Having horse PTS next week

[ever_hopeful]

Because it bolts. It has severely injured its past 3 riders and threw me off on Sunday (on our second ride). I've 3 fractured ribs, blood in my urine, concussion, a sprained ankle and severe drag marks all across my left side. My OH has booked the horse into Potters next week and I'm having mixed feelings having never given up on a horse before. However, I am a strong rider and do not get thrown off easily. Aside from remembering walking quietly along the road on the horse and it suddenly taking off and me being totally unable to stop it, I've amnesia up to the point of being sat in someone's house waiting for the ambulance. My OH says with the horse's history - he's not willing to give it another chance to kill someone

 

[happyhack]

Thats really sad.

Obvious question but has its back and teeth been checked?

 

[MurphysMinder]

Sounds like you are doing the right thing. Understandable you are having mixed feelings but you may not be so lucky next time (don't suppose you are feeling very lucky at the mo, ouch

).

 

[AmyMay]

Hugs. Some horses just can't be turned around.

 

[f_s_]

I really sympathise with you, as next week I will have to make the same decision

When ours is in a "zone" he is unpredictable, nasty, argumentative, and downright dangerous. He weaves like I've never seen anything weave in my life!!! Rears, then runs at you. I could go on and on.

We have given him so many chances, tried everything, as, when he snaps out of this he is the most kind and sweet horse out.
Jerkyll and Hyde he certainly is.

I think, provided you have taken all the steps you can to solve the problem, if the horse is a definite bolter, for no other reason, then I would PTS too.

I can not sell ours, or give him to someone as a companion, as I would be too worried he would kill someone, so, like you, I have had to make the very sad decision.

 

[ever_hopeful]

[ QUOTE ]
Thats really sad.

Obvious question but has its back and teeth been checked?

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, I bought the horse knowing she had problems and she was vetted last week and had her teeth floated - although the vet said there was nowt much needing doing. She passed the physical side with flying colours, although it of a very nervous disposition and prone to freaking out and shaking from head to foot with fright at the slightest provocation. I am the third person to try and work through the problems with her, and I know in my heart of hearts that she is not of the temperament to tolerate being passed from pillar to post any more. The bolting IS established behaviour and 3 very experienced trainers have been injured in succession. Just feel cr*p about next week but my OH is taking control of the situation and the YO agrees with the decision made. I can't move at the mo, due to the 3 ribs and OH is taking time off work to get kids off to school and help me during the day. He's less than impressed with what's happened after just 5 weeks of having the horse. We've been doing a lot of work on the ground to build up her confidence and get her going, and I was only walking her quietly around the block (very quiet lane which loops around the yard) when whatever happened, happened. She was being ridden in a pelham and would not turned, circle, move towards the hedge or pull up. She's got a powerful neck and strong tongue (as complained about by the vet who floated her teeth last week). She completely locks her neck and ignored the bit and bolts. I remember taking both feet out of my stirrups in readiness to jump off her. She's tall and I guess something went wrong between me opting to get off and me hitting the ground, as I don't remember anything after taking my feet out. I also ride in an Oz stock saddle and the bruises to the inside of my left thigh where it caught against the pommel block on that side as I came off, are horrific.

 

[zoeshiloh]

I think that you are doing a very brave and reponsible thing, if only more people would make these decisions rather than trying to "do good". It is a very sad thing to hear, but even if rehomed as a companion, there is no guarentee that some unscrupulous person wouldn't try to sell him as the perfect horse. God only knows where he could end up!

Thinking of you at this difficult time, and just remember you are doing the right thing for your horse.

 

[Divasmum]

You are doing the right thing. Some people would just sell the horse on and then hear tragic things have happened to the rider. It is so very sad for you but you are being a very responsible owner.

 

[MontyandZoom]

I agree that you are being very brave. I think that some horses just can't be turned around and I wish more people would be responsible rather than trying to pawn dangerous horses off on other people. Sometimes, there really is just no other option.

Big hugs xxxx

 

[Doormouse]

Very brave but very good decision. It's the kindest thing for the horse too because if she is very nervous and unhappy then being passed on is not going to help her. I know that it seems awful to play 'god' but it is much fairer to everyone including the mare. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

 

[happyhack]

That is so sad.

It does seem to be the best decision for all involved though. The horse certainly does not sound happy. And as she is so dangerous it is just not worth the risk of her injuring/potentially killing someone else. Poor horse and poor you.

I hope you get better soon.

 

[3BayGeldings]

Any reason why 'it' is referred to as 'it'?

Sad news.

 

[Nailed]

Shame to hear that, But id say your doing the right thing.
I know how your feeling, I had to make the decison to have my horse PTS two weeks ago, and he was an angel, not agressive so i was very attached.

Hugs

 

[happyhack]

[ QUOTE ]
Any reason why 'it' is referred to as 'it'?

[/ QUOTE ]


because the OP hadnt stated he or she at first

 

[3BayGeldings]

Sorry - i was asking the OP, did QR by mistake.

 

[happyhack]

QR-ahhh ok, understood

 

[ever_hopeful]

[ QUOTE ]
Any reason why 'it' is referred to as 'it'?

[/ QUOTE ]

She's a 'she' as I say later on.

