PolarSkye
Well-Known Member
After sudden and pronounced issues under saddle and some comprehensive investigations, turns out the Grey Donkey has kissing spine severe enough to not be fixable. He's field sound, he's happy in himself and I owe him nothing . . . so, with a heavy heart, I am retiring him - not just from competitions but from all ridden work. In the next couple of weeks he will move from our trainer's yard to a little place just up the road from me, I will do some limited in-hand work with him just to try and support his body/keep him strong, but he will never be ridden again.
He owes me nothing - I owe him everything (he pulled me out of the deepest, darkest depression), and I love him more than I can begin to articulate. His other issues (navicular in both fronts, arthritis, etc.) leave me worried that he won't tolerate retirement well, but we'll give him the summer and go from there. I will be keeping a close eye on his body condition and his all-round soundness, and if I think he's struggling, I won't see him suffer.
So . . . the upright little Polish reject who struggled to trot without looking like a wind-up toy ended his competitive career by scoring 77.31% in his last ever competition - and then went on to jump the moon in the school a few days later. I am so proud of him. Well done my beautiful Silver Boy - and thank you - enjoy your retirement - you deserve it. I promise that I will make sure I keep you as comfortable as I can until you tell me you have had enough - and then I'll do the right thing, even though I can't imagine my life without you and my heart will shatter into a million pieces.
I feel a fraud posting this - because he's still here, I still get to see his cheeky face every day - but I'm still very sad . . . I thought he had years of ridden life left in him - especially after we brought him back from that suspensory injury . . . but he is very broken now and there's no coming back from this.
Still . . . he IS still here . . . so I'm off to learn everything I can about how to keep a horse strong using just in-hand work
.
P
He owes me nothing - I owe him everything (he pulled me out of the deepest, darkest depression), and I love him more than I can begin to articulate. His other issues (navicular in both fronts, arthritis, etc.) leave me worried that he won't tolerate retirement well, but we'll give him the summer and go from there. I will be keeping a close eye on his body condition and his all-round soundness, and if I think he's struggling, I won't see him suffer.
So . . . the upright little Polish reject who struggled to trot without looking like a wind-up toy ended his competitive career by scoring 77.31% in his last ever competition - and then went on to jump the moon in the school a few days later. I am so proud of him. Well done my beautiful Silver Boy - and thank you - enjoy your retirement - you deserve it. I promise that I will make sure I keep you as comfortable as I can until you tell me you have had enough - and then I'll do the right thing, even though I can't imagine my life without you and my heart will shatter into a million pieces.
I feel a fraud posting this - because he's still here, I still get to see his cheeky face every day - but I'm still very sad . . . I thought he had years of ridden life left in him - especially after we brought him back from that suspensory injury . . . but he is very broken now and there's no coming back from this.
Still . . . he IS still here . . . so I'm off to learn everything I can about how to keep a horse strong using just in-hand work
. P
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