Happy old boy update! + do sick/healthy horses smell different?

saltpetres

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Hello lovelies! Some of you may remember a few months ago that I started leasing a 19yo TB/Clydesdale cross who was in poor condition when I got him, and I've had months of issues with pain and saddle fit and his severe anxiety and nervousness and agistment problems and silly old men, and I've inflicted you lot with all my complaints, I'm sorry to say. WELL. I think the dark days are finally behind us!
His pain issues seem to be sorted out, finally, his condition has vastly improved, and the old fella is like a totally different horse! He's been running around with his tail and head held high, and I am so happy that he is happy. I've started bringing him back into work under saddle, and we've had some lovely rides.

PICS

this is what he looked like over easter, just before I got him. huge hollows over his back/loins
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his neck was incredibly lumpy and solid, not like a horse neck at all, with what I took to be scar tissue from an old injury. Must not have been, because it's totally gone now! He had hollows on his face like the flesh had melted away and was incredibly nervous and jumpy, but strangely listless when he wasn't being scared of something.
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the day i got him. you can almost see the massive ditches either side of his withers and hips, and how his spine sits up with no flesh surrounding it. he was so so nervous of everything
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this is him now!
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I can finally see the clydie in him! he's so affectionate and relaxed now, very alert, like a totally different horse. I adore him. the hollows are almost completely gone, his neck is SO MUCH thicker and his spine now actually has flesh surrounding it. plus, look at that bum. what a beautiful bum.

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He even SMELLS different. When I got him, he smelled sort of musty and a little bit sour, and I figured that's just what he smelled like, but now he smells like good, fresh, sweet horse. Has anyone else experienced anything like that, a sick/poor horse smelling different to a healthy one?

anyway, sorry for being boring, but I'm just really HAPPY :D:D:D:D
 
Wow, doesn't he look wonderful! Fab job you've done! As to smell - Yes! My old pony smelt odd when I first had him, musty, stale sweat kind of smell, difficult to describe; but not because he needed bathing - still smelt odd after a bath. He had lami soon after I got him and discovered he had cushings, but as he went back into exercise after the lami the smell went. Smell came back again not long before he was pts, so I'm guessing illness was the reason. Odd isn't it?!
 
I think you've done a brilliant job! So many people would have written him off at that age and what you've done with this chap just goes to show that with the right care and attention horses approaching old age can be absolutely super.

btw - I know what you mean about the smell, I know one in just that state now, and I know it's just because he's a bit neglected, not been groomed and isn't being fed properly or having his various problems addressed in any way whatsoever.
 
His eyes are so bright! Well done you.
I've not known it in horses but I know when my sister had glandular fever she smelled awful and people with diabetes can smell of pear drops (something to do with burning ketones) so I imagine it's the same for horses.
 
thanks, everyone! :)
it's amazing about the smell, I'd never heard of it before my lad, but it looks like maybe it's a common thing! I wonder what causes it?! I know that sometimes sick people smell different, but I always figured it was the smell of medication (like every time I take antibiotics, I smell horrible and my clothes stink all over), but maybe it's the smell of the actual sickness? fascinating!
 
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