Bed times - what to do?

[diluteherd]

So like always life hands you a run of bad cards.

If you want to get to the horse part please go stright to the 3rd paragraph (I know some people dont like long drawn out threads!)

It started with failing 2 written exams at uni which I now have to retake and after a year of commuting, horses, 4:30 starts, late finishes, and almost 2 months non-stop revision the thought of opening my books again because I was too stupid to pass them in the first place fills me with dread!

Then at the beginning of the week we have found out my dad has cancer of the spleen. He's being taken straight to the top of the waiting lists and having lots of tests done, however I starting to think it may not be as straight forward as we hoped as he has had skin cancer and has prostate cancer too.

Finally today, I had some bloods back from my mare and it appears she has some sort of muscle disorder that will need muscle biopsy's done. Now many of you will think I ought to fight and do these tests, but already having claimed of azatoria, im not sure my insurance will cover me. I also know this mare as I have had her since 11 months, shes now 8 yo. I know she will never make an athlete. She is truely a happy hacker, Ive done in hand shows and she is fine but ridden shows blow her mind. Its not just shows its how she acts when we have schooled and I also think this muscle condition has stopped her in the past as if we do ask for a tincy bit extra ... say asking her to go on the bit for a second or 2 out hacking rest then again, another few minutes of long rein, then ask again etc... (we do build it up and I do do really slow fittness programmes with her) we end up with head shaking and a fair bit of sweat.

Now maybe it is everything else going on in my life, but to me my heart is saying forget the tests and all the prodding. Get her a happy hacker type home. She is a horse who you can jump on after 6 months no ridden work and ride and is as happy as a pig in mud plodding around a field. This gives me some space to get a horse that wants to work and do stuff.

What would you do??

 

[diluteherd]

OOOOOh... poo heads. Its supposed to be titled BAD times.... I thought I would try and making an uplifting title!! haha

 

[Holly Hocks]

So sorry to hear you're going through bad times right now

Re the horse - you might not be able to find her a happy hacker home if you don't actually know what the condition is. I would quite happily (if looking - which I'm not) take on a horse for hacking as long as I knew what the actual condition was so that I knew how to deal with it. But I wouldn't be happy taking one on which "might have a muscle disorder" as I wouldn't know exactly what I was dealing with.
So you might be better getting some sort of diagnosis, just so you can tell whoever takes her on what the condition exactly is....hope you find a solution.

 

[Kaylum]

If she is good on the road, doesn't bomb off, spook, nap and hacks alone or in company I am sure that she will find an excellent loan home. I think a loan would be best.

As for the rest of your post life is terrible and hits you all at once, things will look up again soon x

 

[diluteherd]

Thanks I really hope things pick up - damn horoscopes promised me 2012 would be a fantastic year!!

Well from the initial tests her muscle enzymes are up. I manage her pretty well on a diet of elctrolytes, chaff and vit and min supp. This seems to keep things at bay and allows us to hack, doing reasonable amount of trot and some controlled canter.

The problem with more tests is we have already claimed once on insurance for azatoria and muscle issues. We are unlikely to get covered and could end up extremely costly depending on how much the vets want to investigate. I also know this mare and I know she will not cope with stints in the clinic and won't be happy being prodded and poked.