Difficult decision or a miracle?

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BrionyC

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Our 7yo 17.3hh warmblood was diagnosed with DDFT tear and navicular - bought for SJ which is now ruled out. No further treatment is available, has been in rehab livery for a year and currently sound in walk/trot but vet says high risk of reoccurrence and livery says likely get injured again living out for another winter . We think we probably need to make a difficult decision because this cycle will likely continue and being so young/big I can’t see someone wanting to take on as a hacker. Looking for some reassurance or a miracle 😞
 
If you’re open to the idea of barefoot rehab (your post doesn’t mention if currently shod or barefoot) / want to explore the idea of breaking the cycle by changing the way the horse moves and lands then would highly recommend speaking to Nic Barker at Rockley Farm. She’s had a very decent success rate with these types of injury / pathology. Unsure what her wait list looks like right now though.
 
Sorry to hear that, been in the same situation with a 9yo eventer with MCL tear. Every time we thought we'd got somewhere he went backwards again. 9 months rehab no improvement we PTS. He looked well but had other knock on problems SI joint and suspensory ligaments.
I wish you a miracle and all the luck in the world but not many, if any, on here would judge you if you make the hard choice rather than pass him on eventually x
 
What a horrible situation to be in - as horse owners it's so hard deciding on the right 'next move'. Either approach is completely valid in your situation.

Another vote for Rockley Farm if you do decide to give it another go, they have a good success rate with DDFT and navicular, including in large horses and warmbloods. Nic who runs Rockley will be honest about whether she thinks she can help or not so worth a chat at least.
 
I have a similar one. the vet when I first went for scan said he was probably only going to be a happy hacker. I took him barefoot, minded him like mad, only riding on good surfaces etc and mainly flatwork, and touch wood he has stayed sounds for last 5 years and is moving up the levels in dressage happily. I still pop jumps for fun and have the odd field canter etc. I get him ultrasounded every year and there has been no change in the tendon. he had a ton of other physical issues & club foot as well, as he had been in an accident before I got him, so wasnt a straightforward case.

I threw everything at him with regular physios, arc equine, inhand work, bodywork etc. the physio said the vets can veer towards pessimism in their outlooks, but every horse is different and you can get lucky. For example, I was religiously careful about paddock size and if the ground was too wet/dry etc/. Then the yard I was in closed and I had to take him home to my own field which is basically a bog. He has coped absolutely fine in it, even over wet months. They can surprise you! I would 100% recommend barefoot though, and working with a good physio, I genuinely think it's the reason he has stayed sound.

the way I see it is if the tendon is not going to hold up, then its not going to hold up. All you can do is play it by ear and make a decision when you are forced to.
 
Lucky Snowball said:
Since you’ve done the rehab and now looking sound it seems a waste to give up now. I’d go sensibly, avoid deep mud turnout etc and move forward gently. See what happens.
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Unfortunately I can’t afford to keep going as off to uni so was originally hoping someone who would like him for free if I could rehab for a year 😞 but I don’t know if this is realistic as so niche with size and limitations/risks
 
paddi22 said:
I have a similar one. the vet when I first went for scan said he was probably only going to be a happy hacker. I took him barefoot, minded him like mad, only riding on good surfaces etc and mainly flatwork, and touch wood he has stayed sounds for last 5 years and is moving up the levels in dressage happily. I still pop jumps for fun and have the odd field canter etc. I get him ultrasounded every year and there has been no change in the tendon. he had a ton of other physical issues & club foot as well, as he had been in an accident before I got him, so wasnt a straightforward case.

I threw everything at him with regular physios, arc equine, inhand work, bodywork etc. the physio said the vets can veer towards pessimism in their outlooks, but every horse is different and you can get lucky. For example, I was religiously careful about paddock size and if the ground was too wet/dry etc/. Then the yard I was in closed and I had to take him home to my own field which is basically a bog. He has coped absolutely fine in it, even over wet months. They can surprise you! I would 100% recommend barefoot though, and working with a good physio, I genuinely think it's the reason he has stayed sound.

the way I see it is if the tendon is not going to hold up, then its not going to hold up. All you can do is play it by ear and make a decision when you are forced to.
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Thanks for taking the time to share your experience , I’m so pleased it is working out. I had a similar hope with a view to giving him to someone who would want a hacker if he was fit but a year in (he is barefoot) I just don’t have the resources , off to uni , no land of my and his tear is deep so only shows on an MRI for rescanning. He is def not ever to jump again prob not canter. I can’t imagine anyone else would want to take this on as a project hence needing to make the decision soon.
 
BrionyC said:
Thanks for taking the time to share your experience , I’m so pleased it is working out. I had a similar hope with a view to giving him to someone who would want a hacker if he was fit but a year in (he is barefoot) I just don’t have the resources , off to uni , no land of my and his tear is deep so only shows on an MRI for rescanning. He is def not ever to jump again prob not canter. I can’t imagine anyone else would want to take this on as a project hence needing to make the decision soon.
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In that case the kindest thing you could do for him is pts.
 
if I was in your position I'd pts. what an awful scenario for you. but the horse I got ended up in charity after being sold through dealer even though unsound and in pain. he was lucky, most horses aren't. to secure the safest future for one like yours I'd pts.
 
Considering your circumstances OP I would also support a PTS decision here, you did your best to see if he would come right so that you could loan or whatever to a happy hacking home, he didn't make and so you have to reconsider which is fair enough.

At 7yo and going off to start your life, retirement is a big commitment for a horse that will need micromanaging by the sounds of it and is big.. I have to be honest, I somewhat lament over how much more of a start in life I could have had without vet bills and broken horses being paid for throughout my late teens/early 20's (and even now sometimes) so you have to consider you in this too. (I have assumed your age due to uni comment, but apologies and please disregard if you are a mature student!)
 
AandK said:
Please don't give this horse away. Can you not turn him away while you are at uni?
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The thing is he has been turned away for this last year but injury flared up again once the field got wet so he needs more careful monitoring as an excitable, young and big .We wouldn’t give away without knowing properly who was taking him and think it’s unlikely we’ll find someone.
 
Sorry but I think the trouble is unless you find a close family friend to take him, you can think you know someone but end up being totally duped and see the animal drugged up and sold on, especially one young and big like him who could fetch decent money as a sportshorse.
In your shoes I'd give him a few weeks of grooming and treats and turnout then let him go, to secure his future permanently
 
BrionyC said:
Unfortunately I can’t afford to keep going as off to uni so was originally hoping someone who would like him for free if I could rehab for a year 😞 but I don’t know if this is realistic as so niche with size and limitations/risks
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Its very feasible but you would need to be so careful about who, and you really need to do it as a loan to secure his future. If I was wanting a horse I'd offer to take him, on the understanding he was either on permanent, you cant ask for him back, loan or you would loan for a fixed period of time and sell him to me for £1. Theres a fair few people who enjoy a barefoot rehab and would enjoy getting him right.
 
In your situation I would put him to sleep .
I have a horse with a similar type situation atm.
Here he’s fine as a retired horse I know I will need to keep him restricted when the grounds to wet he’s happy and he’s settled .
He’s sound unless you look for it hard.
But we will be leaving here and when we do, he won’t .
I will guarantee he leaves this world happy and settled by having him PTS.
Very tough thing this but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
 
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