Fed up / Confused. Advice / suggestions gratefully received.

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grouchymare

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Bit of background info needed but will try to be brief.
Horse 1 : 14 yr old Tb gelding, diagnosed with navicular aged 8 (significant soft tissue damage including navicular bursa & impar ligament). 4 yrs ago I decided to stop riding him, although never obviously lame he just didn't feel like he was enjoying it much & with bilateral lameness it's so difficult to tell how much pain they're in. Since then he's lived out very happily, occasionally looked lame on turn but today he was careering around & looked amazing, really floaty trot & no sign of lameness.
Horse 2 : 13 yr old Tb mare, surgery for # splint bone 18mths ago, more surgery for annular ligament & DDFT tear last May. After 5 months of box rest & walking she was still 6/10 lame so vet medicated tendon sheath but didn't have much hope of it working. At review today she is much better, 2/10 lame, but vet says she will probably never be able to cope with more than gentle hacking (not my idea of fun I'm afraid, always think of it as something you have to do to get fit enough to do something else).
With 2 horses I am permanently broke & yet I haven't been able to ride properly for 18 mths, hence fed up of title. Having watched my boy today I keep thinking of bringing him back into work but worry that that would make him really lame & destroy his quality of life. Also I really don't have time or finances to keep 2 stabled, shod etc & mare has typical tb feet so taking shoes off her not really an option without causing her even more pain & I think she's been through enough already.
Sorry for the very long whinge but I can't see any favourable options at the moment and hoping someone can make me think straight again!
 
Right, I would turn horse 2 out for the summer to have a rest. Perhaps remove hinds only? Just trimming and popping shoes back on if necessary.

Bring horse 1 back into work gradually. He's had loads of time off and would probably enjoy a change of scenery!

Could this be an option??
 
If I thought like you, this is what I would do:
Sell both as happy hackers/companions - plenty of people think that happy hacking is great fun and/or are looking for companions. You'll have to sell them cheap, given their medical history.
Then, buy aone, and only one - quality, physically able horse that YOU feel you can have fun on(with no medical ailments).
Good luck
 
You are in a very tricky position and I do understand.
I have a mare who is 1/10-2/10ths lame due to rotation and I can only afford her, and cannot do much with her at all. In fact I have ridden a handful of times I think in the last year and its hard.

I really do not know what to suggest. You could try your boy, a fair few navicular sufferers I know have come right enough to ride out happily after rest, you just never know, give him a try.
Have you thought about finding a companion home for the mare?
It depends on how you feel about all of that kind of thing, some would prefer to pts over loaning out an oldie to a home.

Its so tough having an expensive hobby that you do not really get to enjoy much, I do know about that.
All the best what ever you decide, and sorry I could not be of any real help on the matter x
 
Oh god I do feel for you , have you thought of maybe looking for a sanctuary where they can live out the rest of their lives. A girl at our yard has done this to enable her to afford her new horse which she wants to event , i know its hard to part with them but this may seem like an option as i feel you may always be taking it steady just in case . good luck xx
 
Thanks for replies. Have seriously thought about selling mare if we get her sound enough but she has a few isues, i.e. will bite you in field or stable or anywhere she feels confident (angelic at shows or anywhere she's not sure) so not the easiest to find good home for and worry that she would end up passed from pillar to post which she really doesn't deserve. Also concerned that someone would try to breed from her as she is a lovely looking well bred mare, but she lost two foals before I had her, even without the issues of breeding from unsound horses / dodgy temperament etc.
 
I'm sure you've done lots andlots to help herand you sound really concerned and obviously see her as your responsibility. Have you tried join up with her (just out of interest)
 
Take the navicular horse shoeless and cure it, it's not too late. Rockley farm did an 18 year old who had been 6 years in bar shoes and he is now too bold to take hunting because they can't control him.

Learn how to feed him a restricted grass and sugar free diet and keep him working and you can hunt and jump him barefoot.

Buy Feet First from Amazon to get you going.


Otherwise I also would have them put to sleep and buy one good horse.
 
Horse with navicular has been turned away without shoes for 4 yrs & feet now much better shape but not sure he would cope with work without shoes. Do serious soft tissue injuries really heal (can't afford another MRI to check)
 
Don't apologise - you are having a tough time - one many of us if not all of us have been through at some time or another.

They are probably only as good as they are due to the your careful management. i.e. they are not doing anything. If passed on they are likely to go backwards with someone who doesn't understand and can't manage them as well.

If they are permanently unsound then either you have to accept that and live with it or you probably have to make some difficult decisions. Are your horses lives more important than your quality of life? Both horses could live another 10 to 20yrs whilst you grow old and are miserable - can you live with this? I have been in a similar situation and in the end I chose myself. It was not without heartache and many tears that I made that decision.

Whatever you decide - I wish you the best
 
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So you could always have them shot and buy youself a new horse.

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Brave man.
I would be considering that option also.

I don't think it IS a harsh comment, quite frankly I would rather my horse/s were pts (and, come on, they don't KNOW it is their last day do they?) and know that I had been responsible for them rather than pass the buck and palm them (and their problems) off on someone else and an uncertain future.

Grouchymare, I am sorry that you are in this position, not much fun for you at the moment.
 
Its good to remember that others are in same or worse situations. Thanks. I am so tempted to try riding my boy again but feel like a spoilt brat changing toys cos the first one's broken.
 
