Deformed horse - WWYD?!

[Apache's Queen]

Hello everyone, I will try to keep this as brief as possible! Please don't judge me on this, I know I did a stupid thing

Just under three months ago I bought a 6 year old ISH who was to be my forever horse. I have never bought a horse before (always had loan horses or "hand me downs" as a teenager). Anyway, I viewed this horse a couple of times and really liked him. He is a very flashy looking horse and I will admit that I was somewhat "blinded by the bling". There were a couple of things that concerned me, so I decided to have a five stage vetting done on him. The vet was from a very well known equine practice and the horse passed the vetting. I explained to the vet that he was to be an all rounder suitable for all RC activities, particularly dressage and XC and this was acknowledged in the report. I did notice that the horse didn't feel quite right when I rode him, but put this down to the fact that the owner never did any flat work with him - he either hacked or show jumped - and that he was just green.

On getting the horse home I quickly noticed that there was something quite wrong with him. To cut a long story short, he has a very crooked pelvis and a wonky hind leg. The vet practice has admitted that they made a mistake and I am currently trying to seek financial redress on the sorry situation.

However, my question is about what to do with the horse. He has since been examined by two different vets and he is 1/5 lame and the prognosis is very poor. The horse cannot ever be fixed and cannot be ridden. So basically I have a very pretty field ornament. I am lucky enough to keep him at home with a companion. If I keep him as a pet, I will not be able to have another horse to ride due to lack of finances, time and resources. He is a big boy and will cost a lot to keep and isn't the sort of horse who can live out all winter. I am not really in a position to keep him as a pet. Likelihood of finding him a loan home as a companion is practically zero so I am considering PTS, but feel so guilty about this. So I'm just wondering what other people would do in my situation.

 

[be positive]

The horse was possibly not that bad on the day of vetting otherwise he would have "failed" so I would not yet write him off totally, get the compensation if they are offering it and spend some of the money on a really good physio and see if they think he can be fixed, one of my liveries an ex racehorse is similar, the osteo has treated him this week and sees no reason he will not do RC type comps but it requires careful work to get him level and keep him that way.
Vets often give a poor prognosis when there is nothing they can do to treat the horse but sometimes forget there are other professionals who can help, my own horse had a prognosis of light hacking but has been fine doing some basic jumping and is still improving after 12 months with regular physio, I would want to at least try with such a young horse as it may come right given time.

 

[cornbrodolly]

First thing to do, if not done already is to have written confirmation that the vet was at fault. Then their insurance will cover it and pay out.
However, the insurance companies try to wriggle out of their responsibilities - and possibly will suggest horse only became unsound after the vetting. Hence the need to get that written proof! Also, I do hope you have insured this horse.
We had a fairly similar situation: we bought a horse that showed signs of shivering the day after we brought her here. Because she had been vetted 2 weeks prior to bringing back here , insurers for vet wouldnt touch it.
We had insured the horse , and through the N FU we were compensated -it took 3 months , and a horse to PTS at the end of it.The NFU were very good about it , once the case began, but it takes for independant assessers,vets etc all to see and report. We handled the horse minimally , knowing that doing the PTS deed would be hard enough ,and would have been worse had we got to know her better. To us PTS was the only option ;we were not going to keep a shiverer for up to 20 years, sell her on to someone other unsuspecting person,put her in an auction etc . We had bought from the people who had bred her - and they wouldnt take her back ( suprise!).
There may be some forum members who dont agree with PTS , but really its your decision , and dont feel guilty about it. Our decision was hard , but we had supportive vets and insurers , and hope you do too.

 

[Apache's Queen]

First thing to do, if not done already is to have written confirmation that the vet was at fault. Then their insurance will cover it and pay out.
However, the insurance companies try to wriggle out of their responsibilities - and possibly will suggest horse only became unsound after the vetting. Hence the need to get that written proof! Also, I do hope you have insured this horse.
We had a fairly similar situation: we bought a horse that showed signs of shivering the day after we brought her here. Because she had been vetted 2 weeks prior to bringing back here , insurers for vet wouldnt touch it.
We had insured the horse , and through the N FU we were compensated -it took 3 months , and a horse to PTS at the end of it.The NFU were very good about it , once the case began, but it takes for independant assessers,vets etc all to see and report. We handled the horse minimally , knowing that doing the PTS deed would be hard enough ,and would have been worse had we got to know her better. To us PTS was the only option ;we were not going to keep a shiverer for up to 20 years, sell her on to someone other unsuspecting person,put her in an auction etc . We had bought from the people who had bred her - and they wouldnt take her back ( suprise!).
There may be some forum members who dont agree with PTS , but really its your decision , and dont feel guilty about it. Our decision was hard , but we had supportive vets and insurers , and hope you do too.

