Bert is very lame.

[I'm Dun]

I feel sorry for Bert - that's all i'm going to say.

That is not really necessary. SO1 is taking professional advice and trying to help him, he's only mildly lame so isn't suffering when not being ridden.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I feel sorry for Bert - that's all i'm going to say.

This is a bit unnecessary and quite mean under the circumstances.

 

[IrishMilo]

That is not really necessary. SO1 is taking professional advice and trying to help him, he's only mildly lame so isn't suffering when not being ridden.

OP said he's lame coming in from the field. Arranging these things is an arse ache but when you have an animal you have a duty of care and responsibility to step up and take control of the situation.

 

[Upthecreek]

I feel sorry for Bert too. And for SO1. I don’t feel the advice from vet and yard owner has been good.

 

[BallyRoanBaubles]

Hope everything went ok with the vet visit tonight

 

[criso]

I think vet was so sure the issue was lack of shoes that it's blinded him to other possibilities. However now that has been eliminated, diagnosing can get back on track. .

It's difficult to push back when a professional is so sure and with barefoot tbs I know how the "I'm not anti barefoot but ...." conversation goes.

And we hire vets for their expertise and years of training and experience so to then dismiss their opinion is counterintuitive.

 

[I'm Dun]

OP said he's lame coming in from the field. Arranging these things is an arse ache but when you have an animal you have a duty of care and responsibility to step up and take control of the situation.

The vet is booked and attending and has been out again though. The issue is the vet has been pretty poor with investigations and advice rather than SO1 not getting them out.

 

[Upthecreek]

The vet is booked and attending and has been out again though. The issue is the vet has been pretty poor with investigations and advice rather than SO1 not getting them out.

Yes but I also think it’s worth remembering that we are the owner, and as such it’s our decision what happens next. If we do not agree with vet’s advice we can challenge and request something else.

 

[Sandstone1]

Things seem to be going round in circles for Bert. You really need to get to the bottom of this lameness. Even though you have not claimed on insurance from the first visit for lameness the clock is ticking for time to claim. I would think you need a full lameness work up now.
The issue with saddle fit seems to be clouding the issue. Just bite the bullet and get him properly fully checked by a good equine vet.
Once you know whats wrong you can go from there.
The situation you are in now is not good for you or Bert.
You need to be there for vet visit. It really has been going on too long now. you need answers and soon. Bert is a living creature that you have taken responsibility for and regardless of your outside problems with parents and work etc etc Bert needs sorting out properly now.
If you decide to loan him out later is a choice only you can make but you have a responsibility to find out what his issue is and get it sorted out.
If that means taking time off work then so be it.
He is your responsibility not the yard owner.
Sorry to be blunt but someone had to say it.

 

[mustardsmum]

So sorry @SO1 to read all this I can’t really offer any advice as I know how hard it can be when you have this sort of situation. I may have already written this, but I went through a similar 6 months with my NF - bought a perfectly sound pony who six months in started napping and was sometimes “not right”. Nothing specific and honestly very hard to understand why this lovely pony suddenly didn’t want to work. In the end it turned out two things were affecting him, the saddler had advised completely the wrong saddle, which was made worse by it being over stuffed in attempt to make it fit. In desperation (after saddle came four times and couldn’t get saddle right) I changed saddler who reflocked an old ideal saddle. Once saddle was sorted his behaviour improved but we still had intermittent footiness, so I started treating pony as EMS and limited his grass turnout and fed soaked hay. All was well and this spring, I took him off grass at end of Feb, limited turnout and no sore feet. Makes me suspicious that yours, like mine, might be sensitive to the grass and the lame steps are related. Would getting him off the grass for a few days and seeing if that improves things be possible? What I am trying to say is you can get this sorted, don’t loose hope. Sometimes there is more than one thing going on and it can take a while to pull it all apart and work it out. You are doing your very best for Bert, but don’t be afraid to change your team if it’s not working. I am keeping everything crossed for you and Bert.

 

[gallopingby]

I wonder if it would be a good idea to consider sending Bert to a professional showing yard or somewhere on full livery for a few months? Obviously it’s the wrong time of year to be doing this and it might be difficult to find a suitable one with a space given the time of year but cost and time wise, outwith London they could solve the saddle fitting issues, ensure any vet and turnout/feed requirements were met and take some of the stres away. There are yards that specialise in native / M&M ponies and they probably have more experience in dealing with his issues than a ‘horse’ orientated rehab yard. As previously said sometimes you’ve to change things in order to progress. It must be so frustrating not being able to get out and about with the better weather hopefully on the way.

