Kali's competition career ends on a high . . .

I'm sorry to hear this very sad news :-( but it seems to me that you are both very lucky to have eachother and you're doing the right thing for him, you should certainly be proud x
 
I'm sorry to read this, I've always enjoyed reading about Kali's progress. Here's hoping he has a long and happy retirement xx
 
It's completely devastating on so many levels with this happens. Just over a year ago I was in pretty much the same boat, without the KS, thankfully. I had to make the decision to retire my Ffin from competition and then from riding completely. I was worried he would not enjoy being retired and that he would deteriorate rapidly and like you I thought I'd give him the summer and then see. Well he took to it like a duck to water, in fact he almost went feral ( unless carrots were present) He really enjoyed just being relaxed in the field and just minimal handling and grooming. I was SO lucky that I had the use of my own land so there were no problems with keeping him and I have a baby horse to play with. Also I was even luckier that after eight months rest and relaxation my boy came right enough for very light hacking, until one day mooching through a field he just tanked off at speed, I had the Chiro vet out to check him and she said he was in the best shape she had ever seen him in. So now I am back riding properish , I am careful not to break him, I even did an intro on him just for fun, the show manager said she heard a sonic boom as he hit the centre line!!

I know that this is unlikely to happen for K, with his extra problems but I just wanted you to know that they do thrive on retirement and that it is possible to build an all new relationship with them. I also wanted you to know that the feelings of devastation do pass and that it is possible but really hard, to move over to riding a new horse.
 
ypvrhc said:
I'm sorry to hear this very sad news :-( but it seems to me that you are both very lucky to have eachother and you're doing the right thing for him, you should certainly be proud x
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I am beyond proud of him - he's so clever and giving and quirky and funny - I can't be anything but. I know he loves me - but I know I love him a billion times more.

P
 
ypvrhc said:
I'm sorry to hear this very sad news :-( but it seems to me that you are both very lucky to have eachother and you're doing the right thing for him, you should certainly be proud x
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I am beyond proud of him - he's so clever and giving and quirky and funny - I can't be anything but. I know he loves me - but I know I love him a billion times more.

P
 
Goldenstar said:
Both of you enjoy his retirement .
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Thank you. I plan to let his mane grow, bathe him less often (although that will be hard for my OCD tendencies), groom him often, play with him and just enjoy his sweet, quirky personality. He's already a bit fat (unheard of for him) so I'm cutting his rations so that he's leaner to put less pressure on his "issue spots" . . .

It's a whole new chapter for us.

P
 
j1ffy said:
I'm sorry to read this, I've always enjoyed reading about Kali's progress. Here's hoping he has a long and happy retirement xx
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Thank you very much - and me too. And if retirement doesn't suit him, I won't hesitate to make the right decision . . . I owe him nothing less. I do hope, though, that he becomes a field ornament and stays with me for another 8 or 9 years at least!

P
 
Sukistokes2 said:
It's completely devastating on so many levels with this happens. Just over a year ago I was in pretty much the same boat, without the KS, thankfully. I had to make the decision to retire my Ffin from competition and then from riding completely. I was worried he would not enjoy being retired and that he would deteriorate rapidly and like you I thought I'd give him the summer and then see. Well he took to it like a duck to water, in fact he almost went feral ( unless carrots were present) He really enjoyed just being relaxed in the field and just minimal handling and grooming. I was SO lucky that I had the use of my own land so there were no problems with keeping him and I have a baby horse to play with. Also I was even luckier that after eight months rest and relaxation my boy came right enough for very light hacking, until one day mooching through a field he just tanked off at speed, I had the Chiro vet out to check him and she said he was in the best shape she had ever seen him in. So now I am back riding properish , I am careful not to break him, I even did an intro on him just for fun, the show manager said she heard a sonic boom as he hit the centre line!!

I know that this is unlikely to happen for K, with his extra problems but I just wanted you to know that they do thrive on retirement and that it is possible to build an all new relationship with them. I also wanted you to know that the feelings of devastation do pass and that it is possible but really hard, to move over to riding a new horse.
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Awww thank you - and how lovely that you and your boy found a new lease of life :).

Pops has multiple issues, though - he is now slightly arthritic behind which really shows up when it's cold, he has navicular in both fronts, he has a dodgy suspensory (he recovered well but we know it could go again). He also now has a melanoma in his sheath (which isn't growing aggressively yet, but we're keeping an eye out). He's no spring chicken any more . . . I am very pragmatic about what may happen in the future - but also very hopeful that I will have many more years of having him in my life. I just won't prolong the inevitable if I think he's struggling.

P
 
Really sorry to hear this...I don't come on here much anymore but I always enjoyed your reports.

Is there any reason you're not turning him away entirely (24/7)? I'm sure you've considered all options, but I'm a believer in retirement to a herd, with the chance to properly be a horse. Buzz has very different issues and it broke my heart to 'give up' on treating him earlier this year, but he is thriving in his new environment. He won't come right, and like you, I know at some point I'll have to make a judgement call that will devastate me, but in the meantime I can take heart in the fact that he looks better for a field full of grass and mates than he did for a swanky livery yard and constant monitoring. I still see him as often as I did before, and we're as close as ever - I do lots of in hand stuff with him (not to keep him strong as in your case, but to stop the Irish thug emerging), which he really loves, and he is probably more affectionate/pleased to see me than he was when he was surrounded by people and routine. He is also looking amazing - nothing compares to grass for giving them that bloom, and his jaw function is probably 75% better than when he was stabled. We had a photoshoot done a couple of weeks ago, and he looks so good in the photos, no-one would believe there was anything wrong with him.

Bit waffly, but just wanted to say that try not to feel too disheartened...you're making the best decision for the both of you.

In the meantime, don't count out a new pony! I got one a couple of months ago...probably highly ill-advised as I have NO spare time, and my heart belongs entirely to Buzz after everything we've been through, but it's been a real lift to have a new focus, and I'm really enjoying riding again.
 
Wishing him a long and happy retirement. Ground work can be loads of fun too. There is more to it than you might expect and it will strengthen your special bond even more. Good luck. X
 
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