Dangerous horse - what to do??

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madginger

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Sorry for the long story but I'm having a bit of a dilemma!

I've had my horse a TBxID for about 9 years! She has always been a little difficult, bolshy, bargy, nappy, spooky etc but generally rideable, and ok, but over the last 6 months her behaviour has been getting worse, I've had everything checked so know it's not back, teeth, saddle etc.

To cut a long story short over the past 6 months I've broken 6 ribs on two separate occasions and been on the floor more times than usual! The final straw was 3 months ago when out on a hack, she flipped her lid, reared up and flipped herself over, this is the second time she has done this with me, I was lucky the first time and only broke a couple of ribs, but this time I dislocated and broke my ankle, snapped the tendons in my foot and had an open fracture!!

About 2 week after this incident, my friend lunged her in the school as she was getting bored (the horse, not my friend) and the horse reared up on 3 separate occasions flipping herself over again for no apparent reason!!

Now, here is the dilemma, I won't ever ride her again, my hubby and mum would kill me! I don't think I can sell her as worried that she will do the same again and really hurt someone, I was lucky my injuries weren't worse! I can't afford to keep her as a lawnmower (she is 17 so still has a few years left), so what other options are there as PTS is my very last option. Also, I'm not sure if she can be fixed and I can't afford to send her away, also I would never trust her 100% again!

I did wonder whether horse sanctuaries take cases like this?

Sorry for the long tale but I don't know what to do?
 
I think that if you cant keep her, euthanasia is the only option. As you say, you cant sell her, I suspect she is in pain and it really wouldnt be worth expensive diagnostic techniques on a 17yr old. The back may have been checked but there are painful conditions of the spine which only show up on scans and the like (spinal tumours, kissing spines to name just a couple). Sometimes the kindest thing to do in the long run may seem the hardest and cruellest at the moment.
 
It does sound like it's pain-related given how long you've had her. If it is and you find the cause, it could be an easy fix and she could be good to ride again for another 10 years. 17 is not that old... I ride one that's 33 and still into a good gallop. I would get a full vet check.
 
I don't think it would be fair to expect a sanctuary to take her, although I'm not convinced many would even consider it tbh.
There's not a huge amount you can do if she's not fixable, to be honest, because she sounds dangerous to other people so I'd be wary about putting her in any situation where other people have to handle her. If you can't keep her, I'd say that PTS is the best option too. Although my sister and I currently have a lawnmower each and neither of us can afford a riding horse while we have them, so that might be a sacrifice you have to make if you can't bear to have her put to sleep. But I don't think you can expect a sanctuary or anyone else to take her on, it won't be fair on them at all.

It is worth checking for things like ulcers or some sort of hormone/ ovary problem though, because they can relate to behaviour and could be fairly easily fixed.
 
I'm sorry but in your position I would pts after a full vet check up had ruled out any issue that could be resolved. Checking back/teeth/saddle wouldn't necessarily identify a medical issue.

A friend of mine had a horse that started to flip out for no apparent reason causing injury to a very experienced handler. The horse was pts and a post mortem done which found a brain tumour.
 
PTS before she kills someone. Good chance it's a brain tumour or something. Don't let anyone handle the horse leave it in the field and get it done as soon as possible. She's a tragic accident waiting to happen.
 
She's 17, you've given her a lovely life despite her being a bit 'quirky' & now she's telling you loud & clear that she's had enough. Have her PTS while she still happy in the field & before she does any more damage to anyone..... :|
 
Retire her immediately. IF you can't afford to keep her as a lawnmower pts. She is not suitable to rehome or would be sold as meat or doped up and sold on. There really is only those two options.
 
I would consider a full work up from a equine vet, if she insured why not spend the money an answer would make it all easier to bare .
However I would not hesitate to euthanise a horse like this and have done so in my case I bred her we knew something was wrong but could not find out what she was lovely to handle but looked sick and had persistent ulcers ( spent a fortune on gastrogard ) which just kept getting worse she became appalling to ride .
In the end she had a turn when I was riding her only luck kept us from falling into a culvert I knew what I had to do , that was Goldenstar I have never recovered from that .
Don't wait until your broken again .
 
Thanks for all of your replies, I know in my head you are all right it's just the heart that is hurting as we do have a bond, but I know that I've given her a good life as she was pushed from pillar to post before I got her!

It hurts, but not as much as the pain she could put someone else through physically! It's a tough one but is she really going to have much of a life now?

