Heartless or sensible? WWYD

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pennyturner

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This will be quite long; apologies.

My herd of natives are very relaxed and happy, living as close to wild as possible on some very rough meadow. This works for me because I work full time, and have a large family, so don't have time to manage them any other way.

Most of the herd are currently fat and well, as you'd expect at this time of year. However one elderly pony whilst not thin, has no top line at all. The last week or so I've noticed he's getting that 'upside down' look which I know means he's probably got cushings or similar.

We've had him for about 12 years, and he was 'aged' when we got him. Realistically we've no idea how old he is. What we do know is that he has a dodgy hock (operable but expensive), which 'retired' him 20+ years ago from school work. The only reason he's sound for us is that he is constantly moving around the rough soft meadow, fully using his muscles, but not straining himself doing school work, as we only hack. We also think he's been insulin resistant for quite some years, and manage him on that basis.

I'm considering options for him:
1) Bring in and manage meds / feed - he'll be on his own at the house, and won't get the constant movement he needs, so likely to become stiff and/or lame.
2) Give him first bite of the new grazing (with a friend for company) to try to keep the weight on him and see how it goes.
3) Accept that he's had a good life and send him on his way before he suffers.

This is the pony who's taught all my kids to ride. I want to do the right thing, which feels like 3, but seems heartless. He's still cantering around with my 7yo daughter atm, so not like he's at death's door.

Thanks anyone who managed to read all this. I know it's a forum, but please be kind.
 
im useless at this sort of decision but would personally rule out number 1. Think its more likely to stress him being seperated and as you say cause stiffness.
 
i personally would keep a close eye, it sounds like he may be OK for one more winter so he can then enjoy another summer. but i think if there is any chance you think he is going to go downhill more over the next couple of months as the winter draws in, then you should seriously consider being PTS would be the kindest option, rather than him struggling through the winter.
i would go with option 2, but be realistic that option 3 may happen if option 2 doesn't build him up a bit. my friend has 2 oldies who have barely put any weight on all summer even on lush grazing and they will really struggle this winter i think.
personally i think option 1 would not be good for him, even if it makes him medically better and fatter he would not be as happy
 
also from a heartless v sensible view point it is definitely sensible: he sounds like he has had a very happy retirement and you don't want him to be in pain and struggling. many people seem to wait too long for their own sake, not the best interest of the horse, as they want to hold on to them.
 
I don't think there is a right/correct decision. It has to be was is right for you and the pony in your situation.

My gut feeling is that in your shoes I would leave him out with his herd, as he is used to. I'd get him a vet check and bloods and maybe look to medicate if be comes back cushings. Just that little extra tlc (rug/feed as required), but with it in the back of your mind to let him go when he starts to struggle.
 
Like the others, I'd keep a careful eye on him, and maybe rug him. If he's used to the herd I'd leave him there. Older, arthiticky horses do so much better kept out, as you're doing, so they are always on the move.

The thing is, that if he shows signs of suffering, it's not going to be like, say, a broken leg. You can make the hard decision at any time, knowing that he will toddle on till your vet can come out. And if he's still cantering around with you small child he can't be feeling too rotten. I hope for your sake that we hve a reasonable winter. NB Have you tried feeding him linseed - am a great believer in it for older horses?
 
ihatework said:
I don't think there is a right/correct decision. It has to be was is right for you and the pony in your situation.

My gut feeling is that in your shoes I would leave him out with his herd, as he is used to. I'd get him a vet check and bloods and maybe look to medicate if be comes back cushings. Just that little extra tlc (rug/feed as required), but with it in the back of your mind to let him go when he starts to struggle.
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This.
 
Id stick him on fresh grazing, feed up, if no or little improvement then I'd be looking at PTs. Sounds like he's had a lovely life with you so I wouldn't be feel bad
 
Test for Cushings and make sure his teeth are as good as possible before anything else. Who knows, a few weeks on Prascend and he may have a new lease of life.
 
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Thank you so much everyone. I really do value the support and the good advice.

RS - I'll give linseed a try. That's a really good call. If I can keep the weight on him and he's happy, it will take away the worry. He struggled last spring (didn't everyone), so I'm really wary of him losing weight, but he's been a bit sway-backed for years now, so he might make another winter if we keep a close eye on him.

I stuck him on a patch of rough grass outside the field after our ride today, and watched him crop the lot. He certainly has no problem eating.
 
Option 2 and see how it goes, would also put a rug on him. Would it be possible to give him some sort of hard feed and possibly low level painkiller? Maybe a small amount of bute just to keep him comfortable, made a big difference to my old mare.
 
I would get his teeth checked first if they havent been done. my mare showed no signs that she had a problem apart from weight loss. She needed treatment and lived happily for several more years.
 
I agree wtih Booboos but certainly think that it is sensible to have pts at the back of your mind. If the pony cannot be cared for adequately in your set-up and has had a good, long life up to now there is nothing wrong with taking the last kind decision possible. Far better imo than allowing the pony to be passed around from pillar to post.
 
I'd be inclined to rug (so he's using his feed to keep his weight, not his temperature, up), add linseed or similar in to his feed and maybe bring in for an hour or so to eat through a haynet before turning back out. I wouldn't be bringing in to stay in as he will just become stiff and miserable.
 
Would he be able to have a mix of the lot?

Allow him new grazing with a friend, and give a small meal in/near the field with medication? They do tell you when it is time - I follow the rule of 'better a day too soon than a day too late' however if he is seeming content at the moment, I would probably wait a little longer and try something else, so avoid possible regret later on. It is not heartless to consider letting them go early at all, they don't know any different.

It also depends on how much you want to put in to him. If you can afford the time and money for tests, meds and different feeds, then there is no harm in trying for a while to see if he improves at all - my veteran improved immensely on his meds and pushed back the decision quite a lot.
 
Can you get him in for an hour while you ride the others and give him necessary meds (once vet has had a look) and big tub of grass nuts soaked? My skinny (no teeth aged pony) looks fab on just one scoop of grass nuts at the moment.
It's just giving him that bit of an edge.

I second a double check of teeth also
 
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