I've had written confirmation and the matter is being dealt with by the VDS.

Like you, I am handling the horse as little as possible, which makes me feel even worse. The only positive is that at least no harm can come to him ever again.

 

[Apache's Queen]

The horse was possibly not that bad on the day of vetting otherwise he would have "failed" so I would not yet write him off totally, get the compensation if they are offering it and spend some of the money on a really good physio and see if they think he can be fixed, one of my liveries an ex racehorse is similar, the osteo has treated him this week and sees no reason he will not do RC type comps but it requires careful work to get him level and keep him that way.
Vets often give a poor prognosis when there is nothing they can do to treat the horse but sometimes forget there are other professionals who can help, my own horse had a prognosis of light hacking but has been fine doing some basic jumping and is still improving after 12 months with regular physio, I would want to at least try with such a young horse as it may come right given time.

No, no seriously the horse CANNOT be fixed. I have already spoken to an excellent physio. The consensus is that the horse was either born like it or was maybe sat on by his Mum when he was a baby whilst the bones were still soft (or maybe both!). The vets have all agreed that the condition was pre existing and that is not in dispute. I have looked back on previous owners' pictures of the horse and can see the crooked leg and various other things that point to the crooked pelvis. Vets make mistakes and this one made a whopper!

 

[EllenJay]

In your position, I would give him the summer and then PTS. You know you can not sell on, he is not good companion material as he can not live out, and you can not afford a field ornament. It is NOT your fault, and all you can do is to let him enjoy being a horse for a little while.

Thinking of you as it is a hard decision.

 

[be positive]

No, no seriously the horse CANNOT be fixed. I have already spoken to an excellent physio. The consensus is that the horse was either born like it or was maybe sat on by his Mum when he was a baby whilst the bones were still soft (or maybe both!). The vets have all agreed that the condition was pre existing and that is not in dispute. I have looked back on previous owners' pictures of the horse and can see the crooked leg and various other things that point to the crooked pelvis. Vets make mistakes and this one made a whopper!

In that case there is little option, I cannot understand how it was missed, my thought was it was "held together" by work and for some reason it showed more after you got it home, I hope you get proper compensation from the VDS to cover ALL your out of pocket expenses on top of the purchase price, vets do make mistakes and this seems to be worse than the normal just missing something if it is that obvious.

 

[NZJenny]

Hugs, what a terrible situation for you to be in. You did everything right.

And I really want to slap (or worse) the seller! They must have known there was something wrong with the horse, but instead of doing the right thing themselves, they have left it up to someone else and ripped them off as well.

Grrrrr!

 

[Tiddlypom]

I would PTS.

I had to PTS a 4 yo section D, who'd I'd owned for 2 years. He seemed a really nice sort, and was completely sound as a youngster. After he ditched me a few times once he was broken, I noticed he was slightly unlevel behind.

The vet thought there was nothing much wrong with him, until the x rays showed massive malformation of the hock bones, that must have come from a joint ill infection when he was a foal.

It was a huge shock, but he was PTS the same day. There was no future for him.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Gosh OP what a difficult situation you have got, and my heart goes out to you because it sounds like you've been thoroughly "had". One of the things I'd be inclined to do is be in contact with Trading Standards.

But re. your horse........ one thing you might consider is an independent opinion???

My loan mare is "crooked" due to an accident in a trailer a few years ago where her pelvic area was damaged, yet she can still be used for hacking etc. Yet most vets would probably have written her off.

Sorry, not wanting to give false hope, but sometimes a fresh brain looking at a situation will find a glass half-full instead of a glass half empty??

You may still end up having to PTS, and yes, you could spend a fair bit of money on another opinion........

 

[millikins]

We had one pts in similar circumstances. 6 yr old with long standing pelvis/hip damage. We didn't have him vetted at the time but he wasn't ever lame and passed flexion tests when we had a full vet workup, My vet said he would have passed a pre purchase vetting. Our poor lad had extensive physio but to no avail. It was a terrible decision to have to make but I have never felt it was the wrong one. I am very interested in your vet's suggestion that it could have happened with immature bones as I like to think our seller was genuine.

