Has anyone else felt like this?

aimeedoodles said:
she knows she didn't cause him fear or pain!! she's saying she doesn't want him to have to go through it again! ridden horses are at the risk of having accidents and pulling/straining things.... I completely understand where she is coming from! horses were not put here for our amusement....
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Sorry you've lost me. Go through what again??

Likewise she did not injur him when riding him.
 
You can't judge all horses to be the same. We have two semi-retired very young, one because of constant lameness and the other because he literally has a mental problem. They live together with a dartmoor (who thinks she is retired but is in for a shock) They don't jump out of fields or cause mayhem.. well not too often! They have a happy life, well attended by farrier and vet when needed, seen and fussed over at least twice a day; stabled when needed and the best we can give them of everything.

Yes, we are lucky that we have our own land to be able to do this, but although I feel Nah might be a bit premature in her decision I don't think she is necessarily 'wrong' or that Ned would be unhappy.
 
I don't mind Aimee using my real name :) I'd happily tell anyone anyway.

C'mon guys, I just want to do something nice to Neddy. Of course I wouldn't keep him where he is to do it though!
 
aimeedoodles said:
she knows she didn't cause him fear or pain!! she's saying she doesn't want him to have to go through it again! ridden horses are at the risk of having accidents and pulling/straining things.... I completely understand where she is coming from! horses were not put here for our amusement....
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No one was having a pop, just voicing opinions which OP asked for.

True, my horses have a job and have a risk of injury, ironically they spend all season hunting and their worst injuries seem to be in the field when they aren't in work. Whilst horses aren't here for our amusement, mine are here to do a job. I love them dearly and will happily retire them if they can't work, but there is nothing to say Ned can't come sound and be worked. Retirement affects horses in very different ways, and some thoroughly hate it.
 
aimeedoodles said:
she knows she didn't cause him fear or pain!! she's saying she doesn't want him to have to go through it again! ridden horses are at the risk of having accidents and pulling/straining things.... I completely understand where she is coming from! horses were not put here for our amusement....
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But then they can also get injured in the field...
Op if he does come sound I'm sure he would still enjoy those hacks you take him on, think it will help once you have a diagnosis from the vet so you can get proper treatment plans etc.
 
I fear though that you're anthropomorphising somewhat - it might be nice from a human point of view to retire him now, but from an equine one it's a very different matter. Horses need exercise to be healthy - a wild horse travels many miles in a day - which isn't feasible in most set ups without work of some form. Many horses also prefer mental stimulation and can become nightmares left to their own devices.
 
Yes I suppose, but by the same token, he seems to be very content in the field and at the same time if 'nah' LOL! is happy with the way things are then good for her! maybe she was looking for a little support and reassurance instead of well....
 
aimeedoodles said:
Yes I suppose, but by the same token, he seems to be very content in the field and at the same time if 'nah' LOL! is happy with the way things are then good for her! maybe she was looking for a little support and reassurance instead of well....
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Hey, if Nah wants to retire ned and buy another that's entirely her choice.

Seems a waste of a nice horse, not to mention the expense.

No one is being unsupportive. And there's one thing on this forum nah has consistently received - support!
 
aimeedoodles said:
Yes I suppose, but by the same token, he seems to be very content in the field and at the same time if 'nah' LOL! is happy with the way things are then good for her! maybe she was looking for a little support and reassurance instead of well....
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Did you suggest she should retire him? You seem really keen for her to do so.

You should do what makes you happy nah.
 
I wouldn't interfere with what she wants to do with her horse...I am simply here for her when she has a tough time, and just recently she has been through an awful lot!
 
Nah said:
Since Ned went lame, I really really REALLY missed riding him...until a few days ago.

Now I don't want to ride him again. Not because I'm scared of him, or lost my confidence riding...

...but because I just want him to live the rest of his life in luxury. I really think he's earned it! Of course I will try my best to get him sound and do whatever is necessary to get him right. He's 14 now, so not exactly old, but not young either. I just look in his eyes and never want him to go through any pain or fear again.

