Horse injuries - common?

hobnob

hobnob

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I don't have a horse myself (would love one but I don't have the money, need a good job first - or need to marry someone rich ;)) but the horse I ride has injured his leg and needs time off.

Now, from reading on the forum it seems common for horses to be injured/ill and even die! Also a lot of the news on this site seems to be because of horse deaths. I have only known of one horse die from something other than old age - I believe it was colic.

I don't really have a question, just want to discuss this, people's past experiences, etc (I don't mean to upset anyone).

It scares me that people (potentially me in the future) will spends thousands of pounds on horses that we love for so long for them to develop an illness and be PTS. Its very sad and scary. However, they give us so much and are used in ways they were never intended so we must allow for problems!
 
I have come to the conclusion in recent months that horses spend the majority of their time trying to injure themselves. They plot things in the field to ensure that at least one of any group will be injured at any one time. They are also incredibly intelligent beings as they manage to think up the most inventive ways to injure themselves, often leaving no evidence of how they became injured. I have also noticed that they usually injure themselves enough to make you concerned and warrant some time off, but not really enough to need the vet.

On a serious note, I would say that horses are surely like people - as they get older, they develop illnesses. The reason horses do not die of old age is that we can have them PTS. People can't be PTS, so we die of "old age", ie our bodies get so knackered that they give up. Surely any decent horse owner wouldn't let their old horse get to that stage? People have to struggle on with various illnesses until they eventually fade away, but you wouldn't leave a horse like that. If your horse's quality of life was bad then you would (or should) PTS. You can't do that kindness for a person.
 
Because people tend to post on here when they have a problem, or want to share news of their loss, I think the forum can give a slightly skewed view. Few people post to say 'I had a normal day, my horse is happy and healthy', even though I hope that for most of us this would be true.

Sadly though injury and illness are facts of life. It sounds harsh, but when you buy a horse you have to be prepared for the fact that you will either sell the horse or put him / her down.

Most of us just hope that we will have many happy years together first! And this has certainly been my experience. My horse is retired now, but I've owned him (with my family) for 12 years and the only problem he ever had in that time was one foot infection. So some horses certainly do have years of being healthy and in work :)
 
I don’t think it’s that common really, but you’ve got to think a lot of people use this forum and if their horse does get ill/die, they are probably going to post about it!!
 
Some horses are more prone to injury than others, some owners like me seem to have crappy luck.

Horses do injure themselves, over the past year all of mine have had to have the vet out for some kind of illness or injury bar one, however I think this is quite unusual.

To give you an idea of how much horses are injured/ill....

I own two ridden geldings; one is waiting referral to the vet school for lameness, the other has been written off as a competition horse following a DDFT injury, I've owned him six years, he had a different lameness issue last year, one allergic reaction, one case of choke and one cut that needed veterinary attention as he'd impalled his sheath on a twig.

The two Fell ponies each had a minor injury in the four months I had them that required vet treatment.

The one of the two ISH's that I've had since October had a virus the other had an eye infection.

My rescue pony who I've owned 16 and a half years has had one case of laminitis, two cases of colic, two allergic reactions and some dental work in the time I've had her so not too bad.
 
I agree, that some horses are very accident prone. There was always between 20 - 60 horses at my riding school and a vet was very rarely needed. We lost horses to colic/a broken leg/a couple to old age. I've had my current pony 4 years and had a vet out once for a deep cut on her stifle joint - penicillin given and left with me to give her the rest. Total cost £115.

I've never heard of so many problems etc until I came on here. As other's have said, it's a matter of if something bad/sad happens, your going to post it on here just as you do with your successes.

All we can do is minimise the risks to our horses but I'd much rather have my horse in my life for a short time than not at all. :) Quality over quantity! I haven't had any of my own PTS but have known the loss of several ponies at the riding school that taught me so much, and I remember them as they were - cheeky little bizzums :P
 
Fact is, if you own a horse for any length of time, there will be the need for veterinary treatment. They are quite complicated animals and with me, it seems they all spring something at the same time and so I have a very fraught few weeks/ month, then nothing for a while, then something again....