Be realistic everyone. How many people on here would buy one of these horses? Would you take one as a gift? Will they give a new owner / loaner hours of fun & enjoyment? They are not young, they have history, medical & other, at best they are going to be 'happy' hackers & they are not going to be cheap to keep. You either 1)resign yourself to spending all your money & time caring for them without doing any competing or 2) you do as johnrobert suggests. I am not heartless, my horse will stay with me until his time is nigh. He has given me so much over the years, he owes me nothing & it's the least I can do for him. If we can't compete & I can't even ride him - so be it, I will still give him all the care he needs but I realise not everyone does this.
 
Agree with Mari, and am shocked at the suggestion that they should be 'given' to a sanctuary for them to pay for
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These are for horses in serious need, not the ones that someone has decided not to take responsibility for (NOT aimed at OP).
These animals should not be passed on IMO and should be either kept in retirement or as an earlier poster said pts and the OP buy a horse she can ride.
 
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Be realistic everyone. How many people on here would buy one of these horses? Would you take one as a gift?

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Unfortunately very true. These are my horses and I adore them but I certainly wouldn't knowingly take on another with their problems and I wouldn't expect anyone else to. They are my responsibility & I hope I will always do what is right for them.
 
Your in a real difficult situation, bad enough having one horse who has soundness issues , but two, oh dear.
I think you could definitely try horse one back into work, nothing ventured othing gained, idea.
I dont think putting one out as a companion is a bad idea, if one could live out well rugged. Its certainly a popular thing up with me.
Sorry, cant offer better advice. I did ride my mare who had soundness issues out hacking, gental schooling on low level bute, dont know if that would be an option, atleast you would do some riding that way.
Best wishes to you.
 
Why not see if the gelding will withstand some hacking and stay sound - I appreciate that hacking isn't your thing but if he will then you may be able to find him a suitable loan home. Some people do just want hackers and he could be perfect for someone. Don't sell him, you never know where he will end up. If he won't stay sound, you could try to find a companion loan home, but be careful as there are dishonest people out there. It may be best to pts if you don't want/can't afford to keep him retired.

Same with the mare really, although obviously she needs more time before you can start riding her.

If after trying and getting the vets advice then neither will be suitable even for general hacking then pts, it is no good being miserable for the sake of keeping these horses on retirement. If they are pts humanely they will have no idea what is happening.

The main thing is that you do not allow these horses to be sold on to a potentially uncertain future.
 
I used to ride two horses with navicular, they didn't get any hard work, but they were good for a few hacks out a week, with the odd canter/gallop - we used to find they were worse when they came out of the stable and seemed to get sounder after the first 10mins out hacking. They were both older (18 & 15) and were both exercised til well into their 20s.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Take the navicular horse shoeless and cure it, it's not too late. Rockley farm did an 18 year old who had been 6 years in bar shoes and he is now too bold to take hunting because they can't control him.

Learn how to feed him a restricted grass and sugar free diet and keep him working and you can hunt and jump him barefoot.

Buy Feet First from Amazon to get you going.


Otherwise I also would have them put to sleep and buy one good horse.

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Ditto CPTrays advice. Whilst i've got a splintery bum when it comes to the "evils of shoes," there are lots of cases of navicular which have come right after the owner has gone down a reputable barefoot route. If I were in your situation I would be seriously researching and then doing this plan of action for your boy.
 
In your shoes, the mare would be going to the kennels, the gelding would be getting a reprieve. And if that didn't work - the gelding would be hot on the heals of the mare.

Tough, but practical.
 
I would have them both put down. I had a horse with navicular, like yours never was happy to be ridden even when he was sound.
I know its a tough decision but then you can wipe the slate clean and start again before you resent them.
 
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I would have them both put down. I had a horse with navicular, like yours never was happy to be ridden even when he was sound.
I know its a tough decision but then you can wipe the slate clean and start again before you resent them.

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The BHS welfare dept would advise this course of action rather then consigning these horses to an uncertain future out of your care. You wouldn't be letting them down either - just the opposite.
Feel free to PM if ever you want someone to talk about this with.
 
I'm in a slightly similar situation to you. And although i often feel that the pts option is probably of more benefit to me- i just can't do it.

My navicular mare (18 this year) has been out of work for 4 years now (due to me retiring her, not having enough time etc), although i have done the odd in-hand showing show with her and she seems to be sound in a straight line now and possibly 1-2/10 lame right circle. She is quite happy to hammer around the field like an idiot and generally behave like a loon so i thought that i might as well try bringing her back into work.
I got on her a couple of times at the end of last year (with a little help of some acp
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) and she was fine, so once the weather is better i am going to try again! (Although i should mention that i also did retire her as i didn't feel like i could keep her calm with happy hacking. I have since become a little braver and at 18 years old, surely she is going to quieten down?!?! lol)

I really feel for you, because it is a difficult situation and it can be so frustrating to be pouring so much money into something which you are not getting anything out of! I think you should try bring your lad back into work and see how he copes with it- you might be suprised!
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Wait until both are in light work, then see about loaning them out as happy hackers.

Think about moving to somewhere where they could live out or be retired, then look for something on loan or to share for yourself.

If they go/remain lame and are obviously in pain then put to sleep.
 
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