Gawsworth Track Livery
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Birker2020
Well-Known Member
Wow, not sure what to say. I'm very sorry about the loss of your lovely horse Jasper.
My horse is at retirement livery, he was barefoot for 5 months before he went to rough him off. Initially he did OK but then had an accident and hurt his sdft and ddft, so i brought him home to the livery yard to recuperate and I intensley rehabbed him before he went back two months later.
That was 7 months ago now and the leg has held up well. He like Jasper has had a number of abscesses but I believe this is something that occurs the first 12 months or so as the body adjusts. The weather hasn't helped, he lives out 24/7 with acess to hay on hard standing at night and the constant mud never dries the foot out as it does with a stabled horse.
The Y.O has been amazing and has involved both the vet and the farrier and has dressed the abscesses daily and kept me informed and we tend to visit twice weekly anyway as we are only a round trip of 30 miles away.
He is on a sachet of bute a day and is sound and he appears to be happy now with the herd. It's been a bit of a battle with his weight but we are hoping this improves in the Spring. Hoping we can wean him off the bute in the spring too.
It has been a tough ride so far, and it's far from the idilyic 'green pastures rest' that I'd pictured but it's no one's fault, just a set of circumstances that is out of everyone's control. I've questioned whether I have (and are still questionning) doing the right thing by him but he appears happy, he lies down with the herd, he rolls, he canters when the ground allows, he eats, he pushes through the herd without fear (he did get bullied at one stage) and he interacts with them playing and grooming each other. I will continue to monitor carefully and continually.
The weight loss and the abscesses appear to be common in retired horses that live out 24/7. It's a huge change going from ad lib hay in a warm stable overnight and a flat bowling green individual paddock to 40 acres without shoes sleeping 'rough' with 20 other horses and a big adjustment to the body.
I get why you feel angry with your situation you have found yourself in but I don't know if things could have been done better for Jasper, or if they had, if the outcome may have been different . I don't personally know Bethan and, I did ring Gawsworth when I was looking for a retirement option for mine but it was too expensive for me to contemplate.
I hope by sharing your story it has given you some comfort. Do not be hard on yourself for the decision you made. You gave him a chance. It's very sad what happened, but sadly no one could forsee the damage the abscess had caused. It seems everyone did their best for your horse even though through your grief you might not see that now.
Thinking of you.
My horse is at retirement livery, he was barefoot for 5 months before he went to rough him off. Initially he did OK but then had an accident and hurt his sdft and ddft, so i brought him home to the livery yard to recuperate and I intensley rehabbed him before he went back two months later.
That was 7 months ago now and the leg has held up well. He like Jasper has had a number of abscesses but I believe this is something that occurs the first 12 months or so as the body adjusts. The weather hasn't helped, he lives out 24/7 with acess to hay on hard standing at night and the constant mud never dries the foot out as it does with a stabled horse.
The Y.O has been amazing and has involved both the vet and the farrier and has dressed the abscesses daily and kept me informed and we tend to visit twice weekly anyway as we are only a round trip of 30 miles away.
He is on a sachet of bute a day and is sound and he appears to be happy now with the herd. It's been a bit of a battle with his weight but we are hoping this improves in the Spring. Hoping we can wean him off the bute in the spring too.
It has been a tough ride so far, and it's far from the idilyic 'green pastures rest' that I'd pictured but it's no one's fault, just a set of circumstances that is out of everyone's control. I've questioned whether I have (and are still questionning) doing the right thing by him but he appears happy, he lies down with the herd, he rolls, he canters when the ground allows, he eats, he pushes through the herd without fear (he did get bullied at one stage) and he interacts with them playing and grooming each other. I will continue to monitor carefully and continually.
The weight loss and the abscesses appear to be common in retired horses that live out 24/7. It's a huge change going from ad lib hay in a warm stable overnight and a flat bowling green individual paddock to 40 acres without shoes sleeping 'rough' with 20 other horses and a big adjustment to the body.
I get why you feel angry with your situation you have found yourself in but I don't know if things could have been done better for Jasper, or if they had, if the outcome may have been different . I don't personally know Bethan and, I did ring Gawsworth when I was looking for a retirement option for mine but it was too expensive for me to contemplate.
I hope by sharing your story it has given you some comfort. Do not be hard on yourself for the decision you made. You gave him a chance. It's very sad what happened, but sadly no one could forsee the damage the abscess had caused. It seems everyone did their best for your horse even though through your grief you might not see that now.
