In need of advice - RE Benj

B

Benjamin

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Essex (no comments please)
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Hi there,
I don't venture in here too often, but I have a bit of a dilemma.

Bit of background about Benj. (coloured in my sig)
He is 20 this year. I have owned him since 2002. Was a jack of all trades but went lame in 2004 and discovered that he has DJD in both coffin joints, he had swelling in the Navicular Bursar which in turn cause trouble for his DDF tendon.
He had the injections, box rest, Mobifor etc and came back sound. His soundness was very on and off, and after a time someone on here contacted me and suggested I see a NB farrier. Long story short, I was taking Benj on a 150 mile round trip to get his feet done, but he was sound!! Roll on a couple of years, I got a new, younger horse so Benj took semi retirement and had his shoes off and was trimmed by a local farrier.

Last summer my life was turned on it's head. I had lived on the farm where the horses were stabled, overnight I had to move out. (its another long story!). I was lucky enough that the boys could live out and were happy to do so. Sadly, Rudy (the new fella) was PTS in August of last year, so Benj was moved to the live out field to mooch about with his hunting buddy.

Living out was the best option all round as I was virtually broke, had no regular access to a car and had lost interest in horses and being at a place that held many memories.

He wintered out very well. He was happy, fat and very woolly. Only had a rug put on him at the end of the last lot of snow. I rode him on occasion, and he coped fine. He finally lost some of his weight at the tail end of winter and has maintained this weight himself. I guess I get to ride him about once a fortnight. I have noticed in the past couple of months that he is a little lamer that usual. Bit of a nod in walk (on his bad leg) and very sore on the turn. He does rock back a little when he turns. There is no pulse present, but I am worried about lami. He is his usual self, bright and happy, not sick and sorry, just a bit lame.

I also noticed the last time I rode him, he was stumbling quite a bit.

This next bit is going to sound very self centred, but please believe me when I say I care deeply for this horse, and it has taken me alot to post this on a public forum.

I am worried that he has a touch of lami, but I am not in a financial position to have someone take care of him. I am unable to get to the yard daily because I no longer own a car and to walk from the nearest station would take an hour each way. Plus I think that having him stand in with his arthritis would maybe do more harm than good.
His forelegs are no longer insured as I have had several thousands spent on him, plus thousands from my own pocket due to one thing and another.

Please don't tell me I don't deserve him because I can't afford him, I need some practical advice.
I would move him closer to where I live, but grass livery is like hens teeth near Epping Forest and he is out with horses he likes, and doesn't get bullied. Plus I have the added bonus of yard 'friends' keeping an eye on him, albeit a distant one.

This really has turned into an essay, for that I am sorry.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
*bump*

Sorry to hear about your situation, it doesn't sound as though there is an easy solution :(

Hopefully others on here are better at lateral thinking and can give you some good advice x
 
Sorry to hear this P, I know how much you love Benj. Can't really offer any advice am sorry to say. Where I keep Mac, she offers grass livery during the summer months and is only a 10 minute walk from Epping station. I know that would only help in the short term though.
 
I have followed your posts over the years, and am so sorry that Benj has deteriorated. I wasn't aware of the change in circumstances, which sounds like it has changed the way you have had to approach solving a problem like this.

If I was you, I would get a vet out to give him a once over to check there is nothing simple causing his worsening lameness, and to give you an objective opinion upon his current condition. If the vet feels that Benj is in a lot of pain day-to-day, I think I would take a very very difficult decision to consider that he's a good age, has been cared for and loved, and that the time has come to relieve him from pain and let him go. Alternatively, if you know of a good home where he would be cared for and looked after until he really is too old and infirm, then that would be the nicer option and the one I'd explore first.

If the vet thinks that laminitis or anything else is a needless worry, then I would listen to their advice and try to make him comfortable and continue to care for him as you do now.

I should hope that people won't think less of you for asking for advice on such a diffuclt and emotional subject. Not all of us have the liberty of endless money and land to keep horses at luxury and pain-free. Life happens and we have to deal with it in the best way we can. I hope I've made sense and haven't upset you with my comments. What I would do is not necessarily the same as what anyone else would do. This needs to be your decision.
 
Don't beat yourself up, circumstances can change beyond your control, it's a fact of life. You're doing the best you can given your resources. Firstly, do yourself a favour and get the vet up. I know it costs money but it may well be that you're getting yourself worried over nothing. You need to know for his sake and for your peace of mind if it is laminitis or not. He's a lame horse anyway, he might just be getting worse as the ground hardens. I would certainly hold off riding until you know.

Whether it's lami or not, you would expect him to deteriorate over time. All you can do is keep him going while his quality of life is acceptable. It may well be that you have to have him put down sooner than someone who has greater financial resources, there's nothing wrong with that either. Not everyone can afford the enormous vets bills to keep a permanatly lame horse comfortable and some who can would chose not to anyway.

Keep your chin up, you've done a lot for this horse already.

Edited to add - Basically, I agree with Becky!
 
