Free to a good home- should it be homed or PTS?

Sad that you keep referring to your horse as "it" rather than she - it sounds as if you've already made the decision and are just trying to justify it?? or am i being harsh - If so, I apologise
 
I haven't read all the replies, but I did see your post about the lameness being mechanical. If this is the case have you tried an equine physio - they may be able to shed more light on it than a vet. And although I wouldn't promote indiscriminate breeding, if the mare has good conformation (or had good confo before the mechanical lameness), then what about contacting a few studs to see whether they would take her as a free brood mare? There are a lot of little studs who take on nice horses.
 
Wagtail said:
Okay, here's what I would do. Two week's complete box rest followed by paddock rest in a tiny paddock (around the size of 2 stables), gradually expanding it over the course of four weeks. Ten minutes walking in hand twice a day until she is coping fine with half an acre size paddock. Then I would start ridden work. Two weeks' walk only, then progress slowly with short episodes of trot. Only when this regime has been stuck to and she still comes up lame would I assume she was permanently lame. Then, and only then would I be making any decisions regarding her future. With shoulder injuries, they are most likely to be either tendon or nerve damage. Both of these require box rest and very gradual increases in exercise if they are to have half a chance of healing and not recurring.
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^^^agree!
 
pony person said:
Hi All,

I have a horse that is looking for a home. The history is it is lame left fore in shoulder area. I have put approx 4 weeks time into it, riding it quietly and hoping it would be suitable as a happy hacker, however it is rather sharp and spooky, and it has already gone lame left fore..

I have been riding it, but i don't really know what the right thing is to do, it would happily go as a companion mare, as she is quiet with other horses, but is that really fair on it? What would you guys do??

It could be ridden as a happy hacker on abit of bute the vet said, but due to its temperament it would need someone v experienced that is willing to spean alot of time, is it fair to ask this of someone? I would keep it myself but have already got alot and don't really need 1 more..

Opinions appreciated, i want ot do whats best for the mare, she is only 12yrs old, and the lameness is more mechancial than through physical pain...
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If it sound on bute then surely it is not lame through mechanical lameness but through pain?

It is tricky tbh. If you could find a home through word of mouth, with someone you know really well and trust to keep her as a companion or capable to light hack, then fine but if you have to advertise I would say you would be doing right by the mare to pts.

I say it is tricky because there are genuine people out there who need a companion but there are also shysters who will sell her on. Sad really for the genuine people...
 
Cyclops said:
Sad that you keep referring to your horse as "it" rather than she - it sounds as if you've already made the decision and are just trying to justify it?? or am i being harsh - If so, I apologise
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Or maybe she "knows" the "best" decision and is looking for support.


It is a very hard call to make, even with an elderly horse.
 
Cyclops said:
Would just feel happier if the horse was referred to as she and not "it" - sounds very impersonal - None of my horses are "it"
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Well maybe she's trying not to be too personal.

Its a tough call to make in any circumstance, but not going to be made any easier by getting soft and sentimental.
 
Cyclops said:
Would just feel happier if the horse was referred to as she and not "it" - sounds very impersonal - None of my horses are "it"
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And neither are mine. But I am not sure she owns the horse and sometimes you have to distance yourself in order to make the decision based on your head rather than your heart...

As I said it is a very hard call to make. You have to be tough and you may have to be impersonal if it is your way of coping with it. You have to be sure that the decision is the best one for the horse and sometimes you just need someone to say "it's ok to make that decision".
:)

I feel the fact the OP has asked shows that she has respect for the mare. :)
 
my 18 year old hunter was PTS 2 weeks ago due to bone spavin causing her pain - she was still a "she" and I had a long struggle making the decision that it was best for her - after she had gone I got into the lorry to have a good long cuddle with her to say goodbye
 
Cyclops said:
my 18 year old hunter was PTS 2 weeks ago due to bone spavin causing her pain - she was still a "she" and I had a long struggle making the decision that it was best for her - after she had gone I got into the lorry to have a good long cuddle with her to say goodbye
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But I imagine you had her for more than 4 weeks.

Sounds like this horse has somehow been foisted on the OP to do something with - she has said that if the horse was hers the situation would be different.

Its not the same thing at all - I totally understand why the OP doesn't want to allow herself to get emotionally involved when she knows she'll be making a hard choice.
 
Horses don't care what they're called - he,she, it whatever - their grasp of semantics simply isn't that great !
In this instance the OP is doing the right thing by coming here to discus what she already knows is the right course of action for this mare. OP will hopefully get the support she needs to take the final step of this difficult process. The horse will get relief from pain & be spared the uncertain future that trying to rehome her as a companion would place her in.
 