Thinking of you.
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AutumnDays
Well-Known Member
Didn't want to read and run. So sorry for your loss and heartache. Be kinder to yourself, you did the best you could with the knowledge you had. Hindsight is unfortunately 20/20. Thank you for sharing your experience
scats
Well-Known Member
Thank you for sharing. I assume this is the incident that Bethan was talking about when she closed the GTL FB page down temporarily.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your horse. I would be interested to hear GTL’s response to this.
I’m so sorry for the loss of your horse. I would be interested to hear GTL’s response to this.
Birker2020
Well-Known Member
Yes I would too.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
I’m very sorry to hear about your loss. Thank you for sharing.
The GTL owner has an account on here. Maybe she will come back and put their side on here, but you are not the first to say that it is her way or the high way.
I will state that I have always been a sceptic about that yard.
The GTL owner has an account on here. Maybe she will come back and put their side on here, but you are not the first to say that it is her way or the high way.
I will state that I have always been a sceptic about that yard.
Sossigpoker
Well-Known Member
So sorry to read this. How traumatic for you both.
Sossigpoker
Well-Known Member
She will claim bullying and her mental health and get the post removed /locked like she did last time this was raised
PSD
Well-Known Member
This is heartbreaking.
I remember when my horse was very poorly with laminitis in 2020, I posted on another platform saying how bad she was and how sorry I felt for her - I had a comment from said track livery saying “she doesn’t need box rest she needs to be out walking with her friends” which I found very insensitive. My pony was crippled and had 19 degree rotation, walking would have been horrific for her.
I spoke to someone at Gawsworth about their track livery as I was considering it if my mare recovered (she didn’t) and they were more than happy to advise me to travel a pony (over an hour away) that could barely weight bare, to get her on their track. Red flag for me there.
I’m sorry you had to go through this, you did right by Jasper and had his best interests at heart.
I remember when my horse was very poorly with laminitis in 2020, I posted on another platform saying how bad she was and how sorry I felt for her - I had a comment from said track livery saying “she doesn’t need box rest she needs to be out walking with her friends” which I found very insensitive. My pony was crippled and had 19 degree rotation, walking would have been horrific for her.
I spoke to someone at Gawsworth about their track livery as I was considering it if my mare recovered (she didn’t) and they were more than happy to advise me to travel a pony (over an hour away) that could barely weight bare, to get her on their track. Red flag for me there.
I’m sorry you had to go through this, you did right by Jasper and had his best interests at heart.
Sossigpoker
Well-Known Member
It used to anger me how she'd tell people to disregard their vet's advice. And she'd also post photos of terrible shoeing jobs and use that as "evidence " of how much better her methods are and how evil shoes are ! Nothing about her came across as ethical.
If someone questions their own vet's advice , they need to get a second opinion from another vet , not some self taught knowitall on Facebook!
Ratface
Well-Known Member
I'm so sorry for the traumatic loss of your horse. You did the best for your horse with the information that you had at the time.
Thank you for posting your experience. It may prevent some other person's horse being treated in this way.
Thank you for posting your experience. It may prevent some other person's horse being treated in this way.
MissTyc
Well-Known Member
So sad to read this. I don't know the livery yard in question, but having built my own "track" to rehab a beloved pony I have seen how militant some track people are and I can imagine this escalating and getting out of control.
I built my track for all the same reasons you sent Jasper to a track livery, but it sounds like the care wasn't right for him. Even if he never could be saved, it shouldn't have been dragged out in this way. I'd expect a responsible YO to send me videos the moment ANY concern arose.
I built my track for all the same reasons you sent Jasper to a track livery, but it sounds like the care wasn't right for him. Even if he never could be saved, it shouldn't have been dragged out in this way. I'd expect a responsible YO to send me videos the moment ANY concern arose.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
I hope that this thread stays up, please admin don’t take it down. The track livery groupies will soon be button pressing, no doubt, but people need to be aware.
Identityincrisis
Well-Known Member
I’m sorry for what you went through, especially as ultimately you were trying to do the best for your horse, sometimes we have to trust people and that doesn’t always work out, vets/farriers/physios/saddlers
Having seen the mud pits Gawsworth et all class as tracked rehab I wouldn’t send my horse there, fine in summer but relentless wet and mud is not healthy for feet. These places are are very poor relation to Rockley who have natural surfaced tracks winding through forests etc with plenty of foraging available
Having seen the mud pits Gawsworth et all class as tracked rehab I wouldn’t send my horse there, fine in summer but relentless wet and mud is not healthy for feet. These places are are very poor relation to Rockley who have natural surfaced tracks winding through forests etc with plenty of foraging available
Hormonal Filly
Well-Known Member
So sorry to hear you went through this. 
rest in peace lovely Jasper.
