Miss_Millie
Well-Known Member
You're an incredibly thoughtful and caring horse owner, my faith in humanity is restored when I read this thread Michen. Any horse in your care is very lucky 
Boggle- USA bound!
- Thread starter Michen
- Start date
Michen
Well-Known Member
That is such a nice thing to say! Especially as I feel like I’m failing Dusty at the moment, so thank you. XYou're an incredibly thoughtful and caring horse owner, my faith in humanity is restored when I read this thread Michen. Any horse in your care is very lucky
Kunoichi73
Well-Known Member
Michen, you should never feel like you're failing any of your animals. You've gone above and beyond to make sure each of them is happy and comfortable. You're an inspiration. Please look after yourself the same way, though.
Miss_Millie
Well-Known Member
You've got to be one of the best horse parents in the world! You notice the tiny details which many wouldn't.
I noticed last year that one of my horses wouldn't sleep for long periods for a while - one evening she almost buckled over on me and I was extremely worried. Her immune system was low at the time but also she just really hated sleeping in the shelter rather than outside (bad past associations with stabling, although this was an open shelter). I found that she lay down more when I made her bed extra thick, but also she is generally sleeping much better outside now that we're into Summer and the fields are dry.
With Dusty, maybe he just needs more time to settle and feel completely comfortable in his environment?
Michen
Well-Known Member
I am I promise! Off for a weekends holiday with some friends in the mountains and have lots of nice fun stuff coming up.
Most importantly I've managed not to buy a horse and just be content with my non ridden herd and riding Beau
Ahrena
Well-Known Member
You have not let anyone down!!! You just 1. Have terrible luck and 2. Notice things other people don’t and then make the effort to properly investigate it and treat it.
They are spoilt boys!!!
They are spoilt boys!!!
GypsGal1718
Well-Known Member
Audrey talks about back and pelvis areas to treat that she has successfully treated so worth giving her a call or try focusing on those areas maybe if you have focused on the limbs this far, I hope he gets better!
Michen
Well-Known Member
Deleted, long winded about Dusty. Have a moose pic from today!
Last edited:
splashgirl45
Lurcher lover
Now I want to know about Dusty
Michen
Well-Known Member
Ah it’s just me musing about what to do with him. Whether to just send him back or not, but I think I need to see what vet and rescue say Wednesday before thinking about it.
Trouper
Well-Known Member
Can understand why it all constantly preys on your mind about what to do with them all but from a more detached point of view across the pond, it does seem to me that Dusty brings many benefits of the non-ridden variety. He seems to have had a very beneficial effect on Bog being a very calm, non-challenging herd member which, given Bog's circumstances, is no bad thing in retirement!
I realise you have some concerns over Dusty's own health just now and hope these can be allayed by the vet's visit. If any problems can be managed, it might be good to give the two friends a few more months together??
I realise you have some concerns over Dusty's own health just now and hope these can be allayed by the vet's visit. If any problems can be managed, it might be good to give the two friends a few more months together??
rabatsa
Confuddled
Personally I would keep Dusty as long as you have Boggle. You now have a settled herd which means a lot.
AmyMay
Situation normal
This all day long.
Michen
Well-Known Member
He can stay as long as he wants but if we can’t find a pain reason, my only other thought is he feels more comfortable as part of a big herd and obviously I can’t provide that for him.
Watching him fall asleep on his face is kind of heartbreaking I don’t know how ethical it is to just ignore it.
Watching him fall asleep on his face is kind of heartbreaking I don’t know how ethical it is to just ignore it.
Caol Ila
Well-Known Member
It is very difficult. I'd definitely not make any decisions until the vet consulation.
My old horse also malfunctioned at tiny yards. I don't think she lay down very much. She would fall asleep on her feet while I was grooming her, and while she never actually hit the deck (to my knowledge anyway), her knees would buckle and she'd catch herself. The problem promptly went away when we moved to a bigger yard. I know that doesn't help you! Other than knowing, it's not just you.
If you decide that the best thing for Dusty is to send him back to the rescue, could you look for another third herd member? A loan or another rescue foster if you don't want to buy a new horse? Plenty of horses don't mind wee yards. Your set-up sounds sweet for Boggle. I think it has a lot going for it! It's just a shame if Dusty is one of those horses who can't cope with that sort of place.
My old horse also malfunctioned at tiny yards. I don't think she lay down very much. She would fall asleep on her feet while I was grooming her, and while she never actually hit the deck (to my knowledge anyway), her knees would buckle and she'd catch herself. The problem promptly went away when we moved to a bigger yard. I know that doesn't help you! Other than knowing, it's not just you.
If you decide that the best thing for Dusty is to send him back to the rescue, could you look for another third herd member? A loan or another rescue foster if you don't want to buy a new horse? Plenty of horses don't mind wee yards. Your set-up sounds sweet for Boggle. I think it has a lot going for it! It's just a shame if Dusty is one of those horses who can't cope with that sort of place.