Maybe I'll feel different if the vet says I can ride him, but who knows.
Am I being silly?
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You are not silly , this is the, very reason I have not got my own :(

Mini has her pony :) but not sure I will get another if my own xx
 
JFTD said:
I fear though that you're anthropomorphising somewhat - it might be nice from a human point of view to retire him now, but from an equine one it's a very different matter. Horses need exercise to be healthy - a wild horse travels many miles in a day - which isn't feasible in most set ups without work of some form. Many horses also prefer mental stimulation and can become nightmares left to their own devices.
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All of mine have been quite happy eating away and having nothing asked of them :)
 
I think from my point of view that I reached a consensus that mars ridden was not going to happen any more, he is a great compainon to my filly and cob. Took me a while to detach from tack. If it feels right then yes retire and let him have some time. You will know when the time for decisions need to be made.
 
May be way off here, please excuse me if i am. Am i right in thinking ned was used by a RS before you owned him?Maybe hes is 'bored', not being exercised as much and could explain his field hopping antics?
 
He could well be bored, but I was told by the vet not to do anything with him until he's getting better.
As I said, I'd still do stuff with him.

I was wondering if anyone else felt like that, I didn't really want to be told not to. I will cross that bridge when I come to it.
 
When CM was going through her long period of field rest - I did miss riding to start with, but then reached a point where it didn't bother me anymore (I just wanted her to get better). The interesting thing was that once she was all sorted and ready to bring back into work, I had to almost force myself to ride her. Lord knows what was going on in my head, but it did take a while to switch back into thinking of her as a riding horse.

RE horses having a job - the TB I used to have hadn't been ridden for years, in fact I never rode her at all. Her 'job' was being a companion to my youngsters, which she did wonderfully (ex-broodie). Plus she was fit and well right up to the end, but part of that was down to living on a hill.
 
No I don't feel like that.

My horses are either riding horses who are ridden until the end of their life or until they no longer can. My broodmares are bred every year and ridden once or twice a year to be able to get video of their foals paces alongside them. Or the broken horse who are only pasture sound and they are the only ones who do not go anywhere. The ancient ones still ride out for as long as they are sound and enjoy going out. Most of my horses are here to do a job and they do it. The ones who have served us well but have injured themselves along the way and are no longer rideable are retired here.

I can't imagine having a sound, riding horse living in my fields for 10 years or more without riding them. Horses for courses though.
 
We retired one at twelve.physically sound but but not trustworthy ridden, she lived a happy life until she died of a stroke aged 24. We do have our own land which makes it easier for us to keep our horses as we wish
 
At 22 I felt that my TB deserved to be retired and live out her life in my fields. She was sound but tripped a lot and I came to the conclusion with some help from my friends that it wasn't worth the risk of her falling out hacking and us both being badly injured as a result. My vet advised me not to retire a sound horse as she would age much quicker and lose condition very quickly. I did think long and hard about it and as I have my own land and can afford to do so I decided to retire her.

At first it felt nice knowing she could relax in the field but she now gets distressed when the others are ridden and she isn't, even if she is left with company. Her muscle tone has dropped off very quickly and as the vet warned me she has aged far quicker as a result. She has become grumpier, nastier to companions and recently has taken to whizzing around her field and generally getting into more bother with the others (one of whom has taken the brunt of her frustration).

So yes I did feel like you, she had raced/p2p until she was 9, fractured a splint bone and damaged check ligs in both front legs, she totally deserved her retirement at 22 whilst she was still sound and I felt good that I could give her that. Now, I'm not so sure it's the best thing for her mentally or physically but for both our safety I do still think I was right not to put us at risk of falling under a car as she continued to trip. I do agree with the others who don't recommend it, I wouldn't retire a sound horse without really good reason. I hope you get a diagnosis tomorrow which will help you make a decision one way or another.
 
