Dont know what to do with my horse

Just to cover all the possibilities here. Lets assume the old owner was telling the truth and didn't have a problem with the horse (unlikely, I know as she sold him for £1). OP so you have any issues with crookedness yourself? Do you have an instructor? Do you have any aches or pains? Are you a comfortable weight for the horse to carry and a well balanced rider?
 
Agreed, get the Vet ! get him some Xrays if he is in pain you will need to make a decision based on the evidence you have.

It is very sad that he has been pushed on to you - his previous owner should have done the honourable thing and not just pass on a problem.

I paid £140 last friday for additional xrays to confirm what in my heart I already knew - it wasn't a waste of money it was worth every penny to confirm in my mind that I was going to have to do the right thing. (Hardest decision I have ever had to make)

Don't put it off any longer

Good luck x
 
Paulag said:
The back lady should have told you to get the vet out. This makes me suspicious of her suitability for the job.
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^^^ Sorry but this^^^^

I have (too) many horses and my back lady always requires vet permission/advice before she will work on a new horse- she regulary rings vets up for new clients to make sure this has been done and takes down all the vet details also.
 
I'm afraid that I agree with what has already been said and I would urge you quite strongly to get the vet out and have his back checked BEFORE your "back lady" comes again.
Sounds like there is an underlying problem that needs investigated. At his age it could be anything and I am NOT professionally qualified to second guess those that are. But perhaps a short course of Bute, or something similar, for flare ups and some physiotherapy or even hydrotherapy to help build the muscles in his back so as to aid natural support of his structure.
Finally I would agree that lesson could be constructive in that an instructor would be able to see and teach how best for you and your horse to work together to aid balance and ease of movement.
I wish you luck with your problem and hope you manage to get it sorted out soon. xxx
 
Wagtail said:
Just to cover all the possibilities here. Lets assume the old owner was telling the truth and didn't have a problem with the horse (unlikely, I know as she sold him for £1). OP so you have any issues with crookedness yourself? Do you have an instructor? Do you have any aches or pains? Are you a comfortable weight for the horse to carry and a well balanced rider?
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Brownie, would be interested to know the answer to these questions.
 
Ditto the vet.

Hopefully you can get to the bottom of this.

If worst comes to worst and he has to be retired it needn't mean pts.

Just cause he can't be ridden doesn't mean he won't be able to be a companion for someone so don't rule him out yet :)

At the end of the day no the lady maybe shouldn't of passed him on, however what if she thought his problems were due to his high workload so passed him on as what may of been a good happy hacker...

You took him on, he is yours to find the money to treat. If he had cost you £2k then he may still of had the problem as it is you are £2k better off to start treating him with.
 
amymay said:
Who exactly?
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I don't know!!!! I don't have any more details than you but it was a suggestion!

But a completely healthy horse who just has a ridden prob shouldn't just be shot so the owner can get another one she can ride (as some have suggested, i understand op hasn't mentioned this). Morally imo that is wrong if a situation arises where the horse could be rehomed to be a good companion for another than its worth looking into to isn't it?

For example in a perfect world he would be a friendly easy going chap, not a bad doer and a nice companion. I have a 16hh horse, I wouldn't want a shetland for him to be friends with because I believe horses should have like for like companions. If i needed a companion for him it would unridden as I don't have time to exercise two so if hypothetically someone needed a companion and op's horse needed a home it would be shame to have it shot wouldn't it?
 
We have no details do we, the horse may well be sound unridden so therefore I am merely giving the other side of the argument of people who are suggesting pts that is all!
 
What does the back lady actually say is his issue when she comes to treat? The guythat sees our horses will explain what he thinks a problem is and often a soreness at some point in the back is due to the horse compensating for something else.

From what you say about this horse, either he's just one of those who just gets on with it or the pain is not that intense if he's not reacting violently when his back is sore.

What's his overall conformation like, how does he carry himself?

I would probably go down the lines of what others have said to be honest and get a vet to check him over, assess his movement etc. As it seems to be reoccurring it does sound like he is comensating for something. I had a pony who had bone spavin in one hind and due to this he favoured that leg and this did result in some soreness in his back at the time before it all fused so i got a very good physio at the time to him and she would put him right and he'd be fine for several months.

What saddles are you trying and what shape is your horse - check that the gullet is wide enough and do not fit the saddle to the horse. I have been advised by both a very good instructor and the physio that the saddle should not 'fit' as such but really they suggest the saddle sit right but be padded out to allow the horse (especially one lacking muscle etc) to build up and develop. I got mine a Kent and Masters - they have a fantastic wide gullet whereas some other saddles narrow to the back - not good. This can cause pressure and pinching and, it the horse is wider or has a wide spine then this could cause issues.

From the sounds of what you describe, the horse doesn't sound crippled by any means and I think it's worth spending the time and money getting some professionals in to properly assess him. Also, try another saddle fitter if you're not happy with the current saddle. Sorry but I know some professional/master saddlers who I actually don't rate at all!!
 
i would get a vet out and then you will get the answers you need to make an informed decision.
you saved £2000 so you could have used that to find out why your horse is always going sore, IF it's bad news and untreatable then you either PTS or retire and enjoy just being around him.
x-rays aren't that expensive compared to new saddles etc.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I would get the vet. Get the problem diagnosed properly. If it is a long term problem which cannot be resolved and the owner has probably lied to you then explain to the owner you need to give him back or have him PTS which is what she should have done if she knew there was a problem.
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You have no legal right to "send a horse back" to a private seller, unless possibly you could prove that the seller knew about a pre-exisiting condition, and then sold the horse to you in this knowledge.

