madhorsechelsea
New User
my old girl is 22 (ive had her 20 years) - she is a pure bred hackney so the way she moves does cause concussion on her fetlocks but she has recently been diagnosed with degenerative suspensory ligament disease - twice in the last year and a half she has come out of her stable literally on 3 legs 9/10ths lame, not able to put leg down - twice vet has come down as an emergency call out, given her a bute injection but each time the next day she has come out of her stable completely sound - having looked up this she does show all the signs - she is being shod next week with eggbar shoes and we are only doing half hour walks in school (as the yard has strangles and we cant hack out) but when we could again its only half hour in walk - will this have a detrimental affect on her or should i retire her which she wont enjoy as she still loves her work and is as fizzy as she was when she was 4 - she looks about 10 and acts like a 4 year old - i want to carry on riding her in just short walks as i believe this does keep the horse going but should i think of retiring her although she is completely sound in walk and the little trot we have had to do crossing roads etc - any advice from people who have had this - its breaking my heart at the thought of not being able to ride her again as she does so love her work - thank you for reading