Is it time for him to retire?

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welshied

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So my welsh was diagnosed with arthritis when he was 8 and now he is 13 and has just been put on 1 danilon a day he has been in light work over the last few years but today i went to ride him got him all tacked up and got on and as soon as i did he went off trotting in excitement but then he started hopping from one back leg to the other as if he couldn't hold my weight on them and i am only a lightweight lol so i turned him roung and went back home was on him for about 5 mins and when i got him back he was holding his leg up in the air and not putting any weight on it. The last 5 time he has been ridden he has fallen lame on the way home 3 times and we have had to lead him back (he was on bute at the time)
Am i right to now retire him even at his young age?
frown.gif
 
Well, before you decide anything you need to get your vet to have a look at him. You describe a horse needing to see a professional (imo).
 
Vet has been to him she said his lameness was at a 4 from 1-10 and to put him on bute he is always field sound when on bute, said if i am wanting to keep riding him she can give him corse (cant spell it) injections but can't afford them and he is living a comfortable life when out in field
 
I agree with both of the above. Arthritis is a b****r i suffer from it. I believe if you talk to your vet, he/she can advise you on finding a right medication/supplement. I know i am human (almost) but it took me ages to get my pain under control and now i have i am doing all sorts! I know horse arthritis is diff, but i'm just thinking that there is prob something out there that will help, i wouldn't give up yet. Work closely with your vet. Best of luck.
 
Ah, well if she's seen him very recently then and re-assessed his lameness - then yes, sounds as if it's time to retire him possibly.
 
He has been on equiflex and cider vinegar which seemed to be helping him but it has worsend due to him getting it in his other hind leg in his hock joint due to him using this leg to componsate
 
This is what happened to my mare. She was lame on and off for about a year due to arthritis in her knees. Eventually I had to retire her. After being ridden for about 15-20 mins she did the same as your boy, hopping from one front leg to the other to the point where I felt that she would fall. She trots and canters around her paddock with no problem but can't take my weight even though like you I am only 9 stn and she is a mw cob. My Vet said she was unsafe to ride, so I had to stop. Fortunately she is very happy in her retirement but I do miss riding enormously as she was a joy to ride in every way.
 
Yeah he was doing this hopping thing after 2 minutes and just felt as though was going to go down onto his front end
 
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