Has anybody given up on their horse due to setbacks ..

[YasandCrystal]

She had a full set of bloods taken which came back ok so at least something's ok!

I think the KS and off hind intermittent lameness are related, she has been sound for last 3 months touch wood but she is so stiff on right rein they have to be linked in my opinion but physio and vet disagree.
I also think hormones and ulcers are linked but again the vet disagrees, I mentioned last year when the vet said hormones that I thought it was ulcers as she is a stress head but the regumate worked so guess I was wrong!

FWIW I agree with you about the problems likely being related. I know conventional vets do like to take this view. I sent my horse away for 3 weeks to a holistic vet who is also a trained acupuncturist and an osteopath. She mobilised my horse's sacrum (something conventional vet's disbelieve in), but not before she had made a full assessment to ensure that there was no other root cause than an accidental injury. She was very interesting to talk to and recounted stories of conditions causing others. Hock problems are quite notorious for causing SI problems and vice versa.
I don't know where you are in the country but the holistic vet I used was in Higham nr Newmarket - my insurers paid and the treatment was actually quite inexpensive compared to the Newmarket lameness clinic. I was with NFU at the time - he is uninsured now, but they paid up to 10% of the vet 's fee insured total in alternative therapies. My conventional vet was happy to refer me as the acupunture alone is great for any pain management.

I would be inclined to get a holistic vet's view so that you know you have actually explored every available avenue.

 

[SpottedCat]

I agree at the not presenting her properly at fence number 2 she saw it at last minute due to the fact I turned her really tight into it, more rider error I think, she's an honest mare and will usually jump from any angle which means I've got lazy presenting her at the fences, I've got away with doing it over small fences but even though they are now only 80cm she's questioning it a bit more..

There's more to it though - your canter looks long and fast and a bit flat to me, and you look like you feel she's going too quick, so you have quite a hold on her - she chips in a few times round the course, and that's because she comes round to the fence long and fast and then you drive her (probably because of the stop), so she arrives in the base of the fence with no power and nowhere to go. She's being very honest with you now, but I don't see that lasting forever.

Do you have regular training? Maybe someone could recommend someone local to you? You're in the right area for good people

 

[opinionuk]

I have weekly sessions with an event rider who is great, we've spent a lot of time on flatwork, as she's always shouting saying ' establish your canter!!!! before you put her at a fence, she loves the mare and always says don't you ever sell that mare! Lol
She's been around badminton quite a few times so guess she knows what's she's talking about, she's only stopped at one sj fence in 2 years so can't really complain!

There's more to it though - your canter looks long and fast and a bit flat to me, and you look like you feel she's going too quick, so you have quite a hold on her - she chips in a few times round the course, and that's because she comes round to the fence long and fast and then you drive her (probably because of the stop), so she arrives in the base of the fence with no power and nowhere to go. She's being very honest with you now, but I don't see that lasting forever.

Do you have regular training? Maybe someone could recommend someone local to you? You're in the right area for good people

 

[foxy1]

I think you have to go with your gut; if you have had enough then sell her. No-one has to live with your decisions except you so make the choices that make you happy

 

[Lolo]

If you're having weekly sessions, I'd be inclined to try someone new for a bit tbh. It won't be that your instructors not good, but having a fresh pair of eyes once in a while can really help: Al has regular sessions with an eventer, and then every 3 weeks or so has a SJ lesson with someone else, and that one lesson is really making an enormous difference to them overall.

 

[leflynn]

God that's worse than mine! The thing is mine doesn't have a particularly nice temperament unless she is on regumate then she's quite cuddly on her terms of course! Gets vicious if she doesn't have food!

Mine can be a fast and loose with his teeth if he is bored, he also tries to 'play' with you in his stable (which is fun). If he wasn't so sweet and also a darling to ride then I *might* have given up on him but there is something about him which means I can't

Sometimes a small change can mean a big difference, the ned became nicer when he had a friend he actually liked next to him, also he has gone extra chilled now he is at his holiday home (where his is on a horse walker) - is moving yards an option if you don't get the turnout you need? It can make a big difference - even the atmosphere of a place can

 

[Amphibolite]

I too can relate to this dilemma!! I'm currently so stressed over it all, and just don't know what the solution is. Bought my first competition horse in November - a 5yr old Hanoverian, who had been show jumping up to Discovery. But I bought him for dressage. Paid quite a large sum of money for him after passing 5 stage vetting then everything started going wrong within days of getting him!

