scotsmare
Well-Known Member
Sorry this is a bit long! We have a mare on loan who has been lame virtually since the day we got her (October last year). She came to us after recovering from a suspensory ligament injury just to hack / do a bit of stressage. She was lame on and off all winter and things came to a head a few weeks ago when enough was enough. I insisted that owner had the horse investigated (she kept the insurance running) to find out what the heck was wrong. I've posted about her problems a couple of times on here already!
After much nerve blocks, scans and x-rays the vet decided that ligament was fine and she had heel pain and last week was surgically shod. Vet said it would take a few days to settle her feet and to trot her up today. Duly did this and she's hopping bloody lame - worse than she was last week. There's no sign of trauma, injury, kicks, cuts nothing.
Reported this to owner who was just 'oh well, give her some bute, box rest her and maybe phone vet at end of week'. That's fine and easy for her to say but horse has had 4 trips to vet / farrier now and is occupying stable that could be used by something that could be ridden. Owner has already said that if she doesn't come sound she doesn't want her back and I'd have to get the ILPH or someone to take her. I think though, that if I pushed it then she would take her back. There would be no issue with her having space - she owns a bloody great farm and livery yard!
I feel guilty that I'm considering getting rid of her but I now feel that I'm at the end of my tether, I haven't ridden the horse in months and I kind of feel that I'm a care home for a duff but lovely horse! OH is doing his nut at how much this is costing, both in time and energy as well as financially for very little return. I don't want to breed from her as she has no breed papers of her own and also I've just bought a foal and have a 3 yr old on the go at the moment so don't really have the space to add more to the collection!
What would you do??
Wine and chocolate for getting this far.....
After much nerve blocks, scans and x-rays the vet decided that ligament was fine and she had heel pain and last week was surgically shod. Vet said it would take a few days to settle her feet and to trot her up today. Duly did this and she's hopping bloody lame - worse than she was last week. There's no sign of trauma, injury, kicks, cuts nothing.
Reported this to owner who was just 'oh well, give her some bute, box rest her and maybe phone vet at end of week'. That's fine and easy for her to say but horse has had 4 trips to vet / farrier now and is occupying stable that could be used by something that could be ridden. Owner has already said that if she doesn't come sound she doesn't want her back and I'd have to get the ILPH or someone to take her. I think though, that if I pushed it then she would take her back. There would be no issue with her having space - she owns a bloody great farm and livery yard!
I feel guilty that I'm considering getting rid of her but I now feel that I'm at the end of my tether, I haven't ridden the horse in months and I kind of feel that I'm a care home for a duff but lovely horse! OH is doing his nut at how much this is costing, both in time and energy as well as financially for very little return. I don't want to breed from her as she has no breed papers of her own and also I've just bought a foal and have a 3 yr old on the go at the moment so don't really have the space to add more to the collection!
What would you do??
Wine and chocolate for getting this far.....
