Do you think i should retire her?

[Cazza525]

Basically homebred 21 year old, very very low mileage (was my mothers pet till she passed away last year, at the bottom of the garden with a friend for 15 years basically being pampered and unridden!)

Mum got ill, i inherited her and promised mum i'd give her a lovely life, happy hacking because she loves to get out and see a bit of the world and she is bombproof!

She was kicked last year and fractured a front splint but after plenty of rest she came right in time, although wears a heartbar on the weight bearing foot. She had a granulosa cell tumour removed from her left ovary in august and recovered well.

On vets advice, i left it until end of january to start work with her. She's never really been lunged since i broke her and i knew she'd charge about, so i walked her tacked up a couple of times and then jumped on. She was an angel,didnt put a foot wrong, ears pricked and took in her surroundings happily. Ive since been riding out two or three times a week,weather permitting for an amble. We dont go very far, i think 45 minutes was the most. I've trotted, but not for any length of time , a few strides. I havent been in the school on her, very little point as shes so unfit and tbh, shes never really schooled!

Now the thing is, she's become very stumbly, not all the time, just on uneven ground, going downhill,when she's tired or when i let her slope along, shes better if i get after her a bit to wake up. Could this be the heartbar? Shes only had it on a month as i felt she was looking uncomfortable when turning, she certainly looks more comfortable but wondering if this is the issue? Also, shes very clicky in her hocks, i thought perhaps one was a little bigger than the other yesterday morning ( it was cold!) and im not sure she looks 100% right behind, not all the time, not very lame, just stiff i guess.

Her management is in overnight with a mix of hay and haylage, fast fibre am and pm with unmollassd chaff, winter glow/summer shine and naf superflex. Shes out in a paddock for the day with 4 others, all friendly. I keep her well rugged as the stables is right on the moor and can be cold. Her weight looks great, she is a good doer so im strict with treats. Her back was checked in november, her teeth rasped in january, farrier due in 10 days and saddler coming in 11 days to either reflock her original one or i will purchase a fitted one from her. Her comfort is of the utmost importance. She is snaffle mouthed.

Do you think what im expecting of her is too much? She loves going out , especially with a friend for a hack but just doesnt feel right! Is this usual for oldies? Or perhaps its because she hasnt really been ridden for 5 years and needs to get her muscle back a bit?

I should add that she is warmblood,arAb, welsh c x. Think 15hh warmblood with short legs! She is stunning and apart from a few grey hairs on her face she really doesnt look older. I am 9 stone.

Could i have some thoughts please?

 

[touchstone]

I know some horses do stumble when unfit, it could also be a sign of arthritic changes. If that is the case I'd keep up with a gentle fittening program and try a joint supplement to see if it helps. If there's no improvement then maybe ask a vets opinion, but generally I think light exercise is beneficial in most cases.

Sorry to hear about your mum, what a terrible shame.

eta Sorry, just realised that she's already on a supplement, in which case low level bute or boswellia might be worth a try?

 

[LynH]

I have a 22yr old TB who fractured a splint bone about 8 yrs ago. She had to have surgery as the bone was displaced. She recovered well and is currently sound but ever since the surgery she trips ocasionally mostly when she's not paying attention and on a loose rein. I haven't ever really worried about it but last year she had time off with abscesses and then because the ground was too wet to ride. I've now got an arena so am thinking of bringing her back into work slowly starting in hand and then light hacking once she is stronger. My only real worry is that now she is older she might not have quick enough reactions to right herself when she trips. My mare also loves being ridden and I feel sorry for her when the others are ridden and she isn't. My vet had told me to keep riding her as she will age quicker without the work but like you I am in two minds and not sure whether to work her or retire.
She recently had heart bars on when she had abscesses but that didn't make her tripping any worse. I'd be keen to see what others think as I do feel it's a shame to retire a sound happy horse when they'd prefer light work but when does tripping become a risk too far.

 

[Jericho]

Agree with touchstone that maybe something with pain relief which will help her through the worst days. She doesn't sound like she needs or wants to retire yet and you sound like you are doing everything to keep her happy and healthy.

