How do you know its time to say goodbye

ChristmasSparkles said:
Where does he have arthritis? Does he normally land disunited?

If he suffers badly from arthritis, I wouldn't be jumping him personally. If companion is out of the question for you [I don't see how no room, as he is there already I'm presuming? Only difference would be you're not riding him...] along with hacking - then you've answered your own question.

If you want to carry on jumping him and jumping only, then I think you need to be realistic. Look down injection route into the joint and give him a summer/year doing what you say loves with no pain at least then let him have his fun and give him his final break. He's old enough to deserve it.

Is he on any glucosamine or supplements to help him?
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Hi, I think what happened when he landed was it was quite deep after the jump and his back legs almost got stuck I guess and changed the rythm thats why he went back to trot.

I dont think he suffers very much from arthritis, he was hunter trialed before xmas and would be stiff the day after but hes not stiff on a daily basis or anything.

He is currently fed glucosamine in Equine america kenticky liquid joint supplement just to be on the safe side if it is arthritis
 
He doesn't look to have the spark for jumping that you're describing judging from that vid tbh. Hacking, chilling, 24 hour turnout would be my answer. Light work and joint supplements to keep him swinging. If the turnout isn't good enough for him in winter, he'd be moving to somewhere that could offer it. I'd want to keep him comfy for as long as possible and if that meant me not doing what I wanted to with him anymore, so be it. But then I'm soft.
 
snooples said:
Im just assuming its arthritis as I was told a few years ago he might get it and he does get a bit stiff in his back leg after hes been cross country but I dont know if thats arthritis or not.
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Then you really need to get the vet!
 
Seriously, if you haven't already, get his back checked out. Sounds like you don't know if he has arthritis or not - he may not do. Mine will quite often land disunited after fences. However, that's actually not a huge worry - you can watch some top showjumpers who have a 'unique style' and they will do the same so that on its own wouldn't worry me BUT if he'd not done it before it can indicate a back problem.

He may well have refused because he got too deep and physically just could push enough comfortably to get over and if he's a clean jumper normally he won't have wanted to trash it.
 
PonyIAmNotFood said:
He doesn't look to have the spark for jumping that you're describing judging from that vid tbh. Hacking, chilling, 24 hour turnout would be my answer. Light work and joint supplements to keep him swinging. If the turnout isn't good enough for him in winter, he'd be moving to somewhere that could offer it. I'd want to keep him comfy for as long as possible and if that meant me not doing what I wanted to with him anymore, so be it. But then I'm soft.
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Thats what Id like to do if possible, i defo dont want to let him go.
Trust me he loves his juming, I was videoing it on my phone so wasnt able to get after him properly to jump.
trust me not many horses would jump barrel height with no wings or guide poles while you just stand there filming on your phone!
 
He does not look to be enjoying himself, he looks thin and under muscled. It looks a real effort to jump. You need to get the vet and take some advise.
I feel its you who wants to jump not the horse

Its not fair to keep jumping him in that state, this is about whats best for the horse not you.
 
ladyt25 said:
Seriously, if you haven't already, get his back checked out. Sounds like you don't know if he has arthritis or not - he may not do. Mine will quite often land disunited after fences. However, that's actually not a huge worry - you can watch some top showjumpers who have a 'unique style' and they will do the same so that on its own wouldn't worry me BUT if he'd not done it before it can indicate a back problem.

He may well have refused because he got too deep and physically just could push enough comfortably to get over and if he's a clean jumper normally he won't have wanted to trash it.
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Ok will do, its hard enough to get back people around here but I can get my hands on a physio soon enough, hopefully this week.
I can count on my hand the amount of poles hes knocked in his life he hates knocking them more than anything and when I got him (11 years ago!) would rather stop than knock so maybe that was that tendency coming back again
 
itsmylife said:
He does not look to be enjoying himself, he looks thin and under muscled. It looks a real effort to jump. You need to get the vet and take some advise.
I feel its you who wants to jump not the horse

Its not fair to keep jumping him in that state, this is about whats best for the horse not you.
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I did state at the start he is quite underweight after winter Im well aware of that.
The day the video was taken I was only meant to be loose schooling on the flat and there was jumps up around the arena and he jumped them by himself.
Tbf that barrel height is about 1.10 height as take off is quite deep, he competes at 90s
 
May not be the case, but is not just conditioned to loose jump as opposed to actually actively wanting to? He didn't look excited about it, you say this is because you weren't getting after him, you shouldn't have to do that to get him razzed up about something he supposedly loves. I wouldn't be jumping him sorry.
 
Or putting him in a position where he automatically jumps due to thinking that is what should happen in that particular setting, as I believe may have happened in the vid.
 
Just wanted to comment and say I have a little lady who was competed and jumped up until last year, always thought she wouldn't cope with retirement. But last October she had to retire due to illness(rotated pedal bones) and she's so happy! Holding her weight much better, still a poor doer but coat is so shiny and just loves going for wanders round the farm. I believe we owe our oldies a lovely retirement for all that they've given us :) or atleast a slower life if they're not Upto/enjoying their work.
 