Zebedee said:
Horses don't care what they're called - he,she, it whatever - their grasp of semantics simply isn't that great !
In this instance the OP is doing the right thing by coming here to discus what she already knows is the right course of action for this mare. OP will hopefully get the support she needs to take the final step of this difficult process. The horse will get relief from pain & be spared the uncertain future that trying to rehome her as a companion would place her in.
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I agree.

Unless a companion home could be found with the absolute certainty the horse would not be passed on.
 
Cyclops said:
my 18 year old hunter was PTS 2 weeks ago due to bone spavin causing her pain - she was still a "she" and I had a long struggle making the decision that it was best for her - after she had gone I got into the lorry to have a good long cuddle with her to say goodbye
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Well, that was the way you chose to deal with it. I certainly wouldn't be getting on the lorry with the horse after it was dead.
However you did what you thought was best for your horse and OP is trying to make a similar decision herself, for a horse which was injured long before she got it, as I understand it.
OP it does sound as though PTS is the best option for the horse, sadly.
 
It is always a difficult decision to make, OP she does not sound like the type of horse that anyone would want as a companion, neither a broodmare as if she is in pain/lame walking just think how much worse that pain will be with all the extra weight inside her.
If you to not have the time for a long box rest and small walks in hand and giving her prob the best part of a year to recover then i would say PTS is the best option for all concerned
 
Enfys said:
Right, with the best will in the world here, basically, without dressing it up, you are wanting rid of this horse, yes?

She is lame and will probably always be so?

Sorry, in your place, being realistic, if I no longer wanted her/couldn't keep her then I would step up to the line and have her pts. The fact that she is only 12 has no relevance whatsoever.

No more pain/inability to move freely, no dodgy future, starving in an empty field, being passed from sale ring to sale ring, the mare won't know anything, all she'll think is "Oh yum, polos/oats, what's that man doi..."
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Couldnt have put it better myself!
 
hey, i have checked vet records, in march 09 was fully investigated, including xrays, which say damage at insertion of medial alteral ligament...the joint was medicated/injected a few times after this point every few months but didn't stay sound for polo, but it may be of benfit perhaps if it is just a happy hacker? has anyone else hada horse with this sort of injury that has recovered?
 
hi all, thanks for your kind posts, the horse is not mine, but there is no time frame, and i am trying to do the best by her, if she has a life i would much rather her keep it! I have posted re her injury now, any more feedback appreciated. She has had 8 months off over winter in a paddock...perhaps if i could combat her spookiness abit that would help, perhaps i will go back to basics and groundwork for a while-it is totally a trust issue..lunged her yesterday and looked much better but freezes still like she IS terrified-this is alot of the problem when i ride her. Please don't judge me i am a very caring person and the horse isn't mine, i am trying to save her! Should i just try confidence gaining on the ground for a while- i do think if she can get trust in people she will become a much easier ride in the future...
 
Yes OP I agree if you can calm the spookiness and trust issues on the ground this should be reflected in the ridden work. I would try a calmer - I use Relax Me and it's very good ( I should ask them for commission I recommend it so much on here!). Zylkene is also said to be brilliant but pretty expensive. Good luck!
 
hi yas, ok thanks i think i will try this, she isnt currently having any hard feed, but i will get a calmer supp and give it to her with abit of mix, it may well help her thx
 
To be honest I wouldn't give her away. Loan her as a companion if you can, if you can't, or she gets sent back to you, pts. You hear horror stories of horses given as free companions buted up and sold on, it's not nice to think where they end up, I think it's a really bad idea to let a chronically lame horse out of your control.

What is her actual diagnosis? And you mean she was already lame when you had her, or the injury occured 4 weeks ago? As it's not a long time for a horse to recover... Has she been rested?
 
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Enfys said:
Right, with the best will in the world here, basically, without dressing it up, you are wanting rid of this horse, yes?

She is lame and will probably always be so?

Sorry, in your place, being realistic, if I no longer wanted her/couldn't keep her then I would step up to the line and have her pts. The fact that she is only 12 has no relevance whatsoever.

No more pain/inability to move freely, no dodgy future, starving in an empty field, being passed from sale ring to sale ring, the mare won't know anything, all she'll think is "Oh yum, polos/oats, what's that man doi..."
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As always, cannot add anything to what Enfys has to say - IMO she is absolutely right.
 
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