Ex-raccehorse woes, seriously what am I going to do?

justabob said:
Thoroughbreds are always sharper in the winter, that is a fact. This horse has been over analysed and just needs correct handling from a decent jockey and a suitable environment.
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I'm not sure I agree. My ex steeple chaser was a gent all year round.
 
justabob said:
Thoroughbreds are always sharper in the winter, that is a fact. This horse has been over analysed and just needs correct handling from a decent jockey and a suitable environment.
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No they are not , some horses are sharper in winter some in summer my Tb is entirely unaffected by season .
 
unicornystar said:
Wasting my breath but as I care about horses......

Have you had an X ray on her spine? yes or no?

If not HOW do you know there is nothing physically wrong with her??

Mine with KS was competing regularly, sometimes broncing sometimes not........whether she is very well or not, if she is broncing ANYTIME at all, personally I would want to know I had covered everything and if not KS then at least you know you are dealing with some other issue or simple hi jinx.

Either way you clearly dont have enough experience with ex racers/tb's to ever make this work for you.
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Equally, you could x ray a horses spine and find KS and that might not even be the problem. A bone scan is the only way to show if the area is active and actually significant.
 
Yes and i'm sure a vet will happily take the money for a bonescan...which is why insurance premiums keep going through the roof!

Once again i confess to not having read through every single page, but to me it sounds like rider is frightened of riding horse, handling horse and horse doens't get much turn out (or none, as said not read). That there is a problem in itself! Yes the mare may have physical issues but she could also be bored out of her box and in need of a leader.
 
stilltrying said:
Yes and i'm sure a vet will happily take the money for a bonescan...which is why insurance premiums keep going through the roof!

Once again i confess to not having read through every single page, but to me it sounds like rider is frightened of riding horse, handling horse and horse doens't get much turn out (or none, as said not read). That there is a problem in itself! Yes the mare may have physical issues but she could also be bored out of her box and in need of a leader.
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Nail on the head.
 
stilltrying said:
Yes and i'm sure a vet will happily take the money for a bonescan...which is why insurance premiums keep going through the roof!

Once again i confess to not having read through every single page, but to me it sounds like rider is frightened of riding horse, handling horse and horse doens't get much turn out (or none, as said not read). That there is a problem in itself! Yes the mare may have physical issues but she could also be bored out of her box and in need of a leader.
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I agree the rider is frightened nothing wrong with that it's sensible to frightened of riding a horse that's to much for your skill level .
However the nub of the question is why is the horse to much and why are things worse than when the too quiet for old owner horse arrived with OP .
It could be and training or unsuitable routine or it could a veterinary issue or a combination of two or three of these things .
If you wanted me to guess where I would started looking for a reason I would say the suspensorys in the hind hocks as these issues often present with pain behind the saddle and issues striking off into canter .
Any one whose sprained a ligament them selves knows it often most painful the first time you do the thing that hurts that why horse often are difficult the first time they go into canter and then improve ,
However the management of the horse needs sorting and that's down to OP.
 
snopuma said:
Nicely dodged you once again didn't address the question.
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Can you please reiterate the question which you do not believe to have been answered and which you state I have dodged. The post which you have quoted was my response to you saying that you didnt believe a walker was a suitable way to work the horse. There was no question in your post as I recall.
 
It's worth mentioning that some vets are more specialised than others. I'm not having a go at you Snopuma as I've been in a similar position with a small equine surgery before. They kept saying she's fine, crack on, nothing wrong (albeit I'm talking 12+ years ago). It wasn't until I insisted on a referral to an equine hospital that we realised the mare had SI damage. She was sound and eventing but would disunite in canter sometimes. I now know better (we've all got to learn) and would always take my horses to a specialist equine hospital rather than a small practise (although I'm sure some small practises are great!). Some vets are more thorough than others and unfortunately, it sounds like you need a second opinion.
 
As far as I can make out the first opinion is that of the OP, she does not believe in veterinary workups, she does not believe there is anything wrong with the horse or with her management of the horse.
Most professionals, friends, vets and so on would walk away when faced with the sort of responses we are getting on here.
 
