Advice- should I retire my horse?

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clover1234

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Hi everyone, would love some advice on a 22year old TBx mare that I bought in June as a novice light hack. When I first had her she was riding in the field good but out hacking, she was spooky and napping really bad. I involved the vet who said that she had long term back problems and needed time off for several ''physio under sedation' treatments'. Bringing her back into work has proved really challenging. The physio told me she was fine to ride so to get on with it! I did this until she threw me off. If I put her saddle on she tries to bite me. I have involved a horse behaviourist and on the ground she is 100% respectful but trying to ride is something else. Being a fairly novice rider I am sure, dosen't help. I thought about rehoming but can't really see this as an option, there are so many horses that are given away for free and I dont know what may happen to her, but is it fair on her if I keep her just as a companion?? Any advice would really be welcome!! I want to do what is best for her and me. I dont think I am a nervous rider, I still have my weekly lessons and hack out my daughters pony!
 
You know her better than anyone else, is she happy just as a companion, doing very little? If she is then that is the perfect solution and she is a VERY lucky girl to have found you.
 
If you have another you can ride and you don't "need" to ride her, it is certainly the easiest solution. Trying to get to the bottom of these sorts of issues can be time consuming, expensive and potentially dangerous - though it is often possible to sort them out. I guess it depends on if she's happy and how badly you want to ride her! There's no harm in retiring her if you don't want to risk injury to yourself (thinking about daughter etc).

The real reason I'm replying though is because I wanted to say that *hic*'s sig is awesome :p :D
 
What did the physio actually say re her back and what did they do to treat her? Do you know the reason(s) she was for sale and when she was last ridden before you got her? I would possibly consider a 2nd opinion but it does sound like she is uncomfortable in her back to be honest. However it seems odd she was ok to start with and then has developed problems - that would suggest a tack-fitting issue in my mind.

It is entirely up to you to be honest - you could look a bit deeper into her issues and try ansd resolve them or you could retire her and keep her as a companion. I certainly don't necessarily think she needs retiring solely because of her age though - I still hack my 25 yo pony and our old 27 yo TB is still perfectly capable of being ridden. If you could get to the bottom of her issues and they are treatable then you could have a few years of riding her ahead.
 
I would maybe look at getting her seen by another physio and saddle fitter before you retire her. I could ask several locally trusted saddle fitters out to my horse, and I bet they'd all have something different to say! :)
 
Yes, she is obviously not happy being ridden. If she is objecting to the saddle then it is hurting her. My horse had really bad kissing spines and 2 vets, a chiro and a physio all found nothing wrong with his back until I insisted on xrays. Not all back problems are detectable by palpating. Some back problems cause no soreness but instead, shooting pains when the horse is saddled or ridden. I would retire her if she is comfortable in the field, yes.
 
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