I need a voice of reason

Champion1969

Champion1969

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Three weeks ago I took an 8 year old beautiful section A gelding, I have him on loan from a friend who had let somebody use him as a companion for their highly strung PBA. He was only on a field the opposite side of a dirt track to my yard, however when I went to get him he was so lame it was scary, but I just wanted to get him off this woman so I could deal and asses him. I contacted his owner who got the vet for me and she confirmed Laminitis in all 4 feet and grossly overweight which was obvious, just needed it confirming.

Before all this I was going to buy him for my 6 year old daughter, he is an absolutely beautiful pony with plenty of character and so loving and would fit in with us perfectly, but now my head is telling me one thing but my heart is saying another. He is on his 3rd week of box rest and restricted diet and down to 1 bute a day till the vet comes back in another week or so. My dilemma is.... Do I keep him on loan, do I buy him, what are the pros and cons?

Luckly I have never dealt with Lami before, I'm just confused as to what to do next?
 
I'd not buy until he came sound. Once he comes sound, I'd consider buying with vet advice about his suitability... In small ponies, lami is a problem you'll meet over and over again so I wouldn't avoid because of a previous case of it unless you're limited in how you can manage turnout.
 
Keep him on loan. See how things go. At the very least the price would have to be reduced after laminitis. We were going to sell our good young section A for £2k, then she got laminitis and once back to normal we sold her for £800 to someone we knew would use her and keep it under control.
 
What does your friend expect to happen, is the friend paying to sort him out? Section As are ten a penny, folk can't give them away. If you want him fine but I wouldn't pay for such a pony if you will be nursing him back to health tbh. Is he an experienced child's pony?
 
Well you can look at it two ways - run a mile, laminitis is a PITA at best and a miserable nightmare at worst, why do it to yourselves when you've still got the chance to avoid the problem?

... Or - whatever you get will have something up with it, if not when it arrives soon after, genuinely sound, sane, healthy horses on the market are like hens teeth, you might as well stick with this issue, at least you've got previous experience with it, helping suffering pony might be emotionally rewarding and if you can get on top of the problem you're confident he's what you want.

I wouldn't find it an easy choice to make tbh, unless I'd just dealt with a soul destroying lami case, then I'd run. Buying him would be a gamble, but then buying horses always is. Good luck.
 
FfionWinnie said:
What does your friend expect to happen, is the friend paying to sort him out? Section As are ten a penny, folk can't give them away. If you want him fine but I wouldn't pay for such a pony if you will be nursing him back to health tbh. Is he an experienced child's pony?
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Yes he is an experienced pony, I am not paying the vet fees that's strictly between my friend and this other woman, there is a very small paddock that I can use but not just yet. I dont mind nursing him back to health as its helping us bond with him and he such a pleasure to be around.
 
Flame_ said:
Well you can look at it two ways - run a mile, laminitis is a PITA at best and a miserable nightmare at worst, why do it to yourselves when you've still got the chance to avoid the problem?

... Or - whatever you get will have something up with it, if not when it arrives soon after, genuinely sound, sane, healthy horses on the market are like hens teeth, you might as well stick with this issue, at least you've got previous experience with it, helping suffering pony might be emotionally rewarding and if you can get on top of the problem you're confident he's what you want.

I wouldn't find it an easy choice to make tbh, unless I'd just dealt with a soul destroying lami case, then I'd run. Buying him would be a gamble, but then buying horses always is. Good luck.
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I know it would be silly of me to buy him, but if I didnt where would he end up, Im scared of doing all the work for him to be sold or taken back. I would never sell him on as hes so lovely so I know it years of high maintenance ahead but I would keep him till the end.
 
Honey08 said:
Is your friend happy for you to have him on loan for the moment? I expect she is just glad he is away and being loved and looked after.
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That's what I was thinking.

I'd sound out the friend. Ideally keep him on loan for a year to see if the lami is easily managed if you can. I would think most welsh As would get it if allowed to be obese so I suppose it just depends on long term damage/what the vet says. You should take your nursing of him into account tho (well I hope your friend does).
 