Bonkers2 said:
As far as I can make out the first opinion is that of the OP, she does not believe in veterinary workups, she does not believe there is anything wrong with the horse or with her management of the horse.
Most professionals, friends, vets and so on would walk away when faced with the sort of responses we are getting on here.
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What's the phrase - to assume makes an ass out of you and me, At no point have I said I am against vet work ups, I have spoken to 3 vets at the same practice about her over the years they are a large practice and I trust them implicitly, they are unanimous in agreement that she does not display as having and issue she is simply and TB and feeling very well in herself. You all assume that I am not wanting to go to the vets, Christ I almost have a parking space with my name on it.
 
OK so if we take the OPs assertion that there is nothing wrong with the horse physically, we are left with a horse in an unsuitable home, that's too much horse for the owner to handle, that needs regular exercise which the owner is too frightened to give... OP you really need to rehome this horse.
 
I'm sorry but any vet who would dismiss your horses behaviour like that needs to look at themselves IMO.

I have 3 TB's, what your are describing is NOT normal behaviour, plain and simple.

I'm not sure what answers you were hoping for OP, there have been a myriad of various suggestions however there is no magic fix. Your horse sounds desperately unhappy - a thick bed doesn't fulfil the basic needs of a horse, not does 'loving' it make you a great owner.

Until you look at yourself, your management, your handling and training your situation isn't going to change no matter how much you may want it too.
 
snopuma said:
You still didn't answer my question, What facilities do you think I need?
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You need a safe field/turnout that you can use as close to year round as possible and you need shelter be it a field shelter or stable.

You need to educate yourself re feeding, horse management and horse behaviours.. No one is born knowing it all; read, watch, ask and listen. Do not insult those that take the time and effort to reply with trying to help the horse their only motivation.

It's highly unlikely that you'll listen to another "simpleton freak" but for starters you could try reading some of the "100 ways to improve" books by Susan McBane. They are pennies on Amazon and there is a book for health, feeding, behaviour, partnership, riding and schooling. They will give you a start point as to indicating why your horse needs an improved way of being kept and what/how she should be fed, handled and trained.

There are lots of us with ex-racers and/or experience with "difficult" (and that does usually mean in some sort of discomfort and/or pain) but why waste time.

Your behaviour on this thread is ridiculous and I hope you have manners to apologise for the way in which you have conducted yourself. It's not hard to wonder why all the experienced and knowledgeable posters have left the forum when this is what goes on.
 
So OP, now you are telling us that you have asked vets if she needs a workup and they said absolutely not. In spite of the fact that certain vet issues will cause these symptoms, and that there is no way of telling without certain investigations?
No senior vet with equine experience would ever say such a thing.
Please let us send out the WHW officer and he can asses the situation, liase between you and your vets, and find a solution to your mare's problem.
 
Guys I think you are all wasting your time and I think we need to just leave this thread to die as the OP was just looking for sympathy and a hug regardless of what issues her horse may or may not have. I think we should all just leave the thread as after the second page it was clear the OP wasn't after and constructive help.

OP clearly you know better so why ask for advice. Good luck with your mare hopefully nothing nasty will become you or her.
 
To some extent we are feeding the troll, but maybe someone will recognise the scenario, its not difficult, and send out a welfare officer to help the mare, and talk to the OP.
 
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Don't know why you asked the question, OP. You obviously have all the answers and don't need good advice from 'simpletons and freaks' (quality reply that, nice :rolleyes: ).

If you really cared about this horse, then you would listen to HER and actually investigate her problems, be they physical or behavioural, thoroughly.

I get the impression that you are trying to justify to yourself, not spending the time and money on this horse. If you don't investigate the problem, then you will never find the solution and ultimately the horse you say you care about so much, will continue to suffer.
 
snopuma said:
What's the phrase - to assume makes an ass out of you and me, At no point have I said I am against vet work ups, I have spoken to 3 vets at the same practice about her over the years they are a large practice and I trust them implicitly, they are unanimous in agreement that she does not display as having and issue she is simply and TB and feeling very well in herself. You all assume that I am not wanting to go to the vets, Christ I almost have a parking space with my name on it.
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So if you are so certain that there are no medical issues, why did you dismiss my idea of using a walker to bring her back into work? You said you had dismissed it because of the question marks regarding KS and SI issues and that you were worried about her joints. In fact you implied i had been stupid to suggest it given these potential issues. Yet here you are reiterating that there are no issues. So why the hideous response to my suggestion of using a walker given you had said you had no intention of getting om board her yourself? Crikey OP it must be terribly exhausting being as confused and contradictory as you. If you are this inconsistent with the mare no wonder you have troubles.
 