 

[Wagtail]

Honestly, I do not know any horse that if roughed off properly and rugged appropriately with adequate natural or man made shelter and company, that could not live out all year round. So as you have your own place that is an option. I am so sorry you are in this situation, but I find it incredulous that a horse that is so bad that it could never be ridden could have passed a five stage vetting. Do you have any pictures or videos?

 

[CinnamonChristmasCookie]

Was he buted up for the vet check? Did you have blood taken?

Can't help with the dilemma you face, I'd be equally torn if in this situation, but if he can't be fixed, then I think PTS is a fair option. It would be awful for him to suffer: is he in pain?

 

[Equi]

I would want to see a photo and a video of him walking/trotting before i told you what i thought.

 

[Goldenstar]

In your situation I would seek redress from the vet and Pts the horse
Nasty situation to be in

 

[FfionWinnie]

Horrible situation but the horse has been lucky you bought him and will do the right thing by him. It's easy for us to say PTS, we don't own the horse. I've recently bought, unknowingly, a horse with a career ending muscle disorder which needs careful management. My initial plan was keep her going as long as possible then PTS. However she has had a flare up after 5 perfect months and I love her so much I doubt I could put her down. However I could keep her as a pet if I couldn't face the alternative and still have a horse to ride. I would not keep a horse as a pet if it meant I couldn't have another to ride.

 

[Apache's Queen]

Thanks for your messages everyone. I do feel a bit better after reading your replies. Totally heartbreaking situation. But massive lesson learnt - instructor will be accompanying me if I ever buy a horse again!!

Honestly, I do not know any horse that if roughed off properly and rugged appropriately with adequate natural or man made shelter and company, that could not live out all year round. So as you have your own place that is an option. I am so sorry you are in this situation, but I find it incredulous that a horse that is so bad that it could never be ridden could have passed a five stage vetting. Do you have any pictures or videos?

I live somewhere very wet and he has white legs so he'd get terrible mud fever. He had mild mud fever when I bought him in April and had been turned out somewhere very dry! Also my fields just can't withstand 24/7 turnout in the winter.

Was he buted up for the vet check? Did you have blood taken?

Can't help with the dilemma you face, I'd be equally torn if in this situation, but if he can't be fixed, then I think PTS is a fair option. It would be awful for him to suffer: is he in pain?

Yes bloods were taken but nothing showed up when the VDS had them checked. I suspect that the horse is in a certain amount of pain but because he's suffered since a he was a foal i suppose it's "normal" for him.

I would want to see a photo and a video of him walking/trotting before i told you what i thought.

I have lots of videos and photos but I'm not willing to post on here as I don't want the horse to be identified.

 

[hollyandivy123]

or depending on age and height how about one of the blood banks?

 

[misskk88]

So sorry to hear of this situation.

I am glad to hear the vets have admitted fault and you are at least receiving some redress.

I am another that would PTS once finances and everything was sorted. I would maybe give him the summer to enjoy retired and then PTS, but only if time, finances, turn out and his comfort allowed.

Either way, I don't think anyone would criticise you if you chose to PTS immediately. Hugs.

 

[peanut]

In your position, I would give him the summer and then PTS. You know you can not sell on, he is not good companion material as he can not live out, and you can not afford a field ornament. It is NOT your fault, and all you can do is to let him enjoy being a horse for a little while.

Thinking of you as it is a hard decision.

I agree with the above. It's a dreadful position to be in and I feel very sorry for you.

 

[stormox]

Are you sure the horse is in pain? If he isnt, and hes just unlevel in the pelvis, due to an old (6 years ago?) injury/conformation defect he would surely be fine for light hacking? Especially as hes presumably been ridden up to the time you bought him? If its seriously so bad you are considering euthanasia I cant understand how a vet missed it. What does his previous owner say about him?

 

[ladyt25]

Thanks for your messages everyone. I do feel a bit better after reading your replies. Totally heartbreaking situation. But massive lesson learnt - instructor will be accompanying me if I ever buy a horse again!!


I live somewhere very wet and he has white legs so he'd get terrible mud fever. He had mild mud fever when I bought him in April and had been turned out somewhere very dry! Also my fields just can't withstand 24/7 turnout in the winter.



