Dangerous / aggressive horse - advice needed?!

[babymare]

You have been the most amazing owner that every horse hopes for. It’s truly hard but in time your grief will ease and memories will bring a smile. Doesn’t mean you stop missing him. I still miss my girl some 7 years on. Give yourself time and take care of yourself. Sending you big hugs x

 

[HollyWoozle]

@happyhorse978 you have absolutely 100% done the right thing in my opinion, not only for others but for your boy himself. I am sorry for your loss and I know it must be so raw and painful right now, but please know that you made a very difficult decision which was in everyone's best interests. Your horse is resting now with no stress or worries and in time your own pain will ease, but for sure you will never forget him. As a side note, I used to insist on getting the ashes back but I wouldn't do it in the future and I think having some jewellery made is a much nicer idea and he will be with you always.

Please go easy on yourself. I think you have been very brave.

 

[happyhorse978]

It was a completely tactless comment. I'm so sorry OP. I hope everything went "well" and that you are OK. Massive hugs again xx

Thankyou so very much xxx

 

[happyhorse978]

I am so glad it was peaceful. I know it hurts like hell but you will take comfort in time that you did right by him and were everything that a good owner should be. Also sending a massive hug. xx

Thankyou so much xx

 

[happyhorse978]

I am so sorry for your loss. It sounds like it was such a peaceful and dignified end for your boy. That is such an amazing thing.
He was so lucky to have such a brave, caring, wonderful owner, who clearly put him first every time and loved him dearly.
Run free now beautiful boy ? OP please look after yourself and know that you did your boy proud.

Thankyou so very much that is so kind xxx

 

[happyhorse978]

You have truly been the best of owners. Look after yourself now.
.

Thankyou again so much xxx

 

[happyhorse978]

Glad all went as well as it could. Look after yourself and remember you did it for him and not for youxx

Thankyou xxx

 

[happyhorse978]

Your post has brought tears to my eyes, there is no greater love than what you did.

Thankyou so very much xxx

 

[meleeka]

Relieved to read it went as well as it could have. Look after yourself xx

 

[happyhorse978]

I'm sorry, it's a horrible thing to have to do but you have done what's right for him.

Thankyou very much xx

 

[happyhorse978]

You have been the most amazing owner that every horse hopes for. It’s truly hard but in time your grief will ease and memories will bring a smile. Doesn’t mean you stop missing him. I still miss my girl some 7 years on. Give yourself time and take care of yourself. Sending you big hugs x

Thankyou so much that’s lovely xxx

 

[happyhorse978]

@happyhorse978 you have absolutely 100% done the right thing in my opinion, not only for others but for your boy himself. I am sorry for your loss and I know it must be so raw and painful right now, but please know that you made a very difficult decision which was in everyone's best interests. Your horse is resting now with no stress or worries and in time your own pain will ease, but for sure you will never forget him. As a side note, I used to insist on getting the ashes back but I wouldn't do it in the future and I think having some jewellery made is a much nicer idea and he will be with you always.

Please go easy on yourself. I think you have been very brave.

Thankyou so much. It wasn’t fair for him to carry on in pain when there was nothing that could be done to fix him, and now he’s pain free forever Thankyou xx

 

[happyhorse978]

Relieved to read it went as well as it could have. Look after yourself xx

Thankyou so much xx

 

[Peglo]

So glad he had a sunny day at the end. A lovely way to go.
You may not feel it right now but what a brave and loyal decision you’ve made. look after yourself and know we’re all here for you when/if you need us. Xx

 

[happyhorse978]

So glad he had a sunny day at the end. A lovely way to go.
You may not feel it right now but what a brave and loyal decision you’ve made. look after yourself and know we’re all here for you when/if you need us. Xx

Thankyou so very much xxx

 

[nagblagger]

Don't worry about him..my 2 boys would have been waiting over the rainbow bridge to show him around, so he's in good company running pain free.
Well done for making the hardest decision of all.

 

[motherof2beasts!]

Bless you hardest but kindest decision an owner ever has to make. It will take time for the sadness to lift but I ended up feeling relief too. It’s so hard having a horse with issues you can’t fix, loving them but also being anxious every time you go to yard about what they may have done. Look after yourself xxx

 

[happyhorse978]

Don't worry about him..my 2 boys would have been waiting over the rainbow bridge to show him around, so he's in good company running pain free.
Well done for making the hardest decision of all.

Aww that’s really lovely thank you so much xxx

 

[happyhorse978]

Bless you hardest but kindest decision an owner ever has to make. It will take time for the sadness to lift but I ended up feeling relief too. It’s so hard having a horse with issues you can’t fix, loving them but also being anxious every time you go to yard about what they may have done. Look after yourself xxx

Thankyou so much. I just had to end his pain and suffering, he was the most loveliest boy, who didn’t deserve to be in pain. I miss him so so much. Thankyou xxx

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Thank you for the update I'm glad he went peacefully xx

 

[Eldolily]

Hi all, I will try to keep this as short as possible, but I am in a really difficult situation and it's totally breaking my heart, so any advice is appreciated and welcomed.