 

[cauda equina]

Or a different rehab yard?
Or any sort of yard really, but one where he can be turned out on ground that's appropriate for him, whether it's very sparse grazing or no grass at all
I have to say I don't like muzzles and would be particularly reluctant to use one on a young horse, having seen what they can do to teeth

 

[Michen]

If he’s come in suddenly obviously lame, could it be an abscess that’s been rumbling and suddenly coming to light?

That would be an awesome outcome! SO1 hope the vet visit went ok. I can understand now why you don’t necessarily want a referral straight away if insurance may not cover. Though, you may find if you end up being referred, they want to do their own nerve blocks and work up and it costs more in the end.

Although I guess if your vet does block it to the hoof he could go straight for an MRI if you choose that route.

 

[Michen]

I wonder if it would be a good idea to consider sending Bert to a professional showing yard or somewhere on full livery for a few months? Obviously it’s the wrong time of year to be doing this and it might be difficult to find a suitable one with a space given the time of year but cost and time wise, outwith London they could solve the saddle fitting issues, ensure any vet and turnout/feed requirements were met and take some of the stres away. There are yards that specialise in native / M&M ponies and they probably have more experience in dealing with his issues than a ‘horse’ orientated rehab yard. As previously said sometimes you’ve to change things in order to progress. It must be so frustrating not being able to get out and about with the better weather hopefully on the way.

Goodness I can’t think of anywhere I’d want to send a native pony less, to get it thinner

 

[tristars]

OP said he's lame coming in from the field. Arranging these things is an arse ache but when you have an animal you have a duty of care and responsibility to step up and take control of the situation.

lame in walk, immediate intervention

 

[Michen]

lame in walk, immediate intervention

He got immediate intervention the vet was called straight away when he came in lame from the field!?

This thread has become quite unpleasant in terms of the care given to this horse. SO1 and her vet may not have done things in the order some of us would, but that’s personal preference and I can understand the logic of getting him shod and seeing if that solves things.

SO1 I hope you feel better today, I know only too well how utterly soul destroying lame or sick horses are and whilst Bert is being taken care of I hope you are too.

 

[Sandstone1]

I get the vet has been out several times, mostly saying he needs shoes. Clearly its not that. its been blamed on saddle fit etc etc. Pony has been lame on and off since Oct. This does need sorting out for both you and Berts sake. You have been doing your best in difficult circumstances but really you do need to get a second opinion or a full work up.
Nearly six months of grumbling lameness you really need answers. I get work is difficult and you have issues with parents etc but Bert is your pony.

 

[Sandstone1]

He got immediate intervention the vet was called straight away when he came in lame from the field!?

This thread has become quite unpleasant in terms of the care given to this horse. SO1 and her vet may not have done things in the order some of us would, but that’s personal preference and I can understand the logic of getting him shod and seeing if that solves things.

SO1 I hope you feel better today, I know only too well how utterly soul destroying lame or sick horses are and whilst Bert is being taken care of I hope you are too.

I do agree but it seems all the vet is doing is running up bills with no answers. After six months I would be questioning the vet. I am not being unkind, quite the opposite as I do not like seeing someone racking up vets bills with no proper diagnosis or help.
I just feel its more than time to get this sorted out. This is a young pony with a owner in a stressful situation. It needs sorting and soon.

 

[tristars]

He got immediate intervention the vet was called straight away when he came in lame from the field!?

This thread has become quite unpleasant in terms of the care given to this horse. SO1 and her vet may not have done things in the order some of us would, but that’s personal preference and I can understand the logic of getting him shod and seeing if that solves things.

SO1 I hope you feel better today, I know only too well how utterly soul destroying lame or sick horses are and whilst Bert is being taken care of I hope you are too.

Yes we know that, and i am not unpleasant or being personal, i would not have had him shod myself without a diagnosis, but i did not want to say that to soi

immediate intervention means you find out the cause and start treating it! if you don`t know what you are dealing with its up to you to find out in whatever way is necessary


its gone on far too long and i want to see SOI get to the bottom of this



six months lameness is ludicrous when you do not know the cause

we ALL want SOI to get to a place where she knows what she is dealing with and treating, therefore making progress


most people on here have been through tough horse times, you are not alone

 

[tristars]

He got immediate intervention the vet was called straight away when he came in lame from the field!?

This thread has become quite unpleasant in terms of the care given to this horse. SO1 and her vet may not have done things in the order some of us would, but that’s personal preference and I can understand the logic of getting him shod and seeing if that solves things.

SO1 I hope you feel better today, I know only too well how utterly soul destroying lame or sick horses are and whilst Bert is being taken care of I hope you are too.

Yes we know that, and i am not unpleasant or being personal, i would not have had him shod myself without a diagnosis, but i did not want to say that to soi

but have now

its gone on far too long and i want to see SOI get to the bottom of this

 

[tristars]

sorry posted twice!

 

[AmyMay]

He got immediate intervention the vet was called straight away when he came in lame from the field!?