Yes bloods were taken but nothing showed up when the VDS had them checked. I suspect that the horse is in a certain amount of pain but because he's suffered since a he was a foal i suppose it's "normal" for him.



I have lots of videos and photos but I'm not willing to post on here as I don't want the horse to be identified.

I am another who can't quite understand that, if the horse was as bad as you describe that it wasn't picked up on the vetting. is it just aesthetically not 'correct' causing a mechanical 'lameness' in his gait or has the vet stated the horse is uncomfortable? There are plenty of horses out there who are not symmetrical and it actually doesn't stop them leading useful ridden lives.

What has the vet/physio actually diagnosed the issue as? What was the horse doing riding wise before you got him? What have the previous owners said when you've gone back to them?

I cannot understand at all how a horse this 'bad' has passed a 5 stage vetting at all as, as soon as they did any flexion tests this unlevelness would have been quite apparent even if you weren't a vet!!!

In addition, there is nothing to state a horse is going to get mud fever purely because it has white legs.

 

[Clodagh]

Odd. I think you have decided to have him PTS and came on here for support. Poor old boy! I am normally quite for it but really if he has a crooked leg and is a cripple how did you not notice, let alone the vet?
I know a 20 year old that hunts 3 days a fortnight with a very wonky pelvis, he failed the vet after purchase but they dcdided to see how he went.
I would get a second vets opinion from a good practice like Leahurst or Rossdales beofre shooting him.

 

[FairyLights]

Horrible situation. If the horse is in no pain and can be given a decent life as a pet/pasture ornament then there is no reason to PTs other then what you want to do . ie If you are not prepared to care for him for the rest of his days as a non ridden horse even if this means you giving up riding then there really isnt much you can do except PTS unless a charity will take him eg redwings. I have a non ridden horse who has SI he has expensive rugs and is stabled during the day and at night in winter. yes it costs money and time but I love him .

 

[southerncomfort]

Well as your question is WWYD...

I would keep him as a pet. But then I'm a terrible softie and would rather keep him and not have anything to ride than PTS. That's not to say I'd be happy about it, I wouldn't. But unless he was in pain I couldn't justify it to myself.

Not criticising you or anyone else who would put to sleep, just saying what I would do in that situation.

 

[Apache's Queen]

Are you sure the horse is in pain? If he isnt, and hes just unlevel in the pelvis, due to an old (6 years ago?) injury/conformation defect he would surely be fine for light hacking? Especially as hes presumably been ridden up to the time you bought him? If its seriously so bad you are considering euthanasia I cant understand how a vet missed it. What does his previous owner say about him?

Previous owner didn't ride him very often. He used to get ridden once or twice a week and twice a month over the winter before I bought him. She is ignorant to the issue. I can't understand how the vet missed it either, but after some research I have discovered that he has made a lot of errors with other people's horses over the past few years.

I am another who can't quite understand that, if the horse was as bad as you describe that it wasn't picked up on the vetting. is it just aesthetically not 'correct' causing a mechanical 'lameness' in his gait or has the vet stated the horse is uncomfortable? There are plenty of horses out there who are not symmetrical and it actually doesn't stop them leading useful ridden lives.

What has the vet/physio actually diagnosed the issue as? What was the horse doing riding wise before you got him? What have the previous owners said when you've gone back to them?

I cannot understand at all how a horse this 'bad' has passed a 5 stage vetting at all as, as soon as they did any flexion tests this unlevelness would have been quite apparent even if you weren't a vet!!!

In addition, there is nothing to state a horse is going to get mud fever purely because it has white legs.

Yes I would say it is a mechanical lameness - he is unable to walk properly due to his "deformity," he struggles to walk straight out hacking and can't bend in the school! There has been no formal diagnosis as he would at least need X-rays and lameness analysis with nerve blocking to tell me what is wrong, which would create a huge bill and still no way of fixing the horse in the end - that much has been agreed!

As for the mud fever, as previously stated, I live somewhere very wet and he had it all last winter with previous owner when turned out somewhere during the day only which was much drier.

Odd. I think you have decided to have him PTS and came on here for support. Poor old boy! I am normally quite for it but really if he has a crooked leg and is a cripple how did you not notice, let alone the vet?
I know a 20 year old that hunts 3 days a fortnight with a very wonky pelvis, he failed the vet after purchase but they dcdided to see how he went.
I would get a second vets opinion from a good practice like Leahurst or Rossdales beofre shooting him.