Its often mentioned that horses weren't meant to be ridden, and most horses would rather chill out in the paddock with their mates. I have two not being ridden and although they seem to be perfectly happy I do wonder if its not kind when they don't have acres and acres to roam in but small paddocks. Depends on the character of the horse I suppose, some like working dogs dont do well if they have nothing to engage their brains
 
aimeedoodles said:
Yes I suppose, but by the same token, he seems to be very content in the field and at the same time if 'nah' LOL! is happy with the way things are then good for her! maybe she was looking for a little support and reassurance instead of well....
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I think your support here is a bit misguided. :) I honour your loyalty, but if you read carefully you'll see that no-one's having a go, just expressing different opinions. I don't think Nah would expect anything else. ;)

Mollie has also had a very hard life, and her life with me is semi-retirement. I will continue riding her as long as she's sound and happy, I wouldn't do anything which takes her too far out of her (or my!) comfort zone. I struggle to keep her weight off so leaving her happily grazing in a field wouldn't be in her best interests.

My concern with Ned would be, as Amymay says, that without some work he might be more liable to jump out of his field and go on adventures. The risks to him if he does that are far greater than in him ridden by a gentle sympathetic rider.
 
I guess its pretty nornal to feel that way Nah but all I can say is dont close your mind to riding again

At the moment you are used to no riding and are looking forward to getting to the bottom of Ned's lameness

Once that is sorted you will be looking forward to something else - maybe riding again

Situations change and evolve all the time, we just have to keep an open mind about them

I have to pick up on a point someone else made and ask if Ned jumped out of fields and was intolerant of stables when he was ridden more frequently? Whether you think its fair or not I do think the suggestion that consistent work may be a great help longer term when Ned is sound again
 
I retired LG when he started to show athritic changes... On the vet's last visit, we agreed it had made him worse and he should come back in to work. His hocks have fused so whilst there is mechanical lameness he is not finding walking out gently difficult. He is much happier for it!

When he first retired I was relieved that he was having a well earned break, but it didn't take long for that to turn into worry & guilt when he didn't take to it. So yes, I do know how you feel to some extent but I am much happier watching my boy enjoy his work (and by 'work' I mean 15 mins walking on longlines!) than I was when he was out of work and grumpy (not to mention the rapid loss of muscle someone else has mentioned, which I found a real shock to see, even though obviously I knew it was coming!).


Do what is best for your horse and it will feel right :-)
 
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I would wait and see what the vet says Nah, If he were to have a low level arthritis for example you may get the advice to ride him for say 20 minutes every day.

I do think horses are sometimes more of a PITA if they don't work, especially as he will have worked hard in his life. I know you are not talking about writing him off to retirement, but for example walking him in hand to give him a change of scene, is probably safer from the saddle anyway.

Personally I think structured groundwork is massively important to a horse, there is nothing wrong with changing your approach to your training, but I believe without doubt, that a lot of horses enjoy work. They know where they are then. You could even have a play around and try retraining him to go bitless/bareback in the school. He may love it! It could open a whole new world for you, but don't write off the riding just yet, even if it's just light hacking. You need to keep his mind busy and his body x
 
if finances allow it doesn't have to be as clear cut as complete retirement. my boy is 15 and raced for 5 years before I got him aged 8. a few years ago, he started to show stiffness, and i accidentally ended up with horse number 2 :p so she has really become my main horse riding wise, i take her out to local competitions, ect. but i think it will be many years before he will ever properly retire. he really enjoys his work, walking out with a spring in his step. when he had a few months of not much work because if my other commitment he actually went lame on his near hind, because of muscle weakness, he started getting stiffer and basically moody! he is now ridden out about 3 times a week and is a great horse to lead youngsters off and accompany nervous horses. he definitely enjoys work even if for him that is just hacking.

i hope you find out what is wrong with him, unexplained problems are so annoying! i'm sure you will figure out what is best
 
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