Can a lame horse be happy?

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reindeerlover

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If the horse is kept at grass with the best of everything, always eats up well, looks fabulous but limps? Am I anthropomorphosising (sp?) by thinking that he is happy? He gets bute when needed but this still just takes the edge off and he's never fully sound.

Opinions?
 
I suppose much depends whether it is a 'mechanical' limp or a 'painful' limp. If the horse limps because injury or arthritis has made changes to the joint which stops it being able to move in the usual way, then the horse may appear to limp but not actually be in much/any discomfort.

However, if the horse consistently limps even in walk and the limp is purely as a result of pain, then surely it must affect the quality of life for the horse.
 
totally agree with TGM...

Its a really tough one though, if a horse is in pain, then although it maybe happily limping around, is it quality of life not compramised due to the pain??
 
Farrierlover said:
If the horse is kept at grass with the best of everything, always eats up well, looks fabulous but limps? Am I anthropomorphosising (sp?) by thinking that he is happy? He gets bute when needed but this still just takes the edge off and he's never fully sound.

Opinions?
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I wouldn't worry, you know your horse and I am sure would not want it to suffer, I have a broodmare who had a bad shoulder injury and couldn't even move for a week or so. Vet advised PTS as we couldn't spend thousands on diagnosing an uninsured 18 year old and we rested and gave antibiotics and painkillers. She can now trot and canter and has adapted a way to do this to include her now permenantly stiff shoulder. She looks very happy. Use your instinct you will know if your horse is unhappy and not enjoying life.. Good luck
 
My old boy wasn't sound for the last 15 - 18 months of his life but seemed happy enough -ate well, played with his friends in the field, kept condition well. He used to come trotting slightly lopsided across the field to come and see us and could still muster up a gallop when the mood got him. He wasn't on bute other than perhaps when he was going to be shod. So who knows what happiness is for a horse but on the basis of how he looked and how he behaved, he was happy. In the end he had to be put down for something not related to his unsoundness so there was no decision to be made based on that.
 
I'm not sound, but I'm happy.

You will know when the pain gets too much - I had an old pony that gradually developed slightly arthritic knees, he was fine for a good few years, mooching about in a field with a friend, and it became very obvious when he wasn't happy so I then made the decision.
 
As above, it depends what's causing the limp - pain, or mechanical unsoundness.
I wouldn't have an in-pain horse in my fields, put it that way, just as i can't stand it when people keep oldies to the point when they struggle to get up, can't keep up with the other horses, are sitting ducks for bullies, etc.
 
Thanks for all your suggestions. Well see, I think it's a combination of mechanical lameness and pain/discomfort. The bute does make it a few degrees better but he doesn't seem any different personality wise with or without it. He still moves around a lot, you can tell when he turns that he's lame in walk but not in a straight line or at all in canter/gallop/while bucking like a lunatic across the field. He is just as grumpy with the other horses as he always was and nobody bullies him, although he's not the boss. He just gets on with things.

It's just that with all these people having their dear old horses pts, I was starting to think that perhaps I'm not being fair on him by keeping him going. He doesn't need to go anywhere, I'm not running out of money/patience/land for him and don't mind keeping him forever and paying for worming/vacc/bute/grazing/food for him while he does nothing but am wondering if I am just assuming that because he's "my boy" that he's as happy about it all as I am.

Just don't know. :(
 
Toffee is a lame girly, shes mechanical though arthritus in one hock, vet assured me that shes comfortable and considering I have had her for 10years I know when shes not happy.

Today she was fine, she pretty much cantered sideways through a field coz I would let her have a blast and then the moo bag jogged most of the way home LOVE HER sooooo much special pony.
 
I have to say that IMO, an unsound horse could not be "happy". A horse is a prey animal whose best (only?) means of coping with predators is to run away. If it can't run, I can't imagine it would be relaxed. I doubt horses are "happy" as such - I think the best we can do for them is keep them healthy and safe/relaxed.

I don't know that much about lameness, though. I suppose, as the others have said, that perhaps it depends on whether the limp is mechanical or due to pain. And maybe what I'm thinking would only be relevant for a hopping lame horse, rather than one that has a low degree of underlying lameness.

I hope that didn't come across as unkind, just the way I'd look at it.

So sorry your boy is unsound :( Mine had a fracture and bone sequestration so I know how awful it is.
 
I think yes, absolutely and I think you would know if he wasn't.

A horse that eats up, is in great condition, good coat, bright eyes - will hoon around the field with the best of them and would spend his whole life galloping and jumping if he could - that is a happy horse.

If he started to drop off, or lose his enthusiasm for life, you know him well enough to notice and that would be him telling you that enough is enough - but he's certainly not at that stage now.
 
I am struggling with this same thing. My retired TBx, Inca, has a severely arthritic knee. She is stiff looking in walk, obviously lame in trot but still canters about happily and certainly has not lost her spirit. She eats well, can move out of Belle's way when necessary and holds her weight. She is on bute and cortaflex and the vets seem to think it is a mechanical thing with the joint (it is swollen).