1. Was very tight back, moved yards within 2 months as felt he needed more turnout to be able to 'move' and loosen up
2. No improvement and he hated new yard (no routine and got very difficult to handle) but got new vet out (not one who vetted him). X-rays ruled out KS but deep tissue damage in lumbar region
2. Also slight lameness on off fore, vet (not one who did the vetting) suspected damaged suspensories! And poss causing problems in back. Said he should never have been passed through a 5-stage! All legs X-rays and ultra sounded. Treated with SWT
3. Vet said 2-3months of treatment so moved yards again (current) as by now I needed some support and help on ground. His future uncertain at this stage, vet told me prob wont be the competition horse I'd hoped for
4. Suffered severe allergic reaction and Hyves when moved to new yard - another vet visit!
5. Yard is horrendously muddy so horse then got mud fever in one leg which ballooned overnight! More antibiotics!
6. Now not getting turnout (done full circle!)
7. On top of all this, I just cannot find a yard which I'm happy with - lack of adlib hay my biggest bugbear!!! And I pay Full Livery costs (work FT and travel a lot)!!

So, I've lost a small fortune to say the least. We haven't really bonded through all this as he is young, frustrated and probably now associates me with all this pain he's been feeling (never mind the thousands I'm spending to try and fix him!). So I'm stuck with a horse I can't do anything with, one which won't pass a vetting, and a very expensive 'pet' on full livery!!! So what do I do??? I think, after many tears and sleepiness nights, I bring him back into work over next month or two (had last SWT yesterday) and then try and rehome him. If I can't then I've no idea what to do and will probably have a nervous breakdown!! This whole experience has put me off from ever buying a horse again But its warming to know I am not the only one going through it.

Btw, I have contacted both vetting vet and seller, but I'm stuck because his 'problems' aren't clear cut and impossible to prove they were Pre-existing! Although I can count on one hand the number of times I have ridden him in the last 5 months!!?

 

[opinionuk]

Its heartbreaking isn't it, just found out she's got windgalls on her hind leg and has developed another splint on her front leg! Somebody somewhere is having a laugh at my expense!
In same situation, can't sell her, can't loan her, could possibly loan her as a hack but her temp not great and she's on regumate whose going to want a horse like that! Such a waste as she's super talented :-(

QUOTE=Amphibolite;11728993]I too can relate to this dilemma!! I'm currently so stressed over it all, and just don't know what the solution is. Bought my first competition horse in November - a 5yr old Hanoverian, who had been show jumping up to Discovery. But I bought him for dressage. Paid quite a large sum of money for him after passing 5 stage vetting then everything started going wrong within days of getting him!

1. Was very tight back, moved yards within 2 months as felt he needed more turnout to be able to 'move' and loosen up
2. No improvement and he hated new yard (no routine and got very difficult to handle) but got new vet out (not one who vetted him). X-rays ruled out KS but deep tissue damage in lumbar region
2. Also slight lameness on off fore, vet (not one who did the vetting) suspected damaged suspensories! And poss causing problems in back. Said he should never have been passed through a 5-stage! All legs X-rays and ultra sounded. Treated with SWT
3. Vet said 2-3months of treatment so moved yards again (current) as by now I needed some support and help on ground. His future uncertain at this stage, vet told me prob wont be the competition horse I'd hoped for
4. Suffered severe allergic reaction and Hyves when moved to new yard - another vet visit!
5. Yard is horrendously muddy so horse then got mud fever in one leg which ballooned overnight! More antibiotics!
6. Now not getting turnout (done full circle!)
7. On top of all this, I just cannot find a yard which I'm happy with - lack of adlib hay my biggest bugbear!!! And I pay Full Livery costs (work FT and travel a lot)!!

So, I've lost a small fortune to say the least. We haven't really bonded through all this as he is young, frustrated and probably now associates me with all this pain he's been feeling (never mind the thousands I'm spending to try and fix him!). So I'm stuck with a horse I can't do anything with, one which won't pass a vetting, and a very expensive 'pet' on full livery!!! So what do I do??? I think, after many tears and sleepiness nights, I bring him back into work over next month or two (had last SWT yesterday) and then try and rehome him. If I can't then I've no idea what to do and will probably have a nervous breakdown!! This whole experience has put me off from ever buying a horse again But its warming to know I am not the only one going through it.

Btw, I have contacted both vetting vet and seller, but I'm stuck because his 'problems' aren't clear cut and impossible to prove they were Pre-existing! Although I can count on one hand the number of times I have ridden him in the last 5 months!!?[/QUOTE]

 

[Amphibolite]

Opinionuk - I totally understand how you are feeling. Although, I wouldnt worry too much about the windgalls (unless you are showing?). A lot horses have them without causing any problems.

I've now maxed out my insurance and next logical step would be an MRI, but I cannot afford this myself - along with any follow up work/surgery. So, I have decided to turn him away for a year in the hope that a rest does him good and he fixes himself. If he is sound in a year, I will then build him back up very slowly and see what happens. He has age on his side, so deserves ths chance.