noblesteed
Well-Known Member
Just wanting people's poinions as I am finding this all very difficult and it's making me really sad
I have had my 18 yo horse for nearly 10 years. He's now just a hack since being diagnosed with bone spavin 4 years ago. A symptom was being disunited in canter so we can't school any more. He's had a few years of steroid injections in his hocks but each time he got mild lami. He had lami this spring just before his injections were due - I think from frosted grass - so I decided not to have his injections. I don't think it's fair to give him lami any more because each time he gets it it gets worse. The vet agrees with that. The vet also thinks he has EMS as, despite being thin, he's so sensitive to sugars. Cushing tested negative.
He has started to go lame in front after shoeing - farrier suspects some sort of arthritis in his feet/joints in front. He recommended removing shoes altogether next time.
I have struggled all summer to get him to any level of fitness. His stride is short and he tires quickly. Some days are better than others but he's gone from being a horse who wants to gallop across the fields to barely wanting to break into a trot. He's been given devil's claw in a feed before riding and this now makes no difference at all.
Add to this he has started head shaking with low sunlight.
On tuesday I gave him his devil's claw pain relief 10 mins before riding, we walked down the hill and along the road to the beach which is his absolute favourite ride. We got onto the sand where he usually likes to have a canter and he just didn't want to go. I didn't force him, I tried to get him to trot and he wouldn't. We had a paddle and walked home, me in floods of tears!
Today I went to ride on the beach with some bute to try, but I didn't have the heart to ride when I got him in. Poor guy. I'm just so gutted my best mate with whom I have had so much fun can't manage it any more. And I don't want to ride him if he's in pain
Horse is not insured any more due to heap of exclusions imposed when he bust up his annular ligament a few years ago. (That healed fine.)
Got the vet coming next week but I wondered if anyone has any advice? I guess try barefoot and on bute. Failing that retire him.
I have had my 18 yo horse for nearly 10 years. He's now just a hack since being diagnosed with bone spavin 4 years ago. A symptom was being disunited in canter so we can't school any more. He's had a few years of steroid injections in his hocks but each time he got mild lami. He had lami this spring just before his injections were due - I think from frosted grass - so I decided not to have his injections. I don't think it's fair to give him lami any more because each time he gets it it gets worse. The vet agrees with that. The vet also thinks he has EMS as, despite being thin, he's so sensitive to sugars. Cushing tested negative.
He has started to go lame in front after shoeing - farrier suspects some sort of arthritis in his feet/joints in front. He recommended removing shoes altogether next time.
I have struggled all summer to get him to any level of fitness. His stride is short and he tires quickly. Some days are better than others but he's gone from being a horse who wants to gallop across the fields to barely wanting to break into a trot. He's been given devil's claw in a feed before riding and this now makes no difference at all.
Add to this he has started head shaking with low sunlight.
On tuesday I gave him his devil's claw pain relief 10 mins before riding, we walked down the hill and along the road to the beach which is his absolute favourite ride. We got onto the sand where he usually likes to have a canter and he just didn't want to go. I didn't force him, I tried to get him to trot and he wouldn't. We had a paddle and walked home, me in floods of tears!
Today I went to ride on the beach with some bute to try, but I didn't have the heart to ride when I got him in. Poor guy. I'm just so gutted my best mate with whom I have had so much fun can't manage it any more. And I don't want to ride him if he's in pain
Horse is not insured any more due to heap of exclusions imposed when he bust up his annular ligament a few years ago. (That healed fine.)
Got the vet coming next week but I wondered if anyone has any advice? I guess try barefoot and on bute. Failing that retire him.