Is there any call for larger companions ?

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toomanyhorses26

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My beautiful mare has osteo arthritis in both hocks and at the age of 9 looks like she will be retired :( I dont think her confo is good enough to be bred from tbh and her confo has played a part in the arthritis forming. My vet has said that she thinks that being an ET recip mare wouldnt cause her any problems although she couldnt guarentee. I can't afford to keep two horses that are both unrideable (my other was diagnosed with navicular on the same day ) and being slightly slefish on my part - I want to ride. She was purchased from the meat man a couple of years ago as a project so was never meant to be here for that long. So got me thinking about if she would have a use as a companion/nanny for young horses? I want to secure her future in someway but if I can't then is PTS the best option ?
 
What bad luck, to find both horses are unrideable in one day! I feel for you.

I have to admit that I tried to find a companion home for my lad, who is very fit and healthy but has issues when ridden, brilliant mixer with all sizes and sexes, but willing to be alone,can live out all year. Ideal you would think. But he is 16.1. and there wasn't a sniff. I have found someone to have him, with their own land, but it ended up someone I know. We are moving abroad.

Good luck with your mare, it is surely worth a try. Can she not be a light hack on medication?
 
I honestly don't know what to do for the best. I have never felt she has ever enjoyed being ridden - tense,buking,broncing etc in the school although this did improve before I popped her out on loan and hacking although brave and bold - very joggy and like a coiled spring. How much of this is due to her hocks I dont know. Thevet suspects that her si joint maybe affected by the hocks or vice versa and tbh I am not sure I couldride her how she needs to be ridden knowing what is going on in her hocks - meh its all a bit rubbish at the moment.
 
bluntly;;;honestly - do the right thing by her - if you cant afford her - pts

god knows where she will end up and in what hands in this economy - ridden horses are going for free....

there are worst fates than death

again sorry to be blunt but as someone who was searching for another horse, im fed up of trawling through ads of free/cheap horses which have x and y wrong with them, who just need to be pts for th ekindest thing...
 
Where abouts are you?
I've just started my search for a companion for July onwards and although I'm not particularly fussy, I know I want something fairly big. Struggling to find anything - all seems to be lami prone ponies!
What about a blood bank or a retirement centre?
Worth hunting for a companion home for her but failing that, pts is a kind way to go.
 
Have you thought about the possibility of a barefoot rehab for your navicular horse? She might be a companion for him then.
 
I want to explore all options so I can come to some sort of conclusion thats right for her and me. Its a case of I am fine for the next few months but realistically can I afford to put two tbs through another winter esp if like this one. I am not 'afraid ' of putting her to sleep if it ends up being the best thing. My gut feeling is given her type and age if I sell her (currently bottom of the list tbh ) sone one some where will try and get on her and try and ride through it. I have no need for a companion for him as he is stabled in another block with his own field mates for grazing. She is too small to be an ET recipient mare so thats out as an option. I dont think she should be taking up a spot in a chairty/retirement centre as there are other more deserving cases that need their expertise. Dumbo I am in Kent but if it was the right thing for her then I would have no issues with her moving. If you want some more details of her then please let me know - still waiting ona response from the blood bank.
 
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