How sound is field sound?

B

BeckyD

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I'm thinking ahead (trying to stop myself, but can't) and thinking if Ron doesn't come sound for ridden work, then whether to keep him as a field ornament. I kept my previous horse as a field ornament for 6 years but she was half a tenth lame in trot and even the vets couldn't really see it.

How sound *is* field sound? Does it really matter if they're quite lame or is it better if they're quite lame, to PTS?

Look at me being all objective - I can only be objective whilst I'm still hoping he's going to come sound!
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I think it is subjective. Some horses are perfectly happy hobbling about in the field and others would go mad if they couldnt prat about.

When my boy was very lame (3/10ths one leg, 2/10ths other leg) and could barely stand after taking shoes off) he would stand in the corner looking miserable and try to hobble/trot after the horses as they galloped about. Vet said he was field sound. If he had stayed that way I would have had him pts.

B you know Ronnie and whether he is happy in himself. That is the true guage.

But you have weeks left before you have to think about this - let him have some time to show some improvement, especially over winter as the ground wont be so hard (assume he is still barefoot?).
 
As long as my girl was happy to have a hooly round with her companions and was sound in walk then I was happy (on no painkillers). When they day came that she wasn't I did what I had to do.
 
I agree with above. To me field sound is sound in walk and not hopping in other gaits.

I can't stand to see horses who constantly rest a leg and take an age to get to the water trough. It is very cruel!
 
I think its all to do with pain and the ability to 'be a horse.' If the animal is free from any real pain and can still do the things horseys do then id say that was field sound but I wouldnt want to keep anything alive which was in too much pain to do the things it wanted to do.
 

Oh Hun, I take it he's not showing signs of improving then?

Arch wasnt 100% sound on Saturday, but only in trot on the turns in the school, so Im just walk hacking him at the mo, but I really dont know what to do with him
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Bloody horses ay!

Are you better now? If you want to come for a ride one evening this week, give me a text xx
 
He's shod all round now
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but looking awful for the walking in hand, bless him, but I'm telling myself I've got to be cruel to be kind as we've got to break down these adhesions, if that's what is causing the lameness, and that maybe once the initial pain is over, he'll be ok!

I'm hoping and believing that he will come sound, but I am someone who has to have a backup plan!

P.S. I'm not sure that Ronnie's ever really happy
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Hello! I'm sooo sorry about Saturday - I seem to have managed to get flu/very bad cold twice in 3 weeks! On the mend now thankfully, but because of having to do Ron's walking twice a day I won't be free in the evenings this week or next - but am free this coming weekend?

Gutted to hear Archie isn't right again. You must be so frustrated.

I think (hope) Ron will improve in the end, I think it's just going to be bad to start with. You know me, have to plan everything down the last detail!
 
I think it is to be expected - he has spent an awful lot of time on boxrest. Give it a few more weeks and then see. If it is a case of breaking down the adhesions then yes I guess you have to keep going.

its awful though - I used to be in tears when I had to ride mine to make him more lame for the investigations (he already felt awful to me) and I couldnt tack him up had to make someone else do it as I couldnt face seeing his face when he saw the saddle approaching. It was worse when I had to ride him for the investigations and he would be bucking round the school and I had to keep pushing him. It was a relief to retire him in the end.
 
Thanks. I don't think I'd class him as hideously lame in other gaits - not yet sound in walk but that will hopefully improve.

Thanks everyone for your advice, you confirmed what I thought. Hopefully he'll be sound before I know it and I can stop fretting
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I feel bad worrying potentially about nothing when others on here have had such bad news in the last few days. My thoughts are with them.
 
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