Dilema with my horse

golddustsara

golddustsara

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I bought my 18yo warmblood event schoolmaster a year ago. We've had a few issues ;-)

November '09 - January '10, tweaked back and exaccerbated what physio said could be old injury from his comp life/early signs of arthitis. Off work until Xmas then slowly back in. Vet and physio bill well in excess of £1000.

Feb -April, wonderful long hacks and getting him fully back to fitness for the comp season.

May - Sept, headshaking badly, tried nosenet, vicks vapour rub, shake relief, vet advice, you name it. Resorted to riding at 7-8am with above potions and only in walk. Meanwhile horse getting more strong as he hates not doing much.

October, still headshaking bar the worst, wettest days (think I'm the only horse rider to cheer and get out my tack when its p***ing it down as we can actually go for a proper ride).

I'm beginning to wonder what to do if he doesn't stop headshaking this winter. Also the headshaking is making his back sore so we are going back to square one with that. Contemplated retiring him as he's had a great life (sadly not with me) but he really gets bored and dejected when he isn't doing stuff. Likewise, when he is in work and its a warm/normal day he is miserable too. He's such a lovely horse, bags of personality and its really heartbreaking deciding what's best for him - or do I give him more time, say till November to see whether his problems cease somewhat....?

At my wits end really, I'm not a big competer, just want a horse to hack out for miles and do fun rides, local dressage etc. Am I being selfish getting frustrated?
 
Have you spoken to previous owners about the head shaking? Did he do it before? If you have several previous owners listed on his passport, then it might be worth contacting someone from some time back to see if he has done it before. I hope you can sort this out, it would be a shame to retire him when he still wants to work.
 
boxers said:
Have you spoken to previous owners about the head shaking? Did he do it before? If you have several previous owners listed on his passport, then it might be worth contacting someone from some time back to see if he has done it before. I hope you can sort this out, it would be a shame to retire him when he still wants to work.
Click to expand...

this is what I'd do :)
 
Spoken to previous owner quite a bit and it was never a problem for them - they were on the coast in Dorset and he unaff competed in the local area last summer. They declared that old owners said he needed a nosnet but he passed the vetting with flying colours (must have been exactly this time last year) and I rode him early September with no issues. Discussed it with vet at the time and he felt given his experience and temprement it was worth buying him. It could be worth trying to contact previous previous owner from passport as I believe she was also in Hampshire.

Vet not keen to refer - tried to get me some drugs in but they are now out of stock apparently. Also my insurance won't cover as it was declared on the vetting and I have some savings but not thousands of pounds unfortunately.
 
Just sent email to first owner who I think runs Blewbury Centre in Oxfordshire... Sure he wont have had any issues with her as it was 1999 but worth checking. May help me source the other 2 owners....
 
Thanks Galaxy I'll have a look for them now. Tried global herbs and NAF, the latter does help and means I can walk him out which wouldn't be possible without it. But walking is all we can do.
 
Bought mine from shires on line. Someone posted a cheaper site called Harwood Farm. Two days after I bought mine went to local RDA fete and got brand new one for £1. Was I choked.
 
This might sound stupid, but could it be a tooth? The only reason I ask is because my horse has been in hospital for two months now - she started doing exactly the same thing. Some days worse than others. It was found out that she had a tooth abscess (it's normally a case of tooth removal, but mine has had complications which is why she has been there for so long). A normal equine dentist might not be able to see anything, it might need x-rays to reveal something like a fractured tooth.....sorry if it sounds stupid, but it is possible...
 
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