Is anyone else totally paranoid...?

[AshTay]

I really want another horse. My horse is now retired through injury (and he's still high maintenance because of the injury and will be for some time). I've currently got the use of a lovely little mare and offers of rides whenever I want them on other horses but I really want one of my own. I did have a second horse on loan/share and he was fab but I had to give him up and part of the reason I let him go was because I had concerns about his feet (long story) and couldn't face having to look after two broken neds.

But I'm terrifed that something will go wrong again and I'll spend all my time trying to fix problems. Maybe that's the problem with forums..you hear more bad luck stories than good luck ones.

So please reassure me - who out there has a horse and has had NO problems and enjoys a nice easy horse ownership experience that they wouldn't change anything about...????

 

[kirinsam]

Me , now. After a few changes , swapped mad expensive TB mare for very sane sec D colt to live with my horse. Now I wouldn't change anything , boys live at home out most of the time but in when I want to hug and fuss them, I ride when I feel like it and dont when the weather is yucky ,the farrier trims every 10 weeks , they live (virtually ) on fresh air and the vet only comes once a year for jabs n teeth. Did take me a while to attain this near nirvana state and dont want to sound smug but most of the posts on here make you think it can't all be worth it so this one is just to redress the balance

 

[Lexie81]

nope i am a paranoid freak about my horse.....daughters 22 yr old sec A though i dont worry about at all. Why oh why dont i have a nice native or sturdy cob???!!!!!

 

[Gleeful Imp]

I have been through the mill with mine, but I have had George for 2 wonderful, pain free years when I've had nothing but fun and joy!

It can happen!

 

[Nat_in_Kent]

never had any probs at all with my irish cob in 8yrs or my ID x in the 2yrs Ive had them respectively! touch wood!!!lol now ive said that....

 

[Bryndu]

I really want another horse. My horse is now retired through injury (and he's still high maintenance because of the injury and will be for some time). I've currently got the use of a lovely little mare and offers of rides whenever I want them on other horses but I really want one of my own. I did have a second horse on loan/share and he was fab but I had to give him up and part of the reason I let him go was because I had concerns about his feet (long story) and couldn't face having to look after two broken neds.

But I'm terrifed that something will go wrong again and I'll spend all my time trying to fix problems. Maybe that's the problem with forums..you hear more bad luck stories than good luck ones.

So please reassure me - who out there has a horse and has had NO problems and enjoys a nice easy horse ownership experience that they wouldn't change anything about...????

Sorry.. but keep on being paranoid..it's the only way!
Went from high maintenance TB's, to cobs, A,C and D. Vet was distraught as he wanted a new equine scanner but after pneumonia, castration rupture, diagnosis of Cushings in a 7 yr old, heart condition due to viral infection and liver infection, on 3 seperate ponies, vet can now happily plan next wing of veterinary practice!
But ain't that why we love 'em?
Bryndu

 

[Spot_the_Risk]

Fingers crossed! I've had my cob since he was five, he's now 18, he lives out, needs no food, goes barefoot, can be turned out with anything (gets a bit bullied though) is 100% to be trusted on roads, hacking, galloping, with any people, dogs etc, in those 13 years, he's had one colic, and now has arthritic hocks, manageable though. He even managed to run over the (not lit!) confire a few weeks ago, when the youngsters broke out - he ended up with a piece of wood attached to his foot by a nail through the sole - didn't go lame, no abcess. He's a good boy!

 

[xxMozlarxx]

Had my Reg NF 5years. Had one brief laminitis spell ( my fault leaving him out 24hrs on rich grass, idiot!) One suspensory tweak due to poor shoeing. Both resolved with minmal input. Now barefoot, eats nothing, bombproof, does a neat little prelim test, jumps 2'6-2'9 he has been a joy to own. My previous NFxTB never saw the vet (apart from jabs, didnt do 'teeth' in those days) lived out with no rugs, no food and was a lovely allrounder for many years, so yes, have faith!

PS I am 1 week post KS surgery with my warmblood but still positive its just bad luck. xxx

 

[eva]

oh I'm paranoid just like you, had my Anadalusian for 6 months, everything went well until I have posted our pics and story on this forum and BAM he went lame in 2 days I know it can't be related but hey, there you go, something to feed my paranoia!!!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I sympathise! I had my horse PTS cos he had his leg broken being kicked in the field. A few months later, I bought another and was permanently worried about his legs. I deliberately bought a stocky sensible cob. Calling him one day from the top of the field, I saw him jump the stream and come limping up to me: I bawled and bawled. He was fine the next day, but I was horrified. I've never called him again!