I'd imagine you'd be able to find a nice hacking home for him if he's nice and quiet on the roads. Perhaps it's time to let him do something like that, and get a younger and sprightlier horse to do some more jumping. You could probably move up to bigger jumps then if you wanted to. Seems a shame to write him off completely if he will hack nicely, even if that's not your thing.
 
PonyIAmNotFood said:
May not be the case, but is not just conditioned to loose jump as opposed to actually actively wanting to? He didn't look excited about it, you say this is because you weren't getting after him, you shouldn't have to do that to get him razzed up about something he supposedly loves. I wouldn't be jumping him sorry.
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That was my first time ever loose schooling him! I never do it, I turned up and the tack room had been locked and there was no key so I decided to loose school for the first time
 
I don't mean this offensively, but what answers do you want posted on here? Everyone has said get a vet assessment, cut the jumping and go from there. There is your answer.

If he was underweight throughout winter, then he should have been bought back slowly and fed up, conditioned up with ground work first and then slowly bought up to work to be competing 90's or freejumping 1'10s. 3 months/12weeks is not enough time imo for an older horse to be back out competing when possible other issues underlying as it is. Chiro/dentist/vet should have been your first port of call when you had weight and stiffness problems over the winter - not just bought back into work regardless and taken out competing again.

You say you've had him 11 years and love him, so give him some decency,cut the jumping at the very least for the time being and get to the bottom of any worries and issues with vet and chiro. All the video shows is a shorts strided, undermuscled horse getting deep and lacking impulsion to clear it and landing disunited. That along with your description,is all we have to go on so the answers will be in response to that.

Whether he WANTS to jump or not is irrelevant if it causes him pain. He'll carry on jumping because it's his job and a genuine wanting to please horse from the sounds of it - don't take this for advantage and end up with a early retired horse because of the need to compete him.
 
ATrueClassAct said:
Just wanted to comment and say I have a little lady who was competed and jumped up until last year, always thought she wouldn't cope with retirement. But last October she had to retire due to illness(rotated pedal bones) and she's so happy! Holding her weight much better, still a poor doer but coat is so shiny and just loves going for wanders round the farm. I believe we owe our oldies a lovely retirement for all that they've given us :) or atleast a slower life if they're not Upto/enjoying their work.
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I would love to do this but its the winter im worried about, he loses condition quickly and I dont really know what Id do with him!

If I could find a hacking home I would, Im going to try anyway but given his age and how much feed he needs I think it will be unlikely
 
ChristmasSparkles said:
I don't mean this offensively, but what answers do you want posted on here? Everyone has said get a vet assessment, cut the jumping and go from there. There is your answer.

If he was underweight throughout winter, then he should have been bought back slowly and fed up, conditioned up with ground work first and then slowly bought up to work to be competing 90's or freejumping 1'10s. 3 months/12weeks is not enough time imo for an older horse to be back out competing when possible other issues underlying as it is. Chiro/dentist/vet should have been your first port of call when you had weight and stiffness problems over the winter - not just bought back into work regardless and taken out competing again.

You say you've had him 11 years and love him, so give him some decency,cut the jumping at the very least for the time being and get to the bottom of any worries and issues with vet and chiro. All the video shows is a shorts strided, undermuscled horse getting deep and lacking impulsion to clear it and landing disunited. That along with your description,is all we have to go on so the answers will be in response to that.

Whether he WANTS to jump or not is irrelevant if it causes him pain. He'll carry on jumping because it's his job and a genuine wanting to please horse from the sounds of it - don't take this for advantage and end up with a early retired horse because of the need to compete him.
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I am taking on board what everyone says, I can hardly get a vet out right now and Iv already said il get a physio out this week. Im just answering the questions as they are being posted.


I wasnt in the country over winter so Iv never seen the stiffness, iv only been told about it. He was ridden once or twice a week when I was gone over winter so some sort of base fitness would have been maintained.
I came back mid feb and started him again myself and he started jumping 3 weeks ago, that loose jumping would have been his first time jumping in months.
 
snooples said:
I am taking on board what everyone says, I can hardly get a vet out right now and Iv already said il get a physio out this week. Im just answering the questions as they are being posted.


I wasnt in the country over winter so Iv never seen the stiffness, iv only been told about it. He was ridden once or twice a week when I was gone over winter so some sort of base fitness would have been maintained.
I came back mid feb and started him again myself and he started jumping 3 weeks ago, that loose jumping would have been his first time jumping in months.
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So the yard has no winter turnout and he was ridden once or twice a week so what did he do the rest of the time?
 
20 is nothing today. I have a 23 yr old who is still competing in Endurance.

BUT GET A VET and get a full MOT on him, then a good physio or/and a Equine Chiropractor (Where are you as I know a number of physios etc) Also If you have not done recently get the dentist to see him.

