LynH
Well-Known Member
Today I made a big decision that has been at the back of my mind for a few weeks, I rode my 22 yr old retired TB, Fainne. I don't normally write reports on here but today was such an amazing day and I feel so proud of her so here's her story. I had expected to PTS before the winter so this is a major turnaround for us.
Last year she was struggling with soundness and her feet were in an awful state with recurrent abscesses. I won a course walk with Nicola Wilson at Burghley but stayed home to have Fainne PTS as her tendon was enormous and she was very sore even on Danilon. After 10 days of watching her hobble around the field and the night before she had struggled to get up and watching her struggle I decided that it was time to PTS and rang the vet first thing the next morning. He asked if I had any doubts and I said only that although the tendon was huge, she had previously damaged her check ligament, the lameness looked footy to me. I'd had the farrier out and he couldn't find an abscess the week before. The vet hoof tested and found nothing so said let's X-ray first and then if her foot is clear then PTS today. He took shoe off and found an abscess under the shoe.
By the end of the long wet summer last year I stopped riding in the field as she couldn't cope with the mud and only hacked out occasionally through winter when the ground was good. By January this year I didn't feel safe on her anymore although she was sound. She struggled to get her feet back on the ground quick enough when she tripped and she had lost a lot of condition over winter and I felt too heavy on her (I weighed 65kg, she's 16.1hh 600kg). In the end she tripped 4 times before we even got level with my neighbour's house one day so I got off and led her home and haven't ridden her since. It took me 3 months to strip and put her tack away as I hated not riding her but wasn't prepared for her to end her days or mine under a car if she did trip and fall on the road. I really have to thank Tarrsteps and my friend Meg for helping me make and come to terms with the decision to stop riding Fainne.
After an accident in the field in April when she'd cut her leg so badly the farrier didn't want to lift it for too long we decided to take her shoes off, she'd been struggling with shoeing anyway so worth a try. My farrier is happy to recommend not shoeing when appropriate but he was reluctant with Fainne because of her previous problems, however he agreed it was now worth a try and the ground was soft at the time. It took her a good two months to come sound without shoes although her feet looked good throughout. She has been on a molasses free diet for a year and over summer her feet have changed shape and she's got more heel than she's ever had. My farrier is delighted with how strong her feet are and the shape they've taken and she's very sound and had no abscesses at all.
I decided to give her the summer out and as she lost more condition since being retired I have been concerned about how she will manage over this winter. I thought I'd give her the summer and PTS before it got too cold as I really didn't think she could cope with another winter. I do have some lovely new large stables so she can come in this year but I turned her out full time almost two years ago as she was very stiff when stabled on livery and the stiffness improved immensely when she started living out. I leave the stable doors open and she does like to come in more than the others. As winter approached she was looking pretty good and I've been keeping a close eye on her watching for any indication that the time to PTS was approaching.
Recently she has started shouting and galloping about when my other horses are ridden, even if they are in sight in the school. She barges at the arena gate and has shot past the other horses to get in so to keep her quiet I lunged her in walk a couple of weeks ago. She behaved for about 5 mins then had a good buck and whizz around so lunging didn't feel safe. I haven't ridden my other horse for seven weeks as I had pneumonia and have been in too much pain. I have really missed riding Fainne recently as when I'm ill she is perfect for me, she is so enthusiastic and easy so when in pain I can have a nice potter around on her without tiring myself out. So today I was feeling ready for a little ride and Fainne was calling from the field whilst my friend was hacking Breagh out so I decided that I'd have a wander round the school on her. It just felt right.
She felt great, really sound, striding out nicely and felt much more sturdy and confident than she did a year ago. I only rode in walk for just over 5 mins, staying on the track or 20m circles but she felt amazing and was so happy and behaved perfectly (I had put my BP on just in case she threw in some bucks). I had a new arena put in this year so I can safely ride her without venturing out until I'm sure she can cope with a hack. We can build up slowly together and for now I will make sure someone is around when I ride. Obviously I will just play it by ear and if it doesn't feel safe then I will stop or if she doesn't feel sound. I want her to have a good quality of life rather than quantity. I bought her directly from a racing yard in Ireland when she was 9, she was going for slaughter as there were no options for rehoming racehorses in Ireland at that time. She had a long racing and p2p career and she ran her last p2p 3 weeks before she came to me. We had several years doing dressage and she has been a good safe hack for many of my friends. She owes me nothing and I have the land to carry on giving her a proper retirement if she cannot cope being ridden again and she will be PTS as soon as it is time but today I felt myself welling up when I got off and saw how pleased she was to have been ridden again.