It is very stressful (also expensive and exhausting) when your horse is ill or injured. Likewise, I do adore them and have a wonderful time with them too. But to potential new owners, I would NEVER understate the commitment required to take them on. It's vast, and I reckon that if someone can be easily put off by someone like me pointing out all the potential problems, then they really never were cut out for it in the first instance!
 
Depends on the horse. My mare is 16 going on 3. She finally has done enough to force her own early retirement. I have had many other horses and none have been anywhere near as accident prone as her. My husband calls her a 'jackoffasaur'. In her 16 years she has:

Pulled her heal bulb off.

Impaled her coronet band resulting in the whole of the front of her hoof being removed and 9 months off work.

Skinned 3 of her legs by rolling too close to a metal gate.

Ended up on her back in the feed room.

Broken her shoulder hooning about in the field. (this ended her ridden career)

And finally, tried to jump the arena gate whilst playing with my gelding and almost disemboweled herself on the gate lever.

To name but a few!
 
Horses just are accident prone. They have these long, vulnerable legs that are great for running away, but also very susceptible to injury, add to that the stresses of being domesticated and you won't get a large yard that doesn't see the vet once a week.

I couldn't even list the number of injuries mine have had, but the major ones include:
- brain tumour
- melanomas
- laminitis
- lymphangitis
- sarcoids
- stiffle OCD
- numerous shredded legs and infections from cuts
- allergies including skin allergies, reactions to injections and sweet itch
- tendon and ligament injuries
- tooth problems
- endless back problems and ill-fitting saddles

and all this with the physio, dentist and vet out every 5 minutes!!!

PTS is not that common a problem amongst younger animals, the biggest problem is outgrowing a horse or having a horse as LOU for whatever you want to do because of injury or accident.
 
chestnut cob said:
I have come to the conclusion in recent months that horses spend the majority of their time trying to injure themselves. They plot things in the field to ensure that at least one of any group will be injured at any one time. They are also incredibly intelligent beings as they manage to think up the most inventive ways to injure themselves, often leaving no evidence of how they became injured. I have also noticed that they usually injure themselves enough to make you concerned and warrant some time off, but not really enough to need the vet.

On a serious note, I would say that horses are surely like people - as they get older, they develop illnesses. The reason horses do not die of old age is that we can have them PTS. People can't be PTS, so we die of "old age", ie our bodies get so knackered that they give up. Surely any decent horse owner wouldn't let their old horse get to that stage? People have to struggle on with various illnesses until they eventually fade away, but you wouldn't leave a horse like that. If your horse's quality of life was bad then you would (or should) PTS. You can't do that kindness for a person.
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First part made me laugh! And to the second part, its very sad that we can't offer this kindness to humans. My grandad had cancer and we just had to watch him slowly slip away - it was terrible to see him suffer and be unable to end his pain. And yes, any decent horse owner would - I certainly would hate to see any horse just fade away. It is so much kinder to have them PTS. :)
 
In my experience if something can go wrong with a horse it will - my first horse has cost me thousands over the years with numerous problems so when I got my second pony I got her insured. I have had one claim and was impressed with the vets and insurance company but insurance doesn't come cheap either and I think on balance you'll probably pay the same either way - so all you can do is minimise the risks - be as knowledgable about your horse husbandry as possible and cross your fingers!!!! :) It's all worth it anyway
 
Dawng said:
In my experience if something can go wrong with a horse it will - my first horse has cost me thousands over the years with numerous problems so when I got my second pony I got her insured. I have had one claim and was impressed with the vets and insurance company but insurance doesn't come cheap either and I think on balance you'll probably pay the same either way - so all you can do is minimise the risks - be as knowledgable about your horse husbandry as possible and cross your fingers!!!! :) It's all worth it anyway
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Definately worth it, how could you ever deny them their health, after all the pleasure they give you? :)
 
I have an accident prone mare and it's always something that's my fault; firstly laminitis as she got too fat, then she managed to find a poisonous plant I had missed and ate it, this was followed by cutting an artery on a sharp flint I hadn't spotted and then getting a lung infection when I accidentally gave her dusty hay. I think she just enjoys rubbing it in my face! The others don't seem this way inclined, thank goodness..
 
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