He needs to see the vet if you suspect lami (but then you know that). You're then going to need to re-consider how and where you keep him.

If none of those are an option, I'd be contacting some welfare organisations to see if they can help you.

Sorry ((((( )))))
 
Can you afford to get the vet out to find out what's happening? If it's any help, my big cob was just as you describe, it wasn't lami, it was further arthritic changes.
Sorry to hear of your troubles, tough times.
 
Oh b'gger. I'm sorry to hear Benj is worse. I can only echo what the others have said, and get a vet or farrier to check him out so you have more of an idea what you're dealing with.
My first thought would be the lameness is due to further arthritic changes rather than lami which might be manageable with a short course of bute. Stumbling is quite common with navicular from what I can remember.

Whatever happens I'm sure you'll do whats right by Benj :(

(((((hugs)))))
 
TheresaW said:
Sorry to hear this P, I know how much you love Benj. Can't really offer any advice am sorry to say. Where I keep Mac, she offers grass livery during the summer months and is only a 10 minute walk from Epping station. I know that would only help in the short term though.
Click to expand...

Thank you T. I am going to try and speak with the vet that knows him best today.
Really don't know what to do for the best at present.

Only just seen your other post missy, I am so so sorry to hear you lost the foaly, I will PM you in a mo.

P x
 
BeckyD said:
I have followed your posts over the years, and am so sorry that Benj has deteriorated. I wasn't aware of the change in circumstances, which sounds like it has changed the way you have had to approach solving a problem like this.

If I was you, I would get a vet out to give him a once over to check there is nothing simple causing his worsening lameness, and to give you an objective opinion upon his current condition. If the vet feels that Benj is in a lot of pain day-to-day, I think I would take a very very difficult decision to consider that he's a good age, has been cared for and loved, and that the time has come to relieve him from pain and let him go. Alternatively, if you know of a good home where he would be cared for and looked after until he really is too old and infirm, then that would be the nicer option and the one I'd explore first.

If the vet thinks that laminitis or anything else is a needless worry, then I would listen to their advice and try to make him comfortable and continue to care for him as you do now.

I should hope that people won't think less of you for asking for advice on such a diffuclt and emotional subject. Not all of us have the liberty of endless money and land to keep horses at luxury and pain-free. Life happens and we have to deal with it in the best way we can. I hope I've made sense and haven't upset you with my comments. What I would do is not necessarily the same as what anyone else would do. This needs to be your decision.
Click to expand...

Hello Becky,
Many thanks for taking the time to reply, and I apologise for not replying sooner.
My first port of call will be my vet. They are quite happy with me now, having just cleared the debt from Rudy!
I lay awake thinking this all over last night, and not coming to any happy conclusions!
From yet another selfish point of view, I am not sure I could handle losing 2 horses in under a year, but if it does come to that, I need to be strong and put that aside, for the sake of him.

Thanks again Becky, hope you and yours are well.

P x
 
lindsayH said:
Don't beat yourself up, circumstances can change beyond your control, it's a fact of life. You're doing the best you can given your resources. Firstly, do yourself a favour and get the vet up. I know it costs money but it may well be that you're getting yourself worried over nothing. You need to know for his sake and for your peace of mind if it is laminitis or not. He's a lame horse anyway, he might just be getting worse as the ground hardens. I would certainly hold off riding until you know.

Whether it's lami or not, you would expect him to deteriorate over time. All you can do is keep him going while his quality of life is acceptable. It may well be that you have to have him put down sooner than someone who has greater financial resources, there's nothing wrong with that either. Not everyone can afford the enormous vets bills to keep a permanatly lame horse comfortable and some who can would chose not to anyway.

Keep your chin up, you've done a lot for this horse already.

Edited to add - Basically, I agree with Becky!
Click to expand...

Thank you Lindsay.

P x
 
Tinypony said:
Can you afford to get the vet out to find out what's happening? If it's any help, my big cob was just as you describe, it wasn't lami, it was further arthritic changes.
Sorry to hear of your troubles, tough times.
Click to expand...


More changes are what I suspect, but I guess lami is always in the back of my mind.

Have had the vet paged, hopefully she will get back to me today.

P x
 
fairhill said:
Oh b'gger. I'm sorry to hear Benj is worse. I can only echo what the others have said, and get a vet or farrier to check him out so you have more of an idea what you're dealing with.
My first thought would be the lameness is due to further arthritic changes rather than lami which might be manageable with a short course of bute. Stumbling is quite common with navicular from what I can remember.

Whatever happens I'm sure you'll do whats right by Benj :(

(((((hugs)))))
Click to expand...


Thank you Fairhill. I wish I had my old farrier closer, he would help me, but alas I no longer have a vehicle, let alone something to tow with, and even people who I could call favours in from don't want to know!
I will see what my vet says when she calls me back.

P x
 
No pearls, but plenty of hugs!!

I know you'll make the best decision, whatever happens. Let us know when you've spoken to the vet x
 
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