Is this madness!

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opinionuk

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I've had my mare for 2 years, during that time the vet has been out almost monthly! It's costing me a fortune even though she is insured, as she's had problems with virtually every part of her, there isn't a great deal left that hasn't been claimed on!

I spend so much time with her in and out of work, I've managed to compete her for about 6 months in total, only low level stuff, so I have taken the decision to have a full body scan of her, then I will know what probs may be lurking around and either bring her back into work again! obviously depending on outcome either loan her out or breed from her but forget about competing her and go and buy another one.

Is it madness to have a full bodyscan, at least then I will know ...
 
Another who agrees with fw. Plus I wouldn't count on loaning, few people will be happy to pay upkeep & regular vet bills for a mostly out of work horse.
 
Please don't breed from her
Loaning can be very precarious as many horses diapear or are mistreated while on loan.
If you realy want to loan then be very careful who you loan to however nice and plausable they appear to be. Always ask to see the original copy of their passport, driving license and rates bill and photocopy them. Also check the proposed new home out and carry out regularly weekly inspections for the first 2 months and then regular monthly inspections.
 
When you say full body scan I presume you mean scintigraphy (bone scan). In which case do be aware that they primarily pick up skeletal issues (so if you mare has specific soft tissue injuries these will go undetected). Also be aware that bone scans are non-specific and often give false positives, so you may have an area (or more than one area) that flags positive but still requires further imaging to see if a diagnosis can be made. You may come away none the wiser and a few pounds poorer.

That said, in answer to your question 'is it madness' then my answer would be no, providing you understand the costs and limitations of the procedure and have the money available.

What would be madness is breeding from a mare with what sounds like an array of issues.

As for loaning, I don't support the hysteria of missing horses. It's true there are dubious people in this would but it's also true that there are many successful loan homes. Keep her local, get references and check up often is my advise - although how many homes there are out there for 6yo crook companions is another matter ....
 
Please please please don't breed from her. If she has had as many problems as you say it is likely she will pass some of these weaknesses onto her offspring. This isn't like breeding from a 6yr old whose career has ended due to an unfortunate kick in the field. I'm so sorry that you've had all this trouble, I know what heartbreak and frustration it causes. A body scan sounds like a good idea and I hope you find some answers.
 
Apercrumbie said:
Please please please don't breed from her. If she has had as many problems as you say it is likely she will pass some of these weaknesses onto her offspring. This isn't like breeding from a 6yr old whose career has ended due to an unfortunate kick in the field. I'm so sorry that you've had all this trouble, I know what heartbreak and frustration it causes. A body scan sounds like a good idea and I hope you find some answers.
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Thanks I'm hoping I find something positive that I can work or let her rest, she's so sweet it's just one of those things I guess, I'm keeping my fingers crossed but I just need to know so I can do what's best for both of us. With regards to breeding it was just an option that sprung to mind, but in hindsight not a very bright one!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed! not going to be cheap either but I figure if I'm having the vet out to her all the time, I've got them on speed dial! then the cost difference probably won't be much difference, I've looked into it and I'll be looking around the £1000 mark :-(
 
What has she actually had problems with/wrong with her?

Would turning her away for a year be worth a go? Have you talked to your vet about this option?
 
FfionWinnie said:
Why is she constantly lame etc?
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She's intermittently lame, it's just one thing after another, she has mild kissing spine diagnosed 2 years ago, picked up by X-ray because she was going lame but as its only slight vet doesn't think that's the issue, not convinced but she's the expert
 
Unless she's expert in her field it would be cheaper to get a second opinion from an expert on kissing spines than to go blindly into having full body scans. I'm also a little concerned that any issues found in future could be excluded from insurance.
 
Sorry to hear that. I do think tho if you want a foal it would be better to buy something unrelated, you don't want another like her.

I would consider a specialist opinion rather than a body scan.
 
The scan won't show any future problems & personally I feel it would be a waste of time/money. I don't agree with your idea of putting her on loan/ breeding from her at all. Sorry, don't mean to sound rude- just my honest opinion.
 
Have you considered having a full work up done on her by some one reputable like sue dyson at AHT? Preferably before she has to many exclusions on her insurance.

If she does become only field sound and you want a 'job' for her what about her being an embryo transplant recipient? she still gets to breed but not pass on her own problems.
 
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