How do you know its time to say goodbye

I wasn't going to comment, but I've been in your position before. You post an innocent enough thread and then the next thing you know you're on page 12 with hundreds of overwhelming replies!

Sometimes they can be hurtful and you feel like you've repeated yourself hundreds of times, but they are just trying to help (most of the time!)
Ignore the personal digs and concentrate on the ones who want to help you and your horse! Easier said than done, I know, but it does sound like they're right this time...

...Get a vet (which you are doing, I think I read?), give him a rest and go from there :)
 
Your horse has been a good friend to you and deserves to be treated well in his later years.

I would recommend that you get a vet in to thoroughly check your horse out especially checking for any lameness/stiffness, teeth, eyesight, heart etc.

I would not jump your horse anymore and would just regularly exercise him at a walk.

I would find alternative stabling for him where he can have daily turn-out during the day and stabled at night on a nice deep bed. Keep him rugged at night when it is cold or windy so as to keep the draught off him. Also put a waterproof rug on him if it is likely to rain.

It may be that he needs some more specific feed and additives which has been formulated for elderly horses.

He may also need different shoes if he is shod such as rolled toes on his front.

I wish you both good luck and hope that you take every precaution to look after your horse in his latter years. He deserves it!
 
snooples said:
Thanks Garnet, lovely post.
I am going to take things easy with my fella I had no comps planned with him anytime soon anyway. He never gave any indication that things werent right, he jsut kept jumping away until that fence that caused the problem, but he jumped another one right after with no problems.
So I dont see why people are jumping down my throat as if he was refusing regualrly it would be an obvious sign.

anyway sounds like im making excuses but what im trying to say is he hasnt done anything wrong which would immmediately warrant a vet but i knew something wasnt 100% which is why i asked for help on here and now im going to do something about it.
I love him more than anything and he follows me around the yard like a dog, i call him from the field he comes up no need for lead rope and he follows me wherever I go and I want to do everything I can so he is feeling the best he can
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Some horses won't refuse doing what they love, but they suffer for it afterwards, a bit like humans when the mind is willing but the body is weak.

If he is always as stiff as in your vid, I'm afraid I wouldn't be jumping at all, and would get a vet for advice, you are right that it isn't an emergency, but he looks to be in obvious discomfort and some pain relief might make all the difference to him - I still wouldn't be jumping him however.

He could have plenty of happy active years left in him if allowed plenty of turnout and a lighter workload. I've known many horses who do better in winter turned out well rugged and fed than stiffening up in a stable; until you try then you will never know. I think if you can't offer him a quieter life and he is deteriorating then it is kinder to pts. It is hard when our much loved horses age and start to slow down, but something that happens to every horse, and some much younger than yours.

There's no point getting upset about comments, rather better to take it on the chin and review what your horse is doing. Sometimes when we are so close to a horse it can make it more difficult to spot a slow deterioration and I think that this may be the case because your horse is apparently happy to jump.
 
You are putting what you want before the health and well being of your horse.

That horse is not up to jumping anymore, he looks sore and un happy.

I feel you want someone to tell you to have him put to sleep because hes does not winter well.

He needs a mot with vet and dentist and some decent food, and STOP JUMPING, He needs some tlc and you you should bee putting him before your own selfish and childish need to compete
 
There is a girl on my old yard who said her horse was 20 when it arrived 2 years ago now says 19, education system working there then! Any way it belts into its jumps and leaps them them lurches into its forehand and takes ages to stop. Shes always yanking its mouth and hitting it telling it off for rushing and jumps every time she rides.

Anyone,even my friends in experienced 13 yo can see it only rushes to get enough oomph to get over the jump as its back end totally doesn't work, then gets off the back end asap afterwards as in pain.

Girl doesn't listen just keeps knocking years off its age and doing as she pleases which is leaving it stood in field for weeks at a time in mid weight rug then turning up once racking it over load jumps and chucking back out. The other girls try to deal with horse's basic needs but can't afford to supplement it as all teens on budget paying to look after their own horses.

So sad when they get old with no dignity. On Bute this horse would probably be happier, ops may too but vet will decide.

Op made comment early in this thread about being no good to anybody. My 33 year old is the best darn field companion ever and so much use even though she stopped jumping 12 years ago and retired fully 2 years ago.
 