Michen
Well-Known Member
That’s my exact fear. I think I’ll leave it in the hands of the rescue and vet to decide what’s best.
I want to help, if the rescue has another gelding that needs some love they can swap them.
Will be very sad if Dusty has to go though. Maybe less sad now I’ve come up to find he’s thrown a shoe, though! And Boggle had I assumed jumped the electric fence at the back but didn’t feel he could jump it back in and they’ve torn the field to shreds as we have had a ton if rain. Horrors.
Domirati
Well-Known Member
My horse falls asleep and falls over in summer when he is out 24/7. I have seen him fall asleep eating his feed. Falls forward and wakes up. Always been fine riding, had vet check him over, no health issues just not sleeping and when he falls asleep he doesn’t lock his knees like the others do. He is 17 now and has done it for the 12 years I have had him. Very rarely lies down. I tend to bring him in for a few hours in the morning to have a nap. I don’t worry about it any more. Very quiet here, only three of them. He is fine in winter when he is in at night. I think it forces him to sleep.
Hopefully there will be nothing wrong with Dusty.
Hopefully there will be nothing wrong with Dusty.
Michen
Well-Known Member
My horse falls asleep and falls over in summer when he is out 24/7. I have seen him fall asleep eating his feed. Falls forward and wakes up. Always been fine riding, had vet check him over, no health issues just not sleeping and when he falls asleep he doesn’t lock his knees like the others do. He is 17 now and has done it for the 12 years I have had him. Very rarely lies down. I tend to bring him in for a few hours in the morning to have a nap. I don’t worry about it any more. Very quiet here, only three of them. He is fine in winter when he is in at night. I think it forces him to sleep.
Hopefully there will be nothing wrong with Dusty.
Thank you for that! Urgh it’s really tricky. He’s covered in little scrapes and superficial injuries from it.
I am very convinced it’s physical. Whilst I do see him roll I also see him get half down and change his mind quite a bit.
I’m just not sure what the rescue will even be able to do when there was nothing obvious bar the feet on a full lameness with up.
GypsGal1718
Well-Known Member
Hope he gets better, may sound like a stupid question but have you checked over all of him not just limbs in the work up? Good luck with it all!
Michen
Well-Known Member
Yep she did a very thorough physical. Just nothing seemed drastic at all.
Michen
Well-Known Member
Brightening this thread with a picture of Judd Falls from the weekend! Maybe I need another spaniel and NO horses..
Michen
Well-Known Member
I’ve never had Bog chunky before, doll would you say he’s worryingly overweight? I could muzzle him but just hate to as I know he will absolutely hate it..I am just worried as he’s on the steroids.
Video of his morning antics. Gosh if he’s like this at end of summer I have no idea what I’ll do, I can’t imagine PTS in his current state. Hauling him out of Colorado for 16 hours to avoid winter doesn’t feel like a good option either.
Video of his morning antics. Gosh if he’s like this at end of summer I have no idea what I’ll do, I can’t imagine PTS in his current state. Hauling him out of Colorado for 16 hours to avoid winter doesn’t feel like a good option either.
BMA2
Well-Known Member
I think he looks really well!
Michen
Well-Known Member
Ok maybe I’m being paranoid! I’ve just not had him this unfit/chunky before. I guess in my head I thought well if he gets lami then decision made, but obviously I’d like to avoid it.
stangs
Well-Known Member
He looks round (shoulder fat pad?) but not worryingly overweight, so I wouldn't worry for now. But doing a regular body condition/cresty neck score might help ease your mind.
Michen
Well-Known Member
Yeah I’d say his got some shoulder fat going on. He’s always had a thick sort of neck so it’s kind of hard to tell. I need to look up how to body score as I’ve never had to worry about it before!
meleeka
Well-Known Member
I think as long as he’s still really active in the field, he looks ok. Every horse I’ve ever known with diet induced laminitis, was ultimately because they don’t have enough exercise. He looks like he’s getting plenty! Obviously steroid induced would be different.
Michen
Well-Known Member
He certainly keeps himself busy in life haha. I never thought Bog would be one that could be retired quietly, but he actually is totally fine. He gets his kicks ducking under his stall chain, throwing halters around, ripping all the rugs off the racks and generally being Bog like but in a cheeky happy way.
Just goes to show that really, most busy horses in the right environment absolutely can be retired, even when we like to use it as an excuse to PTS when not wanting to keep a field ornament (albiet I totally support doing that and have done so!)
Ahrena
Well-Known Member
I think he looks fab and I like a fit lean horse. And very happy as well!
SEL
Well-Known Member
He looks great - he was always one who looked very lean when he was in full work now he looks more the native type he actually is!
So long as he's happy then stopping fretting about PTS. I collect paddock ornaments and you absolutely do know when you're getting to that stage.
So long as he's happy then stopping fretting about PTS. I collect paddock ornaments and you absolutely do know when you're getting to that stage.