Am i doing the right thing?

Thankyou annagain you are probably right Financially i have probably made the wrong decision and i think thats all some people can see. But Lucy ows nothing to me and i owe her everything. How can i put a price on my best friend?

Thanks ncarter. I hope she's here for a little while yet bless her she is the highlight of my day. Her morning greeting is always worth getting out of bed for :)
 
Laura you seem to know your pony so well I think she will tell you when she has had enough so you wont be making that decision on your own.

All the time you can keep her comfortable, stable and shes happy about that keep doing it.

I am now openly a hypocrit concerning the foal post. But there are just some horses you owe the world to and I think Lucy is one of them horses.
 
So glad to hear that Lucy has picked up again :) As we keep all ours until the end we have had to make the decision many times over the years. It helps that all our horses are jointly owned by my sister and me, so we always have someone to talk it over with, who we can guarantee knows the horse well and knows what we each find acceptable as quality of life for our animals. I am sure that you will make all the right decisions for Lucy, just as you have so far.
 
Believe me, if there had been any doubts you are not doing right in keeping her going, several people on here would have told you by now! You won't need us to tell you when enough is enough and you won't get any arguments then, either.

Take each day as it arrives and we'll all rally round if or when you need us. So many of us have been through what you are facing and each case judged on its own merit.

I wish her a long and happy summer.
 
Thankyou toffee44 So many people owe so much to Lucy including said "friend" who made the nasty comment. This is the same person who said it was the fun ride that caused her last episode. I realy should stop listening to them. They are the sort of person who puts a horse down if it can no longer be ridden. That is the total opposit to me.

thankyou yorksG and brighteyes.

It is amazing how although the vets have put there hands up and said they know very little about this illness (inclu one of the top vets in the country, in this kind of thing) as soon as you mention it so many people i know are suddenly an expert on it and start telling me what i should be doing. The vets have said take it one day at a time as noone knows how the illness will progress so that is what i'm trying to do. :o
 
Nice friend.

You know Lucy, and as above, i'm sure you will know when it's time. I'm also glad to hear she's been stuffing her face, that's a good sign.

I really admire how much time and love and effort you put into your ponies, there's not many people out there who could do what you do.
 
Let's be honest here. We all made the wrong financial decision when we got into horses! But we earn money to enable ourselves to do the things that make us happy. And once you have a horse, it is your responsibility to do what's right for the horse.

If both you (who knows Lucy best) and your vets (who know the medical side best) believe in carrying on, then that is the best course of action for Lucy. Imagine, if they can find out even the smallest thing about this disease from Lucy, she may help in a better understanding/treatment/cure which could help another horse down the line. Plus she won't miss out on those yummy dinners!
 
In the years we had Cairo we spent thousands on his cancer. He was a worthles old horse, but to us priceless. We gave up holidays, honeymoon etc but what price do you put on what to us was a member of the family. Ok we could find the money, thank god for interest free credit cards and I completely understand those what would not do this, it is our decision at the end of the day what we spend our money on.

In the end, we had to have him pts, old age caught up and he had liver failure but if love and money could have kept him going where he was comfortable we would have done it.

He was ridden nearly to the end, only a 5 minute hack or walked in hand twice a week but he loved it and it really cheered him up.

You know Lucy, you will know when it is time to say enough, or your vet will advise you. If she is having more good days than bad ones, and has not lost the will to do go, then ignore so called friends. What you spend on a horse is your business and nothing to do with anyone else.

Sending you both a huge hug and Lucy is one very very lucky girl to have an owner like you.
 
thankyou somethingorother and Ginger_Nut.

Thankyou GreyCoast thats what i think to. Lucy is teaching us so much about this illness and how it progresses. Most people put there horse down as soon as it's diagnosed so very little is known how it effects horses or how it could poss be treated.

Theresa_F Cairo was such a lucky horse to have such a wonderful owner. It sounds like his last few years where lovely. When most people would have just had him put down. So many people are to quick to give up and i would feel soooo guilty for the rest of my life if Lucy went before she was ready.
 
Haven't read all the posts above, but enough of them and I agree with everyone. The fact that you are wanting to make absolutely the right decision for your pony means that you have nothing but her best interests at heart. This is commendable - I think a lot of people would have considered PTS when the going started to get tough and expensive.
One thing I would add, I'm not sure if anyone else has said this - keep liaising very closely with your vet about how comfortable she is. They can be objective at a time when objectivity might be that little bit more difficult for you. Ask them to tell you whether, in their opinion, she's come to the end of her journey. Yes, it is ultimately your and Lucy's road that you are on, but some guidance along the way is always a help.
We had a cracking little cob on our yard struck down with arthritis - the owner and vet poured everything into her in terms of treatment to relieve her discomfort, but the day came when the vet had to very gently break it to the owner that the time might have come. I think without that 'reality check' the owner might have taken a little longer to come round to this, but this gave her time to get her head round the situation and make plans to have everything done properly and let her family say goodbye in the right way.
Thinking of you both.
x
 
Thankyou Flicker. I am in regular contact with the vets. They ring me for an update sometimes. :) We all have Lucys best intrest at heart and apart from at the very start they have never sugested putting her down.
 
Laura, you will know when the time has come to let Lucy go, and the strength of character of Lucy I am sure she will let you know also. There will always be those who think they know best. It's your decision to keep going with your girl, you have your vet's to back you up and advise and medicate where needed. Just follow your heart and ignore negative opinions, especially ill advised, un-informed ones.
For what it's worth, I think you are amazing to spend so much time, and effort never mind money on Lucy, I know I would do the same for my mare, it's all part and parcel of caring for our equines. You're just giving her a chance to see what will be, the fact the vets can learn from all this is a bonus too, as that may help others in the future.
Good luck with it all and hugs to you both XX
 
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