's a glimmer of hope lol! I also had all the dreams of going affiliated BS with him, so I feel your frustration. All the best with yours

 

[dapple_grey]

I think if it were me, and I had exhausted all the vet options (or simply fed up of them!) I might try taking all shoes off and turning away for 6m. Then seeing how she looks.

You could try the barefoot route which seems to work for some horses, but you’d probably need to embrace it fully and do all the diet/trim/hoof boots rehab to really see if that works. Might work, might not.

This is exactly what I've done and it's working so far

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Thanks all for the kind messages and the you’re-not-alone-ness! Let myself have a good sulk last night, few more tears this morning explaining to a friend on the yard, but getting a plan in place with a close friend who runs a rehab yard. A lot will depend on the suspensory scans, so I’m trying to not get too ahead of myself.


Ah @HufflyPuffly this is such a lovely story, so glad that you and your mare have come through it! This would be my perfect scenario for mine. I’m also thinking about moving soon so I’ll choose somewhere based on how amazing the hacking is. Good luck if you decide to bring her back into more work! (also totally unrelated, but my old cat’s nickname was huffly puffly)

Haha no way, this is Hufflepuff and the menace behind the username .



I think Skylla shows what turning away, rest, diet, shoes off and the right sort of work can do. Her posture was something I had to work ‘hard’ at before the wheels fell off, whereas now she stands and rides much better with little intervention from me!

However, she will never do the work I had wanted, up the levels in dressage and hopefully eventing up to 90 and beyond. But I do wonder if she could hunter trail maybe .

 

[pixie27]

I think if it were me, and I had exhausted all the vet options (or simply fed up of them!) I might try taking all shoes off and turning away for 6m. Then seeing how she looks.

You could try the barefoot route which seems to work for some horses, but you’d probably need to embrace it fully and do all the diet/trim/hoof boots rehab to really see if that works. Might work, might not.

Sorry to hear this, I can also relate! I bought mine as an unbacked 3 year old, he was never over worked or rushed, he's now 5 and the most he's done is hacking and one fun ride. Went lame at 3 (only very lightly backed at this point), had to have coffin joint injections. Went lame again at 4, went for a bone scan, multiple work ups etc. and never actually found the cause but remedial shoes and pads helped. I took his shoes off and turned him away in the field for 6 months. He's now sound! I've bought him hoof boots and planning on starting some walking in straight lines next week. No idea if he'll stand up to work but there's a glimmer of hope lol! I also had all the dreams of going affiliated BS with him, so I feel your frustration. All the best with yours

Yep this will be my next move I think, depending on results of the suspensory scan. Have wondered a lot about taking shoes off, but I worry about not having much support there and getting it wrong. Saw your update on your thread @Marie_eq that’s such great news! Will keep everything crossed for your next stage of rehab.

Haha no way, this is Hufflepuff and the menace behind the username .

View attachment 121867

I think Skylla shows what turning away, rest, diet, shoes off and the right sort of work can do. Her posture was something I had to work ‘hard’ at before the wheels fell off, whereas now she stands and rides much better with little intervention from me!

However, she will never do the work I had wanted, up the levels in dressage and hopefully eventing up to 90 and beyond. But I do wonder if she could hunter trail maybe .

love Hufflepuff! Gorgeous cat! That’s really interesting re posture etc. P has ‘bad’ posture from previous issues / habits from overcompensating and it really is an ongoing effort to correct it. How have you coped with changing your goals/dreams to suit what she can do/is happy with?

 

[HufflyPuffly]

Yep this will be my next move I think, depending on results of the suspensory scan. Have wondered a lot about taking shoes off, but I worry about not having much support there and getting it wrong. Saw your update on your thread @Marie_eq that’s such great news! Will keep everything crossed for your next stage of rehab.


love Hufflepuff! Gorgeous cat! That’s really interesting re posture etc. P has ‘bad’ posture from previous issues / habits from overcompensating and it really is an ongoing effort to correct it. How have you coped with changing your goals/dreams to suit what she can do/is happy with?

