Another when to call it a day. Long.

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Brandy

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My old horse is 30. He is an ex polo pony, very high mileage and it is a miracle that he is still here at all. He is generally in good health. He is stiff behind but still enjoys life. He has always been a lively horse, and though mooching around the field looks old, he still hoons around with his mate on a regular basis, and I am not able to walk him out in hand on grass even with a bridle on, due to his behaviour! The vet has told me to ride him instead - the exercise helps with the stiffness and also keeps him happy in his head.

He is one bute a day.

Second to last farrier visit, he struggled with his hind legs - he is still shod all round. His feet have never been great and I don't want to put him through having his shoes off at his age. So, next farrier visit I gave him one bute for breakfast, and he was fine to be shod. He normally has one at night only.

For several years I have been very careful with him. He really does very very little these days, but I stopped trottong on roads and hard ground, and he is allowed a 'mincy' canter if the ground is good only. Not a very long canter.

He jogs everywhere under saddle.

He eats well, and apart from muscle wastage over his withers (which he had 12 years ago when I got him!) is in good shape for his age.

Yesterday evening he was very lame on off fore. No heat, no swelling, no wound, nothing. But pointing foot. This is the leg that he will go lame on if any. I think he has probably run about the field and done to much. His tendons had been fired when I got him. Three years ago a similar thing happened and he was rested, turned out in small paddock and stabled at night and after about three months, got over it and has been fine since.

Sooooo, I have spoken to the vet. They have advised me to double his bute and they will come out monday if no improvement.

He will not be going into the vets for investigations. (he doesn't travel well since a head injury)

Its just another of those things that bring s the inevitable question to the forefront of my mind again.

Sorry very long waffley post. Any advice from those who have had oldies pts but not for emergency reasons?
 
hi!

i know how you feel! i had my old pony put down 2 months ago now at 31. she was very much like yours- looked a bit ropey sometimes but who wouldn't at that age! she too had a very hard and competive ridden life. she was initally happy for years retired out to the field and uo until the day she was pts she always ate and drank okay. i made the decsion as a few months before she was put down she got a virus. she was treated with anti b's and all was well. then she started sweating randomly, vet diagnosed cushings (which i always kinda knew anyway). then next she got a massive massive heamatoma. at this point i decided to turn her out on her own as didnt think it was fair she was getting pushed about and possibly kicked hence the heamatoma. i then had to get it drained twice,both times she had to be sedated which took its toll on her. then a few days before i had her pts her breathing sounded a bit heavy, but nothing untoward. then i came up one morning and she was standing at the back of her stable with her head lowered breathing heavily. she ALWAYS greeted me over the stable door without fail in the 15 yrs i had her and thats when i decided she'd had enough and called the vet and had her pts that morning. she didnt once move from the back of her stable and when i removed her rugs she had heave lines. i decided that all these little things had started to add up and at 31 it was probably taking its toll on her. it was sad as just before i rang the vet i went into the stable with a carrot and held it out to her and asked her to give me a sign as to what she wants to do. she wouldnt take the carrot and didnt move. so i took that as my sign to call the vet then and there.
honestly honestly- you will know!!!
 
Like clairefeekerry says you WILL know. Lost one aged 12 last year - he had been retired due to lots of issues but was so happy and relaxed as a field ornament. we had decided that next time something happened we would bute him but not investigate any more. Bute did not work for the first time ever:( He looked sad and quiet and withdrawn. He had some stronger stuff for a day or so (metacam?) so we could enjoy him for a day or two and say our goodbyes. He was more like his old self. He was PTS in his own field with us holding him. He knew it was time and made it easy for us. We have an oldie who is very scruffy but very happy and we will do the same with her - she will tell us, and your horse will tell you. I hope you have a long wait.x
 
they most certainly do tell you... our old gal was 26 and had had several tendon injuries over the years form which she had recovered. She was retired in 2004 and had a lovely life as herd leader. Then in the summer of 2009 she reinjured a tendon. She was sore on the tendon and it was clear she had enough. She came down to her stable and stood for icing and bandaging. She then went into her box and laid down. Something she would never do if humans were about. She stayed laying there for 24 hours, getting up when her feed was brought to her... and then laying back down again. We called Martins who came out the next day and she heard the lorry roll up. She stood up and walked to the door, calling gently to the other horses on the yard. Hubby led her out to her own paddock and she walked across the yard as sound as ever. We were worried that being head shy might be frightened but she held her head up and looked him in the eye. Hubby said it was like she was saying "enough - I am ready". It still reduces me to tears but she knew what she wanted and I will always love her for making it easy for us.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do. (((((hugs))))
 
As previous posters have said when the time comes YOU KNOW. I had my 7yr old horse put down in Dec. We couldnt find out a reason for what was wrong with him I just knew the time had come to put him down Even harder for me as he was so young.
But for the first time he just stood for the vet to get needles in the vein in his neck with no fighting (not like him at all) so I believe he knew his time had come and was happy to go.
Hope it turns out ok for you and you have a few more happy years together. x
 
Thank you so much for your replies.

I got a bit upset reading the replies to my post in NL so as I am at work (!) had to have a break.

I will keep you posted.

Thanks again.
 
Update - confined to small paddock alone and not with idiot friend over weekend, and gave extra bute. Much improved. Reduced bute today and still lame but not anywhere near as bad. Let him go in with friend, tried to run around and play fight, so obv. feeling better. Put back in small paddock......

Spoke to vet this morning again, she said she wouldn;t come out if I was ok as she felt I was doing everything I should be and there is still not heat, swelling or injury obvious. So hopefully, 'resting' will help matters and he will be back to normal.

Relief. xx
 
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