She also now has large melanomas under her tail and the vet suggested we put her to sleep before the harsh of winter (when she saw her in the spring). I just don't know what to do now, how can I have her PTS when she is still full of life? I'm terrified that I won't know when the right time is.

*hugs* So I know what you're feeling!
 
I can only equate your question to how i feel as i limp all the time - i have days when i need a large amount of pain killers and days when i dont.... at this moment in time i have my permanant limp, a swollen hand, back pains, and a crush injury to my left foot.... but i have an okay life and would not wish to be put down, but boy if you did a flexion test on me i would be lame for the next 20 strides.

As long as the pony can get around without floundering and is not stood looking miserable in the field then i think they are happy - i would also pick the field mates very carefully as i would not want a lame horse being hooned around or bullied.
 
My mare is happy and lame, i have no question about her being unhappy she is the sort of mare who lets you know if something is wrong straight away and reacts. Even when lame ridden her ears are forward happy to hack out hard to stop at times! (before anyone says anything vet happy for her to be ridden )
 
Gingerwitch said:
As long as the pony can get around without floundering and is not stood looking miserable in the field then i think they are happy - i would also pick the field mates very carefully as i would not want a lame horse being hooned around or bullied.
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Hahahaa, I like this! He's out with three ex racers who generally plod to the gate at feed time but he usually pounds up the field at flat out gallop, bucking and farting the whole way! :D

Then he trots his lamest trot when there are people around to see :(
 
i think domesticated horses have adapted after all when they are stabled they can't run and a lot of horses are relaxed enough to sleep or rest in a stable.

i think it depends on the level of lameness for example is it sprained ankle level of pain which is uncomfortable when weight bearing but not painful if not moving too much, there is a difference between being so lame they can't are in constant pain even when not running or doing tight turns, and being not sound enough to be ridden. there are couple of ponies at our yard that have low level lameness are not sound enough to be ridden but very happy and relaxed in the field.


Maletto said:
I have to say that IMO, an unsound horse could not be "happy". A horse is a prey animal whose best (only?) means of coping with predators is to run away. If it can't run, I can't imagine it would be relaxed. I doubt horses are "happy" as such - I think the best we can do for them is keep them healthy and safe/relaxed.

I don't know that much about lameness, though. I suppose, as the others have said, that perhaps it depends on whether the limp is mechanical or due to pain. And maybe what I'm thinking would only be relevant for a hopping lame horse, rather than one that has a low degree of underlying lameness.

I hope that didn't come across as unkind, just the way I'd look at it.

So sorry your boy is unsound :( Mine had a fracture and bone sequestration so I know how awful it is.
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don't post often but this one is close to my heart!

I am 'lucky' enough to have 3 horses and my own land - not masses of land, but enough to keep three horses on.

however 2 of my 3 are 'retired' through lameness.

my old (19 years) mare I have had since 4 and she was my first horse so i adore her and we have done a lot together. she is permanently lame on her right hind as a result of an early injury that led to arthritic changes. through last winter she looked a bit sorry for herself at times, but then so did every other horse and owner i know in the mud we had to deal with last winter. but she is 'happy' mooching around - she has the occasional crazy loon around, always comes for treats and 'itchy-scratchy' when she has a human visitor and loves a good groom and a good roll. she has horsey company too as i also have her 10 year old daughter who is my ridden horse and lives a fairly natural life in and out as she chooses. she is fairly 'happy' i would say. she's on a bute every other day - which i 'up' if she has a particular loon about and tweaks something.
she is clearly in a little discomfort but not enough to consider putting her to sleep in my opinion. in fact i hope to have her around for a few years yet, and i hope i know when she has had enough.

my second 'retired' lame horse is much younger :-(
he is my 2 year old and has been intermittently lame since he was one. i have been given a very poor prognosis of him ever being ridden. he is not on bute.
his lameness varies from almost inperceptible to more obvious - depending how daft he has been. some people have suggested i have him PTS as he is pretty useless and will no doubt get cheeky and a bit of a handful at times - the flush of autumn grass has given him a decided joi de vivre! But he is a real sweetheart on the whole and has no idea that he is useless! he does all the things that youngsters do - adores my old mare and is her shadow. he is very obviously 'happy' and enjoying life. I personally could not justify having him PTS - easier though my life would be without him - and of course i can't get another while he's around. as long as he seems 'happy' i am stuck with him!!! Obviously I was devastated when he was given that prognosois and tend to not think about it to be honest - what would be the point! he would be less happy without his lovely Nanny as he definately needs someone to play with and follow around/share his life with.

I am also a bit duff - occasionally need daily painkillers but I'm happy most of the time.

i would agree with lots of others that you know your horse best and if you are willing to give the commitment and expense in money and time to look after your lame horse than that's entirely up to you. i suspect you will know when he is no longer 'happy'. i hope i get it right for mine. :-)
 
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