Don't be paranoid, it ruins your enjoyment of your horse. I have finally managed to realise that it is unlikely to happen again and to relax.

 

[HKJ]

Totally paranoid !!!

It's the only way to be, expect the worst as it can only get better!!!
Out of my 3 horses, this year I had one who was persistently lame, one with a broken leg and the other had a bad absess ..... It's taken time, but when it was all going horribly wrong, things began looking up. Now all 3 are back on track and it's GREAT.

This is why we put up with the bad times, the good times make it worth it

Don't give up !!!!

 

[Kao]

I'm not paranoid, even though I've had my fair share of bad natural occurrences.

NF, PBA's you name it I've had a problem with it.
My boy comes in daily with another new cut and I just clean, poultice and leave him to his natural devices.

Try not to worry yourself too much horses will be horses and if I were you (depending on what you want of course) I'd go for a nice sturdy native or cob.

 

[charlyan]

I have had my share of mishaps over the years but (touch wood!) the past couple of years, since bringing my lad and his mate (last 15months) home with only my rules things are going well.

I have owned my boy for four years and had my grey on (permanent loan) for 15months now and whilst we have had our ups and downs, they are both settled and happy.

I had to remove Mini from livery in March 2009 due to one bout of azoturia and repeated colics from stress and bullying (him) on a yard. It was the worst period of my life as I never knew what I would find when I went up to the yard and ultimately I phoned the local land owner (a friend) in floods of tears and he let me bring him home with a Shetland pony companion. He has never been sick or sorry since and is a completely different lad- so happy and settled now, and in Sept last year through word of mouth I got Smith on permanent loan as a hack/companion and long may it continue like this.

For everything else I get wrong in life, I am reassured that at least I'm doing right by the horses

 

[Vixxy]

I have had so many horses over the years (owned a small riding school up til a few years ago) and my personal ones. In all that time none have had accidents that required a vet to attend, they have teeth done, chiroprator/backs checked and vaccines but thats it. I have had one PTS after treatment for arthritis was failing he was in pain and dragging toe even in walk and another PTS with colic which rapidly turned into twisted gut (nearest vets that could perfom surgery was 8 hours away).

All the others touch wood have been fine, I take good care, fields are well safely fenced, nothing hanging around in them to cause a problem. I just use sensible approaches to my horse management. *Vixxy hopes she has not cursed herself*

 

[Spook]

No, not really, but I do hate looking at horses for other people. It's such a responsibility and now avoid doing it if I can........no I'm not a vet.

I'm always amazed by the range of faults and unsoundness' folk buy in the first place....oh and the rubbish they are prepared to breed off.

So perhaps a good start is to buy only the progeny of sound perhaps slightly older parents who have earned a living themselves, then, barring accidents there is a better chance of them staying right.

 

[AshTay]

Thanks everyone! Good to hear the success stories (and sorry if anyone has inadvertently cursed themselves).

 

[Dawng]

I was in the same situe as you and still have a high maintenance oldy well he's only 21 but going on 51 who lied down and pretended to die this year only to get up 1 minute after the vet gave him a painkilling injection - seen by all the rush hours traffic and train travellers !!!- anyhow I got another pony to ride but made sure she was heavily insured because like you I couldn't face having another lame donkey - and I'm glad I did as she got laminitis last year and I felt releaved in knowing I could get the best of treatment without having to worry about the bills and skimp on follow up measures like x-rays to confirm that no permanent changes had taken place. The long and the short of it is I'm still paranoid about my oldie especially in this weather but I'm really happy that I bought my new mare she gives me such pleasure and makes all the hard work worth while.

 

[Lurky McLurker]

I've had my horse for just over a year and so far he's not had any problems that we've had to get the vet out for. In fact, he's only worried me twice in the time I've had him - once when he was stiff for a couple of days after being kicked in the shoulder by another horse (he got better as soon as we decided to call the vet out!) and when he had an eye infection which also improved as soon as we decided to get a vet to look at it - it's like his aim in life is to save us from unnecessary vets bills!

I know how you feel though, because despite the fact that he is a very sensible, hardy pony and my YO has been keeping horses since before I was born and treats him like her own, now that I'm at uni 160 miles away from him I'm constantly convinced that something awful's going to happen while I'm away. This cold weather has me worried because I can't just nip down and make sure he's not too cold or change his rugs, even though my YO obviously wouldn't let him get cold. It's just so hard being so far away from him! Now I know why my mum worries about me so much while I'm away.