Are places like this not regulated at all? It’s a shame they aren’t.
rest in peace lovely Jasper. Are places like this not regulated at all? It’s a shame they aren’t.
Hackback
Well-Known Member
I'm sat here in tears reading this. So sorry for your loss 
x
x
holeymoley
Well-Known Member
Heartbreaking read. So sorry for the trauma your horse went through with his hooves. Please remember you were doing what you thought was the best for him.
I follow Gasworth. It always strikes me as strange how it seems to be the holier than thou place that can cure all problems! Don’t get me wrong, I have had a very severely laminitic horse myself and have wondered if that would be the best set up for him but through the grace of God I’ve managed to get him back to ‘normal’ and manage him for the last few years as a normal horse. I also had him shod throughout his rotation. Some things work some things don’t and I don’t think we should be so quick to dismiss our trained experts out there that have done years of scientific studies over someone who has maybe been lucky with taking shoes off and putting on a track. One thing you learn while dealing with laminitis is that what works for one doesn’t work for all. There seems to be a lot of people with little to no knowledge these days telling people to disregard vets advice and to get laminitics out of a stable and walking. This is really poor advice and I don’t know whether it stems from yards such as the above. In my experience- movement is beneficial but in moderation and most certainly not at the acute phase while the inside structures are inflammed and at risk of further movement.
I follow Gasworth. It always strikes me as strange how it seems to be the holier than thou place that can cure all problems! Don’t get me wrong, I have had a very severely laminitic horse myself and have wondered if that would be the best set up for him but through the grace of God I’ve managed to get him back to ‘normal’ and manage him for the last few years as a normal horse. I also had him shod throughout his rotation. Some things work some things don’t and I don’t think we should be so quick to dismiss our trained experts out there that have done years of scientific studies over someone who has maybe been lucky with taking shoes off and putting on a track. One thing you learn while dealing with laminitis is that what works for one doesn’t work for all. There seems to be a lot of people with little to no knowledge these days telling people to disregard vets advice and to get laminitics out of a stable and walking. This is really poor advice and I don’t know whether it stems from yards such as the above. In my experience- movement is beneficial but in moderation and most certainly not at the acute phase while the inside structures are inflammed and at risk of further movement.
Goldie's mum
Well-Known Member
Just putting the closed thread here, for tidiness.
forums.horseandhound.co.uk
Gawsworth track livery.
Did anyone see Beth’s Facebook live tonight. Something very sad going on there today. Can’t work it out.
forums.horseandhound.co.uk
SEL
Well-Known Member
That's a heart breaking read - I'm so sorry.
I wondered what had caused the outburst on FB and assumed it was something minor, but what happened to your horse is tragic and I'm very sorry.
Without wanting to make it harder for you, did the vet say what they thought caused the abscessing to kick off initially? Did it develop from being footsore on a hard surface? I ask because friend's put a limestone track around one of their fields for their herd and had huge problems with their horses initially and ended up with boots on the lot of them. Lifelong barefoot horses too.
I wondered what had caused the outburst on FB and assumed it was something minor, but what happened to your horse is tragic and I'm very sorry.
Without wanting to make it harder for you, did the vet say what they thought caused the abscessing to kick off initially? Did it develop from being footsore on a hard surface? I ask because friend's put a limestone track around one of their fields for their herd and had huge problems with their horses initially and ended up with boots on the lot of them. Lifelong barefoot horses too.
Surbie
Well-Known Member
So sad to read this, and heartbreaking for you. I'm appalled you had so little information from the YO about a radical change in your horse.
As others have said, there seems to be a lot of odd advice around, and it can be really hard to navigate it when you don't have years of experience of your own. (which I don't have either)
As others have said, there seems to be a lot of odd advice around, and it can be really hard to navigate it when you don't have years of experience of your own. (which I don't have either)
poacher82
Well-Known Member
So very sorry for your loss x
Cragrat
Well-Known Member
I am so, so sorry you and Jasper went through this.
You absolutley did what you thought best at every turn - you tried so hard for him. You were there with him at the end. Please don't be hard on yourself.
You absolutley did what you thought best at every turn - you tried so hard for him. You were there with him at the end. Please don't be hard on yourself.