 

[BBH]

When ours is in a "zone" he is unpredictable, nasty, argumentative, and downright dangerous. He weaves like I've never seen anything weave in my life!!! Rears, then runs at you. I could go on and on. [ QUOTE ]


[/ QUOTE ]

I have one like this who can be unpredictable and does all you say except he has never been nasty. He has had every possible person look at him to try and figure him out and we've come to the conclusion its just 'him'. His weaving has stopped since I stabled him next door to his best buddy. I have retired him and spoke to the vet about having him PTS but I just couldn't go through with it.

If he had these issues and was nasty to boot I would have gone through with the PTS as I wouldn't be prepared to tolerate a field ornament who was dangerous on the ground. The decision has been made easier cos I have my own place and am not paying livery.

In your situation if everything had been done to determine why this was happening without success and she was a danger to herself and others I would PTS. As my vet said some horses are just not meant to be and its no-ones' fault.

Good luck

 

[ever_hopeful]

Thanks everyone for your words of support. Personally I am dreading going back to the yard once I'm better and after my OH and YO have arranged the deed to be done. There are bound to be people who will think I am horrific for making such a decision. You know what some people can be like

But in my heart of hearts, I know it is the right decision. My OH initially talked about taking her to a dealer's yard but I said no, even if we were 100% honest about her history there is no saying somewhere down the line someone might be duped into buying her as a safe ride. Inbetween her episodes she's an absolute gem. Can do anything with her and my little girls love brushing and fussing her. So someone <u>could</u> be duped further down the line.

The mare is 11 and I just wonder what happened in the poor horse's past to have made her like this? It's really sad.

 

[f_s_]

I am lucky, if I didn't have my own yard then perhaps the decision would have been made much earlier in my case.

I agree that he is dangerous and so does my vet, as to the weaving issue for mine, he doesn't do this just in a stable it's everywhere! If you could get him in a stable perhaps you could contain it to some extent by weave bars etc. He now lives out, helps the problem, but he still has to come onto the yard every so often!!

 

[BBH]

Yes its not easy, mine has been chucked off a yard before cos of his behaviour. The only yards that tolerated him were the bigger professional yards with experienced staff and he was on full livery ie they made loads of money out of him.

Funnily enough he is a gent at home and no ( read minimal ) trouble. I think his problem is all about getting out of work and not trusting easily. He had a bad start to his ridden work which I think soured him. But really he's just a difficult bu@@er.

 

[lauraandjack]

I think you are making the right decision. There are plenty of nice horses in the world looking for a good home, and by the sounds of this one sooner or later someone is going to be permanently injured or killed.

Having her PTS is a very brave thing to do, but it is also the most responsible thing to do in the situation. At least you know she is not being passed from pillar to post or mistreated, and she isn't going to do anyone any harm either.

 

[ischa]

i do respect you for what you are doing but have you even thought about using as a broodmare
is there any reason she cant do this if she cant maintain a ridden cereer

 

[BBH]

do respect you for what you are doing but have you even thought about using as a broodmare [ QUOTE ]


[/ QUOTE ]

Not sure I'd breed from her tbh given her issues aren't down to physical problems. She doesn't have the right temperament.

 

[fizzer]

Feel very sorry for you at this moment, you were brave to take her on when you knew she had issues, would a rescue home take her as a pet? just thinking that if she was good to handle could perhaps spend her days out grazing.

 

[Enfys]

Brave, but the sensible and responsible decision in the light of things. You have a family to think of too. This decision is far, far worse for you than the horse, she knows nothing of it, nor will she.

Years ago a friend was in a situation very similar to yours with a bolter, in an autopsy the horse was found to have a tumour in the brain.

As to anyone else's opinion, it really doesn't matter. Sure, we all prefer to have our decisions approved of, but those that tut-tut aren't the ones in your boots, they aren't sitting on your horse and they aren't the battered ones.

I hope that you recover from your injuries soon.

 

[shiresrus123]

cant she be a broodmare, or field ornament?

unless ive missed it, i dont think pts is right if she just isnt safe to be ridden really, a horse is a horse first, riding is second

apologies if have missed reasons why she cant be left as an unridden horse, but if she could, then being pts isnt right imo

 

[f_s_]

[ QUOTE ]
i do respect you for what you are doing but have you even thought about using as a broodmare
is there any reason she cant do this if she cant maintain a ridden cereer

[/ QUOTE ]

I think that's called indiscriminative breeding!! There are lots out there without problems, so I would not IMO advise breeding from something with problems!

I think she's being responsible and doing the right thing.

 

[Hippona]

[ QUOTE ]
cant she be a broodmare, or field ornament?

unless ive missed it, i dont think pts is right if she just isnt safe to be ridden really, a horse is a horse first, riding is second

apologies if have missed reasons why she cant be left as an unridden horse, but if she could, then being pts isnt right imo

[/ QUOTE ]

Temperament like that....no way would I be breeding from her.

Perhaps you would be happy to take her on, pay for her and keep her as a field ornament?!

No? Thought not.

PTS- best option all round.

 

[shiresrus123]

LOL actually i have bought and currently have many field ornaments

, so yes i would do

oh dear own goal, no point getting nowty just because i disagree with you dear