Free Project Horse - WWYD?

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Potential free project horse - 16.3hh 7yo Holsteiner.

Has had op for KS. Needs bringing back into work but is unpredictable under saddle and known to buck.

Now, would the bucking have been down to KS?

Those with experience of KS, how likely for this horse to make full recovery and able to do dressage / low level SJ / RC activities?

WWYD given this opportunity?
 
My friend has a horse that had the KS operation last year, he jumps up to Newcomers now. He used to rear and buck even after the op but he doesn't now. She will never be able to sell him though - she has tried and no-one will buy him because of the op, although he is brilliant in all ways.

If you plan to keep him, then give it a go if you understands the ins and outs and know how bad his KS was? If you want to sell on, then i wouldnt bother.
 
I would go out and buy something that fitted the bill without any problems. I spent a year rehabilitating a horse and although it was rewarding in the end, it was tough going (including being launched skywards a few times). I could have had a year with an uncomplicated horse instead, much better idea and they cost the same to keep :)
 
Hi

Do you know how long ago the KS surgery was, and what type of surgery (the ligament snip or the spinal shave)? The amount of rehab he has had/will need will be dependent upon this. The snip is a likely 12 week rehab process, with lots of lunging in the Equiami/Pessoa, long reining, etc. Depending upon the number of spines, you could be back on in 8 weeks or the 12 weeks. If it was any of the alternatives, it can be quite a bit longer. Many threads on here with the lowdown in the Vet lounge.

Bucking can be an indicator of KS...I know, I wore that tee shirt and damn nearly gave the whole game up. Others have been known to rear, and some simply don't like the work.

With regards to recovery, some have long memories and will still buck with the saddle, associating it with pain, for a long, long time after the op. However, in the words of a KS specialist, if the op is successful, "there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to go all the way to the top and jump 1.40 on a regular basis or do a PstG if you know how."

My advice is 'patience'. My boy was diagnosed with KS when he had an accident involving an adverse reaction to sedalin, his jabs and the farrier. We found the KS when we x-rayed his back to see if there was a fracture. It explained an awful lot (I have desperate pleas on here to help me find my bottle post some horrendous bronco sessions). Because the KS are mild and only in 2 places, we were advised to wait on surgery and try and see whether we could stretch him out with work instead.

I have spent almost three months lunging him (the first was because my saddler was insistent that my saddle was the cause of his discomfort and I had one made for him and it took forever to be made). We are on week 3 of lunging with the equiami (previously it was with the Chambon) and he had 3 weeks off in between due to his wrenched SI joint post sedalin. I have been taking pictures of his back every week and can see a difference already.

I am, in a strange way, very grateful for the time on the ground. We've got to know each other very well now. And we have done loads of obedience work which has been fun(!) given that he is a ex race TB. Silly things like joining up, handy pony, etc. It has been reassuring for me because I have managed to quash any fear I had knowing that I am still in control (and on the ground).

I got on him last Friday for the first time. He was an angel. I admit I lunged him for 30 mins first. I only walked and trotted for 10 mins but he tried hard and not once did I feel unsafe. I cried afterward...:rolleyes:

I tried to get on him again on Saturday, intending to do just 10 mins again in walk and a short trot, but he wasn't having any of it. He cowkicked and bucked at the mounting block. So he was lunged again. And then I got on. He was obviously very sore from the day before because he did say 'no, Mum, I can't do this!' But, he didn't try and buck me off, he just stopped.

The vet said to ride for 10 mins just once a week for the next three weeks and continue with the lunging and long reinin (we're also having weekly laser sessions). In three weeks we are to try 2 x 10 minute sessions per week for 3 weeks. And then 3, building up more quickly after that.

It's very, very boring and slow, but very important that he doesn't associate the saddle with pain. It is also important that he doesn't do more than 2 days in a row with the exercise at this stage, to allow his muscles to recover and to ensure he is enthused at the next session.

Hope that gives you some idea and hope. Your option is 7 - plenty of time for recovery and re-establishment of him as a good riding horse.
 
If its a project for you to keep as your own then a very qualified perhaps I would not would not waste the time and risk the injury , if it's as a project to sell on no definatly not.
 
I have come to the conclusion 4 free horses later there is a reason they are free- In your case I guess obviously but I would wonder why the current owner paid for the operation which is expensive just to give the horse away? To me this would ring alarm bells and id be steering clear. I just think if you were to go to all that bother to get a horse fixed why not keep it? or loan/sell
 
In all honesty and in the kindest possible way, if you need to ask how KS might affect a horse and have any doubts over taking it on then I wouldn't. At best you'll end up with a rideable horse you can never sell or insure. At worst, huge vets bills, a visit to A&E and having to have the hunt out to put it out of it's misery.
 
Wouldn't touch it. Presumably the person who decided to put the horse through the surgery tried to bring it back in to work and failed. I would therefore presume that the problem has not been solved, and the horse not rideable.
 
Do you know the horse? If I was on a yard with a horse like this, and I knew what the horse was like... I would probably take it on
 
Why does the owner not want to bring it back into work. How "free" is it. Given completely to you, loan, etc? To be honest if i knew the horse before I would probably go for it. You could always see how it goes for a while. Lots of groundwork and re-establish the work before getting on again and see what happens. Good luck whatever you decide.

On second thoughts.....whereabouts in the South West? lol
 
amymay said:
Wouldn't touch it. Presumably the person who decided to put the horse through the surgery tried to bring it back in to work and failed. I would therefore presume that the problem has not been solved, and the horse not rideable.
Click to expand...

^^^ This - I wouldn't consider it I'm afraid.
 
What is the owners reason for giving the horse away? I have a freebie that I am rehabbing now due to the owner's personal situation and he is a gem. But I had his whole history up front, easily verfiable from another source, and the owner's too. Unless they can give you a believable reason for giving him away I wouldn't take him. Like AmyMay I would assume that they have already tried to rehab him and failed.
 
I would also assume they have tried to rehab and failed otherwise why put the horse through surgery just to give it away? I would say they have tried and not managed it
 
Plenty of sound fit healthy horses needing homes. Try looking at Redwings WHW etc.
I wouldnt take this horse on dont-touch-with-a-bargepole.
 
Well they might have had out because it was insured to give it a chance.
but don't want a severely impaired horse themselves would not touch it myself though.
 
having seen a friend spend the best part of 2 years rehabilitating her horse after major KS surgery and it not working, no I would not. Everything looked to go so well but his back never really recovered.
 
I had my mare PTS last month after she was diagnosed with severe kissing spines, navicular & stifle pain in hind quarters. Leahurst were prepared to operate on the back (she was fully insured) but I was told she would have a lengthy box rest and would then have to be rebroken from scratch & even after all that they couldn't guarantee it would be a success until months after. I was also told that they can still think it hurts due to the memory of the pain. I would steer clear & avoid putting yourself in a potentially dangerous situation.
 
No!!! Had one of these and it was downright dangerous. The vet had given him the all clear to work, owner had tried to have someone else ride him and he kept dumping them. He came to me as a last chance, we sent him to the hunt kennels after 3 months.
 
Free as in the one advertised on horsemart for about £600 quid? :confused:

Saw the advert, first thought was it would be lethal and the poor thing should be pts rather than passed around!
 
I presumed it was the preloved one over near me :)


If you're up for the challenge and could cope with putting him down if nothing changes....then it's your decision.
 
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