I'm in pain now (stupid lungs) but it was worth it just knowing how fantastic she felt. She doesn't seem to be suffering any ill effects as she did a beautiful extended trot across the field coming in for her dinner, I'm sure it was a sign that she wants to do some dressage again ;0)
Happy horse
Last year she was struggling with soundness and her feet were in an awful state with recurrent abscesses. I won a course walk with Nicola Wilson at Burghley but stayed home to have Fainne PTS as her tendon was enormous and she was very sore even on Danilon. After 10 days of watching her hobble around the field and the night before she had struggled to get up and watching her struggle I decided that it was time to PTS and rang the vet first thing the next morning. He asked if I had any doubts and I said only that although the tendon was huge, she had previously damaged her check ligament, the lameness looked footy to me. I'd had the farrier out and he couldn't find an abscess the week before. The vet hoof tested and found nothing so said let's X-ray first and then if her foot is clear then PTS today. He took shoe off and found an abscess under the shoe.
By the end of the long wet summer last year I stopped riding in the field as she couldn't cope with the mud and only hacked out occasionally through winter when the ground was good. By January this year I didn't feel safe on her anymore although she was sound. She struggled to get her feet back on the ground quick enough when she tripped and she had lost a lot of condition over winter and I felt too heavy on her (I weighed 65kg, she's 16.1hh 600kg). In the end she tripped 4 times before we even got level with my neighbour's house one day so I got off and led her home and haven't ridden her since. It took me 3 months to strip and put her tack away as I hated not riding her but wasn't prepared for her to end her days or mine under a car if she did trip and fall on the road. I really have to thank Tarrsteps and my friend Meg for helping me make and come to terms with the decision to stop riding Fainne.
After an accident in the field in April when she'd cut her leg so badly the farrier didn't want to lift it for too long we decided to take her shoes off, she'd been struggling with shoeing anyway so worth a try. My farrier is happy to recommend not shoeing when appropriate but he was reluctant with Fainne because of her previous problems, however he agreed it was now worth a try and the ground was soft at the time. It took her a good two months to come sound without shoes although her feet looked good throughout. She has been on a molasses free diet for a year and over summer her feet have changed shape and she's got more heel than she's ever had. My farrier is delighted with how strong her feet are and the shape they've taken and she's very sound and had no abscesses at all.
I decided to give her the summer out and as she lost more condition since being retired I have been concerned about how she will manage over this winter. I thought I'd give her the summer and PTS before it got too cold as I really didn't think she could cope with another winter. I do have some lovely new large stables so she can come in this year but I turned her out full time almost two years ago as she was very stiff when stabled on livery and the stiffness improved immensely when she started living out. I leave the stable doors open and she does like to come in more than the others. As winter approached she was looking pretty good and I've been keeping a close eye on her watching for any indication that the time to PTS was approaching.
Recently she has started shouting and galloping about when my other horses are ridden, even if they are in sight in the school. She barges at the arena gate and has shot past the other horses to get in so to keep her quiet I lunged her in walk a couple of weeks ago. She behaved for about 5 mins then had a good buck and whizz around so lunging didn't feel safe. I haven't ridden my other horse for seven weeks as I had pneumonia and have been in too much pain. I have really missed riding Fainne recently as when I'm ill she is perfect for me, she is so enthusiastic and easy so when in pain I can have a nice potter around on her without tiring myself out. So today I was feeling ready for a little ride and Fainne was calling from the field whilst my friend was hacking Breagh out so I decided that I'd have a wander round the school on her. It just felt right.
She felt great, really sound, striding out nicely and felt much more sturdy and confident than she did a year ago. I only rode in walk for just over 5 mins, staying on the track or 20m circles but she felt amazing and was so happy and behaved perfectly (I had put my BP on just in case she threw in some bucks). I had a new arena put in this year so I can safely ride her without venturing out until I'm sure she can cope with a hack. We can build up slowly together and for now I will make sure someone is around when I ride. Obviously I will just play it by ear and if it doesn't feel safe then I will stop or if she doesn't feel sound. I want her to have a good quality of life rather than quantity. I bought her directly from a racing yard in Ireland when she was 9, she was going for slaughter as there were no options for rehoming racehorses in Ireland at that time. She had a long racing and p2p career and she ran her last p2p 3 weeks before she came to me. We had several years doing dressage and she has been a good safe hack for many of my friends. She owes me nothing and I have the land to carry on giving her a proper retirement if she cannot cope being ridden again and she will be PTS as soon as it is time but today I felt myself welling up when I got off and saw how pleased she was to have been ridden again.
I'm in pain now (stupid lungs) but it was worth it just knowing how fantastic she felt. She doesn't seem to be suffering any ill effects as she did a beautiful extended trot across the field coming in for her dinner, I'm sure it was a sign that she wants to do some dressage again ;0)
Happy horse