We have a 23 yr old pony that my daughter planned to do pony club on this year and I did wonder whether we were being a bit unfair on him in that he seemed a bit stumbly and reluctant at the end of the year and started looking for another pony so he could reture. However that didn't work so he was bought out of retirement. His shoes came off last year anyway and we have just started to see the benefit of this as his feet changed so much and the tripping onlynhappens now and again. We made him more comfy by clipping him out ( he was a very hairy scratchy beast), put him on higher calorie feed (Pure feeds), linseed (natural inflammatory) and Equine Answers Premier Flex plus which is a good joint supplement but with Devils Claw. The transformation has been lovely to see - he doesn't stumble half as much, is loving his hacking and he and my daughter are having a blast.

I am like you careful to keep him warm, and wrap his legs if wet or cold or standing in the stable for long periods ( although he generally lives out 24/7). We won't canter or jump him on hard ground and take it easy on the roads. I don't leave him standing around unrugged in the cold and travel him with big padded boots.
Hope a glimpse of how we manage an oldie helps you make a decision.

 

[Cazza525]

Im very convinced that the heart bar makes it worse. Tbh, my mare was never the most sure footed anyway, especially on different terain. She seems better on roads, positively hair raising on stoney tracks and moorland, which is such a shame because the stables are literally on a moor gate! She really enjoyed a potter up there a couple of days ago, she actually felt quite frisky! She is very very laid back normally and it was super seeing her put her head up and ears pricked...if she could have smiled she would have!

I am going to post this pic now, this was her on sunday. Next time i ride her up there im going to raise a glass and toast to my mum, just to show her how far we've come! This is literally 10 minutes walk from the yard, what a breathtaking view!

Unfortunately she stumbled walking home, but did right herself! I didnt come off and not a mark on her knees thank goodness!

 

[pinklilly]

My tb couldn't cope with heart bars in front, my vet explained some horses don't get on with them. Didn't tell me this beforehand though! There's loads of info on here if you search. Mine didn't like the constant heel pressure, some don't, he was trying to walk on his toe and this made him pottery / trip up.

 

[Cazza525]

Agree with touchstone that maybe something with pain relief which will help her through the worst days. She doesn't sound like she needs or wants to retire yet and you sound like you are doing everything to keep her happy and healthy.

We have a 23 yr old pony that my daughter planned to do pony club on this year and I did wonder whether we were being a bit unfair on him in that he seemed a bit stumbly and reluctant at the end of the year and started looking for another pony so he could reture. However that didn't work so he was bought out of retirement. His shoes came off last year anyway and we have just started to see the benefit of this as his feet changed so much and the tripping onlynhappens now and again. We made him more comfy by clipping him out ( he was a very hairy scratchy beast), put him on higher calorie feed (Pure feeds), linseed (natural inflammatory) and Equine Answers Premier Flex plus which is a good joint supplement but with Devils Claw. The transformation has been lovely to see - he doesn't stumble half as much, is loving his hacking and he and my daughter are having a blast.

I am like you careful to keep him warm, and wrap his legs if wet or cold or standing in the stable for long periods ( although he generally lives out 24/7). We won't canter or jump him on hard ground and take it easy on the roads. I don't leave him standing around unrugged in the cold and travel him with big padded boots.
Hope a glimpse of how we manage an oldie helps you make a decision.

Thankyou for this. I would love to remove her shoes, but her front heels have dropped...badly! There are also a lot of stones on the track from stables to field and im not sure shed cope too long without shoes.

Interesting about devils claw! I have looked into a little but i think i'll speak to my vet when he comes out for vaccinations on the 16th. Luckily, shes not on any bute, only superflex so i can always tweak it.

 

[Cazza525]

My tb couldn't cope with heart bars in front, my vet explained some horses don't get on with them. Didn't tell me this beforehand though! There's loads of info on here if you search. Mine didn't like the constant heel pressure, some don't, he was trying to walk on his toe and this made him pottery / trip up.

My farrier only put one on the front. He said she didnt need it on the other one. Is this ok? Shes certainly better on the turn now.