Sanversera
Well-Known Member
I'm sorry for your loss and heartache 
. You did what you thought to be the best for your horse and no one can do more. Horses are very lame with abscess, mine has recently had two in the same hoof and the vet couldn't find them he thought it was soft tissue injury. After they blew horse ceased to be lame but he has two horrid holes at the white line. I can understand gtl asking you to move your horse it didn't seem to be working out for him and personally I wouldn't want to have kept him there after the dramatic loss of weight. I can understand why you wish you had not left it as long as six weeks before visiting. I don't like the gtl ethos of how they know it all better than vets and farriers, but that said I don't understand how you think that abscess is their fault alone, abscesses happen even with the best care and facilities. Is it that you are saying they should have noticed earlier and called a vet? That is what I think they should have done.
. You did what you thought to be the best for your horse and no one can do more. Horses are very lame with abscess, mine has recently had two in the same hoof and the vet couldn't find them he thought it was soft tissue injury. After they blew horse ceased to be lame but he has two horrid holes at the white line. I can understand gtl asking you to move your horse it didn't seem to be working out for him and personally I wouldn't want to have kept him there after the dramatic loss of weight. I can understand why you wish you had not left it as long as six weeks before visiting. I don't like the gtl ethos of how they know it all better than vets and farriers, but that said I don't understand how you think that abscess is their fault alone, abscesses happen even with the best care and facilities. Is it that you are saying they should have noticed earlier and called a vet? That is what I think they should have done.
webble
Well-Known Member
So sorry for your loss
Does anyone know what the situation is with Rockley now?
Does anyone know what the situation is with Rockley now?
Identityincrisis
Well-Known Member
Have I missed something? Is Rockley no more? I see an occasional post about them or at least I thought I did!
webble
Well-Known Member
I dont know thats what I was asking, the blog hasnt been updated for a couple of years and their facebook posts have been mostly non horse related
criso
Coming over here & taking your jobs since 1900
Not operating as commercial enterprise. The IG and FB posts are just personal ones of their own horses and dogs.
ester
Not slacking multitasking
I don’t think rockley have run for at least a couple of years poss longer
SO1
Well-Known Member
I am sorry for the loss of your horse.
Unfortunately laminitics can be more prone to abcesses I believe does the vet believe laminitis caused by abcesses or due to his other lameness issues?
My friend lost a horse to severe laminitis with complications and abcesses and her horse was on complete box rest with a vet coming to review at least once a week for many months. So don't blame yourself for sending your horse away as this could still have happened even if you had decided to go down the traditional box rest route/vet route or even turned him away at a traditional retirement yard which was not a track livery.
In my opinion good rehab/retirement yards should be working with vets and owners to make sure horses in their charge who are vulnerable due to injuries or ailments are at least pain free.
I think track yards can be great for weight loss for horses that are sound and healthy or recovered laminitics who can't have grass but for a horse like yours with so many complex issues and with a non traditional way of looking at healing I think any yard who is looking after such a horse should be keeping a careful eye on the horse and checking with vets if he is uncomfortable because the foot soreness/lameness in a horse with multiple things going on could be anything.
I do agree that if they thought the horse was not going to be improving with the change of management and that they couldn't deal with his abscesses it is right that they ask you to take the horse back.
Unfortunately laminitics can be more prone to abcesses I believe does the vet believe laminitis caused by abcesses or due to his other lameness issues?
My friend lost a horse to severe laminitis with complications and abcesses and her horse was on complete box rest with a vet coming to review at least once a week for many months. So don't blame yourself for sending your horse away as this could still have happened even if you had decided to go down the traditional box rest route/vet route or even turned him away at a traditional retirement yard which was not a track livery.
In my opinion good rehab/retirement yards should be working with vets and owners to make sure horses in their charge who are vulnerable due to injuries or ailments are at least pain free.
I think track yards can be great for weight loss for horses that are sound and healthy or recovered laminitics who can't have grass but for a horse like yours with so many complex issues and with a non traditional way of looking at healing I think any yard who is looking after such a horse should be keeping a careful eye on the horse and checking with vets if he is uncomfortable because the foot soreness/lameness in a horse with multiple things going on could be anything.
I do agree that if they thought the horse was not going to be improving with the change of management and that they couldn't deal with his abscesses it is right that they ask you to take the horse back.
Maddie Moo
Well-Known Member
Very sorry for the loss of your lovely Jasper.
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