This thread has become quite unpleasant in terms of the care given to this horse. SO1 and her vet may not have done things in the order some of us would, but that’s personal preference and I can understand the logic of getting him shod and seeing if that solves things.

SO1 I hope you feel better today, I know only too well how utterly soul destroying lame or sick horses are and whilst Bert is being taken care of I hope you are too.

 

[I'm Dun]

He got immediate intervention the vet was called straight away when he came in lame from the field!?

This thread has become quite unpleasant in terms of the care given to this horse. SO1 and her vet may not have done things in the order some of us would, but that’s personal preference and I can understand the logic of getting him shod and seeing if that solves things.

SO1 I hope you feel better today, I know only too well how utterly soul destroying lame or sick horses are and whilst Bert is being taken care of I hope you are too.

Thank you for putting what I was trying to say into much better words!

 

[ihatework]

Some of us are (un)lucky enough to have had sufficient experience with lame horses to know that it’s generally quicker, cheaper and with better outcome to just ship them off to the vet hospital sooner rather than later.

But if you are an owner, without that experience, and also juggling other ‘life’ things - then following yard and local vet advice is perfectly understandable. And in some cases/most cases that is probably the right approach.

There is no need for ‘poor Bert’ and an insinuation SO1 isn’t doing their best.

I do think it’s time to ship off to hospital and SO1 do take note that the insurance clock starts from the onset of symptoms not the initiation of a claim.

Hope which ever vet path you go down you get to the bottom of it soon and it’s easily fixed.

 

[Upthecreek]

I do think it’s time to ship off to hospital and SO1 do take note that the insurance clock starts from the onset of symptoms not the initiation of a claim.

Also worth remembering that you still have to declare any veterinary investigations and treatment the horse has received (apart from routine vaccinations) at insurance renewal, even if you decide not to make a claim because the cost is less than your excess.

 

[Sandstone1]

Some of us are (un)lucky enough to have had sufficient experience with lame horses to know that it’s generally quicker, cheaper and with better outcome to just ship them off to the vet hospital sooner rather than later.

But if you are an owner, without that experience, and also juggling other ‘life’ things - then following yard and local vet advice is perfectly understandable. And in some cases/most cases that is probably the right approach.

There is no need for ‘poor Bert’ and an insinuation SO1 isn’t doing their best.

I do think it’s time to ship off to hospital and SO1 do take note that the insurance clock starts from the onset of symptoms not the initiation of a claim.

Hope which ever vet path you go down you get to the bottom of it soon and it’s easily fixed.

I have not seen anyone being unkind. Just pointing out that 6 months of lameness without a diagnosis is not good. I have not said that SO1 is not looking after Bert but its now more than time to get this sorted out. For SO1s sake as well as Berts they need a proper diagnosis.
I think you have said what several other people have. I do not mean to be unkind at all but I am not sure that SO1 is getting the right help from the vet.

 

[w1bbler]

SO1, I hope you are doing OK, the situation you are in is very stressful. I've been there, dealing with an elderly demanding mother & an undiagnosed, unhappy horse. My situation was different as I had time, I only work part time, but I still became overwhelmed & couldn't think straight, lots of tears.
I decided to have my horse pts as I couldn't cope with it, I'd only had her about 10 months & didn't have a real emotional attachment (there are worse fates for horses)
Anyway, at the last minute I spoke to a lady at an amazing rehab yard. My horse went there. I didn't need to attend for anything. She dealt with everything. I was invited to attend vet appointments, but didn't have to be there, was included in decisions, but only had to be involved if I wanted. The yard also had all weather grass free turnout, perfect for my native.
I'll be honest, other than paying the bill I had nothing to do with her for 2 months. The relief was enormous.
It's a happy ending story, she came home after a total stay of 4 months. I had diagnosis, treatment plan & a way forward + a very supportive team from the rehab yard. She still needed to follow a strict exercise plan to get her back in full work, but I was no longer overwhelmed.
That was 2020/21, she continues to be happy & in full work.
Although your yard is a rehab one, it may not currently be the nest place for you mentally, you need more support.
Can you consider sending Bert away somewhere & let someone else deal, whilst you look after yourself & your parents.
You can't pour from an empty bucket.

 

[Michen]

Good luck with the vet today SO1, we are all behind you.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

I am so sorry you are in this position. I have had on/off issues with more than 1 horse and it is soul destroying. You are doing everything you can for Bert and following professional advice. People can offer alternative suggestions - and many people have offered very good suggestions and advice. But in the end only you can decide what to do, based on the horse in front of you and the advice of a vet. Any implied criticism if you choose to follow your vet and not randomers on t'internet about care for your horse is totally out of order imo.

Really hoping you get answers and solutions very soon.

 

[BMA2]

How did it go x