I've already said that I was stupid to not notice, so don't need a further bashing thanks. This is the first time I've bought a horse and as stated, I was totally wearing rose-tinted specs and fell for him. However, I don't feel so bad not noticing when a trained professional didn't notice either, but admitted he had got it very wrong a week later.

He has seen three vets and a physio and so far they are all of the same opinion - horse is stuffed.

 

[MissTyc]

Given that there is diagnosis at yet and that the horse is 6 years old and was ridden in his previous home, I probably wouldn't rush into PTS.

I was advised to PTS one of my mares due to a very severe mechanical lameness. Petplan spent a small fortune on investigations and we paid a whole lot more on top of this. She was 4 years old, and had not been quite "right" from the moment of backing - wonky, uncomfortable, *looked* in pain to my human eyes. In the end we were told it was "probably wobblers" but they couldn't find where, or "maybe something in the SI area" but not responding to nerve blocks ... She had a bright eye, so I put her out 24/7 and started lunging her regularly, then riding once I was convinced that she was safe and not in pain. She is still "odd" but as she has learnt to move and use herself, she has become sounder and sounder - evening out her movement. No, she won't ever be a dressage star nor do I think I would jump her but she has learnt to enjoy hacking and as she gets stronger I keep looking at her thinking that maybe, just maybe there is a future there. Vet saw her recently for a check-up and apologised for having recommended PTS as looking at her now there is no evidence of pain. Young horses, still growing, can level out or can learn to live with one leg longer than the other without pain.

If there is pain, if he is sound on bute or nerve blocks, then I would agree with PTS. But if it's genuinely mechanical, then there may be hope.

 

[Asha]

OP, we all make mistakes. I made a similar one years ago, bought a pony looked sound didn't get it vetted as it was old. Ideal schoolmaster for my daughter. I should have seen the warning signs. I was blinded by the fact the horse was everything we where looking. So bought her. Pony had end stage cushings. She was put to sleep about 6 months later, if I'm honest it was 3 months too late. I still kick myself now for not seeing the obvious.

If I was in your situation now, in that you can't afford another ridden horse while you have him, and you've only just purchased him, and he has a poor prognosis, I would PTS.

Sometimes people just need the reassurance it's ok to do this, and there are far worse fates for a horse than PTS.

OP don't feel bad, it's not your fault this horse is the way he is.

 

[stormox]

So do you mean the horse is sometimes worse than at other times? If a vet didnt notice, you didnt notice, previous owner didnt notice, the 'trained professional' didnt notice. So thats 4 times it didnt show. Then 3 vets and a physio noticed. so thats 4 times it WAS showing. So I take it its a bit intermittent?
I also had a horse that never completely recovered from a sacro-iliac issue, dropped a hip slightly at trot, but 8 years later he is still happily hunting, jumping and hacking, the vets and chiro all agreed that though there might be a mechanical lameness, 'other structures' (their words) would compensate. Could this be the case with your lad?
If he is as bad as you say, you would also have some claim against the seller, as horse isnt 'fit for the purpose' for which he was bought. Is the vet still practising? Maybe he shouldnt be if he's made as many errors as you say.
I find it strange that you wont put pictures/videos of horse up- unless hes got very unusual markings its very unlikely he would be recognised.

 

[honetpot]

Don't normally comment on posts like this because you can not see the horse yourself and in the end the owner has to foot the bills in the end but...
Yes the horse was bought to compete and it will not do that but every person or animal is one sided to a certain degree even though they may not have a deformity. A deformity may increase the chances of odd gaits, or predispose injury but as long as they function with no pain they can have useful lives. I had a maxi-cob who was severely pigeon toed on one front leg, a mare whose feet were so boxy the frogs never touched the floor and a pony that had been claimed loss of use due to navicular, all of these had long working lives with no discernible lameness or pain , by exercising them and working them correctly. They competed at local shows, PC, even dressage.
The pony with navicular was on no bute and I soon learned to pick up changes in gait that were telling me he needed a days break but he hunted and was ridden five days a week. I often dressage write and see animals that I would class as lame, or at least so one sided that it causes an uneven gait that pass the judge with no comment.
I would claim LOU and then find him a hacking home, like my navicular pony( he had been used for SJ and I had him on loan) who afterwards went on to live another 10 years in light work in straight lines.