Why do we get so attached to these damn animals even when they hurt us!!?
 
If you can't afford to keep her yourself on grass or retirement livery then I do not think it is fair to pass your problems onto other people (charities or individuals). If a friend or family member had a suitable setup and offered her a retirement home as a companion cos they were in love with her then that's slightly different but if not then to be honest I think the kindest thing would be to PTS. You know then what her fate is and that nobody else can get injured. Take it that she's been checked for things like ulcers and kissing spines? I think there is likely to be something going on with her that is causing this behaviour (be that pain somewhere, hormonal weirdness or even something neurological) and if you and your vet have tried your best and failed to get to the bototm of it then I really don't see that you've got anywhere left to go if I'm honest. Yes it's a sad decision to have to make but I really don't see any other answer to give in this situation
 
madginger said:
Thanks for all of your replies, I know in my head you are all right it's just the heart that is hurting as we do have a bond, but I know that I've given her a good life as she was pushed from pillar to post before I got her!

It hurts, but not as much as the pain she could put someone else through physically! It's a tough one but is she really going to have much of a life now?

Why do we get so attached to these damn animals even when they hurt us!!?
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Because we are compassionate beings with large hearts. Its a good thing, trust me! I want to ecco others though, when a tooth, back and saddle quest comes out with nothing but there is still a behaviour not seen before, its time to do a full work. Its not NORMAL and not behaviour, so there is some sort of issue going on. She may have arthritis, kissing spine, ulcers etc etc. If you can't afford all the work ups, pts. If you can afford to keep her unworking and do vet stuff, do it. Likelyhood is she won't come back into full work though.
 
This sounds like a brain issue, whether a brain tumour/lesion/misfiring neurons. I've known horses with this type of infliction and they certainly are HIGHLY dangerous, far more so than the 'normal' problem horse.

IME, once behaviour becomes erratic to the extent (and circumstances) you have described, it's a dead end. My honest opinion is PTS asap. I do not say this lightly but this really seems to be a situation where it is warranted for the safety of your horse, you and everyone else.

The kindest thing we can do for our animals is give them a humane end. I would also recommend chatting to your Vet before euthanasia and the best way to proceed with a suspected brain issue for safety to all involved.

I am so sorry you are going through this, my best wishes.
 
eggs said:
I'm sorry but in your position I would pts after a full vet check up had ruled out any issue that could be resolved. Checking back/teeth/saddle wouldn't necessarily identify a medical issue.

A friend of mine had a horse that started to flip out for no apparent reason causing injury to a very experienced handler. The horse was pts and a post mortem done which found a brain tumour.
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Ditto with the brain tumour. The horse did very similar to yours only it was much younger and reacted less often. It was given numerous chances by many people as it was thought to be a behavioural issue, but it was a brain tumour. They can't tell us verbally, but your horse's behaviour is definitely telling you something is serious. Take your courage in your hands and make the decision to euthanase, before the horse (or someone else) gets seriously injured.
 
Dazed'n'confused said:
She's 17, you've given her a lovely life despite her being a bit 'quirky' & now she's telling you loud & clear that she's had enough. Have her PTS while she still happy in the field & before she does any more damage to anyone..... :|
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I agree with this. Shes a fair age and Im sure you have given her a good life. Turn her out in her paddock and let her enjoy the last of the summer, then have her PTS. If its pain related she'll be free of it and if its just a temperament issue she wont be able to hurt herself or anyone else.
Hugs for you OP. I know its a horrible decision. We're all here if you need us x
 
I was in a similar position a few year sago, with my old appaloosa. I had him from 10 years old, we did everything together, competing and loving life. When he was about 28/29 he started doing weird things like trying to drown me in a puddle on a hack, attacking people in the field and kicking me when i turned him out. I had him checked and finally he was diagnosed with dementia (did not know horses got that). I decided to let him enjoy one last summer in the field and make that tough decision in the autumm. To this day i dont regret that decision, he loved the summer sun on his back and the end was quick and peaceful thanks to my wonderful vet. I wish you all the best with your choice. xx
 
equi said:
Retire her immediately. IF you can't afford to keep her as a lawnmower pts. She is not suitable to rehome or would be sold as meat or doped up and sold on. There really is only those two options.
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I very rarely agree with PTS unless its absolutely necessary but I think you should definately retire her and ideally keep her as a companion for the rest of her days. If you can't afford to do that then I think PTS is the only option. The fact she reared up and went over backwards 3 times being lunged rings alarm bells for me and suggests there is definately something not right about her (brain problem?).
 
