Gutted doesn't even cover it

[ClassicG&T]

After a year and a half of on-off lameness and eventually an opp my 5y/o has gone lame again and we don't think he'll ever be sound.

I'm absolutely devestated. He's going to have to go as can't afford to keep a happy hacker. Parents have also told me they aren't gonna buy another one ( they can afford it) and therefore I'll have to wait till I've got a job after to Uni before I can get one.
At 18 I'm looking at a good 10 years.

Horses are all I've known and done for the past 12 years of my life and I had my heart set on eventing for the past two years.

I'm just gutted I'm gonna have to give up the best part of my life.

I know I sound spoilt and I am very grateful to have had a horse but I'm just devestated. I do have a job to pay for shoes etc but no wear near enought to cover the full running along with a-levels

Sorry to moan, bit down of late

 

[Adopter]

So sorry to read about your horse not staying sound, it is devastating or you. Sending hugs and hope you feel better soon.

I know looking ahead it seems like years before you can afford to keep a horse yourself, but the time will pass and there are other ways to keep in touch with horses when you are ready.

 

[Moomin1]

How can your parents' not afford a happy hacker, if they are already affording him beforehand?!

 

[ClassicG&T]

They can afford him but refuse to pay for the running of a happy hacker and I myself cannot afford to keep him on my own

 

[marmalade76]

So sorry, poor you and poor horse

But you don't have to go without horses, I regulary see ads (mainly on local horsey FB page) looing for riders, sharers, etc. You might not get to go eventing but you'll certainly get some riding

 

[Moomin1]

They can afford him but refuse to pay for the running of a happy hacker and I myself cannot afford to keep him on my own

Why do they refuse? I'm sorry I don't understand. What did your parents' want him for?

 

[ClassicG&T]

Livery is £55 a week (DIY) and insurance is now sky high after his opp, also shoes, dentist, physio, feed etc etc. He was bought to event and payed a fair bit for him, so they want to be paying for me to be able to enjoy, compete and have fun with my horse. Not just plod around the estates. They see it as a waste of money therefore.

 

[ClassicG&T]

P.S, thanks for the kind words. I know I can ride another horse if I'm lucky but it's just not the same as having your own

 

[Zero00000]

What is horses problem?

I struggle with this from parents, if you enjoy the horse whats the problem

 

[YorksG]

I have to say that i find your parents attitude a little difficult to understand, I presume that they are not animal orriented and do not understand that you have an attachment to the horse, rather than just wanting to ride to compete. A horse ridden for hacking costs less than one competing, as there are no travel costs, no entry fees etc.
I'm sure if you explain that you want to keep the horse and not compete, they may be persuaded to allow you to keep the horse. You would have less time to compete anyway with a levels.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Would you want to keep him if you could afford to, even if he was only able to hack?

If yes, could you find grass livery, get him BF/unshod, only insure 3rd party/BHS Gold etc..?

 

[Moomin1]

I have to say that i find your parents attitude a little difficult to understand, I presume that they are not animal orriented and do not understand that you have an attachment to the horse, rather than just wanting to ride to compete. A horse ridden for hacking costs less than one competing, as there are no travel costs, no entry fees etc.
I'm sure if you explain that you want to keep the horse and not compete, they may be persuaded to allow you to keep the horse. You would have less time to compete anyway with a levels.

I agree with this.

I don't understand you, for posting this thread, or your parents' for doing what they are doing.

 

[FionaM12]

I'm another who's baffled. It looks like there was no problem affording him when fully sound but suddenly your family can't afford him now he can only hack.

Poor, poor horse.

 

[tankgirl1]

I'm another who's baffled. It looks like there was no problem affording him when fully sound but suddenly your family can't afford him now he can only hack.

Poor, poor horse.

I am baffled also

 

[MrsMozart]

It's simple: the parents can afford to keep the horse. However, they wanted a horse their daughter could event, they do not see the point or benefit of keeping a horse that can 'only hack'.

