how do you know when enough is enough?

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blood_magik

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as title, really..

my veteran has been a bit off lately.
he's 21 in January and is/was a show jumper. I'm wondering if he's trying to tell me to slow things down as he's been a bit 'lazy'.

I will point out that his saddle has just been reflocked so he may have been sore
 
I would give him a good check over before you assume it's just age. There may well be aspects of his maintenence that could help? If his saddle needed doing then I would get your physio/back person out to take a look. Maybe his diet could be tweaked? If he is getting stiff then maybe more regular gentle work and turnout could help? Is his temp ok? He might just have a bit of a bug?
Don't write him off already, could be any number of things! Hope he is back to 100% soon!
 
I've had a good feel of his back by running my hands down either side and across the withers and I can't find any obvious sore spots.
probably won't hurt to get the physio out.

diet-wise he gets a veteran supplement rather than an age specific feed because he ballooned on 16+

his temp is fine. he perked up a bit when he saw his haynet hanging up in his box which makes me think he's taking the mickey :rolleyes:

he's very high mileage for his age - we still jump up to 1.20 in lessons.

turnout wise, he gets out most days weather permitting (he's a wimp).
I really hope it's not time for him to retire :(
 
I was discussing the same thing today with a friend; Ben who is also 21 in January just feels tired? its like he has lost interest in going out.

If I leave him for a week he enjoys a good hour hack and is quite perky, but take him out 3/4 times a week for longer and he seems soooo lazy. He lives out and is not at all stiff. I think its a sign that he wants to stay in the field and eat :)
 
I thought that my mare was slowing down with age, but got a vet to give her the once-over and he identified some problems which had been building so slowly I hadn't really noticed. Bute has given me my old horse back - I was shocked and a bit ashamed that I had assumed real physical problems was just her getting a bit old and less enthusiastic.

I'm not saying that's you - but worth a thought.
 
I'm feeling my big lads starting to age for the first time this year, he's only 14, but is a giant monster & I think is starting to get stiffer out in the cold. He's still able to gallop at full speed everywhere & bronc like a maniac, but it just takes him longer to warm up & he looks rather put out when he's left in the cold.

I've upped his feed & hay & am putting him onto 16+ as he is a bit of a weight dropper over the winter. He's also going onto suppleaze gold & msm & has magnetic hock boots that he wears before & after work, and will wear over night when he comes in. If I'm not convinced he's improved after a few months I will be having the vet out to asses his joint mobility, and if needs be he will have any treatment that is necessary or we will put him on bute & see if that helps him at all.

He's got a dodgey leg anyway so we are always mindful of that, also he is a big wimp with regards to rain/cold. There is nothing actually wrong with him, but I always notice slight changes in him. I think I'm just mothering him lol.
 
My horse can go a bit flat from time to time - he has showjumped mlost of his life (and has done ODEs/XC etc etc) and still will do now although I haven't done much to a high level. He is 21 next year and is still hacked out regularly. I have had him on Topspec 10:10 joint supplement for a few years now to help prevent any problems joint wise but i also get the physio out maybe twice a year or more if i feel he's done anything particular that may have 'tweaked' something.

A few years ago he went very lethargic at one point and just seemed miserable although still hacked out ok ish. He had actually not long before this managed to get under some fencing to get in to the stable yard (stoopid horse!). I had the physio out and blimey did it make some difference!!! He went bak to his usualy enthusiastic self within 2 days!

It is certainly worth getting them looked over - I was quite shocked at the difference. The physio said he was pretty stiff all over when he came to see him.

Whenever I feel he's gone flat again I will often get the physio out to check him over. They can do daft things in the field and pull things so it doesn't hurt to have someone treat them. My horse also seems to love the treatments.
 
It may be worth getting the older horses checked out for Cushings. My mare (age 23) had none of the symptoms until she suddenly came down with acute laminitis out of the blue (she has never been overweight) about a month ago.
It is relatively easily treated with Prascend (pergolide) and at about £1 per pill, isn't too expensive in the grand scheme of things.
N :D
 
Fancy swapping guys? Got a 22 year old BSJA ponywho won't calm down! Galloped across three massive fields today and still buzzing. Yours could just be the season maybe? Think. It's dampy, cold, etc. He might just not feel upto going out in the colder weather now he's getting on abit.
 
Agree with the posters who have said get a vet check over. My boy wasn't feeling 'right' for a while, had vet but couldn't really find a problem. It was only when he came in with a slightly swollen check ligament and we scanned that we discovered he actually had fairly extensive sdft damage :( due to degeneration. Horse was completely sound.

Unfortunately I now have a rather expensive field ornament :rolleyes:
 
A few years ago my mare went 'flat and tired' we got the vet out and she was diagnosed with arthritis in her hocks. We got her treated and carried on doing everything for 3 years and then startedreducing her work and unfortunately after a couple of injuries decided to retire her.
It really wasn't anything very specific - no lameness and not even particularly stiff but that is how it got to her.
Worth getting the vet out...may just be having a few down days but better to know that it isnt something physical that can be helped.
 
rhino - did he have any heat or swelling in the leg? jerrys legs arent warm but are slightly puffy around the tendons in both back legs although this could be from standing about in his box overnight.
I've got someone keeping a wee eye (am at work) and I'll walk him out in hand tomorrow so he gets a wee bit of exercise.

horses - who'd have 'em? :rolleyes:
 
blood_magik said:
rhino - did he have any heat or swelling in the leg? jerrys legs arent warm but are slightly puffy around the tendons in both back legs although this could be from standing about in his box overnight.
Click to expand...

No, nothing until he did the check lig. Vet was as surprised as me when we scanned :(

ETA he was out full time though, his legs do tend to stock up slightly when he is in.
 
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