Sorry another in the PTS camp, not just for you but for her sake too - imagine the pain/ stress/ panic she's in to flip over backwards - the odd time as a tantrum perhaps but they learn from that pretty quickly.
I had one that did the same - it was a brain tumour.

If she's insured perhaps get a brain scan etc. done so you can PTS comfortable in the know knowledge that she has a terminal illness and that you are preventing her suffering.

Even retiring I'd question - she still has to be led from field to field and held for farrier etc which if she's that unpredictable then could still injure someone / you even if not being ridden.
 
I've retired my TB as his behaviour became dangerous, I put his saddle in my spare bedroom last October, broke my heart, I removed his shoes canceled his insurance and am keeping him. If I no longer want him then he will be shot in his field. He costs me 20 pounds wk livery plus feed/hay. By denying myself treats, I can afford this, I then went and bought a little horse in the December who is a diamond, I had forgotten what it's like to ride and handle a normal horse
 
We had a very erratic WelshDxTB mare. We bought her as a 4 yr old, with a history of being underfed, whch was explained fully by the vendor, who had a very valid reason for selling her on. She was a lovely, easy mare apart from being proud of her food which we worked through in less than 12 months. But gradually her behaviour deteriorated and I stopped riding her on the road, then eventually completely stopped riding her. Her temperature regulation was not good. Then she became so difficult to bring in at tea-time that we were seriously considering pts.

Looking back, we probably should have realised what the problem was long before we did, because she was never difficult to put out in the morning.

She could not tolerate even a tiny amount of sugar or cereal in her diet. When we removed it, she was like a junkie going cold turkey, she refused to move from the back of the box and when we did persuade her to come out, she refused to cross the yard in any direction except to the field.
Even though she had a reprieve and we kept her for another 12 yrs, until she was 24, she wasn't reliable enough to ride. We never knew whether a passer-by had fed her something she shouldn't have and even when we explained and asked them not to, some of them ignored our requests. One memorable elderly man, assured us that she liked the half-loaf of bread that he brought every week! Yes of course she did, she was addicted to the stuff!
We kept her as a companion both whille we were at livery and later when we bought our own land but I certainly would not have passed her on and if we hadn't worked out what was casuing her wild behaviour, she *would* have been pts aged 12
 
Dazed'n'confused said:
She's 17, you've given her a lovely life despite her being a bit 'quirky' & now she's telling you loud & clear that she's had enough. Have her PTS while she still happy in the field & before she does any more damage to anyone..... :|
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equi said:
Retire her immediately. IF you can't afford to keep her as a lawnmower pts. She is not suitable to rehome or would be sold as meat or doped up and sold on. There really is only those two options.
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Both of these, if some rudimentary exams are not affordable or justifiable.
 
sounds like a brain tumour.please for your own safety and confidence do the kindest thing for her and have pts.you say yourself shes unrideable and dangerous on the ground aswell.you cannot keep her as a field ornament either...its one of those things we have to face with animals.
 
I had a horse (someone else's) horse throw itself over on me as a teenager. He'd done it a few times before but the owner negated to tell me and it was the first time I'd ridden him. I was very very lucky not to be badly hurt.

He continued to throw himself over more regularly. The owner never had it investigated fully and one day in the way in from the field he did it again, landed on something pretty solid and smashed his shoulder to bits. He was put down there and then.

I don't know if the cause for his behaviour was ever discovered but IMO there are many things worse than PTS. This poor horse must have been very distressed to be throwing himself over and and over then in such pain when he finally injured himself.

I feel for you op it's a horrid situation to be in. If you can keep her retired and she doesn't do it again then keep her. Otherwise PTS would be my decision here too. Sending big hugs!!!

XxXxX
 
Gosh Madginger, how terribly sad for you.

I have seen this sort of thing happen a couple of times before - in one case a very young horse who suddenly started to exhibit horribly dangerous behaviour in the paddock - bolting blindly through things and another one similar to yours an older horse, who despite extensive vet work ups, nothing physical could be found.

Which in both cases, left "mental" or brain type issues - severe head aches were offered as a symptom of something else, but it was never worth spending the money to investigate further. In both cases euthanasia was the sad, but sensible, option.

Hugs.
 
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