Black Beastie said:
Guys I think you are all wasting your time and I think we need to just leave this thread to die as the OP was just looking for sympathy and a hug regardless of what issues her horse may or may not have. I think we should all just leave the thread as after the second page it was clear the OP wasn't after and constructive help.

OP clearly you know better so why ask for advice. Good luck with your mare hopefully nothing nasty will become you or her.
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I certainly was not looking for a hug or sympathy I was looking for help with confidence and behavioural issues, but only the very few have helped the rest of you have, as usual, decided to attack. Just for your information my understanding of a forum is for like minded people with a common interest to discuss issues, it is not a place where people get off on having a go at the OP, it is not reasonable to have a go at the OP for not taking your advice, it is not reasonable to have a narcissistic attitude to your offering there are other opinions.
 
Well if there's nothing wrong with her, and you won't sell her, then you'll just have to suck it up and crack on with things. Why not try driving her? Blinkers could help with the spooking, and no need to sit to a buck. Maybe a few months of decent hard work will be the making of her and you as a partnership. Failing that, retire her to grass permanently or shoot her. Those are your only remaining options at this point. I'd ditch that pro rider though; doesn't sound like much help beyond having a better seat than sense, imo.
 
Fun Times said:
So if you are so certain that there are no medical issues, why did you dismiss my idea of using a walker to bring her back into work? You said you had dismissed it because of the question marks regarding KS and SI issues and that you were worried about her joints. In fact you implied i had been stupid to suggest it given these potential issues. Yet here you are reiterating that there are no issues. So why the hideous response to my suggestion of using a walker given you had said you had no intention of getting om board her yourself? Crikey OP it must be terribly exhausting being as confused and contradictory as you. If you are this inconsistent with the mare no wonder you have troubles.
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Hello Twisty Fun Times,

Firstly I don't agree with walkers full stop. If I had to use one i.e. I couldn't walk I would only use an oval one as they are proven to be a little less hard going on the horse (any horse). I don't have access to a walker. I was astounded that your suggestion to help this situation was to put a horse on a walker that 80% of this thread have judged as being in terrible pain with KS and SI.

Oh and if it was a hideous response, what can I say I give as good as you get.
 
Bonkers2 said:
To some extent we are feeding the troll, but maybe someone will recognise the scenario, its not difficult, and send out a welfare officer to help the mare, and talk to the OP.
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You have been incredibly rude throughout the thread, making a joke out of my situation, and now you call me a troll, pot and kettle.
 
snopuma said:
Hello Twisty Fun Times,

Firstly I don't agree with walkers full stop. If I had to use one i.e. I couldn't walk I would only use an oval one as they are proven to be a little less hard going on the horse (any horse). I don't have access to a walker. I was astounded that your suggestion to help this situation was to put a horse on a walker that 80% of this thread have judged as being in terrible pain with KS and SI.

Oh and if it was a hideous response, what can I say I give as good as you get.
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I agree oval walkers are much better for them than the traditional ones and that they are quite rare. Just thought a walker would be safer than you trying to sit on her when you bring her back into work as you had said you didn't want to just get on and hang on for dear life (or similar). It helps take the edge off them for the first few days until they get some of the high jinx out of them. But its obviously not something you feel to be a solution. You could lunge her which you have said before that you do but I think that is a circular motion too so clearly not an option for the same reason.
 
snopuma said:
You have been incredibly rude throughout the thread, making a joke out of my situation, and now you call me a troll, pot and kettle.
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I have not been incredibly rude throughout, I have offered suggestions, as other have, pretty much all along the same lines.

here is my first post, after seeing you are struggling

Bonkers2 said:
I have not read many of the posts, except you have had her or for 4 years and apart from the day you tried her and the day she came to you she has been difficult. This horse is not for you OP, do what you have to do or want to do, but don't struggle on like this.
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After that posting I read though countless threads, what is clear is that you don't want advice from people who are experienced with this type of problem, yet that is what you asked for.