I have had my horse for about 2.5 years. I had him straight off the track. He was always 'quirky' and sharp, the first day i brought him home he was difficult to put a rug on (trying to bite and lifted a back leg etc) and the same for saddling when we come to that. He has always been good under saddle (I have only ever done hacking and light schooling with him). I contacted the staff at the race yard he came from who said he was always a grump on the ground/in the stable etc but manageable.

Anyway - 12 months ago, his behaviour worsened overnight. He suddenly became aggressive (i still to this day cannot work out a reason). He chased me out of the field twice, ears pinned and teeth showing. I was shocked but thought there must be a reason for this, as his behaviour continued to worsen. Later that day he tried to attack me whilst I changed his rug, he actually snapped the string he was tied up to to try and get me. I phoned the vet straight away as I suspected ulcers, I took him into the clinic the next day and had him scoped. As predicted, grade 2&3 squamous, glandular and pyloric ulcers bless him. Not suprising considering he was a racehorse. Treated with Omeprazole for four weeks and he scoped perfectly clear. I was hopeful his behaviour would improve now the ulcers were sorted (his management was totally fine for an ulcer prone horse, vet said nothing needed to change there, I always manage horses as though they have got ulcers just as a preventative measure!)

This is where it all started to go downhill. His behaviour started getting worse. I have had numerous behaviourists out to him, to no avail, perhaps some slight improvement with one of them but very shortlasting (a couple of weeks) and then boom, back to normal. I dont let anybody else handle my horse, i know him very well so i can tell when he is about to do something. His behaviour got so bad that in May of this year I went to stroke him whilst he was in the field and he lunged at me and sent me flying backwards through the fence. I think I was temporarily knocked out for a couple of seconds as his head collided with mine. This is where i thought, right, I need to dig deeper. I had the vet out again for a re-scope (which he scoped perfectly clear again and back x-rays (which were fine). I was stumped. Carried on working with behaviourist trainer.

I moved yards in the summer as where we were wasnt particularly a nice environment and i wondered if this was contributing if he was not happy. We are at a lovely quiet yard now but the behaviour is still bad. He lunged and bit at the behavioural trainer the other day, and he actually broke her collarbone, with his teeth. (He is a big 16.2hh TB so he really throws his weight at you when he lunges at you ). He also has developed a sudden dislike to travelling, whether in a trailer or lorry. He will rear vertical, thrash around constantly and panic bless him, I had to have him sedated on our journey just to get him to the new yard safely.

Obviously I have consulted my vet again, who has been out to see him. We arent sure what could be causing this behaviour. He cannot be rugged (it is actually impossible unless you are totally fearless/stupid!), I had to have him sedated the other day just so i could rug him as its dropped cold. He also will not be saddled (not that I am trying to saddle him when his behaviour is like this). This is not a new occurance but it has worsened. Sometimes he can just turn on you for no reason on the ground, sometimes it feels like you only have to look at him the wrong way! Some days he is better than others but it is getting to the point where general handling/care is proving difficult.

Myself and my vet have agreed to trial him on four weeks of Mistoprolol incase of any hindgut pain/ulceration, to see if this improves his behaviour so i will be starting him on this sometime this week. I am also considering having him thermal imaged over his whole body to show up any areas of pain/imflammation. I am geninely considering his quality of life at this point, as clearly there is something going on somewhere. I fully believe he is in chronic pain somewhere, we just havent found it yet. Or perhaps some sort of brain problem? I dont know whether this is common in horses but i would be grateful of your advice. please be kind, this horse is my entire world, he has the best of everything and I am trying to rule out everything possible for him, i have spent thousands so far and insurance is pretty well used too!! I am heart broken, i just want to do the right thing by him, whatever that is.

thank you so much

Hi!! I am in a very very similar situation with my 5yo gelding. I was wondering if you eventually found a solution to this puzzle!

 

[Eldolily]

I’ve only now seen you had to let him go. I can only imagine the pain you went through and I’m so sorry. I’m glad he had you and had the chance to live as happy of a life as he could

 

[happyhorse978]

I’ve only now seen you had to let him go. I can only imagine the pain you went through and I’m so sorry. I’m glad he had you and had the chance to live as happy of a life as he could

Hello, thankyou! x

 

[happyhorse978]

Hi!! I am in a very very similar situation with my 5yo gelding. I was wondering if you eventually found a solution to this puzzle!

hello i will private message you x