Advice please!!

C

Chestnut

New User
Joined
1 July 2010
Messages
1
Visit site
Hi guys am new to this but desperate for advice. My 13 yr old ex-racehorse was diagnosed with arthritis is both hocks in July 09. Specifically the tarselmetatarsel in the left and the tarselmetatarsel and the distalmetatarsel in the right. Fairly severe in both legs. He was injected as the time. Injected again in January this year. Since then he has had barely a week in work. Whether its his hocks playing up, abcesses, rotated pelvises, puncture wounds, swollen fetlocks etc. He is costing me a fortune in vets bills and even if he stops having accidents will never work properly again(meant to be a dressage/riding horse). Am reluctant to sell him as wouldn't know how others would treat him. Plus not sure if anyone would buy him as he box walks, weaves and has sarcoids. Would it just be kinder to retire him or persevere and see if he ever comes sound? Any opinions/advice greatly appreciated! Thanks.
 
I would imagine the prognosis isn't too smart, personally i would retire him if he is not in constant pain but soon as his quality of life is compromised i would do the right thing (pts).
 
I too am in a similar position although we are booked to go to new market this weekend to use the last of the insurance money and hopefully either get some answers or at least the second signature on loss of use...

Anyway... I think there are two options when you get to this point and personally I will do everything to give my mare a chance before making the more difficult decisions. So I would personally bute the horse up and bring it back into work very very slowly, lots of in hand to start off with to encourage the horse to use its self again and lift its back all of which will take pressure off the hocks and the back which will probably have suffered whilst the horse was compensating for the painful legs. If you do a search on the net or try and find some information or a good classical horsemanship instructor.

The in hand work is so important because you are doing the basics and increasing the flexibility so walk, stop, back and sidewards encouraging the horse to step under all increase mobility and flexibility and as I said before encourage the horse to lift through the back without the addded pressure of a rider. They can also be treated as play time for you both which is great for bonding.

I would also maybe look at taking the shoes off depending what your horses feet are like but it could reduce concussion through the hind legs. Although it will take some management as you probably dont want to add sore feet to your horses already extensive list of ailments ;o)

A couple of things that could poss be of use, I have not used the books but i will prob purchase on of them and if you consider taking the same route as me i would be happy to keep you updated on my progress we could probably learn lots from each other and hopefully end up with 2 sound horses in the end (that's my pma)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Schooling-Exercises-Hand-Suppleness-Confidence/dp/3861279649

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Horse-Training-hand-Modern-Working/dp/0851319696/ref=pd_rhf_shvl_1
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top