For example someone suggested [among other things] that you could exercise her on a walker since you are not able to ride her, you derided the poster and went off on a tangent about oval walkers etc etc, all you need say, is thank you, but we don't have a walker on the yard.
 
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I am not getting into an argument, and will not be posting after this. I also will not be mentioning the 'v' or 'e' words.

However, regarding difficulty turning out: I acknowledge that the mare gets excited and starts fence running etc. However my previous mare initially did something similar when she was being turned out over the winter: out for the day and in at night. After leaving her to it - with other horses on the other side of the fence, to avoid hurting them but keep them close enough to see and touch - she did calm down. Initially it took a couple of hours, but after a few weeks she would just go for a single buck and kick up the field before settling down for a good munch.

Plenty of hay in multiple piles in the field before she got there, and turning other horses out first, helped. Also, not good with back shoes on as we did have one self-kick incident.

This may not help, and only the OP knows if this would be feasible and appropriate here. But it settled my girl's head like nothing else.
 
If she has no health issues, and you aren't willing to sell/give her to someone who will fix her, then you need to man up with her and stop asking for advice you won't take anyway or put her in a field and let her live her days being a horse
 
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Bonkers2 said:
I have not been incredibly rude throughout, I have offered suggestions, as other have, pretty much all along the same lines.

here is my first post, after seeing you are struggling



After that posting I read though countless threads, what is clear is that you don't want advice from people who are experienced with this type of problem, yet that is what you asked for.

For example someone suggested [among other things] that you could exercise her on a walker since you are not able to ride her, you derided the poster and went off on a tangent about oval walkers etc etc, all you need say, is thank you, but we don't have a walker on the yard.
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Your first post is awful and the rest have been progressively worse, I have read everything on the thread but I do have freedom of choice and I do know my mare, so I don't remember the H&H forum sign up with an addendum stating that OP's must adhere to all advice given by total strangers lest there computer should blow up! A lot of what has been said has already been tried so if I dismiss that on here its because it doesn't work or I don't agree with it or its not the right time to try that, if that's alright with you.

Not that you will be interested but I had a lovely morning with my mare, lunged her over poles, grazed her in hand in the brilliant sunshine and washed her tail, we both had a nice time. If this thread has shown me anything I'd better get on with her 'cos half of you would shoot her.
 
snopuma said:
Your first post is awful and the rest have been progressively worse, I have read everything on the thread but I do have freedom of choice and I do know my mare, so I don't remember the H&H forum sign up with an addendum stating that OP's must adhere to all advice given by total strangers lest there computer should blow up! A lot of what has been said has already been tried so if I dismiss that on here its because it doesn't work or I don't agree with it or its not the right time to try that, if that's alright with you.

Not that you will be interested but I had a lovely morning with my mare, lunged her over poles, grazed her in hand in the brilliant sunshine and washed her tail, we both had a nice time. If this thread has shown me anything I'd better get on with her 'cos half of you would shoot her.
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[/QUOTE]I have not read many of the posts, except you have had her or for 4 years and apart from the day you tried her and the day she came to you she has been difficult. This horse is not for you OP, do what you have to do or want to do, but don't struggle on like this.
Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...t-am-I-going-to-do/page41#ksucM07RIOLL8XBA.99 [/QUOTE]

Where is it that I suggested you shoot her? Exactly what is awful about telling you that this horse is not for you? You have had her four years pretty much, you bought her to ride but you can't ride her.
 
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snopuma said:
Your first post is awful and the rest have been progressively worse, I have read everything on the thread but I do have freedom of choice and I do know my mare, so I don't remember the H&H forum sign up with an addendum stating that OP's must adhere to all advice given by total strangers lest there computer should blow up! A lot of what has been said has already been tried so if I dismiss that on here its because it doesn't work or I don't agree with it or its not the right time to try that, if that's alright with you.

Not that you will be interested but I had a lovely morning with my mare, lunged her over poles, grazed her in hand in the brilliant sunshine and washed her tail, we both had a nice time. If this thread has shown me anything I'd better get on with her 'cos half of you would shoot her.
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Glad you had a good day with her. Out of interest why do you perceive lunging to be better for her than using a walker? I wouldn't normlly ask but you did say you were "astounded" at my suggestion of using a walker.
 
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