Thanks formally the helpful replies. Hes getting some good food and has a lightweight waterproof rug for if it rains.
I think some people go out of their way to be rude, iv explained numerous times he's only jumped 4 Times since he came into work he spends about 90 percent of his time in walk and trot.
 
I dont think people go out of their way to be rude, you just seem blind to what people are saying and to the condition of your horse. You need to take a long hard look at him and try to see what everyone else can see. Hes not enjoying jumping, hes in some discomfort and he is not jumping for fun!
 
And iv taken on board everything that everyone has said I dunno why people seem to think other whys? if you have to post hurtful and rude comments to a stranger asking for a bit of help on a forum then something isn't right.

And at this stage I'm happy with all advice given and going to take it from here with my horse

I WOULD LIKE THIS THREAD CLOSED PLEASE
 
And you say people aren't been rude, iv been called stupid an idiot and told I shouldn't be allowed own a horse along with other things. Just coz I didn't get a vet out last night doesn't mean I won't get one out as soon as I can
 
Again, selective reading. Nobody suggested you should get a vet out last night. Several people have made it clear that a vet's visit os not an emergency but a priority.

'People' have not been rude. I was rude when I said you were stupid. I don't recall anybody calling you an idiot.
 
I very rarely comment on these kind of threads, but in this case I have to. To answer your question, I don't think its time to say goodbye to him, but I do think its time to give him a rest. We have 2 x 20 year olds and 1 x 25 year old, only one is still in work and he is sound and came out of the winter looking in peak condition. The other 2 are now retired, but are actually both on diets because they have too much weight on them.
Try and watch your video as if it was someone elses horse, and I think you will agree he doesn't look happy. Our 25 year old still takes herself for mad hoons round the field every day, and if there were jumps in the way I am sure she would fly them, but she certainly won't ever be asked to jump again.
If he were my horse I would let the vet give him a thorough check over and then decide from there what you are going to do. If the vet advises letting him live life at a slower pace, and this is not what you want for yourself, then maybe pts is the way to go rather than passing him on. It is not what I would do with an oldie but it is better that than him going on to an unknown future imo.
 
snooples said:
theres no chance of him being a happy hacker, all he wants to do is jump he hates hacking!
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Absolute rubbish! All horses can happily get used to an easier life. How can you even think of going from jumping double clears to PTS? After ten years don't you owe him more than that? I think what you mean by your sentence above is that YOU don't want to be a happy hacker, and all you want to do is jump. Which is absolutely fine, why not? Just be honest with yourself.
 
We only have one road in the area and he is pretty bored of it right now, I spend the majority of my time hacking as I said we competed 4 times during the whole of last year, competing him isn't that big of a deal and iv stated if another horse anyway. But I really don't think he would be happy walking that road everyday
 
snooples said:
We only have one road in the area and he is pretty bored of it right now, I spend the majority of my time hacking as I said we competed 4 times during the whole of last year, competing him isn't that big of a deal and iv stated if another horse anyway. But I really don't think he would be happy walking that road everyday
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I get the feeling your looking to a bunch of strangers for the approval of putting your horse down.

But, your horse, your decision.
 
And I never said he was going to be pts the thread was asking ppl how they decided so I could look out for the signs, he is happy in himself and won't b going anywhere
 
What Il prob do after vet comes out and I if I get the ok is hacking 2 or 3 Times, schooling once to keep him supple and maybe another day with different ground poles to keep his mind interested but nothing too physical
 
snooples said:
And I never said he was going to be pts the thread was asking ppl how they decided so I could look out for the signs, he is happy in himself and won't b going anywhere
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No, you didn't say those actual words, but your thread is titles 'how do you know it's time to say goodbye?' Which implies you are thinking of 'getting rid'. You then go on to say that he could not be a companion or a happy hacker as 'he would hate it'. So what is left? Does he float off on a cloud? :confused:
 
snooples said:
And you say people aren't been rude, iv been called stupid an idiot and told I shouldn't be allowed own a horse along with other things. Just coz I didn't get a vet out last night doesn't mean I won't get one out as soon as I can
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My understanding is that you have had since February to get a vet out, from that 9 second video alone I would have called the vet, that poor horse isn't right at all.

