dilemma -very long

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VRIN

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Just wondering what others think.. have a major dilemma.. and keep changing mind as to solution..

Have horse which I have had for a couple of years.. bought from 'dodgy' dealer and despite been vetted quickly transpired he was a 'shiverer'. That bit is all now history.

Anyway... comtinued with horse ... and last year achieved a 'life time' ambition and did a seasons eventing (intro level). Neither I nor the horse (he was 4 when purchased) had done this before and so we 'learnt' together.

However about 6 months ago his condition changed... he had always had an occasional 'hitch' in his hind left but only really evident when he went out in field - as his head came down his leg came up.. but about august it now became more evident when he was worked on a loose rein. Gradually this has turned into more than the occasional step and could be described as 'stringhalt'.

This is not a problem EXCEPT for dressage and I want to event again this year.. It is not evident on every step but is definitely there.

I have read everything there is to read about this condition and noone has any idea if it will worsen or stay the same.

My dilemma is do I persevere with him, potentially finding half way through the season that he has worsened again or do I just go for it and replace him. (We need to do a lot of work on his dressage)

We have tried the diets, looked for a pattern, indicators that might trigger a worsening ... there is nothing ...

I am not the bravest or most confident of riders so I am not just going to be able to 'get on something and go'.

I have been agonising for a while now .. think I have made a decision and then change again..

I have been 'creeping' up on eventing for so long and I don't want to stop just yet! If I knew he was going to get worse I would def get another (I am of an age where time is passing more quickly...) On the other hand if he would stay OK ...

What would you do...
 
I'm no expert on stringhalt but is your heart set on eventing / dressage as I knew a SJ who had awful stringhalt in both hinds and did his job at a high level as performance wise it didn't affect him.
 
Have you tried a good physio. They may be able to help keep it to a minimum and may find what has made it worse. Failing that I would suspect that the gradual increase in the intensity of work over the last year has increased the problem rather than improved it. Therefore I would be worried that further stress will cause further deterioration.

Sorry not a very positive response and it may stabilise and never be any more of a problem but it does sound like a risk.
 
Well this is what happened to me, I am in a similar dilemmia. I bought my horse over 2 years ago when he was 6yr and had done a year of pn eventing and started to compete at the start of the season. Well we manged few sj,wh competions and 2 events and then he started to throw in stops and be very negative abt jumping progessive getting worse. Got everything checked, blamed on saddle - had to get a new one specially made. Got fit again and this time it was 10 times worse - to cut a long story short he was diagonised with having djd in front legs, and no cartilage in hocks in june 08. Went through all the treatment and took his jumping back to basics and really though this would be the end of it. But he will never be right - he doesnt want to jump/event and i do so i have had to make the very hard decision in the last few weeks to call it a day with him and my vet/instructor support me.

To sum it all up i know how hard it is to make a decision like this as im in the middle of it atm but i looked at it like this im 24 realistically might only want to keep horse till im 30 and i wanted to event and my horse cant do it - i have tried for 18months to fix him and spent a lot of time and money - but with my situation there was a time when i had to call it a day!!!! i wudnt let it get as far as i did and if u want to event and dont think he will then maybe u need to be sensible its fairer on u both!!!! gd luck know how hard it is

soz tis is so long
 
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I have been 'creeping' up on eventing for so long and I don't want to stop just yet

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And if this is the horse that has given you the confidence to compete - and he is able to do it physically - then keep him. Even if you only get half a season out of him, your confidence will be so much more.

I guess for you it's about the taking part - and not about the winning - and that in itself is every reason to keep the horse.
 
If you are happy and confident on this hosre and he is safe sj and xc, I would carry on. My OH's boy is a shiverer, hoping to get up to novice BE this yr with him. He has seen a marked improvement using Equifeast Gold. As long as the horse isnt in pain and enjoys what he is doing why not?
 
Thanks for all the posts. It helps to hear from others as you tend to be a 'bit close' to it yourself and can't see the wood for the trees..

How long did you have your horses on NAf or the equifeast before you saw an improvement?
 
can't remember exactly but it was local lady who said to try the NAF D-Tox and prior to using it I used to pick up his 'bad leg' to pick out his hoof and he would jerk it away and it would be on the 2nd or 3rd attempt I'd be able to pick it out
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However since being on the NAF D-Tox this very rarely happens and I had changed nothing else, work and feed exactly the same, hence the conclusion it's the NAF D-Tox that makes it better? IME definately worth a go? If so please let me know how you get on?
 
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