Big dilemma - really need your thoughts please

madhector

madhector

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www.darlingdressage.co.uk
Spooks was vetted today and he failed, vet discovered he has a heart murmur and an irregular heartbeat. She said it didn't look good for him. I am taking him to my vet on Monday for a second opinion and we will go from there. But if it does turn out that it is as bad as she says then really not sure what I do next.

The prospective buyers still really want him but obviously are very concerned, I am now not sure if I want to sell him and risk something happening. Suggested they loaned him but she wasn't too keen as worried the child will get really attached and then lose him, or something will happen to him whilst in their care. They are having a think over the weekend and we will have a chat on Sunday.

I don't know whether to just keep him as a companion for the horses (normally Welly's job) and sell my two youngsters to cover my losses. I know they arnt worth much as 2 yr olds but they will cost me to keep them till they are 4, plus with Spooks to keep over the winter as well I will be seriously short of cash!

So do I risk loaning/selling Spooks and keep the babies, or keep him and know he is safe and sell Teal and Welly?

If they still wanted to buy Spooks then what price would be fair? If I decided to sell Teal and Welly then what price should I ask? (2yr old Welsh As, smart, nice temps, well bred)

Sorry. long and lots of questions!
 
I'd wait to get a second opinion before making any decisions. Heart murmurs are funny things. Did it during/change after exercise?
 
You've a real dilemma there but as has already been said you need to wait & see what your vet has to say. Once you know that & you have a prognosis then you can make an informed decision. At the moment you don't know the full facts.....I hope all works out ok for you & your horse.
 
i know every situation is different, but as Boss says wait for the second opinion, although i know how worried you must be
crazy.gif

my last horse was going to be sedated for the dentist only to be told she had an irregular heartbeat that they were very worried about, ie dont ride her please, says the vet
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anyway, vets came back three times, she was cantered, lunged, or just at rest, and it was never detected again
very odd
best of luck, and i hope things work out for the best, he is a cracking pony
my fingers are crossed
 
One of my horses dropped down dead because of a dodgy heart. There was no warning at all. I had been driving him that morning! I dread to think what would have happend if I had been driving him or riding at the time. I could have been crushed to death, not to mention the horror of it all. Mercifuly he died in his field playing with his mates. Hate to think what would have happend if he had died in the stable... that would have been very distressing because he wouldn't have come out of there in one piece!

I had owned the horse since he was a foal and never had him vetted. Had a vet spotted his heart problems I would have had him PTS. I certainly wouldn't have worked him. Things like this are a timebomb... the horse could go on for days, or years. No one can say.

As foy your situation, I don't envy you, I was lucky because I was blissfuly ignorant... also lucky because I didn't have to make difficult decisions, didn't have a dreadful accident, didn't have massive costs of removing the horse from the stable, didn't have the worry of the whole thing.

I think, that given the knowledge you have, it would be irresponsible to sell the horse to a child... no matter what the parents might think (maybe they just think it is a way to get a cheap pony, maybe they don't realise the danger?)

As for your situation, if you have the money to keep an ornament, and the facilities (strongly recomend the stable is fitted with a door/wall that can be removed easily to get a loadall in!) that is a decision that only you can make.
 
Oh no, poor Spooks and poor you
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Personally, if the people decided they wanted to take the risk but at a reduced price, i'd probably sell. Get something signed so that they are fully aware of the potential dangers with this. I wouldn't have a clue on price, I don't know what you are currently asking for him but I don't think you will get a very good offer.
crazy.gif
 
I think I would sell him, and let him carry on enjoying himself, at least the people know al the risks.

I do really feel for you, how much more bad luck can you have?
 
I have no idea what they are going to say tbh, she was very upset about it so will have to see what she says, they were the perfect home for him and I was so happy about the whole thing, I do seem to just have really bad luck when it comes to horses!
 
Who was it who had a heart murmur at Badminton a few years ago in the ten minute box...Umm let me think. I think it was Ballincoola ? either one of Williams horses or Mary Kings horses. Anyway they found a murmur at the end of the cross country I think, something along those lines. But a while later the horse was fine. Cant remember the exact details but it was def a top horse, def a heart murmur, and it was def ok in the end! Sorry thats a bit pointless, but hope it reassures you a bit for the time being!!
 
Sorry to hear that MH
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Can't really offer any selling advice but I used to ride a horse weekly that was suddenly found to have a heart murmur. He was instantly taken off lesson duty (was a working livery) and owner could still ride him as knew the risks. The risk came if he was to drop down dead with a client on his back.

I think with things like a heart murmur - they're ok and continue to be ok, then suddenly they're not if that makes sense.

You may find that Spooks goes on for another 15yrs, happy as larry and has a decent career. On the other hand, it could happen in 2 years time. If the prospective new owners are aware of the risks and are happy to take him on then you can't make them do it or not do it. They'd obviously and would hope to be making an informed decision.

See what the second opinion says and go from there (AFAIK, the one I used to ride is still acting like a 3 yr old
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despite the initial "it's not good, you can't jump him etc)

I've rambled somewhat but hope it makes some form of sense. If you did keep him, there's nothing stopping you riding him unless it's THAT serious, the risk is just too much. Would he suit being a companion horse if you were to keep him? He's pretty young isn't he so that's something else you'd need to consider - yes a home for life, but the issue of putting money into a horse that may possibly not be able to do anything.

I'm gonna stop now, probs making it worse but just some ideas that I know nedlet up there ^^'s owner had to think about at the time
 
He is only 11.2 and lives of thin air so cheap to keep, but not when you have three of them which I seem to have now!

I had always intended on keeping one of the youngsters as a companion pony, as always handy to have something to chuck out with whatever I have in. It was going to be Welly as he is just so cheeky I couldnt imagine him ever being suitable as a first pony!

But if Spooks is as bad as she says then it seems sensible to keep him instead. Just means the babies will have to be sold sooner than I thought
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Welsh A's quite commonly get ventricular septal defects. This is when the muscular wall dividing the left and right ventricles has not formed completely so there is a hole in it, hence when the heart contracts some blood goes through the hole instead of into the blood vessels causing the abnormal sound - the murmur. I would of thought in a young pony this would be more likely than a degenerative condition affecting the valves etc. Of course there are the innocent flow/functional murmurs although these should not worsen with exercise. Hopefully an echo and ecg should get to the bottom of this. Good luck with the vet.
 
See what the vet says, a lot of murmurs turn out to be innocent and wont affect the horse at all. A lot of horses have them, but they are undetected.

As for the child getting attached to him, well that is part of having animals and is something you cannot protect against. Unfortunately, it is part of life and is something we all have to face.

I had to make the difficult decision the day before my birthday last week to release my cat from her pain.
 
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