Being Realistic

[Flame_]

Sorry this is waffle, and just theraputic typing!! I am admitting defeat.

I have wanted to go eventing for as long as I can remember but I have never had a sound enough horse. I have spent over a year and far too much money on my newish, talented but impossible horse who has now been diagnosed with severe injuries to ligaments and tendons inside both front feet (I've known for a long time there had to be something wrong with her, it just was a long, expensive road finding it!). She has only a 35% chance of recovering and if she does her behaviour may still be too bad for her to be an 'all round" type horse.

I was planning to breed my next horse from her while she's definately out of action but (luckily) before I could go ahead with it I found out that an injury I have to my own back is probably not fixable

I've been unable to jump since injuring my back and I was led to believe an operation could sort this, but it turns out that isn't the case, in fact it may well stop me having enough movement to ride at all. So, the last thing I fancy doing is breeding and raising a fabulous competition horse and then being unable to jump it.

My question is, what does anyone think of my plan B (which is still very open to adjustments!)?

I have been riding a lovely welsh cob to help a friend out and its made me think might just be happy with a nice little horse I can do pleasure rides and a bit of RC dressage on.

Can you adjust from dedicated work towards competition on sports horses to being a leisure rider, I quite fancy trying? I'm not sure what to do with my horse either, I'll probably turn her away after she's done her stint of box rest but next year I may try to find her a home as a brood mare. Are their people happy to take on mares for breeding that haven't had foals before? (She is suitable, by the way, she's 7, her injuries are no way hereditary and her riding issues are down to pain and bad experiences, not to a difficult temperament).

Really sorry that was so rambley, cheers if anyone read it!!!

What do you think?

 

[BlackDiamond]

Why not try it - you certainly aren't losing anything by seeing if you can cope with the quiet life. Best of luck

 

[viola]

So sorry to hear about such a turn of circumnstances

I was in a similar situation 10 years ago when after injuring my knee I couldn't do any proper jumping for a few years. On top of that, my horse stopped wanting to jump and was later diagnosed with navicular syndrome. I must say I wasn't really finding any consolation in non-jumping and non-competitive riding. On a good side, my flatwork improved immensly and I loved dressage anyway so continued in those lines.
I started jumping again a few years ago and I hope my knee withstands the work.

However, if you are totally addicted to horses I reckon you will find RC or easier riding rewarding. I think I would if I was in your situation.

 

[hadfos]

I think you will adjust just fine!

sorry to hear about your back btw!!
It would depend on what exactly she has done prior to injury!!
However if breeding and confo good,if she is unproven you may be better to put her in foal(as she is a guaranteed broodmare then) to a decent stallion and sell her in foal,if you sell her as an unproven broodmare you will get far less as next owners run the risk of her being barren??Good luck with your decision,must be hard!

 

[oliviacharley]

why not try cross country driving...?
I started driving my little old pony after not being able to ride her and not wanting to just retire her...
She loves it...I have a carriage which has rubber tires which I can go all over the place in and we go for miles.....
Ive been a watching xc driving for a long time and it looks so much fun....if you can get a set of ponies or even horses or a horse im sure that would be good and it takes alot of talent to keep the horse listening and controlled...

Sorry to hear about all the probs....

 

[Flame_]

Thanks everyone. My job is as a groom/at home driver for Horse Driving Trials ponies. I enjoy it but it doesn't really 'do it for me' if that makes sense. I much prefer riding. I wouldn't want paying for my mare, ideally permanent loan. She's well bred and looks too good to be true - she's no where near as lame as she ought to be considering her injuries so I would worry if I sold her she could end up going through all she's been through already all over again if anyone tries to jump her.

I should have said, I can't really afford to get my mare in foal and buy another riding horse. Hmmm, I do need to think about the option of getting her in foal even if the foal's not for me.

 

[JC1]

I think you'd get lots of pleasure out of breeding from your mare. I've just bought a 2 year old from a very good friend. I've known the neddy since he was born and although he will be in the field for the near future it's great having him to play with. We've just been deciding on a stallion to send his mum to this year. Last year she went to a stallion we've already seen quite a few young stock from. It's quite exciting picking what characteristics you're looking for and thinking about what you want to produce. Although breeding your own doesn't mean you're going to get what you hope for.

 

[tamatha]

I had a TB mare bought at 4 years and she was later found to have both hind suspensory ligaments totally damaged... at rising 6 she was retired, put in foal and sold as a broodmare. She lives a life of having babies now and is well cared for... so it can be done

 

[GermanyJo]

"talented but impossible horse who has now been diagnosed with severe injuries to ligaments and tendons inside both front feet "
"she's 7, her injuries are no way hereditary"

Don't mean to sound negative, but looking at the comments in your first post, I would not consider breeding from this mare, maybe I am missing something about how she got the severe injuries to both front feet, but I would seriously worry about a 7 year old who had not done too much with such severe problems.. there must be some conformational issues there somewhere?? - plus you say she is impossible, so presumably the temperament is not that good either -... ?
there are so many horses around already that have issues,provide vets with pensions and move from pillar to post why risk breeding another one? A good stallion is only 50% of the equation

Sorry if I am sounding a bit harsh, just my opinion

 

[Flame_]

If I read what I say about my horse I would agree with you. However I know her, you don't. I'd bet my life on the fact that if she had a foal it wouldn't have her issues. She should have been a bl**dy brilliant horse by breeding, conformation, temperament and ability. She's had the mis-fortune of being screwed up along the way. I can say without a doubt you are wrong.