change again...what should i do - i am so confused!

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monica987

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I AM SO CONFUSED! and have NO idea what to do and who to believe!
well as you know we thought she would be a brrodmare/companion and had kinda thought that was the final descision. went up to yard today (not where oakey is) and talked to YO about it and she says that she will nnot be able to take the weight of a foal and she isnt anything special so there is no point and being a companion is a bad idea as she is a TB and wont keep condition which i agree as she will just get sad and skinny.
anyway, then i went up to see oakey this afternoon and had a long convo with Jo (trainer) and she says that she will be able to take the foal and she would be an ideal companion. this is also what the vet said.......
I AM SO BL00DY CONFUSED!!!!!!!!!
who do i believe?
also, we are getting the scans and i will scan them in for you lot to see, but we are swnding them to another vet to get a second opinion on what to do as it is so many vertabraes (is that word
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) that you would have thought it would hurt to have the wieght of the foal. the vet and JO said i could also lightly hack her (eg walk and trot)
im soo confussled - who should i believe?
xx
 
This is a horrible thing to have to go thru. The only person who can advise you on this is your vet. The other people probably don't know enough about kissing spine and your mare to be able to help which is why you are getting conflicting advice.

Unless you really want a foal I wouldn't breed from her, where you going to put her in foal or let someone else have her?
 
we would let someone else have her.......
i believe the vet aswell but YO insists we get a second opinion and i think that is the best thing to do - just to clarify everything
 
I'm sorry, but I really wouldn't breed from her. My vet has said that kissing spines is a bit like navicular, in that it's not heriditory in itself, but that the conformation that leads to a predisposition to it is.
I don't think it's fair to put her in foal to be honest, & as for her being a companion you'd need to be very lucky to find someone who would look after her well etc, because basically what you're looking for in that scenario is free full livery for the rest of her life - unless Jo would like to take her as she seems pretty keen on having the foal?
As for being able to hack her out ocasionally on her good days, well who's going to know which is a good or a bad day?It also costs about the same in terms of time & money to take care of a semi-retired pony as it does a fit one.
As I said before I'm really sorry that you're having to go through this dilema, but I know which course of action I'd be taking, & I'm afraid it doesn't involve her being a mummy or a companion.
 
Did you read all the responses on your previous thread? I've posted a lot about my experience with my mare who has kissing spine.
I wouldn't take your vet's word for it, that's the truth. I'd get a second opinion. I've had the opinion of 2 vets and a chiro on my mare, and all of them said it would be unfair to breed from her.
It's tough, I know exactly how you feel, but I think you should read your previous thread, there is a lot on it.
 
I really feel for you, it's a horrible situation to be in. I never even got my mare beyond the basics of backing and first ridden work before we had to call it a day.
I don't know how you tell if you can safely hack your mare out a bit, but I do know one thing - when she feels uncomfortable ridden she will let you know.
 
I have the utmost sympathy for you - BUT why is having a foal considered to be making use of her? Yes, if she has proven ability (to jump etc.,) the temperament and conformation and also now the physical ability to produce (probably) a useful animal. Remember there's always the possibility of a useless, wonky thing and then you have two 'useless' (and I don't use that term lightly) creatures on your hands.

Don't get me wrong, I would hate be where you are and have the decision to make, but equally, I would be worried to death about losing her and/or the foal and any other combination of disasterous possibilities.

Wait and what the second opinion reveals and consider very carefully whether the world needs another foal simply because you don't want to call it a day for your mare's 'useful' life. She might be very happy with one more summer in the field..........

My thoughts are with you.
 
i have found that when cantering her (before ANYONE had even said it may be medical related, even 5* vetting didnt find it
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) its strange - i have said i would just want her PTS if she is going to be in pain, or if the right person comes along have her as a companion
 
Ellie honey you had a lot of responses from a lot of different people on your other thread that come from a lot of people who have personal experience with KS and I would really have a good read of those again

Fact is, yes, you could give her away, the people could say that they will treat her like a queen for life and the next min she could be at the sales and being sold to an unsuspecting person as a riding horse (if you want confirmation that this happens you only need to speak to Patches on here) - unless you can ABSOLUTELY 100% guarentee her future, ie you keep her for life or she goes to someone you know, then I really would, if the vet confirms the KS, seriously consider having her PTS now - you honestly will be doing right by her as you will be securing her future
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That is my advice anyway, for what it is worth! And again, no, I would not breed for her, as stated previously, even if she doesnt have KS!

Big hug to you xxxx
 
"Go with what a VET says"
Fair comment, but the advice I've given is based on what 2 vets and a chiro advised with my mare, who has less spines kissing than the one we are discussing. This mare has spines kissing all along her back, I can't imagine how she can be anything but less comfortable once the weight of a foal starts to impact on her body.
Plus, although I can understand the sentimental attraction of having a foal from your mare, think of the risks. So much can go wrong from foal to full-grown horse - look at what happened with mine! I took her through behaviour problems, foalie accidents like getting caught up in stuff, a chipped bone on her leg and then - kissing spine and the end of her ridden career at 6 yrs old. Whereas you could buy a nice youngster and start to enjoy riding again straight away.
My mare has breeding to die for, and I wouldn't dream of putting her in foal.
 
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who should i believe?

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You believe logic and common sense.

Logic tells you that your mare has spondylitis ALL the way down her spine. This is a serious disability and anyone can see that. You don't have to be medically trained to know that this is not good at all!

Common sense says......you don't personally know whether breeding is the right thing to do but once she's heavily pregnant, well this will be the wrong time to find out!

I have trouble understanding how this decision can be so difficult. To me it would be the easiest decision in the world to make.....I would never breed from this mare, not in a million years, wouldn't even slightly cross my mind to.
 
This thread keeps playing on my mind, probably because I understand completely what you are going through. Look, at least you had some good times with your girl, I don't know all your story, but I bet you've had some great adventures together out riding.
In my case, I backed my mare, started to ride but had to keep stopping because, although the vet couldn't see it, I knew something was wrong. And eventually when he did see it, all my hopes for her endurance career crashed to the floor. Even the plans for her to return to her breeder for a couple of years when older, and for me to have her first foal - finished. But she's happy at the moment, and I love to go and see her and fuss her, even though sometimes it's hard to leave her and come away.
Horses with kissing spine can't lift their backs properly, this means that sooner or later you see changes in their muscles. Their tummy muscles get slack - so these days people ask when my mare is due to foal! Her hindquarters have also got weaker, and she looks like two different horses front and back - front is strongly muscled and looks great, then back we have a big belly and weak hindquarters. One thing I noticed with my girl from about 3 years old was that she stopped "flagging" her tail, as Arabs love to do. So it stands to reason to me that, even if you could put the horse in foal, they are less physically prepared than other mares, and it might well be more difficult for them. With so many good quality foals being bred... I can't see many arguments for doing it.
Hope I'm not coming on too strong, it's the voice of sad experience.
 
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