 

[smellsofhorse]

Sorry to hear of your horses issues.

Take the gap as an opportunity to save money and gain experience helping other people.
Volunteer at events, help at a charity etc.

Also why can't you keep.a happy hacker?
It would mean less time and money but you would still get your horse fix.

 

[Patterdale]

Why do they refuse? I'm sorry I don't understand. What did your parents' want him for?

Is it really any of your business?? All families are different, why should someone have to explain in detail their parents thought processes for you??

 

[Auslander]

OP -Rotten news. Whats wrong with the horse?

I think he may be hanging around longer than your parents bargain for. Have they considered how they are going to sell a lame horse? A 5yr old event horse probably isn't an ideal happy hacking candidate either.

 

[minesadouble]

A permanently lame horse cannot be a 'happy hacker'.

 

[Auslander]

A permanently lame horse cannot be a 'happy hacker'.

I know quite a few horses who aren't 100% sound, but very much enjoy being happy hackers. Don't fancy their chances of selling one though.

OP- I've just seen that its suspensory probs - a subject in which i have many hard earned life-learning points. I would agree that he won't event again, but may come sound enough to do a bit of dressage/show jumping. He needs time off though, and a proper hind suspensory rehab plan. No matter what procedure has been carried out, horses with hind suspensory problems seem to come right with a combination of long term field rest and very carefully controlled exercise. My horse is now sound, but its taken 18 months to get him to a stage where we are starting to do a bit of trot work.

 

[ClassicG&T]

Yeah it's his suspensories that have caused problems in both hind. He has had opp and 4 months in the field and only last 3 weeks been walking for approx 10-20 mins but he is now lame on front and not moving right. Vet coming on Friday

 

[Auslander]

Yeah it's his suspensories that have caused problems in both hind. He has had opp and 4 months in the field and only last 3 weeks been walking for approx 10-20 mins but he is now lame on front and not moving right. Vet coming on Friday

I wouldn't be getting my knickers twisted about a front lameness - could be an abscess, or a knock, anything. If its not behind - it may not be as bad as you think. Don't get in a panic until vet has been

 

[webble]

Is it really any of your business?? All families are different, why should someone have to explain in detail their parents thought processes for you??

She was only asking not asking for a detailed explanation this is a public forum and lots of others have asked the same question

 

[AmyMay]

OP -Rotten news. Whats wrong with the horse?

I think he may be hanging around longer than your parents bargain for. Have they considered how they are going to sell a lame horse? A 5yr old event horse probably isn't an ideal happy hacking candidate either.

Im assuming he'll be destroyed.

 

[ClassicG&T]

Im assuming he'll be destroyed.

Never. He has the right temperament to hack out bless him. Just finding the right place for him, should it come to that, would be hard but I would never waste a happy young horse because he couldn't do a job.

 

[AmyMay]

As you don't think he'll ever be sound, at best he can be a field companion, at worst spending a few years on a downward spiral. Ending up somewhere like Beeston or Derby.

Either way, very sad.

 

[ester]

Ah I'd wrongly presumed that too as I couldn't see how you could pass him on/sell him otherwise. I wouldn't worry too much until the vet has seen him, especially if lame in front and previous issue was hind suspensories.

 

[WelshD]

It cant be too bad if the vet isnt coming for another five days....
I also wouldnt panic just yet especially as it may be something minor
As for the horse i would get him sound, claim loss of use on the insurance and sell him on.

If he remains lame i dont think you'll get much say in what happens sadly

 

[quirky]

A happy hacker is cheaper to keep than a competition horse, no entry fees for starters, no diesel to transport to said events, no costly lessons
If you want to keep him, state your case to your folks, they can't argue with the above facts

 

[RobinHood]

Why do you say it will be 10 years before you can buy your own horse?

My parents funded horses while I was at at school, and I bought my current horse with my own money before I went to university. I then funded my horse and university with the help of a student loan and working on a hunt yard.