A lot of horses have not come out of this winter well and are slowly coming back.

If you have another horse to ride then give him some more time off in the field.

Without finding out what is wrong you seemed to have given up on him. Have you though of pleasure rides etc. Have fun instead of competing.

It is not time yet to say goodbye.
 
Goldenstar said:
So the yard has no winter turnout and he was ridden once or twice a week so what did he do the rest of the time?
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stuck inside a lot of the time unfortunately. I was on the other side of the world so had no say in anything.
Which is why I dont want him to do that another winter. They do have a paddock which he was allowed out in a couple of times a week too to graze a bit and stretch his legs but not for any decent length of time.
 
Beginning to think this is a wind up. Why can't you get a vet out 'right now'? We all have an obligation to get a vet as soon as we can. Why can't you?

This doesn't look like an emergency; I'm not saying it is. Just confused as to why you can't get a vet.
 
paulineh said:
20 is nothing today. I have a 23 yr old who is still competing in Endurance.

BUT GET A VET and get a full MOT on him, then a good physio or/and a Equine Chiropractor (Where are you as I know a number of physios etc) Also If you have not done recently get the dentist to see him.

A lot of horses have not come out of this winter well and are slowly coming back.

If you have another horse to ride then give him some more time off in the field.

Without finding out what is wrong you seemed to have given up on him. Have you though of pleasure rides etc. Have fun instead of competing.

It is not time yet to say goodbye.
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Im not even that big into competing which I think people here got the impression I was, I only brought him out 4 times last year myself then he hunter trialled with someone else maybe 4 times.

He always winters badly unfortunately so when other horses are doing bad hes just going to do awful! Im well aware he looks crap and hes never going to muscle up like a young horse again but hes slowly coming around esp now the coat is going. There is nothing like a winter coat to make a horse look ****

Im in Ireland and dont know one chiropracotor :o but physio and dentist i can do.
When im riding him he seems full of energy and always eager to go for a gallop or a jump when he finds out we are going hacking he isnt too happy!
 
Billie1007 said:
Beginning to think this is a wind up. Why can't you get a vet out 'right now'? We all have an obligation to get a vet as soon as we can. Why can't you?

This doesn't look like an emergency; I'm not saying it is. Just confused as to why you can't get a vet.
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So you want me to call the vet out at half 9 at night for nothing in particular so a general look over of my horse. What sort of vets do you have that would do that!!!
 
snooples said:
stuck inside a lot of the time unfortunately. I was on the other side of the world so had no say in anything.
Which is why I dont want him to do that another winter. They do have a paddock which he was allowed out in a couple of times a week too to graze a bit and stretch his legs but not for any decent length of time.
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So you come back, find him looking poor, reportedly stiff yet the yard has not seen fit to get a vet, he has no proper turnout or exercise all the time you have been away, who has paid the livery for this service, if that is what you call it?

It seems to me everyone is failing here, I would look to move to a decent yard that takes care of the horses properly and you need to stop making excuses for why you have done nothing to change things since you came back.
 
snooples said:
So you want me to call the vet out at half 9 at night for nothing in particular so a general look over of my horse. What sort of vets do you have that would do that!!!
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Any vet would do that. It's your choice.

Ooooh nice selective reading and interpretation Snoops.

I didn't say you should call them right now, I said very clearly it wasn't an emergency. Your post said you couldn't get a vet right now but he would see a physio in the next week, suggesting you aren't going to get a vet to him in between that time. Why not? You say yourself he is struggling....
 
be positive said:
So you come back, find him looking poor, reportedly stiff yet the yard has not seen fit to get a vet, he has no proper turnout or exercise all the time you have been away, who has paid the livery for this service, if that is what you call it?

It seems to me everyone is failing here, I would look to move to a decent yard that takes care of the horses properly and you need to stop making excuses for why you have done nothing to change things since you came back.
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I dont pay, its someone doing it as a favour you see,

actually a lot has changed since iv come back
hes on 24 7 turnout now and has been for quite a while, and hes been getting lots of baileys top line condition cubes, iron x cell, joint supplement and chaff.
 
Billie1007 said:
Any vet would do that. It's your choice.

I didn't say you should call them right now, I said very clearly it wasn't an emergency. Your post said you couldn't get a vet right now but he would see a physio in the next week, suggesting you aren't going to get a vet to him in between that time.
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Maybe I wrote the post wrong or you read it wrong, I said I couldnt get a chiro as we have none around here but I could get a physio
 
snooples said:
stuck inside a lot of the time unfortunately. I was on the other side of the world so had no say in anything.
Which is why I dont want him to do that another winter. They do have a paddock which he was allowed out in a couple of times a week too to graze a bit and stretch his legs but not for any decent length of time.
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You had every say ,every county in this country has many livery yards you chose to leave him somewhere where he was getting a totally inadequate amount of movement.

You come back he's thin and has been stiff why did the vet not see him in Febuary ?
 
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