In reality if you think the horse has not been "sold as described", then the seller may be obliged to offer you the difference in value between what you paid, and what the horse is actually worth. You paid £1 for this horse, so you cannot use that arguement.

You bought the horse, you need to sort it out - be it veterinary treatment, or PTS.
 
OP the back is not necessarily the issue secondary back pain is very common so the issue may be else where say in the hocks you need to get the vet in .
 
wench said:
You have no legal right to "send a horse back" to a private seller, unless possibly you could prove that the seller knew about a pre-exisiting condition, and then sold the horse to you in this knowledge.

In reality if you think the horse has not been "sold as described", then the seller may be obliged to offer you the difference in value between what you paid, and what the horse is actually worth. You paid £1 for this horse, so you cannot use that arguement.
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Yes you can send a horse back - Sale of Goods Act applies to private sales as well as commercial ones and sales on behalf of someone, I know this for a fact as I have sought legal advice on exactly that ;)
 
I would get a vet check but my old mare had a weak back and it often got sore and had to be tweaked but she was fine most of the time. When you get on don't put your weight in the saddle, stand up in the stirrups and walk forward for a few minutes then slowly lower yourself in when they have got going and are walking freely. If he is tensing up in anticiptaion of pain (which he probably does have to some dgree but don't we all) that will make him worse.
 
in the meantime can you reduce your livery bills? put him on part livery or grass livery to try and reduce your costs? this would take a bit of pressure off you while you sort the rest out
 
It's hard without seeing the horse etc but my friend had the same problem and had the back lady out so often it was silly until the vet actually came out. It was secondary pain from his feet. Owner also thought he had good feet but now knows different. Please don't rule out other parts of the body it's not uncommon at all to have secondary pain
 
Ours did that, the funny walking when mounted. He had mild kissing spine and sacroiliac issues. We keep him right with vet treatment
 
I've just had x-rays done of my lads stifle and that was £500. It is a lot of money but it depends how much you value him?? I always insure my horses as everything is so bloody expensive with them so this is maybe a learning point for you in the future. It's not too late to insure him for future illness and injury but it obviously it won't cover you for this.

I would take the plunge and get the vet out. If your current back lady is coming out and treating him and its not working them maybe you need to get someone else out and have a fresh pair of eyes on him. I don't know where you are based but I have used Helen Thornton for my lad and she is excellent and costs £55. Not only does she treat him but she also shows me how to do exercises with him in between her visits to keep his back supple. Good luck, I hope you get him sorted.
 
lottie940 said:
I've just had x-rays done of my lads stifle and that was £500. It is a lot of money but it depends how much you value him?? I always insure my horses as everything is so bloody expensive with them so this is maybe a learning point for you in the future. It's not too late to insure him for future illness and injury but it obviously it won't cover you for this.
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Horses above the age of 17 are very difficult ot insure, as OP said at the beginning. I once had to insure a 17yo and they would only insure him for injury, not illness so it all depends what it is! a lot of the time it isn't worth insuring over 17yo unless you manage to get a good amount of cover and mot things they exclude from the policy.

I agree with the others, vet is the best bet! My horse was having back/shoulder issues (acting really weird, not herself at all and very tender on shoulder/wither) back lady came out, said shoulder/wither was the issue as it was all tight and she was not at all comfortable on it so to get the vet out. Had vet out and it was lower leg problems and the problem with the shoulder/wither was compensation pain!

So dont rule it out that it could well be something easily solved! My mare has problems but she is still rideable with good management :)
 
I would contact the last owner, make it clear that you arent blaming them but ask if they can shed any light on the problems, chances are they had it diagnosed before writing off the horse and so they may be able to point you in the right direction and save the vet doing unnecessary checks to keep costs down

Next time a stranger offers you a horse for £1 dont be surprised - be suspicious!!!
 
My mare developed sore back symptoms after being ridden for 30 minutes or more on a gentle hack. I had the vet out many times, the back man etc, and no-one could identify the problem. Eventually, and please don't mock me but we do desperate things when we love our animals, I tried a horse communicator and a healer. The communicator was rubbish, but the healer/spiritualist identified arthritis. I then called the vet out again and told him what had been discovered, and he was then able to prove this!! Teamwork! Fortunately my vet has an open mind and wasn't at all offended by my trying something 'alternative'. Indeed he was pleased that at long last, he could help my horse...
 
have you tried riding him bareback and see if his back gets sore then. Try it, riding bareback can actually be fun and you could put a numnah on with a sircingle to stop it from slipping.
 
I would get a specialist equine vet out to check your horse over and give you a diagnosis. If he feels there are grounds for specialist investigations then your vet will reffer you to a specialist equine hospital such as Rossdales.
Regarding saddles it may well be that your horse because of his shape requires a custom made saddle. I had one made for my mare and it is a perfect fit and have never had any problems with it.
 
I would also be suspicious of your back person, if they can't get it right, I would say there was something more underlining going on... .. I would get your vet out, have x rays, at least this will allow you to make an educated decision about your horses future whatever it might be.
 
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