Initially I just accepted (after lots and lots of tears, I retired two horses from any comp work and lost my first horse all within a year), if I could get her sound great, then if she could just hack great! I bought a 3 year old to focus on and sort of left her to it, bar the starting to hack her again

Now we've moved and the hacking has increased and she feels great and I've noticed how much better she is holding herself, I'm now wondering if she will hold up to more work than I thought she could. I don't sell horses so they stay with us but I'm lucky to be able to afford two on livery (DIY). Skylla was standing camped out behind and naturally wanted a high head carriage, we did loads and loads of stretches, Equi-band, pole work, hill work, etc, etc before to get her to maintain a better posture which did all work, but it's odd how I've sort of left her to it for a few years and actually she looks great now to!

I think taking any pressure at all off and just seeing how she goes has helped overall, which was easier with another horse to focus on!

 

[Jellymoon]

I know, the whole barefoot thing is a bit scary and you have to be ready for it mentally! But if you turn her away for 6-12m say, you’d be taking shoes off anyway, so other than making sure she gets a good trim from a farrier who is on board and keeping on top of thrush, and making sure she doesn’t get too fat on loads of grass, which is not good for anything anyway, you won’t need to worry too much.
There are a few places that do barefoot rehab, which sound great if you can afford it, and have made a difference to lots of horses which have been written off prior.

I haven’t used one myself, so cannot comment or recommend, and I only have one barefoot horse, all others are shod. I’m not in either camp, but I do whatever suits the horse best.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

One of my best eventers was written off as a youngster. Rest and gentle restart - he never looked back. Good Luck don’t give up hope.

 

[ycbm]

Was having a similar conversation with someone only last week. He said that when he was young (he probably in his late 30s) the whole family had horses and just used to take them out to do things and they never had any lameness issues at all, never thought about it.

Now his partner's horses always seem to have issues and one was recently PTS after on and off lameness that never seemed to improve despite treatment, rest, back into work, lame and he was wondering why it is, and seems so common now. That includes people's own home bred that they know the history of.

In the "good old" days we used to only hack, even learning in riding schools out on a hack. The horses were allowed to carry themselves however they wanted, however it was comfortable for them.

These days we work them in circles in arenas and we round them up in "an outline" even when hacking. I feel quite unusual when I'm on the farm ride, often on the only horse with his head stretched out and low.

Connected?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

In the "good old" days we used to only hack, even learning in riding schools out on a hack. The horses were allowed to carry themselves however they wanted, however it was comfortable for them.

These days we work them in circles in arenas and we round them up in "an outline" even when hacking. I feel quite unusual when I'm on the farm ride, often on the only horse with his head stretched out and low.

Connected?

I strongly suspect it is. The RS I worked in only did roadwork and their ponies were very rarely lame or too fat/too thin. Some got sold on but the four original ponies worked happily into their twenties. Always grass kept and only stabled weekends in winter. Average size between 14 & 15hhs and they carried adults plus a few smaller ones for children.

 

[Ceriann]

So sorry you’ve got this news and at such a young age but huge hats off for how you are approaching it. Clearly depending on how comfortable he is post medication and rehab, a life of hacking may well be doable. I would take the opportunity to take shoes off too as the rehab steps are likely to align with barefoot rehab - lots of in hand walking followed by ridden walk hacks. It’s a lot to take in but there is so much information out there. My mare is now a light hack (mild hock changes) currently managed with low levels of Bute but I will medicate this winter. She’s had a suspensory injury and rehabbed well, came back very well from that but has never really been able to manage the same level of schooling consistently. I’ve accepted at the start of this year that it’s not fair to ask for that so now focussing on her fitness and core strength with body work, ground work, liberty schooling (so no circles) and hacking. Her top line is better than it’s been for a while but I’m still working on the weight, which would be my note of warning for yours if you turn away. Vet encouraged me to keep mine working but it’s now work she can cope with and seems to enjoy (she wuffles her way round her ground/liberty work). I have just bought another to do more with. Let us know how you get on.