I had an oldie that LIVED for jumping, she threw her first stop out hunting at 24 over a fence she had jumped a hundred times, I called it a day with her there and then and she had absolutely no issues being my beloved hacker - you owe it to your horse to give him a proper wind down in life, please don't jump him anymore.

As a complete aside, cantering along grass verges is very dangerous, not just for potholes but also litter now it is summer time and the grass is too long to see what is lurking under there.
 
I'm also sure it's been said before (but just in case), one of the quickest ways for a horse to drop condition is pain. (You say the horse is worse in winter, and this winter in particular). A course of Bute could possibly have made an enormous difference to him then (and now), in terms of general wellbeing.
 
snooples said:
We only have one road in the area and he is pretty bored of it right now, I spend the majority of my time hacking as I said we competed 4 times during the whole of last year, competing him isn't that big of a deal and iv stated if another horse anyway. But I really don't think he would be happy walking that road everyday
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It it up to you to make some changes the hacking is obviously not great, the care was definitely not good last winter so there is an obvious solution once you have had him checked over to start looking for a more suitable place to keep him before next winter when you go away, if you cannot do this try and find a loan home where he will be cared for during the winter and get turned out daily.
 
Thanks for the replies ideally I'd get him a loan home when I'm gone but trying to find someone to take him on won't be easy I fear

After the vid I put him on equine America joint supplement and a kelp one so that vid isn't exactly what he us like right now.
 
Billie1007 said:
It's taken you 15 pages to suggest you are infact supporting him?

Why is it best he goes on loan?
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why do you continue to post if you dont bother to read.

when have i ever said im not supporting, iv said from the first page or two he has been getting joint supplements and baileys top line conditioning mix....
Unfortunately for me im in a very very bad finacial situation so getting a vet and physio out is not something i can regularly afford to do, i tried the supplement which i think is working well, iv no current video but il get a vet and physio out anyway to give him a full once over and plan his future fitness.


iv also stated more than once im not going to be around this winter and as many people have said, exercise is best which he wont get where he currently is hence the loan.....
 
snooples said:
why do you continue to post if you dont bother to read.

when have i ever said im not supporting, iv said from the first page or two he has been getting joint supplements and baileys top line conditioning mix....
Unfortunately for me im in a very very bad finacial situation so getting a vet and physio out is not something i can regularly afford to do, i tried the supplement which i think is working well, iv no current video but il get a vet and physio out anyway to give him a full once over and plan his future fitness.


iv also stated more than once im not going to be around this winter and as many people have said, exercise is best which he wont get where he currently is hence the loan.....
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No one has said get the vet regularly. One visit was probably all that was needed to assess, and prescribe Bute. Feeding a horse isn't 'supporting' it - it's meeting it's basic requirements.

Bottom line, if you can't afford the horse - have it put down.
 
amymay said:
No one has said get the vet regularly. One visit was probably all that was needed to assess, and prescribe Bute. Feeding a horse isn't 'supporting' it - it's meeting it's basic requirements.

Bottom line, if you can't afford the horse - have it put down.
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And this might be what has to happen, clearly given peoples responses I cant look after a horse at all and hes just suffering with me
 
OP horses like him are loyal and faithful...he is jumping because he wants to please you. He is hating jumping which is clear for all to see. You must stop with wishful thinking. He would much rather be relaxing in a field rather that being ridden and jumped. LOOK AT THE VIDEO!!!! he is in a lot of pain. Do the right thing call the vet, get some pain relief and love him for what he is- a stiff loyal old horse who would be better off being PTS or being retired. You must do the right thing by him.
 
Im more than happy to take it easy with him esp if the vet says so but you cant tell from one video that he hates jumping and is in a load of pain

he is on supplements now and isnt anywhere near as stiff as he was then, he is the sort of horse who puts in the min effort required to clear a jump, hes not a big extragavent jumper and never has been.
he has given me plenty of happy memories so im not going to push him anymore but i dont need ppl making out like im the worst owner in history
As iv already said i dropped eventing last year and was hoping to only showjump, we did two rounds and i realised this prob wasnt for him either and i came on here asking for help as he is my first old horse and i dont know exactly what to look out for
 
snooples said:
Im more than happy to take it easy with him esp if the vet says so but you cant tell from one video that he hates jumping and is in a load of pain
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I've only seen one video - and from that video I'd say he was a horse that shouldn't be jumping anymore (regardless of whether he likes it).
 
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