We had one one that was crippled with lami when we were given him, he couldn't walk a single step they had been feeding him
a full size water bucket full of pony cubes a day, he was a mess.
After careful management and treatment he made a full recovery and never came down with lami again, he was a cracking pony who was ridden, jumped and shown for many years.

If he's what you want in a pony, buy him, sort him, enjoy him.
 
This is him, he is so good

vdto.jpg
 
Kenzo said:
We had one one that was crippled with lami when we were given him, he couldn't walk a single step they had been feeding him
a full size water bucket full of pony cubes a day, he was a mess.
After careful management and treatment he made a full recovery and never came down with lami again, he was a cracking pony who was ridden, jumped and shown for many years.

If he's what you want in a pony, buy him, sort him, enjoy him.
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Maybe light at the end of the tunnel, how did you manage it, what do you feed i.e Safe sound, Happy hoof etc?
 
If you like him and can cover the potential fixture bills make them an offer.
I have a horse here called fatty, he's my other halfs horse we had him vetted and he failed the vet in fact he was seriously ill .
He was to be PTS the owner gifted him to us .
I paid his bills worked my and my grooms socks off for a year and we got him right and although his vet care is very expensive but he's a much loved and very useful member of the family.
So who am I to advise you to be cautious.
 
Before horses/ponies get full blown laminitis attacks, they often suffer from sub-clinical laminitis. The pony could have had moderate bi-lateral or all round foot pain for months or even years, which could make him seem steadier than he otherwise would be. Its not necessarily the case with this pony, but it is worth bearing in mind and discussing with the vet.
 
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Flame_ said:
Before horses/ponies get full blown laminitis attacks, they often suffer from sub-clinical laminitis. The pony could have had moderate bi-lateral or all round foot pain for months or even years. Its not necessarily the case with this pony, but it is worth bearing in mind and discussing with the vet.
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Would this show on X-ray? He is currently on a ration of soaked hay and just a handful of safe and sound with his bute and 10mgs of sedaline.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I would be managing him on soaked hay, definitely not happy hoof. Has he had laminitis before this, even mildly?
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Apparently yes he had before a couple of years ago with this same woman on the same land, the owner laid down the law as to what she should do/ feed / restrict but fell on deaf ears.
 
I'd be guarded then. You are only moving him across the road aren't you so almost the same land. You don't want your daughter dealing with the heart ache of this of it turns out to be on going.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I'd be guarded then. You are only moving him across the road aren't you so almost the same land. You don't want your daughter dealing with the heart ache of this of it turns out to be on going.
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The land I am on is owned and looked after, the land the other person has is her own its over grown and is full of holes. I have access to a paddock of around well under half an acre that he can be turned out in, he will be stabled in the day and out at night, and also exercised, even if it means me in hand for a few miles a day. I work shifts so all this can fit in, alongside my 4 year old cob.
 
Sadly you cannot ever avoid the risk of tears and heartache with horses or ponies, whether you are 5 or 55. But it is in my opinion better that children learn that "if you cant cry for a horse ,you arnt much of a man" to quote an old horseman who taught me so much .My heart would overrule my head here, so I am probably best to be ignored, but I would like to give the poor beggar a chance.
 
I only said be guarded. I am still living with the pain of my four year old daughter's pony dying suddenly in January, whom she mentioned again today and said she missed him despite having a new (and realistically far far nicer) pony.

I hope he comes right for you.
 
FfionWinnie said:
I only said be guarded. I am still living with the pain of my four year old daughter's pony dying suddenly in January, whom she mentioned again today and said she missed him despite having a new (and realistically far far nicer) pony.

I hope he comes right for you.
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I am still listening I am so sorry for what happened and if things do progress for the worst I know the outcome I am still taking in all advice till the outcome in a couple of weeks x
 
Champion1969 said:
Maybe light at the end of the tunnel, how did you manage it, what do you feed i.e Safe sound, Happy hoof etc?
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Time, bute, in a barn on a straw bed, soaked hay/older hay, once moving about turnout in a bare soil paddock (hay only diet basically) then eventually gradual in hand grazing on long corse grass to bring grass back into his diet. Gradual in hand walking and regular rasp recovered the feet.
 
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